Catfolk are an ancestry of people who share strong ties with felines – from their personalities to their physical appearance. They are often natural explorers who rarely tire of trailblazing, but such trailblazing is not limited merely to the search for new horizons in distant lands. Many catfolk see personal growth and development as equally valid avenues of exploration. While most catfolk are nimble, capable, and often active creatures, there is also a strong tendency among some catfolk to engage in quiet contemplation and study. Such individuals are interested in finding new solutions to age-old problems and questioning even the most steadfast philosophical certainties of the day. They are curious by nature and their society’s cultures never discourages inquisitiveness, but rather fosters and encourages it. Many are seen as quirky extroverts by members of other ancestries, but within catfolk tribes there is no shame attached to minor peculiarities, eccentricities, or foolhardiness. Most catfolk enjoy being the center of attention, but not at the expense of their tribe, whether it’s the one the catfolk are born into or the tribe they choose through the bonds of friendship with other creatures. Catfolk tend to be both generous and loyal to their family and friends.
Physical Description: In general, catfolk are lithe and slender, standing midway between dwarves and humans in stature. While clearly humanoid, they possess many feline features, including a coat of soft fine fur, slit pupils, and a sleek, slender tail. Their ears are pointed, but unlike those of elves, are more rounded and catlike. They manipulate objects as easily as any other humanoid, but their fingers terminate in small, sharp, retractable claws. These claws are typically not powerful enough to be used as weapons, but some members of the species—either by quirk of birth or from years of honing—can use them with deadly effect. Feline whiskers are not uncommon, but not universal, and hair and eye color vary greatly.
Catfolk reach adulthood by their society’s standards at 18, with middle age at 35 and old age around 53. The most venerable of this ancestry live into their 70s. Catfolk are sexually dimorphic, with the average height of males around 5 feet and 8 inches and females nearly half a foot shorter. Their body mass is similar, making most females weigh less than males.
Society: While self-expression is an important aspect of catfolk culture, it is mitigated by a strong sense of community and group effort. Catfolk societies are often a hunter-gatherer structure though other organizations are not uncommon and often mirror neighboring communities. The pursuit of personal power typically never comes before the health and wellbeing of the tribe. More than one ancestry has underestimated these seemingly gentle people only to discover much too late that their cohesion also provides them great strength.
Catfolk prefer to be led by their most competent members, usually a council chosen by their peers, either through consensus or election. These council members then choose a leader to be in command during times of danger and to mediate disputes among the councils. This leader is often the most capable member of the community, and is often magically, mystically, or scholarly inclined. Catfolk who settle in more urban and civilized areas often maintain this community structure to uphold societal cohesion, but often see friends outside the settlement, even those from other ancestries, as part of their extended community. Within adventuring groups, catfolk who do not consider themselves the obvious choice as leader often defer to the person who most resembles their cultural ideal of who a leader should be.
Relations: Adaptable and curious, catfolk get along with almost any ancestry that extends reciprocal goodwill. They acclimate easily to halflings, humans, and especially elves. Catfolk and elves share a passionate nature, as well as a love of music, dance, and storytelling; elven communities often gently mentor catfolk tribes, though such elves are careful not to act in a patronizing manner toward their feline friends. Gnomes make natural companions for catfolk, as catfolk enjoy gnomes’ strange and obsessive qualities. Catfolk are tolerant of nagaji as long as the reptilian beings respect the catfolk’s boundaries. The feral nature of orcs stirs as much puzzlement as it does confusion among catfolk. Catfolk often view ratfolk as vermin, as they disdain the swarming and pernicious tendencies of that ancestry.
Alignment and Religion: With community and unselfish cooperation at the center of their culture, as well as a good-natured curiosity and willingness to adapt to the customs of many other ancestries, most catfolk tend to value community at the center of their beliefs. This, along with the arts and story-telling, make up the core of catfolk faiths.
Adventurers: Natural born trackers, the hunter-gatherer aspect of their communities pushes many catfolk toward occupations within the natural world, but such roles do not always speak to their love of performance art – be it song, dance, or storytelling. Catfolk legends also speak of a rich tradition of great magical, mystical, and scholarly heroes. Those catfolk who internalize their wanderlust often seek to perfect themselves or learn more about their crafts. While catfolks who follow the path of the crusader are rare (steadfast dedication to a cause is often alien to the catfolk mindset) individuals who choose these paths are never looked down upon. Catfolk understand that exploration and self-knowledge can lead down many roads, and are accepting of nearly all professions and ways of life.
Names: Alyara, Carruth, Drewan, Duline, Ferus, Gerran, Hoya, Jilyana, Milah, Miniri, Nyktan, Rouqar, Siphelele, Tiyeri, Zithembe