Catfolk

Catlike humanoids (Catfolk) are driven by curiosity to collect interesting artifacts, gather tales and stories, and lay eyes on all the world's wonders. They are particularly sneaky, light on their feet, and observant. Anashta the water goddess created Catfolk as a means of making mischief, and her love of cats in general. As a result, Catfolk do not fear or dislike water. Several nomadic catfolk can be found all over the land, but the bulk of their population lives in Kandarith: the only Catfolk city.

Catfolk tend to have a selfish streak and always look out for their own interests. They love making deals and are inquisitive, friendly people. However, their society is built to reward thievery, cunning, and stealth. They make excellent thieves and merchants, and they enjoy collecting shiny trinkets. They are known for their strange cultural values and the worship of their own cat demi-god, Balaji.

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Personality

Catfolk are all curious in one way or another. They enjoy telling stories, exploring, and keeping secrets. Most desire the knowledge and intrigue that accompanies magical artifacts. Others are more driven by coin, and have wares to sell for it.

Although catfolk are as intelligent as any other advanced humanoid race, their animal instincts are urges that cannot be ignored. Shiny things are very attractive to catfolk, as are hiding places, and soft things to sink their claws into. However, unlike animals, they feel the entire range of human emotions. When they are happy, they might let out a purr. When angry or threatened, they may hiss.

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Appearance and Physical Nature

A cat from Kandarith (by victoria_fantasy_art)

Catfolk are much larger than humans, standing nearly seven feet tall. They have broad, muscular shoulders and lithe bodies with long tails. Female catfolk tend to be a bit smaller than their male counterparts, but it is otherwise difficult to tell the difference between them. Catfolk are surprisingly light for their size, weighing between 150 to 250 pounds.

Catfolk have varying colors of fur. They are often spotted. Those with rosette spots are fond of climbing like their jaguar ancestors, while those with solid spots are excellent sprinters like the cheetahs they were fashioned after. Tigers, lions, and other big cats are also represented in catfolk, and when they mix they create calico or oddly-colored kittens. All catfolk are compatible with each other, and fur color has no bearing on the treatment of catfolk in society. Some catfolk have extra hair on their heads and around their neck, forming a mane. Others have long tufts of fur on their tail.

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Culture

Grooming is particularly important to catfolk, and so is keeping clean. In Kandarith, clothing is not viewed as a necessity. Females may wear a sash around their waist, males a loincloth; but these are fashion statements rather than a need to cover themselves. Collars are popular accessories, as are masks of silk, flowing fabric draped comfortably over the body, and piercings. Most garments are only one long piece of cloth.

Thievery is so common in Kandarith that it isn't a crime. Cats who are stolen from are blamed for not being diligent enough. As a result, catfolk have trouble integrating in other societies where thievery is a punishable offense. They also don't harbor any ill will towards thieves, believing the victim to be at fault.

Catfolk age very quickly. They are young adults by four to five years of age, and fully-fledged adults by ten years old. Catfolk do not normally live past forty. When they reach their mid-thirties, catfolk quickly decline physically. Their fur grays and their joints begin to ache of old age. Most catfolk have sharp minds until the very end. Aging has little effect on their mental faculties.

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Society

Catfolk as a race are united in their beliefs and customs owing to their small population size focussed entirely within the city of Kandarith. Only a few rogue catfolk might have different ideologies.

In general, catfolk society prizes values of individual accomplishment, rest and relaxation (particularly sunning themselves and lazing about), and finding clever ways to solve problems. Clean and tidy appearances are important.

Catfolk society glorifies those who possess ancient artifacts, stories, and exotic goods rather than raw gold, as gold mines are prevalent in Isandor. In order to obtain artifacts and lay claim to the glorious stories that go with them, catfolk raid ancient tombs and strange abandoned structures in the Dread Waste. They also frequently steal from each other. Both practices are encouraged.

Families

Catfolk have no familial ties. They do not have last names. Cats simply live within their clan, a collection of like-minded individuals, and that is loosely translated as a family unit or home. They need not have any blood relationship. However, the ties between clan members can become very deep over time. Clans tend to consist of five to twenty catfolk. Marriage does not exist in catfolk culture, and romantic relationships are flighty and short-lived. Catfolk are a laissez-faire, playfully detached people. Their lives are too short to concern themselves with ties to a single mate. Reproducing tends to be a loveless affair, practiced by females who like to do it, and avoided by those who do not. Catfolk produce entire litters from a single pregnancy, so there are no pressures on females to pursue a mate; the catfolk population grows more than it shrinks.

