Kyuki (3.5e Race)

Kyuki
Summary::In the windy planes of the East lie the Kyuki, fey spirits of wind known for their blistering speed and fiendish mischief. Legends have often confused them with the legendary kamaitachi weasels or elemental spirits of air.  The latter may be half true, as they may have originated not as true fey but as air elementals stranded on the prime material after the wars between the Wind Dukes of Aaqa and the Queen of Chaos. After years of adaptation they were merged with the local fey to produce their descendants.

Personality
The kyuki are flighty things. Their emotions run high and one moment a friendly game may turn into a fight to the death, and equally change from bitter rivals to mutual respect and laughter. Their only consistency seems to be a carelessness in all things except areas of competition, which they adore. Sports and other competitive activities are huge in kyuki society, and indeed build deep within it. One of the few laws they follow are the teachings of an ancient kyuki hero known as Hijikata, who use their love of sports as a safer alternative to the many wars they would otherwise face. By transforming their aggression into a game they keep the peace, and all one asks is that the results of the game be respected for vengeance can always be had in another friendly competition.

Physical Description
Kyuki are generally thin humanoids with pale skin, long elven or nearly animal-like ears, and animalistic noses with whiskers. Darker markings are often displayed underneath their eyes, on their cheeks, or on their forehead as well as on in a few parts of the body (such as arms and legs) and each is an unique pattern, like a fingerprint. Hair trends to metallic colors, and their eyes are large, glassy, and black. Their hands contain small but unusually sharp black claws which can be retracted. They are unusual lightweight, even for their small size.

Relations
Historically the kyuki were seen as monsters, one of the many yokai, spirits, and demons of the more magical parts of nature. As a result interactions were either a matter of fear or respect, and generally they were not interacted with by the upcoming humanoid races. But when they were brought into the matter of humanoid affairs they were often employed as assassins and ninjas due to their unique talents. This only perpetuated the myth around the kyuki, eventually confusing them with the legendary kamaitachi. For hundreds of years, this suited them fine. However civilization was ever-encroaching and eventually some would depart the hidden villages of kyuki to explore or try and join the cities of man. They have had some difficulty settling in, but both they and others can find camaraderie in the world of sports, and so these games have become the glue that keeps them relatable to others.

Alignment
Kyuki are mostly chaotic neutral, though their history often paints them as chaotic evil.

Lands
The kyuki have usually made villages in windswept plains, canyons, and other places of tumultuous wind. They are rarely found on other planes as well, especially the Elemental Plane of Air on small outcroppings where the other planes touch it briefly.

Religion
Kyuki are not known to follow any deities, though those that do often get involved with deities of Air, Luck, and Chaos.

Language
Kyuki speak Common, Auran, and Sylven. Their base language is actually a combination of Auran and Sylven.

Names
Kyuki names tend to be of the "Eastern" sort with a strong proclivity to Auran-accented names, names which envolve hissing or exhalation sounds within them.