Faaleyce {Cat Folk}

"Ah the Cat Folk, well Faaleyce I suppose they call emselves. They be a wonderful folk. I once spent near ah year with ah tribe of em. They can move as near as silent as may be on them soft feet of theirs. Great hunters. That's why I was there. I was tryin to learn their secrets. Pretty folk too. Ain't seen nutin as beautiful as a cat folk princess I tell yah."

~Paxton the Huntsmen

Faaleyce (fah-lay-see), or Cat Folk as they are sometimes called, are a feline race of bipeds whom once inhabited the more frontier regions of Errota. Existing as tribes of hunters, the Faaleyce followed herds of game through their migrations. Most of their time was spent in the hunting and processing of game, however, they were also known for producing wonderful art out of natural elements.
After the shattering, the Faaleyce where forced to quickly adapt and many tribes died off as a result. Those that survived did so by learning animal husbandry and domesticating the herds they had previously hunted. Most now live in small but growing settlements based within large grazing grounds.
Due to their heritage as hunters, Faaleyce excel at survival skills, have good perception, and a natural quick-witted shrewdness. While not a stupid people, most are willing to play the role of naïve-primitive if it gains them an advantage.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Faaleyce are fur covered bipeds. They have sharp, retractable claws on hands and feet, and typically have long slender tails. Some have large muscular frames while others are lithe and agile.

Genetics and Reproduction

Faaleyce are a traditional male/female reproductive species. Females give live birth to litters of 3-5 kits after 6 months gestation.


While looked down on by most Faaleyce (who see themselves as the higher race) Faaleyce are biologically compatible with most other sapient species (especially humans and elves) with the exception of the Cloven and Turtle-kin.

Growth Rate & Stages

Kit - Newborn to 10 Years
Junior - 11 to 25 Years
Prime - 26 to 40 Years
Mature - 40 to 60 Years
Senior - 60 to 75 Years
Elder - 76+ Years

Dietary Needs and Habits

Faaleyce are primarily meat eaters. After the world shattered, most where forced to take up animal husbandry in some form. They have proven adept at domesticating many different species of herd animals. Others have taken up aquaculture and live primarily off fish. It is believed by some that over the next millennia the Faaleyce will adapt into omnivores as they begin to eat the very crops they raise now for animal feed.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Faaleyce tend to have round faces with pointed ears located high on the head and widely spaced forward facing eyes. Most have a muzzle with a pink or black triangular nose (though some can be fur covered). Faaleyce generally appear bored and regal (usually at the same time). However surprise, anger, and concentration also have very prominent, recognizable expressions.

Average Intelligence

Due to their hunter origins the Faaleyce are not particularly technologically advanced. They do not, in general, have higher sciences or mathematics. However, with their quick wit and cunning eye, they do excel in life skills and at adapting cast off items to new purposes.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Between their excellent hearing and ability to see at night, Faaleyce are naturally more perceptive then most.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Faaleyce names are a complex thing and grow over time. The shortest form, usually granted at birth includes the given name, followed by son of/daughter of and the fathers name. Upon becoming a junior (age 10-12) the Faaleyce add the tribes name after the father. After reaching adult-hood and having their first litter, the Faaleyce gains a honorific prefex that states they are a parent. Finally upon reaching old age, the Faaleyce gains a epitaph that speaks to that Faaleyce's personality or greatest accomplishment.


Example: Father Azizi son-of Eesha from Tururah the faithful
or: Mother Aliya daughter-of Nashika from Khasat the beloved


Typically female names end in a soft a or "ah" but can end in other soft sounds. Male names use most anything but the soft a but commonly end in a hard or rough sound.


The son-of / daughter-of name typically refers to the Faaleyce's mother, unless the father has done something of exceptional note.

History

Faaleyce were originally hunters. They lived in small tribes and followed the game as it migrated through the seasons. During this time, little effort was put into education or invention as all effort was put into hunting.


After the world was shattered, the Faaleyce where forced to adapt quickly as migration was no longer reliable. Most built permanent settlements and focused on domesticating the herds they had long hunted. With this came the need for farming, and other basic sciences.

Starting Stat Block

Scientific Name

Felidae

Lifespan

75

Average Height

1.75 meters (5' 9") Female
2 meters (6' 7") Male

Average Weight

77kg (170lbs) Female
104 kg (230lbs) Male

Average Physique

There is no average physique for the Faaleyce. There do, however, seem to be three primary standards. The first type is muscular and large. With this size, however, comes a cost in speed and grace. Second is the polar opposite, lithe and agile, these are some of the fastest beings in the world. Finally, there is a middle ground between the two.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Faaleyce come in a number of colors and patterns. The most common patterns include stripes or spots, typically black, though many have no pattern at all. Colors are far more varied but often take on earth tones in the yellow to orange range, however, white and black also occur.