Kinship

To catfolk, there is simply “us” and “them” — catfolk versus the world. This does not mean they are unfriendly to outsiders; quite the contrary. Catfolk are fascinated by the other people who inhabit the world. Adventurers who spend years with catfolk quickly lose their status because they are no longer “new” and interesting.

Raising Kittens

Kittenfolk litters are raised by the entire community. In Kandarith, there are several large warrens where kittenfolk live, go to school, and are provided for. They are taken care of by matron mothers who are compensated handsomely for their work by the Lord who governs their area. Lords encourage the raising of kittenfolk because it contributes to their population, and thus their potential allies. Kittenfolk are always matched to a sponsor, or mentor, who guides and teaches them. Sponsoring a kitten for one year is mandatory for all citizens to ensure that the next generation receives all of the knowledge from the previous one, but citizens must only do it once. Many voluntarily sponsor several kittenfolk. The notion of a mother wanting to raise her own children is strange and foreign; catfolk who are particularly attached to young ones simply work in the warrens or serve as mentors to one or many kittenfolk.

Beliefs About Death

Catfolk believe in reincarnation and thus are not afraid of death. Catfolk believe every cat has nine lives — a life is spent when they die, and they will live eight more times before ascending to the Afterlife. Some cats blame their lot in life on their previous soul’s incarnation.

Language

All catfolk know a gutteral, bestial language that can only be understood by other felines. It is not a very precise language. Over the last several hundred years, merchants have learned Common and Orcish in order to better facilitate trade. These languages slowly permeated Kandarith. At present time, all kittenfolk are pressed to learn Orcish and Common at a young age. It would be strange to find an individual who was not bilingual or trilingual in catfolk society.

Names

Catfolk names tend to be short and easy to spell and pronounce. Balaji, Naran, Chen, Pridya, Yue, Mahi, Kashi, and Sathek are all common catfolk names.

Cuisine

Because catfolk live in the east in a very hot climate, their diet features grilled meat, fish, and many types of desert-vegetables. They hunt antelope for meaty dishes that taste like beef, and fish swordfish from the ocean. Some ambitious clans have penned herds of antelope that they harvest when necessary. Catfolk cuisine has many sweet and heavily spiced flavors. Cinnamon, cumin, ginger, peppers, peppercorns, herbs, plant oils, and more all feature in their food.

In ancient times, cat clans had berserker warriors within them known as blood-stalkers. Blood stalkers ingested desert plants that heightened their inner animal senses, allowing them to strike with primal fury. For weapons, catfolk favor bolas, slings, and javelins. Some use curved swords and daggers. These weapons are often made from wood, bone or stone. Catfolk are just as likely to use weapons as they are to use their claws and teeth.

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Religion

Catfolk are aware of the godly pantheon, but choose to place their trust and adoration in their own race as they can be vain, and even selfish at times. Their ancient hero Balaji is worshipped as a demigod. Balaji was a thief and a skilled fighter. Many aspire to have his wisdom and cunning. Still more try and claim they are descended from Balaji, but as there are scarce records of parentage or lineage in catfolk society, these claims cannot be proven.

Tiny golden status of Balaji are placed in shop windows and in homes to bring luck to the clan who owns it.

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Notable Catfolk

“Our hearts beat together ... and they stop together as well.” — Balaji, folk hero and demigod of catfolk

“There are two things paramount to staying a Lord. First is being aware of your surroundings. Second is looking confident, and pretending you know what you're doing. Cats do not steal from cats who are alert to their surroundings.” — Kasha, Prince of Thieves

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History

Not long after the gods populated Hellan, Anashta created catfolk and other animaloid creatures for Isandor. Avians took to the mountains, centaurs to the plains, and catfolk to the deserts; but Vandun and Arth quickly made orcs and goblins who took to conquering Isandor.

As time went on, catfolk and their animaloid kin were killed or enslaved by the orcs. Only the most cunning and stealthy of catfolk survived the mass genocide of their race by hiding or fleeing the continent. Hundreds of years later, when catfolk were near-extinct, the folk hero Balaji challenged the orcs’ finest champion to hand-to-hand combat.

Legends tell that Balaji was able to take down the larger foe and secure safety for his people through his wit and dexterity alone. This earned him safety for his small clan of catfolk — as orcs respect those who can defeat them in battle.

Balaji’s clan of homeless catfolk went on to found Kandarith in a secluded corner of Isandor. Balaji was hailed as a hero and immortalized as the patron protector of catfolk, giving him the status of demigod amongst catkind.