Their society is one of matriarchy. In this social organizational form the mother or oldest female heads the family. Descent and relationship are determined through the female line. Their government leaders are also all females. There are equal rights for the males and they can rise to positions of authority outside of the government. In general females are better paid and tend to advanced more quickly to places of authority than males.
Personal growth, mental aptitude, and physical fitness is of high value in their society. A massive amount of pressure is put on young adults to produce healthy offspring. Their society is sexually free and young adults tend to have many sexual partners. Only when a female chooses to become pregnant does the mated pair become monogamous. Such a decision is often discussed by the pair before the female chooses to become pregnant. Often it is the female that makes the proposal. There is no marriage custom in ith society but partners with children tend to stay monogamous until death.
Sexual relationships that can't potentially result in children are extremely frowned upon. This includes same sex relationships and relationships with other species but just because they are frowned upon does not mean they don't happen. Some are more excepting of such behavior than others.
Self expression through hair dye, tattoos, and piercings of the face and other body parts are excepted and widespread. Both males and females will often have their backs or arms tattooed with important family lineage and personal accomplishments that warrant display. Hair is often braided and beaded. Sometimes the hair is decorated with small objects such as feathers. Jewelry tends to be functional so as to not catch. Hair style varies wildly from shaved to extremely long for both males and females depending on an ith's tuath and the place they grew up.
Despite their open and accepting view of sex, ith often dress fairly conservatively in clothing reminiscent of traditional Arabic attire if not more colorful minus the head and face covering.
Garments are often composed of a light and colorful fabric.
The desire to explore and discover burns hot within the ith creating a sort of wanderlust. They must always see what is beyond the next mountain or within the next star system. For many it is an obsession and often young adults will venture to unexplored space to live among aliens just to learn and discover something few or no ith has.
A tuath is an extended family unit or house of the ith people. This social system was rebuilt as the race evolved and is now known as the tuath system. There are currently five primary tuath within ith society and many smaller tuath pledge loyalty to these large houses. There are hundreds of different tuath and a surname does not coincide with the name of one's tuath. The primary tuath are Cairrge Brachaidhe, Cenél Aedha, Muintir Dalachain, Síol Faolcháin, Uí Fiachrach Arda Srátha.
These houses are often bounded by region, continent, or even planet and often have different genetic markers such as skin pigment, hair color, and specialized psionic talents. Ith do intermix blood between tuath. There are no laws that make such unions illegal. Often children will identify with the mother's house. Tuath are not segregated but ith often have stronger social bonds with members of their own tuath or related tuath. The tuath system also plays a huge role in ith government.
The ith native language is very similar to Irish (Gaeilge), a Goidelic language. It sounds musical when an ith speaks their native tongue. Some words are throaty but the sound is softened due to the race's weak vocal cords.
Ith names tend to have Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Breton, Cornish, and Norwegian influences. Some Arabic and Jewish influences can be found in rare instances though the most common names among these two examples are not common for the ith. Names like Muhammad, Ali, and Omar are unheard off.
First introductions are often made to include the name of the the ith's tuath but afterwards the 'of tuath' is often dropped for ease of communication.
Sample Names: Kalin Ytiri, Aileen Daley, Aodh Caomhánach, Nessa Farrell, Orlaith Mollown, Cormac Mac Airt, Alan Brennan, Noel Mag Aonghuis
Chailís
The religious worship of three divine entities some ith believe created existence through their dance and song. These three supreme deities are worshiped under the names of Arden, Eluv, and Olc. Chailís was the primary religion of the ith people until approximately one century ago. Over the last hundred standard years Chailís has given way to An Conair as the predominate doctrine of the ith people. Evil or immoral forces are thought to be universal invaders influenced by unfathomable, ancient, and terrible entities. These entities were entreated by Olc.
Arden is commonly represented as a male and is described as the being that brought time and space into being. Time had no meaning other than to be observed by the three and space was completely empty. It was Eluv, represented as a female who created all the things that occupied it. She created the energy and matter while Arden and Olc worked with her to establish underlying rules to govern what had been created.
It was then Olc who influenced the creation, often represented as a male and would govern destruction. Without destruction, creation would have no meaning. Without death, life would have no meaning. Without Olc all would be still and static. Nothing would ever change and life would cease to be an experience.
In the end the story tells that Arden and Eluv fell in love, provoking Olc's jealousy. So it was that Olc entreated with extra-universal entities to bring true evil into our existence. While Olc did engage in this evil act the figure is not reviled nor is he considered evil.
Ith that worship the Chailís are known to be more aggressive than those that follow the way of An Conair.
An Conair
'The Way' or 'The Path' is a unique philosophy similar in some ways to Zen Buddhism. An Conair is by far the most popular and widespread ith doctrine. At its core the doctrine centers around a belief that every sentient and self aware being are actually the same omniversal, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient entity.
Practitioners believe they give up access to the aspects of the whole to live a single life. Regardless of what transpired during an individual's life they will live infinite number of different lives ceaselessly, experiencing anew with each new life without the lenses of experience earned during past lives. They believe that once they die they will experience a new and different individual life.
In reference this means that individuals practicing this philosophy believe that others they meet, regardless of sex or race are themselves. By this philosophy and the associated logic it would make no sense to take hostile action against another self aware being. It also makes no logical sense for a practitioner of An Conair to fear death or experience xenophobia. Many negative emotional states are dulled as a consequence.
Heavy value is placed on culture and the needs of the many over the few. Martyrdom and self sacrifice is not uncommon by practitioners. Practitioners are not pacifists as there is an understanding that immoral actions negatively affect the experience of life for everyone.
Other
Very few ith worship another deity but it is not unheard of. There are monotheists and atheists in their society. It is not impossible for an ith abroad and among aliens to pick up alien religious beliefs. Meditation and martial arts training makes up a large part of any ith's life though any particular ith will go about these practices differently depending on what philosophy or religion they follow.
Ith children develop the ability to communicate via telepathy and awareness through empathy at an earlier age. On average this is gained along side their ability to understand language. Telekinetic talents and their innate teletechnic abilities do not commonly develop until the onset of puberty. A young adult often has their ability tested and graded though this is thought to be akin to a physical examination.
They separately classify abilities that differentiate between the physical world, λ (lambda), and the inner spaces of the mind(s), ζ (zeta) and scale these specializations separately. Most ith are rated at level four zeta/lambda α (alpha) or simply 4α. At this level they have the ability to manipulate a mass of twenty kilograms at some range and in line of sight. They posses a sixth sense that allows them to sense the use of psionic abilities at close range and can communicate openly and without further specialized ability with a level one and above. Teletechnic ability is not tested.
A level one is receptive to psionic input without specialized ability. They are alive. Machines and bodhar are considered level zero. A psionic individual would need some technological help or specialized ability to communicate with a level zero. Bodhar are often made state wards. They are treated like cripples and quite often do not produce offspring. Much of the time they find living among aliens more palatable because of this treatment.
