Ithygši̋c

The Ithygši̋c (pronounced eeth-AIYG-shick) are a species of people known as the Thjodannalfen. They live twenty-eight miles beneath the base of the Cumbu Mountains, in two independent, allied states called D̬aa and Sogcigdi. Very few have ever seen the surface, though the passages to the surface are known and guarded.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Aa, Aam, Accac, Ah, Ancom, At, Ayl, Azh, Caap, Caazh, Cacci, Cašey, Casfy, Cedfi̋mo, Cegsim, Cenip, Cepfi̋, Ceycdi̋, Ci̋daarey, Cigna, Ci̋hu, Ciltyc, Ci̋m, Cimsaa, Cind̬yš, Citnet, Codšo, Cogna, Cogne, Cono, Contifa, Copri, Cotfeydaa, Coto, Couci̋, Cougna, Couzh, Cuci̋mfor, Cud̬egšag, Cyshuc, Cyspa, Daade, Daahu, Daap, Daaspe, Dah, D̬am, D̬amum, Daš, Datha, Dathme, Ded̬, Deynty, Di̋mbem, Dimfeyg, D̬i̋mgaam, Dinnaa, Di̋nti̋š, D̬izh, Dodba, Dol, D̬oul, D̬ourbaa, Drymic, D̬uncam, Dyl, D̬ym, Dymsi̋ftu, Dyp, Dysfy, Ebd̬am, Ebsah, Ecacip, Emci̋, Erbo, Eyg, Eygneb, Eyna, Faa, Faal, Faril, Fetmythme, Fi̋gdaa, Fincey, Foh, Founcar, Fyp, Gaad, Gaašmo, Gebmag, Geyš, Gihy, Gipuh, Giš, Gudšeyp, Gushaam, Gy, Haa, Haac, Haand̬ar, Haši, Hegu, Heytey, Hi̋̋gaǎ, Hi̋gaaš, Houg, Houso, Hyr, Ib, Idfuthe, Ifša, Igguš, I̋gni, I̋mbey, I̋mi̋thi̋c, I̋mti̋d̬, I̋p, Išcisfa, I̋t, Ithoš, Izh, Magšeyzh, Maš, Meyd̬, Meyfdi, Mi̋mbegmu, Mitfad, Moušcu, Muggiš, Mui̋, Myrfegney, Naa, Naap, Nacey, Našmu, Nedri̋, Nimba, Ninne, Nišmob, Nitfu, Norbou, Noshaa, Noshaǎmag, Nudšou, Nudšoǔi, Ob, Odšy, Ol, Omtu, Ot, Otoš, Paa, Paap, Paou, Pazh, Peceyšmi, Pitfezh, Poufšeh, Putou, Raam, Ral, Rat, Rebma, Redo, Repey, Reym, Ri̋dsamge, Rimga, Rip, Rofpuh, Rohmop, Rouzh, Ruš, Rymnaa, Ryr, Ryšmu, Ryšmǔmu, Saa, Šaa, Šaazh, Sal, Samiš, Šappy, Sefyr, Semfou, Šey, Ši, Sil, Šiltiš, Šimsey, Šipfi, Šišmišit, Šit, Šita, Ši̋tfi̋, Sombi, Šoutur, Šuco, Šunnuzh, Šuthu, Sym, Syp, Taa, Taadnaamne, Taag, Taap, Tam, Teyg, Teyhmy, Theyd̬, Tip, Tisha, Ucaa, Ufa, Um, Ybsaa, Ye, Yreyc

