Ocaithe

The furtive ocaithe drowsed in the wan sunlight filtering through the trunks of the first forest. As the sun of their first day climbed into the canopy, the ocaithe stalked each other in play through dappled light and cool shadow.

The quiet forest hid a bounty of new life, and even after the other folk discovered this new wonder and began to explore it, the ocaithe lurked unseen within, enjoying their mystery and waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves. When they did, they brought with them knowledge of the myriad herbs, fruits, nuts, and berries of their home. The ocaithe taught the other folk herbalism and medicine, bringing welcome remedies to ailments that troubled them.

The ocaithe take what is useful to them of the other folk's teachings, but much of it does not serve them well in the forest. Like the mero, the ocaithe are a roaming folk, and they do not build villages, farms, or pastures. Instead, they lightly cultivate the forest in a way almost invisible to other folk, who are constantly amazed at the ocaithe's ability to find a grove of any needed plant. In truth, the ocaithe have tended their lands carefully, encouraging the wealth of the forest to flourish by their hand. Instead of cultivating herd stock, the ocaithe hunt their prey, whose well-being is also attended with a wise hand.

The ocaithe have over the generations spread beyond their forests to wander the other lands, but they often keep their own counsel when living among the other folk. They find the stationary life required for agriculture uncomfortable, and other folk sometimes find their reticence difficult to penetrate. Still, the ocaithe are famed healers and cooks welcome wherever their feet take them.

The ocaithe are a limber, wiry folk possessing surprising strength and speed. Their skin is dark to blend in shadow and often spotted or striped to further aid in camouflage. Their eyes flash from shadow. Their keen ears end in points.