The Catlands

Lands of the Sun

The people aside, Ryn enjoyed traveling the Catlands. The air was dry and hot, like home, but the land managed to provide far more. To her eyes the endless fields of gold-green grass waving in the wind was a heavenly bounty. The immense herds of giant grazers which fed upon them were promises of winter stores that would not run dry. The months-long season of continual rain was a beautiful dream.
Pity it belonged to the locals.

Geography

The Catlands by and large are wide, flat plains coated in pale green and golden grasses. The occasional small grove or individual tree breaks up the expanse. A handful of rivers cross through, and Felids settle along bends in them. Small watering holes are also found in the grass, though rarely are these large enough to support a small town.
Near the borders, the geography begins to shift. Near the boundary with the Lupine Range, patches of woods become larger and more frequent and the grasses grow thicker and greener as a result of higher rainfall. Along the eastern edge, the grasslands sweep over rolling hills before the land drops off into the sea. The southern border with the Masked Kingdom is marked by the wide Acionnan River and the marshlands to either side.

Ecosystem

Similar to African Savannah ecosystem.

Ecosystem Cycles

The four seasons as we recognize them don't appear in the Catlands. Instead, there are three seasons in a year:

• The dry season; a regular drought. Smaller, shallower watering holes dry up and the grass becomes a tinderbox. A wildfire started in this season can be devastating.
• The rainy season; almost all of the rain for the year falls in these 3 months. If it does not rain every day, it is every other day, and at varying degrees of severity. This is the lazy season for residents, as hunting is difficult and unpleasant and the plants which provide other sustenance are recovering from the dry time. Largely Felids will relax, eat their preserved foods, and wait for the water to subside.
• The green season; the harvest season. This is when calves are born to herbivores, and fruits and vegetables are available. This is the busy time for residents, who take advantage of the abundance not only to feast but to preserve food for leaner times.

History

While the Catlands are rich with the history of devastating battles against the Lupines and Masked Kingdom, most of the details have been lost as irrelevant histories. The legacy lives on in location names, such as Bleeding Trees, Poison Hole, and Corpora Crossing.
Of course, the setting of the borders is viewed as a great victory by the Felids and they tell all kits the stories of cursing the Acionnan River so that any Mask who tried to cross it would find themselves back on the bank they began upon, and of driving the marker posts to keep the Wolves out of their territory for good.
Felids take particular pride in the fact that they "won" the greatest blood feud of the wars, between the chief of the Windwave clan and the warrior G'aba. Though both men survived to the end of the war, G'aba drew final blood when shaking hands at the establishment of the border. He extended his claws, digging into the Lupine's wrist, marking the fenceline with his dripping blood. As the Lupines genuinely desired peace, they did not retaliate, and so the Felids believe they won the war.

Tourism

Felids tolerate visitors, provided they follow all community rules during their stay. They consider tourists something of a curiosity, and can come across as creepy, with their distant observation of those who are visiting.
People come to the Catlands for many experiences not available elsewhere. Many unusual and fascinating animals only live in the wide open Savannah and can be found for watching if one hires a Felid guide. Some also want to join Felids on a hunt, though all but the most athletic tend to be more hindrance than help and Felids charge a premium for this service. Others simply want to wander, drinking in the scenery of the high grass dancing in the wind.
Finally some come to experience the Felids themselves. Researchers, foreign culture enthusiasts, and journeying Avians all hope to hear a story (or two, or nineteen) from Felid firesides. Likewise, there is a fascination with watching the Nation that prides itself on Dexterity go about their day. Mask engineers learned almost everything they know about economy of movement from researchers taking their sabbaticals in Felid settlements.
When visiting, outsiders are welcome to camp anywhere in the open (though Felids snigger privately at those who do this- it's terribly dangerous, particularly when one does not really know the land), and are encouraged to set up camp just outside Felid settlements for protection. If any of the dwellings are unoccupied, they may take them, though it is expected that they vacate if a family comes out of seclusion. While part of a settlement visitors are welcome to their share of the community water, but they are on their own for food.

Type

Savannah