Masculine names

Aab, Aadšyb, Aam, Aap, Aaš, Amfap, Ancey, Asap, Caa, Caab, Caašiš, Cabe, Caf, Cag, Camnoh, Caozh, Ceši, Ceyh, Ceyšoum, Ciccoh, Ci̋cupo, Cidtymbu, Cil, Cishiš, Coufša, Coug, Cout, Cozh, Cycaam, Cyg, Daag, D̬aati, Daazh, Dabmi, Dal, D̬ap, Deygug, Didey, D̬ifti̋, Dil, Dipfac, Dipoultazh, Diprud̬, Domu, Doucoud̬, D̬ougmo, Doutno, Drayh, Dugfa, D̬unraaš, Duš, Duzh, D̬ymi̋, Eyc, Eym, Eyrmu, Fadre, Fayd, Fazh, Figdi, Fimoutfou, Fob, Foug, Fucceš, Fy, Fyr, Gaa, Gaarbe, Gatyd, Geyp, Gi̋mfi̋, Gocga, Gosi, Gyšci, Haanno, Hašceb, Hethdi, Heybug, Heymcog, Hi, Hi̋šit, Hi̋zh, Hyzh, I̋c, Ina, Ina̋bmo, Iry, Istor, Istorfir, Maa, Macfi, Mep, Meraa, Meyl, Mirbou, Mo, Mocteg, Momcou, Moshic, Mthdum, Mucdaap, Mytha, Naath, Nar, Nataafaa, Nathu, Neš, Nesom, Neymbep, Neyš, Neyti, Ni̋, Nibembub, Niltu, Ni̋ncub, Ni̋nnaa, Nippi, Noši̋, Nothifih, Noubazh, Noud̬, Noufo, Nudraam, Num, Nurpag, Nyh, Oc, Octe, Ognuzh, Oguhi̋, Ohe, Or, Os, Oš, Othaa, Paad, Paambeš, Paaoumfep, Paaš, Pamdy, Pasz, Pat, Petha, Peyš, Peytnaap, Pidfe, Pi̋dnir, Pobmeyš, Pothogu, Pur, Pygnaš, Pym, Pyr, Pyt, Raa, Rafyspaab, Razh, Renpeym, Reybod̬, Reygig, Rignucfit, Rintozh, Rithiš, Rou, Roub, Ryb, Rymti, Saamnou, Sacci, Šahma, Sahouctyd̬, Sapy, Satcaš, Šaty, Šem, Seycoudnum, Si̋ad̬, Sito, Šizh, Šosi, Souug, Šy, Šybdu, Tadmuhugih, Tappig, Te, Tec, Tešmyt, Teyh, Teyncufa, Thaa, Thaapfaa, Thamta, Thayr, The, Theg, Thibmaa, Thic, Thi̋d, Thi̋tmim, Thogsi, Thol, Thour, Thul, Thumtaa, Thušmumaš, Thuzh, Thyr, Tirpi̋, Ti̋tou, Tizy, Tydfufge, Tyš, Tytfigsaa, Ub, Udi̋, Up, Ygfe, Yni

Unisex names

Cozh, Duš, Eym, Gaa, Hi, Ni̋, Raa, Rou, Šizh, Te, Thaa, Thuzh

Family names

Noble Families of D̬aa

1. Comca
2. D̬obug (extinct)
3. Foc (extinct)
4. Futhug
5. Fygdu
6. Gat
7. Hypi (extinct)
8. Ig
9. Myt (extinct)
10. Naatfysz (extinct)
11. Nyspid (extinct)
12. Nysz (extinct)
13. Sec
14. Tesam (extinct)
15. Thidfud

Noble Families of Sogcigdi

1. Cid̬aa
2. Contifaci̋
3. Finceyci̋
4. Mupucfad
5. Natney
6. Nudšouci̋ (extinct
7. Samiši̋c
8. Seci̋c
9. Šoubsouboš

Other Family Names

Beyond these noble houses, few have true family names, though such do exist. Most do, however, have second names (see "Other Names," below).

Other names

In this society, most people who are not part of the noble houses have a second name called a "neyftiric", which reflects their personality or character. For example, a member of the Cor Rayd (border rangers) might be known as "Huctimuded" (meaning "cave walker"). Neyftirics are not always positive and are given to individuals without their choice. It serves as a symbol of honor or a label that they carry until the general opinion about them changes.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The Ithygši̋c, like all Thjodannælfen, speak a particular dialect of elvish called Thjodannælfen Elvish (Thjodannɑlfim). In particular, when writing proper names, they tend to use the alternate spellings for the /ɑɪ̯/ and /ʒ/ phonemes.

