Itata
Racial DescriptionLong and slender, with short arms and legs, the Itata beastkin resemble humanoid weasels. Males are typically larger (3'0"-3'7") and stronger. While females are smaller (2'9"-3'4"), they possess greater manual dexterity. Their fur tends to be a dull, earthy red, but black, white, and a more vivid red are not uncommon. Also, they possess a "mask" pattern around the eye. Occasionally they possess a narrow razor-mane, but this is rare. Their eyes are most commonly brown or black. Brighter colors such as blue and orange are possible, and extremely desirable.
Natural LifespanAverage: 108 years
Record Longest: 129 years
SocietyWith quick fingers and quicker minds, the Itata are a race of talented scholars, engineers, and inventors. Their society is one built primarily around the idea that the pursuit of knowledge is tantamount, but not at the expense of compassion. This isn't entirely selfless, though, for they often employ stronger races to help bring their designs into reality. They are simply not physically capable of working with large and heavy objects without assistance.
The better they are at improving the world around them, the higher their position among their own. Unfortunately, many have become reluctant to take risks, as failure can reduce their standing. Yet those who take bold steps can reach the greatest of heights if they succeed.
NamesItata names are usually composed of several two-to-three letter syllables strung together (OOC: think Japanese). Males typically have odd-numbered syllable names, while females have even-numbered syllable names. Surnames, while originally coming first, come last and are patrilineal.
Gender and SexualityMales and females are considered equal in all but physical ability, and those differences are far from absolute; some females are stronger than some males, likewise with dexterity. Thus, non-binary Itata are pretty much free to be.
Relationships tend to be polyamorous, with many of both sexes possible in a family unit if one is formed. As a result, it is not unusual for Itata to be bisexual to some degree.
DietThe Itata are carnivores, dining primarily on rodents, insects, and poultry. They also utilize noodles and a variety of flavorful sauces for cooking. Itata cuisine is actually quite popular within the city, at least with human-friendly sources of meat.
Views on MagicThe use of magic, while once common, has become a rare gift for an Itata. Usually, this only manifests as the ability to utilize magical engraving techniques to enhance and empower their creations. The old magics of wind and water have nearly disappeared, replaced by an understanding of how to use those elements through science.
StyleThe Itata tend to dress in kimonos with haori jackets of warm colors, bearing abstract patterns resembling gears. Males add hakamas. Females wear brighter colors and adorn their tails with lightweight metal jewelry.
ReligionThe Itata believe in the great machinery of the cosmos, which they believe is governed by gods of time, light, and darkness. Good and evil are creations of lesser beings.
Rikogokami: God of the cosmos and the flow of time, creator and destroyer of all things.
Amaryu: Dragon goddess of the sun, regent of the day and of the light.
Tsukuryu: Dragon god of the moon, regent of the night and of shadow.
They believe in reincarnation as a mechanical fact of how the universe functions. Souls, like matter, are not lost or imprisoned in some other plane, they simply change form. Nothing else makes sense to them.
They are big on holidays that mark changes of season or the occurrence of rare but predictable celestial events. Living largely underground, they often make trips to the surface to properly observe these events.
Additional HistoryLong ago, a species of clever giant weasels was domesticated by the Nhoplani. With the assistance of magic and alchemy, they were bred to assist their enormous masters with delicate tasks that existing slaves could not. They were treated well, often like favored pets, and wanted for little.
But the Nhoplani did too good a job uplifting the creatures. They had continued to gain intelligence, and one of them began to comprehend that they were as much slaves as any human. He escaped one day and fled into the mountains.
According to Itata religious texts, there he encountered the twin dragons of heaven. They taught him much about the nature of the world, about the turning of the heavens, and about the flow of life. They then told him to return and free his fledgeling people from the Nhoplani, for they were disrupting the order that they claimed to represent.
He returned and began to slowly, and in secret, rally many of his people to his cause. They found like-minded allies in the slave population, and hatched a plan. With access to the machinery of Nhoplani domination, they sabotaged its response when the slaves revolted. As a result, the revolt succeeded, and the Itata of the faction escaped with the slaves.
Once in Le'raana, they went their separate ways. After a few years of wandering, they came upon a great temple, the depths of which contained an empty Shtal city. There they encountered a handful of surviving Shtal. They told the Itata of their god and of their mission. While the small beings didn't convert, they did agree to help preserve the knowledge. They also convinced the Shtal to look among the other races for recruits to their cause. The evils that the Shtal hunt bring suffering to many who would relish the opportunity to fight back.
The Itata were allowed to stay, provided they kept the clockwork city functioning. They were taught much about Shtal technology, and armed with this knowledge, they have spent the centuries since maintaining and even improving the city. They came to call it, Hinansho.
Over those same centuries, the mission of the Vigilant Shadows has brought many to take refuge within Hinansho. The Itata have used their natural ingenuity to aid these refugees and support the Shadows in their mission. While they are largely pacifists by nature, occasionally one even joins the fight.
