Hutaakan

Hutaakans are tall, slim humanoids with the heads of jackals and the narrow hands and feet of austere humans. They carve or decorate their thick, claw-like nails to show rank. Even the humblest wears long, sober robes, perhaps with one modest jewel. Their speech is fluting and melodic, a complex language with an eerie, musical lilt.

Hutaakans think themselves too refined to brawl with lesser mortals such as humans and humanoids, but when forced to fight they are merciless. They prefer ambushes and missile fire.

Only trained warriors fight willingly. They carry a shield and wear studded leather, wielding a spear, short sword or now and then a sling. Priests avoid soiling themselves in combat unless attacked directly, preferring to cast spells and shout orders from safety; they wear leather and a shield and carry ornately carved maces dedicated to their gods. A typical priest has 2 HD and 2nd-level spells, but the greatest reach 11th level, with Hit Dice, spells and XP to match, and they rule the race. The rest go unarmored but can defend themselves with clubs.

Every hutaakan has 60-foot infravision and moves silently like a thief 20% of the time.

Their empire once spread over much of what is now a young human kingdom. Survivors hint at a catastrophe that shattered their brilliant people, and today they live in small, scattered enclaves throughout the civilized lands, firmly controlled by their priests. They see themselves as sensitive intellectuals condemned to suffer in a coarse, barbaric world.

Hutaakans tend to keep valuables close, coins, gems, potions and lovely objects, both at home and on their persons. They are proud of their fine taste and of keeping apart from everyone else.