Ithuet

Coastal Elves
The Ithuet do not hail from a centralized region of Doa'Dane but spread throughout the coastal regions of the continent from northwestern Enoja and all along the Sartan coast. Their history is relatively guarded but they claim to be direct descendants of an ancient ethnic group of elves known as Guatha. According to a handful of Ithuet thinkers, the Guatha were the earliest known elves to occupy Doa'Dane. After the rise of humans the Guatha split into a number of factions and migrated out of Central Doa'Dane eventually becoming the various ethnic groups that exist today. Although, according to the Ithuet, all elves are descendants of the Guatha, the Ithuet themselves maintain a closer cultural connection with their ancestors. It is said the Guatha were ancient astronomers and critical thinkers responsible for introducing the language of mathematics to humankind, and the Ithuet preserve these disciplines in their everyday lives. Despite living along the coasts of Doa'Dane, it is apparent the Ithuet never established maritime technology more advanced that simple fishing vessels. This is said to be because they were originally pushed out of the interior of the continent as early human civilizations were galvanized and took control of the lands. In the north, particularly in the lands now occupied by the Sartans, the Ithuet maintained a peaceful relationship with their human neighbors and thus were able to borrow certain technologies from them.

Physical Characteristics
Over the millennia the Ithuet have changed the least in physical appearance. They are shorter than their Sali cousins, averaging in height between five feet to five feet and six inches, the latter classified as relatively tall in Ithuet society. Their facial features are angular, with pointed chins and noses and high, sharp cheek bones supporting almond-shaped eyes. Ithet ears are quite long and pointed, perhaps among the most defining characteristics of the ethnic group. Their hair color ranges from deep, eggplant-colored purple to sandy blond. Depending on the region in which they reside, the Ithuet skin tone can be light to swarthy.

All Ithuet brandish facial tattoos in the form of vine-work. The significance of these tattoos is family-oriented, denoting the lineage from which each Ithuet comes much akin to a family crest or coat of arms. Each family claims their own unique style of tattoo, therefore, in essence, every Ithuet can be identified by family name upon sight.

Society
Ithuet society is partitioned into types of people: Thinkers and Doers. Thinkers for the most part spend their lives quantifying the natural world from the terrestrial to the celestial. Thinkers tend to end up scientists or community leaders. The Doers are those that take action. They are made up of builders, laborers, hunters and fishers, and above all warriors. Thinkers tend to remain within the communities for the duration of their lives whereas Doers are more likely to roam the lands. For the longest time Doers would remain with their communities to provide skilled workers. However, in the past century they have been encountered in lands as far away as Tardesche.

Because communities tend to be small, Ithuet society is simplistic and communal, and most members provide for their own families and contribute surplus to the community. The tattoos brandished on the faces of all Ithuet also signify a culture that holds family in high regard, perhaps being the most important facet of their society. Nearly all trading between communities is conducted on a barter system where one community will offer a unique commodity in exchange for another's unique commodity. Overall the members of a given community work in tandem without need for centralized government or leadership. However, in an instance where leadership is required, each community acknowledges the voice and opinion of a single elder. The elder may be either male or female and is typically the oldest member of the community. Most of the time elders are Thinkers and confer with an eldest Doer before making decisions, yet an elder may just as well be a Doer. In the latter situation the Doer will confer with the eldest Thinker before making decisions. An elder is almost never called upon to make decisions for a community outside a crisis.

Religion
Although the Ithuet are pragmatists and scientists, they share a deeply rooted faith known as the "Covenant." The faith acknowledges the mother-daughter deities Susamma and Adahlja, the former the mother and the latter the daughter. Susamma represents wisdom and nurturing while Adahlja represents action and progression. Thinkers tend to lean more on Susamma whereas Doers rely more on Adahlja as a source of strength. Ithuet religion cannot be compared to the human religions of Doa'Dane, for it is less a system of faith and more a way of life. There are no temples or structures devoted to the faith, nor will one find any members of an ecclesiastic or monastic group. (See the entry on Susamma and Adahlja for more information.)

Language
Ithuet

Origins: Enoja / Sari'ana

Usage: Ithuet Evlish is spoken in Ithuet communities and not anywhere else. There exists a writing system of Ithuet Elvish, but it has not spread beyond Ithuet communities, so it is unknown to the denizens of Doa'Dane.

Kinship: Ithuet Elvish is one of three elvish languages spoken on Doa'Dane. All elvish languages derive from a mother tongue, deemed Guathan, and thus they share linguistic features. Ithuet Elvish shares syntactic and some morphological features with Sali. The two languages also share a related lexicon, but the longer the two ethnic groups remained apart the more their vocabulary changed. Moreover, Ithuet Elvish retains most of the original Guathan inflections whereas Sali does not. The languages have diverged enough that a Sali could not speak in her tongue and communicate with an Ithuet.

Restrictions: Ithuet Elvish is only available to Ithuet and Sartans. The language has never left the borders of Sari'ana to any extent enabling others to learn the language.

Ethnic Bonuses

• +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution

• Immunity to magic sleep effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects.

• Low-Light Vision: An Ithuet can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination and retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

• Weapon Proficiency: Ithuet receive the Martial Weapon Proficiency feats for the longsword, longbow, and shortbow as bonus feats.

• +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. An Ithuet who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if actively looking for it.

• Automatic Languages: Ithuet and Sartan or Enojan (one or the other). Ithuet are not exposed to Keshe, so they must use a language slot to learn it.

• Lifespan: Ithuet lifespans reach upwards of 300 years, nearly twice as long as the average Sali.

• Class Restrictions: Cannot be members of any faith-based class (Clerics, Druids, Paladins) or Barbarians