Kartheesan

Catfolk of the Northern Grasslands

The Catfolk of the Kartheesi Plains are a semi-nomadic race of humanoids with catlike features. They roam the grasslands in tribal camps that set up for a few weeks at a time before moving again.
The camps of the Kartheesi are circular in nature, with children playing under the supervision of elders in the center, and other members of the tribe in tents ranging in concentric circles outward, with the most skilled warriors on the outside edge. These camps rarely approach the cities of other races, however caravans of pack animals with warrior and shaman escort are often found entering the The Karthin Cities to collect goods promised by the treaties with those cities.
There are 67 tribal bands recognized by the Kartheesan Tribal Council. The Council is composed of 67 Khans, the chieftains of each tribe. The council is presided over by 5 ilKhans, the most powerful known shamans of the Kartheesi. Upon taking the rank of ilKhan, a shaman must leave behind all ties to her former tribe, a process which involves a ceremony in which the tribe formally disowns the ilKhan to be. While the law technically dictates that any such ceremony should be complete in every way, traditionally the event is less traumatic and violent than those performed for criminals.
There are no death penalties or prison sentences for the Kartheesi. Serious crimes are punished with outlawry, and the criminal is ceremonially disowned by the tribe. The ritual formally declares the criminal as no longer a person in the eyes of the law, and no act performed against the criminal carries any legal punishment. In the process of the ceremony, often one ear is removed, so that other tribes will also know the outlaw's status.
Leadership of a tribe is by a chieftain, a semi-hereditary position. When a chieftain dies, becomes unfit to lead or steps down, the position passes to their eldest child, regardless of gender. With no children as heirs, nephews and nieces are considered next, followed by sisters and brothers, cousins, and then uncles and aunts. This hereditary chain will continue uninterrupted until another member of the tribe feels that the current chieftain is unfit, and issues a challenge for leadership. Any adult may make the challenge, and what results is three days of tests to pit the wisdom and strength of each leader against the other, culminating in ritual combat on the third day. The winner becomes the new chieftain, and their offspring become the heirs. This system is to ensure a clear line of succession, while allowing a safeguard against stagnant dynasties leading a tribe into cultural decline. A challenge is rarely issued except in the case where the leader is perceived as corrupt or dangerously incompetent. It is considered the height of bad form to challenge purely as a power grab, and such leaders rarely last more than a week before being toppled by a challenge of their own.
The Catfolk are a deeply spiritual people, and their shamans are held in high regard within the tribes. They perform the day to day tasks of healing and spiritual guidance for the tribe. Shamans of the Kartheesi are a highly individualistic bunch, powering their abilities with levels in cleric, druid, divine soul sorcerer or any combination of these.
On the northern shore of the Kartheesi plains is a peninsula, which five islands north of the tip, called The Paw. On each of the islands is a temple dedicated to one of the five gods of the Kartheesi religion: The Stag God, The Toothed God, Asta, Dima Sorgossa and Fereshteh. Each of these temples is overseen by the ilKhans of the Tribal Council. The beginning of a young Kartheesi's career as a warrior of his tribe involves a pilgrimage to one of these temples, chosen to represent the role the warrior wishes to take in his tribe. A warrior's alignment need not match that of the god whose path he takes, the gods simply represent the the varied roles of a warrior. The Kartheesi hate water, believing the ocean to be an underworld where dishonored dead are punished by a demon queen (probably Zayladi), and possess no boats other than the tiny handmade ceremonial boats used for the pilgrimages. The journey to the island is one of the most terrifying and nerve-wracking experiences of a Kartheesi's life.