Culture and cultural heritage

Matriarchy

The Ithygšic, like many of the Thjodannælfen, embrace a fiercely matriarchal social structure. Within their society, the dominant female in each family wields absolute authority, reflecting the powerful role of women in their political sphere.

Castes

The Ithygšic are divided into castes. The nobility and their queen are at the top, while half-elves of any kind are at the bottom. The castes are ranked as follows:

1. Royalty and Nobility (the emney)
2. Mages (the pudtoutcosney)
3. Tradesfolk and Artisans (the mumeben)
4. Unskilled Commoners (the ronci̋ney)
5. Half-Elves (the aalizhen)
6. Foreigners (the rayen)

Sorcerers and Warlocks are not welcome in Ithygši̋c society. Only members of the pdtoutcosney caste are permitted to practice magic, and then only via study and practice. Others, when discovered, are executed.

Foreigners are treated with utter contempt and are the only people who may be enslaved, as they are not considered persons.

Shared customary codes and values

In general, the Ithygši̋c venerate the Unmarkarey gods (known to them as the Sašdehen): Imith, Korissin, and Evinshar. A small minority still venerate the Markarey gods (known to them as the D̬ecdehen): X'Rell, Roni, Emisiën, and Priëtass. Those who do are considered degenerate weaklings.

Art & Architecture

Architecture

Ithygši̋c architecture is designed to provide shelter from the subterranean environment rather than from the weather. Their houses are tightly sealed to keep the heat of the deep from entering their homes. Their businesses and government buildings often incorporate complex mechanical fans and clever devices for atomizing moisture to help keep those who work in these complexes cool.

They construct buildings from clay with post-and-lintel doorways and few have windows. Door seals are made from a spongy fungal material treated in a chemical bath to prevent quick deterioration.

Ithgyši̋c Art

The Ithgyŝi̋c recognize two kinds of art: cacrouš and mibrouš.

Cacrouš - The Art of the Sacred

Any artwork meant for use in worship or intended to depict the gods in any way is considered part of Cacrouš, which is carefully regulated by the I̋mi̋thmi priesthood. Such art can only be created on commission, and designs, prototypes, and finished pieces must all be submitted to the priesthood for approval. These works can include paintings, lyrical music, poems, plays, sculptures, jewelry, household idols, as well as official idols installed in temples and shrines. Physical works can only be made from platinum, onyx, diamond, jade, opal, emerald, sapphire, or ruby, or from pigments that closely resemble the colors of those gemstones in the case of paintings. As a result, Cacrouš is very vibrant in appearance.

Mibrouš - The Art of the Everyday

Most commonly practiced is Mibrouš, the art of the ordinary people. This art typically involves creating jewelry, accessories, and paintings. Poetry, song, and sculpture are reserved for Cacrouš. Mibrouš art can be made of gold, silver, copper, bronze, brass, gemstones not reserved for Cacrouš, and pigments that adhere to these restrictions. People from the surface who have seen Ithgyši̋c art often comment on its dull colors, which is due to the fact that very little of the Ithgyši̋c art that reaches the surface is Cacrouš. As a result, it is made using the colors and materials permitted for Mibrouš.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The Delving

The Ithygši̋c celebrate The Delving annually on the 19th of Bans, solemnly commemorating Imith's defeat at the hands of X'Rell and their followers, and the Thjodannælfen exile to the Underdark. It is a dark and brooding observance, filled with venom and hate for the surface, but acknowledging their exile has made them strong.

Diverged ethnicities

• Nat Poen

Related Organizations

• D̬aa
• House Ci̋d̬aa
• House Comca
• House D̬obug (Extinct)
• House Foc - Extinct
• House Futhug
• House Fygdu
• House Gat
• House Hypi (Extinct)
• House Ig
• House Mupucfad
• House Myt (Extinct)
• House Naatfysz - Extinct
• House Natney
• House Nudšouci̋
• House Nyspid - Extinct
• House Nysz - Extinct
• House Sec
• House Tesam - Extinct
• House Thidfud
• Sogcigdi

Languages spoken

• Thjodanalfen Elvish

Related Locations

• Ceybyd
• Sogcigdi Territory
• The Underdark