Catfolk

“I have always had a love for catlike races. The rakasta from the Mystara campaign setting. The tabaxi, as well. Anyone who has studied my Kulan campaign world knows that I’m a bit obsessed with the various catmen of D&D. One of those races, the catfolk, isn’t as prominent in that world, so I figured I’d use that generic race as the lone catlike race for Tarras.” – RPB

The catfolk are an enigma on Tarras. In the opinion of scholars, the race’s history doesn’t truly exist. The catfolk just are. They’ve been around for centuries but no one can say where they came from. The catfolk don’t even know. Their oral legends speak of an “otherworld” where their divine master created them. This Lord of Cats is a mysterious figure and its demesne is an unknown star on an unknown plane.

What is known is that the catfolk are everywhere. The race is prolific and highly adaptable. Yes, they are more comfortable in the world’s warmer regions but that hasn’t stopped them from living all across Tarras. They are drawn to both rural and urban environments equally and tend to be excellent rangers and rogues. They excel with ranged weapons and their best warriors can shoot arrow for arrow when challenged by humans (and sometimes elves).

Catfolk are as common as half-elves and half-orcs, and they often receive similar treatment as those two half-bred races do by humans and savage humanoids such as gnolls and hobgoblins. Elves treat them with dignity but rarely do they form strong bonds with the short-lived catfolk. Dwarves consider them flighty while halflings consider them almost kindred.

Catfolk tend to get into trouble, a lot. They are very curious, which often leads to misunderstandings. If it wasn’t for their uncanny luck, they’d have died out long ago. Having a catfolk companion always leads to new, and often dangerous, adventures. For their part, catfolk tend to leap before they look and see a new obstacle as a challenge to overcome. And they’re more than willing to drag their closest friends along for the ride, willing or not.

Catfolk Traits
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age. Catfolk are fast to mature — typically reaching adulthood at the age of 16. Mental maturity often takes longer. Regardless, Catfolk youngsters often leave their parents protection before the age of 18. Catfolk can live to be 70 to 90 years old.

Alignment. Catfolk are chaotic in the extreme but they also tend towards the moral path of good deeds. However, a catfolk’s sense of right and wrong is often at odds with the ideals of other races, especially those of dwarves.

Size. Catfolk range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have builds similar to humans and half-elves. Females tend to be more lithe. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision. Accustomed to night on dusky plains, you have superior vision in dark or dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Lucky. When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.

Stealthy. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Feline. Catfolk use the Feline language amongst their own kind, but they are quick to converse with other races in Common or some other language. Feline is an abrupt language full of growling and hissing sounds. Catfolk don’t like long-winded conversations. The catfolk word for ‘debate’ is the same as for ‘bored’. Catfolk that choose to learn other languages other than Common often choose the languages of gnolls and halflings.

Subrace. TBD.

“Heroism is good, but danger is more fun.” – a catfolk proverb/joke