Tabaxi

"Swift, fierce, and curious beyond belief, the Tabaxi are catfolk blessed with evolution by the Seasons, centuries ago. As a species, a lot of them are still learning how the world works, and their feline ancestry keeps them ever curious about themselves, their home, and the world at large."

Basic Information

Anatomy

Tabaxi is the umbrella term for a sapofeline species of anthropomorphic cats that is believed to have evolved in the early first century of Tu'ril, during the healing era after the reign of Great Bones.

Growth Rate & Stages

As a result of their evolution, Tabaxi grow and mature at the same rate of humans.

Ecology and Habitats

Tabaxi have a wide range of habitat based on their subspecies, from jungle to savannah to snowy mountains.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Tabaxi lean towards carnivory wherever possible. However, they are not completely carnivorous.

Biological Cycle

Tabaxi do not necessarily have a distinct biological cycle, though they tend to be more awake at night than during the day. A vestige from their previous form.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Tabaxi have feline faces, with short muzzles, soft noses, and whiskers on their snouts and eyebrows.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Tabaxi evolved separately in multiple places as the result of the healing magic that flowed into the land after the defeat of Great Bones. As a result, they are found in many disparate places, such as the mountainous regions to the north, the savannas that covers much of Sakrentos, and the jungles that splotch across the northern border of Nobliya.

Average Intelligence

Tabaxi as a whole have a similar intelligence variety to humans and other humanoids, with a knack for creativity and storytelling.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Tabaxi retain their excellent sense of hearing and sight, as well as their whiskers, which allow them to sense wind, feel objects, and other extrasensory capabilities. It is also said that Tabaxi have such strong senses that they are more in tune with the spiritual world, including gods, ghosts, and guardians spirits.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

In Nobliya, Tabaxi personal names often come from pretty words Tabaxi encounter on their journeys. They often have two parts to their personal name, and both can be used interchangeably. Typically, Tabaxi favor their second personal name. Tabaxi surnames come from their tribe name, or else if they are tribeless, they go by both of their personal names and use the second one as a surname when forced to. A Tabaxi may choose to go by a translation of their name in Tabaxi, which is provided in parentheses for the example names.
Example Tabaxi Personal Names: Five Stone, Radiant Cloud, Quirk Berry, Puzzle Piece, Gold Wing
Example Tabaxi Tribe Names: Humblegrotto (Pentaire), Sleepyswamp (Codladh), Blankmist (Banceo), Velvetglade (Sasveilh)
In Sakrentos, Tabaxi have one personal name that typically comes from the spoken part of the Tabaxi language. They do not sport a surname, instead referring to themselves as "of" their tribe.
Example Sakrentosian Tabaxi Names: Berit of Stoneswallow, Gilroy of Edgewalk, Flannery of Stormbound, Oisin of Waterslash, Pippa of Firespeak

Major Organizations

Tabaxi in Nobliya have found something of a haven in the village protected by the Pentaire tribe, and it is one of their largest settlements on the continent. Sakrentos is home to several Tabaxi groups as well, though no particular organizations.

Beauty Ideals

Tabaxi beauty ideals are something of a mishmash between human and feline. Glossy coats, sharp claws and teeth, straight whiskers, that sort of thing that both humans and felines find attractive.

Gender Ideals

Tabaxi as a species do not have a lot of sexual dimorphism (with the exclusion of Leo Tabaxi, which is explained in their specific article) but those living in largely humanoid settlements will often adhere to those gender ideals.

Courtship Ideals

Tabaxi culture is steeped in storytelling, and to have a good story you often have to have a good experience. Big extravagant dates are often planned by a Tabaxi seeking to court another, so they'll have a great story to tell later. Romantic walks, boat rides, fancy dinners, stuff of the like are often the first "big move" in Tabaxi culture.

