Shu

Shu were a secretive, slender humanoid race of warriors almost identical to halflings except that they were only found in forested regions and didn't grow hair.

Description
Shu were diminutive humanoids who rarely grew any taller than four feet tall. Unlike most humanoids, Shu were completely hairless and unlike halflings, they didn't seem to grow fat. They adorned their bodies with copious amounts of war paint and adorned themselves with garish jewellery as well as piercings in their ears and faces.

Personality
With other Shu, they were friendly and trusted easily, though interactions with other races, especially those that were bigger than them, were a lot more reserved. They generally avoided contact with others, but when they did, they weren't hostile unless first threatened. There was one exception, in that they were staunch enemies of the predatory black leopard katanga. Young shu demonstrated much more open mindedness toward other races and tended to be much more willing to speak and trade with them.

Combat
Shu were all proficient with blowguns and used both them and shortbows with deadly accuracy. Many could seem to completely disappear into jungle foliage. These abilities, coupled with ammunition tipped in a fast-acting sleep poison of their own concoction, made them dangerous ambush hunters. Shu were also resistant to poison and magic.

Society
Shu live in small tribes, consisting of only a few families who have banded together for mutual protection. Long history of predation by animals and larger humanoids have taught them that being alone means certain death and the proposition of being alone terrifies them. This has also led to a warrior culture and a mindset that places the importance of the group over the needs of an individual. Tribes containing five or more families often boast a witch doctor who creates the shu sleep poison and leads the tribe in the worship of their ancestors. The leader of a tribe is called the 'shunin' but they are only chosen during times of great crisis.

Tribes choose a representative from among their number to enter into a conclave with representatives of other tribes, creating a microcosm of a nation wherever shu are found. Shu have a strong oral history that they take as gospel, leading to beliefs such as if any shu commits violence against another, at best they will be struck down by an angry ancestor and at worst will lead to a world-ending apocalypse.