#nuton

It should be noted that the decorum they hold to is not rooted in any particular culture in specific. Instead, it seems to be drawn out of some sort of racial memory on the part of nutons. At its root, it is a disgust in basic bodily functions. They consider any reminder of these functions to be a matter of grave insult. Nutons themselves lack most of the required organs. Scholars are divided on whether their distaste is a fear of the unknown or a gnawing envy. Besides that root, it otherwise resembles the decorum held among the nearest local culture.

The origins of nutons are hotly disputed. Primarily, there are two sides. The Literalists believe that nutons are spontaneously conceived in the bodies of young virgins (male or female) who are too polite and reserved. Literalists point to the various religious festivals that involve virgins dancing in an unrestrained manner, as well as various folk traditions that incorporate some sort of 'day of reversal,' where adults wait upon the children, and the children work. They argue that these practices serve as guards against the birth of new nutons.

Rationalists, however, dismiss those connections as facile. They believe instead in some manner of fey-induced conception. Rationalists point to records of nutons wooing polite virgins. While most of these cases end in the village driving off the nuton, there are others that end with the maiden simply disappearing. It is these cases, Rationalists argue, that produce more nutons. Admittedly, the specifics are a mystery.

Nutons appear much like elf-blooded humans, with pointed ears, and unnaturally vibrant colorations. Some scholars have theorized that most nutons are descended from Peri virgins, on account of the exotic colors. Unlike most fey, they are not harmed by the touch of iron or steel. This is usually understood to be a result of their close relation with humans (regardless of the Literalist or Rationalist origins).

Most nutons are trained in word- and sword-play, as well as dueling forms of magic. They are intentionally not trained in the use of charms and other mind-magics. Despite that, they are hardly above coercion and other underhanded diplomatic methods. They are just very careful to stay within the bounds of propriety while doing so. Sometimes, they have been lauded for doing such, exposing the foul deeds of their opposite numbers.