Average Technological Level

Tabaxi are masters of using their natural surroundings to their advantage. Pentaire Village is a testament to their architectural skills, with most of its buildings built out of foliage and clay up in high jungle trees.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The Tabaxi language is made up of both spoken word and sign, along with a series of physical touches that can mean different things. Some are easy to guess - batting at someone with your paw is a way to disagree with them - while others are more archaic, relics from their ancestry in felines. A Tabaxi blinking slowly at you is a way to show they are letting their guard down around you, that they trust you, and potentially that they love you.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Tabaxi culture revolves around stories and storytelling. Leaving home and traveling the world in search of tales to collect is a huge part of a growing Tabaxi's life. A Tabaxi far from home is often an adventurer just for the sake of that (though many more have more reason to go out into a world on their quests) and often throws themselves at dangerous situations just because they'll be an excellent story to tell later. The proverb "curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back" really fits with the culture of Tabaxi.
Another thing deeply ingrained in the culture of Tabaxi as a whole is respect for spirits and other unseen beings in Tu'ril. Tribes of Tabaxi typically have a spiritual leader of sorts that is "in tune" with the spirits, and often guides the tribe in various spiritual and celestial activities (worship, prayer, spirit guiding, etc.)

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Tabaxi are most often credited with the forming of the practice known as Spirit Guiding, as they are very spiritually perceptive as a whole species. In a nutshell, the practice of spirit guiding is when expecting parents leave offerings and prayers in their household to attract a lost spirit to their home, so that it may become an assigned guardian spirit to their child and help them achieve their destiny. It is a somewhat faithful action, and there is debate amongst scholars whether guardian spirits are themselves minor gods.

Common Taboos

Never speak unkindly about someone with a guardian spirit. Just because you cannot see it does not mean it's not real, and that disrespects both the person and the spirit in the same word.
Never speak unkindly about the spiritual leader. They could probably curse you for realsies.
Never interrupt somebody telling a story. Let them finish, then you can interject, change the subject, whatever. It's terrible form in conversation unless there's an emergency.

History

Tabaxi subspecies are very disparate, but all of them share a similar genetic history. In the age of healing, after the defeat and sealing of the monstrous Great Bones, the Seasons pumped magic into the land to help it heal, and as a sign to the other races that they were safe to come out. Inadvertently, this magic affected many of the beasts of Tu'ril, allowing them to evolve and transform into many of the anthropomorphic races that now populate the land. Tabaxi, in particular, evolved from all sorts of feline beasts throughout the continent. Up in the mountains, Uncia Tabaxi adapted from snow leopards, with long fluffy coats. Out in the savannahs, Leo Tabaxi evolved from prides of proud lions. And deep in the jungles, Panthera Tabaxi descended from panthers, leopards, and jaguars, with their spotted fur and deadly camouflage. Even in towns and other populated areas, common domestic breeds of cat began to evolve into Domo Tabaxi, where their small size became not a problem. All over, Tabaxi came into their own before humans, dwarves, and other dormant races had returned to the land, and for centuries Tabaxi (and other anthro races) have coexisted peacefully with the humanoids.

Historical Figures

The five Pentaire Kings are perhaps the most famous and notable Tabaxi in recent history, as the sovereign of their own trade empire and their home village, they are key players in the economy of Nobliya. It's the first time that Tabaxi have had such a role.
A major spiritual history-maker has a name that's been passed down by spirit-guiders for generations. Kyra of Thistlebrook, a Sakrentosian Panthera Tabaxi, is often revered as the first bearer of a guardian spirit, a clever fox she called Swiper. It appears her destiny was to bring guardian spirits and the practice of spirit guiding into the common era.

Common Myths and Legends

As Tabaxi are not nearly as long-lived as humans, dwarves, and other humanoid races, they don't have a lot of legends specific to them. Rather, they tend to collect myths and stories from the humanoids and attach them to their own mythos.

Genetic Descendants

Scientific Name

Felis Sapiens

Origin/Ancestry

Sapofeline

Lifespan

Around a century

Average Height

Tabaxi height varies depending on their ancestor, with the biggest of the subspecies being around 6-7 ft and the smallest being around 4-5 ft.

Average Weight

Again, the weight of a Tabaxi varies depending on their ancestor. They are typically more lithe than humans (though some are in fact quite bulky and muscular) with an average weight of around 150-250 lbs.

Average Length

A Tabaxi's average tail length is around 2-3 ft.

Average Physique

Tabaxi are typically strong in their back legs, which give them better jumping ability and sprinting speed.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Tabaxi fur coloration differs vastly based on ancestor. There are Tabaxi of the mountains who wear grey-and-white coats for camouflage, and Tabaxi of the savannah that grow impressive manes alongside their fur coats. There are Tabaxi that grew from common housecats, with fur patterns of every variety. There's even Tabaxi out there with no fur at all!

Geographic Distribution

Related Organizations

Pentaire Tribe

Related Ethnicities