Tabaxi

Appearance

Often described as "cat-people" Tabaxi come in a variety of shapes; including panther, lion, and lynx. Like most felines, Tabaxi have long tails and retractable claws. Tabaxi fur color depends greatly on which feline species their ancestry can be traced to. Tabaxi eyes were slit-pupiled and usually green or yellow. Tabaxi are known to be competent swimmers and climbers as well as speedy runners. They have a good sense of balance and an acute sense of smell.

They are also know for curiosity and inquisitive personalities. In some this compells them to travel and seek out stories, artifacts, new experiences and knowledge, never remaining in the same place or obsessing over the same piece of lore for too long.

Not all tabaxi are motivated by curiosity to leave their homeland, however. Some find safer ways to satisfy their fleeting obsessions by becoming traveling minstrels and tinkers, often accepting interesting objects and stories as payment for their services.

In general, tabaxi dp not care for wealth, but they dp have an almost obsessive interest in ancient artifacts, relics and magic items. Not for the items themselves, as much as the stories and secrets they held. Once an item had been thoroughly examined and studied, and its secrets revealed, it would lose its allure and the tabaxi often quickly lose interest and pass it on.

Average Characteristics

• Age: The average Tabaxi can live up to 100 years.
• Size: Tabaxi are taller than most humans at six to seven feet. Their bodies were slender and covered in fur.
• Language: Tabaxi

Locations

While most Tabaxi stick near the Scattered Savannah of Umberfell, a few can be found wandering throughout Ellebore as well.

History

Much of the early history of the Tabaxi has been lost to the mists of time. As far as the various clowders know, they have always roamed the grasslands of their homes without challenge. That is, they were without challenge until roughly 320 PF, when the Thri-Kreen appeared, literally overnight.

There was a shooting star in the sky for most of the day, slowly getting bigger. Unsure of what it could mean the Tabaxi went about their lives as normal...with only the occasional look up at the strange object. That night, in the darkest hours after midnight, there was a blinding flash and an earthquake that rocked most of Umberfell.

The nearest tribe, the Grass Stalkers, sent scouts in the direction of the flash to discover what had happened. Only one came back alive, but he reported an enormous crater and a number of insectoid people. These strange creatures attacked the scouts, and the only reason Root of the Grass survived was that he had been the furthest away.

The Thri-Kreen began pushing out from the crater, claiming more and more territory. This lead to much fighting, not to mention death. Not even the fiercest Tabaxi warriors could frighten these creatures...no matter how many of the bugs they killed. Eventually it seemed the Thri-Kreen were satisfied. They stopped pushing forward and settled down to consolidate their new territory.

Since that point, the Tabaxi and Thri-Kreen have learned to co-habitat relatively peacefully. Most Tabaxi will at least try to talk to the insectoids before attacking. Mostly however, they just try to avoid each other by staying far away from the other's territory.