Eth

The Eth are a tribe of Humans originating in the south who once ruled a powerful empire, but are now reduced to a nomadic life in the desert. Today they have adapted to the harsh conditions of the southern deserts by becoming master survivalists and by taming their environment through magic.

Splintering of Humanity
The Eth that ventured south from the High Elven forests wandered the southern deserts in thirteen tribes. These tribes studied sorcery to increase their survivability in the desert, while building beautiful cities like Fortune's Shore and Charmed Eboni. Most Eth, however, roamed the sands.

The Blood Storm War
The Blood Storm inflicted great damage on the Eth when they arrived, and the latter eventually joined the human tribes in the north to attack the Blood Storm. During the centuries-long war, the inquisitive and fiercely scholarly Eth discovered a means to harness sourcestone as a fuel for eldritch war machines. After the Blood Storm was imprisoned and the ward was constructed, the Eth applied this combination of magic and technology - technomagic - in all areas of their lives.

The Ethian Empire
The Vigil, however, demanded that the technology be abandoned. The Eth refused, casting themselves from the gods’ sight. The Eth went on to use technomagic to conquer their environment and build an Empire of conglomerated city-states. Each Ethian tribe settled in a great city ruled by a sorcerer-king, and the power and influence of the Eth spread throughout Telara, fueled by the wonders of sourcestone.

Fall of the Empire
Unfortunately, their technology fell into the clutches of insidious dragon cultists, and the Eth empire collapsed soon thereafter. Rather than risk the Blood Storm’s release, the Eth buried their wonders in the sand and destroyed all record of their forbidden techniques.

Though reduced once again to a nomadic life in the desert, the Eth persevered, finding new ways to adapt. Following the fall of their empire, many Eth sought asylum with their longtime allies, the Bahmi. Others spread through the verdant lands of Mathosia. Though taken in as scholars and court magicians, the Eth were generally distrusted by the more pious races.

The Eth Today
The Eth continue to value scholarly dedication and inventive approaches to problems old and new. The technomagic of today's Eth is based on the relics and ancient wisdom of the collapsed Ethian Empire. Modern-day Eth are the driving force behind the Defiants’ push to reclaim these lost arts for the defense of Telara, and if this should bring about a second golden age for their people, so much the better.

Tribes
The Eth wandered in thirteen tribes after leaving the High Elven forests, and each tribe settled in a great city after the Blood Storm War.
 * Mkhai
 * Discovered sourcestone technology during the Blood Storm War and unmatched in harnessing it.


 * Arkeen
 * Worked "wonders with life itself" in their city.


 * Khaliti
 * Build a "city of craftsmen"


 * Catari
 * "shone above all the rest"

Culture
Eth aesthetics are as complex as their minds, displaying an affinity for the basic shapes and complex repeating patterns of mathematically-inspired art. They despise superstition, and call those who place their destiny in the hands of others, fools. To an Eth, blind faith is equivalent to mental servitude, a terrifying fate to this highly cerebral people.

Racial Abilities
Desert Dweller's Birthright Passive Earth resistance increased by 20

Agility

Activated - Out of Combat

Increases movement speed by 70% for 15 seconds. This ability cannot be used in combat.

Other information

 * Male Eth character creation video from beta 2
 * The name of the Eth is an inside joke between the original creators of the Rift world lore, and is actually a reference to a lyric in the Rush song By-Tor and the Snow Dog I - At the Tobes of Hades