Feran

Feran are an agile feline race. They have cat-like faces and fur across their entire bodies. They are bipedal, with reversed knees, tails, and paws with opposable thumbs and retractable claws. Female Feran are larger and more muscular than the males.

Racial Modifiers

• Favored Template: Adept, Shaman
• Favored Stat: Dexterity
• +10 Speed
• +5 Health
• +7 Resistance
• Natural weapons (claws +2)
• +1 Base Climb
• +1 Base Acrobatics
• Feran cannot use short bows or longbows, however they may use crossbows.

Personality

Feran from Shingrow come from a very reserved matriarchic society. They are taught respect at a young age, especially for women and elders. They tend to struggle in other humanoid societies, especially when faced with meritocratic or patriarchic systems. They value nature, spirits, and family. They are fierce fighters, using their claws as natural weapons, and excellent shamans, with a propensity for working with nature spirits or ancestors. The Feran population in Vicisi is more equal for their males, having lost touch with their Shingrow roots. They move in tribal bands throughout the region, and are less personally and culturally conservative as a rule.

Relations

Feran are known around the world for their deep ties to nature and the Spirit Realm. Shamanism is a cultural norm, and as a result, they are the model for all aspiring shamans, regardless of race. Before the Sundering, Shingrow and Koolong were close neighbors, and much of the Feran culture shaped that human kingdom. They remain close allies to this day. The Feran have no present national enemy, and are welcome in all mortal societies.

Religion

The Feran acknowledge the Blessed Gods, however, devout worship is exceedingly rare in their society. The combination of their veneration of elders and their shamanism has created a near religious devotion to the spirits of their ancestors. It is not uncommon for a Feran shaman to have one of her ancestors be a spirit with whom she communes.

History

The Feran race started as house pets of the Elari. During the Elari-Faerie war, these delightful beasts betrayed their masters and brutally scratched the Elari's antique furniture, urinated in their linens, defecated in their ancient bone armor, and would lie in wait to pounce upon their Elari masters, mercilessly attacking them with their natural weapons. As a gift for their newfound loyalty, the Green Dragon God of Shamanism freed them and reformed them into the size and shape of their former masters. This oral history has been passed from cat-person to cat-person, through the generations, though often disrupted by manic fits brought on by ingesting Nepeta Cataria. Whether or not the history of the Feran runs deeper remains to be seen.

Region & Society

General

Feran who live outside of Shingrow tend to establish their own enclaves or ghettos within the cities of the other mortal races. They do not tend to integrate into the society, rather seeing themselves as embassies of Shingrow and the Matriarch within their chosen community. They may operate a business in a human city for example, selling to all races, and even maintain a few human friendships, but their intimate dealings tend to be between their fellow Feran. They are not cold or unwelcoming to members of the other races, in fact they are hospitable almost to a fault. However, they tend to not develop close relationships outside of their own race.

Shingrow

Shingrow's natural borders, as well as some alliances, have kept it an independent, semi-isolated Feran kingdom surrounded by human nations, The Svaald, and the sea. The Shingrow Feran live in arboreal communities throughout the region. Typically, these communities have a ruling family that answer directly to the Matriarch or her council. The males in Shingrow society are not given the same opportunities in life as their counterparts. They are typically relegated to domestic duties. Other races are not forbidden from visiting Shingrow, however they must be given approval from a ranking female, and are not given free mobility within the nation's borders.

Vicisi

The exception to the general rule is Vicisi. These Feran live predominantly on the plains, the prairie, and some in the forests. They are very different from the Feran of Shingrow; they range and travel in large tribes, or Prides. Sometimes different Prides will trade, intermarry, or even skirmish. The leader of each pride is determined by who is the most fit, so while it is not the matriarchy of the Feran kingdom, often the pride leader is female, as female Feran are the larger gender . Once a year there is a ritual among each pride that the leader can be challenged. The combat is fought with claws, no weapons or noticeable magics are allowed (Manifested spirits are forbidden, but imbued spirits and some abilities are permitted). The winner of the combat becomes the leader of the pride. Rarely is a challenge issued, however, as older leaders will step aside often before they would be challenged. The Feran prides are nomadic, and will seldom enter a city, or trade. They are very self sustaining, and the majority of the population of the free cities have never seen a Feran. They are more common in Kertos than any other city, and somewhat in Isenroth, though not as established residents in either.

Language

The Feran have a unique, guttural language that is not often taught outside of their race. All Feran are raised learning their native tongue and the common trade language.

Names

Feran names follow one of two conventions. The modern trend of the last few hundred years within Feran society closely resembles real-life Japanese names, while the more traditional, archaic names contain more guttural sounds, long H's and rolling R's.

Male Names

Ose Hiroya, Omura Hisaki, Namba Jiro, Hruldor*, Hvarl*

Female Names

Tada Okimi, Ishii Shizue, Mura Waka, Hessra*, Rhinalra*

(*Traditional/Archaic Feran name)

Equipment

Feran are agile, and fast, preferring light & medium armors such as leather or chainmail to maximize their mobility. They are naturally ambidextrous capable of fighting with their natural claws, or dual wielding bladed weapons. Because of their unique paw structure with single knuckles and three fingers traditional bows are virtually impossible for them to use effectively. As a result for ranged weapons they rely on more complex crossbows they can load and draw quickly with their clawed paws.

Magic & Lore

As noted above, Feran are natural Shamans. However, many Feran have also found the natural, internal body magic of the Adepts. The other paths are not closed to Feran, however, they do require great study and skill to master.