Difference between revisions of "Nekos"
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| − | Nekos are a humanoid species with feline features. | + | Nekos are a humanoid species with feline features. They are on average taller than [[humans]] and stronger and much more agile. Their name is derived from the Japanese word for cat: 猫 (ねこ/ne-ko). They often have cat like ears, tails, and claws. Their face and skin are similar to that of a human, and some nekos also have fur on some parts of their body, usually their forearms. Nekos, like cats, purr when happy. It is interesting to note that most nekos are used to swallowing small, living prey when eating, sometimes [[minor races#Tinies|tinies]], similar to how a giant Felaryan predator would eat humans and nekos. |
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| − | They often have cat like ears, tails, and claws. Their face and skin are similar to that of a human, and some nekos also have fur on some parts of their body, usually their forearms. Nekos, like cats, purr when happy. It is interesting to note that most nekos are used to swallowing small, living prey when eating, sometimes [[minor races#Tinies|tinies]], similar to how a giant Felaryan predator would eat humans and nekos. | + | |
Revision as of 05:02, 26 July 2009
Enishi the cat mage girl. Picture by arseniquez and used with artist's permission. For larger version visit arseniquez's gallery
Nekos are a humanoid species with feline features. They are on average taller than humans and stronger and much more agile. Their name is derived from the Japanese word for cat: 猫 (ねこ/ne-ko). They often have cat like ears, tails, and claws. Their face and skin are similar to that of a human, and some nekos also have fur on some parts of their body, usually their forearms. Nekos, like cats, purr when happy. It is interesting to note that most nekos are used to swallowing small, living prey when eating, sometimes tinies, similar to how a giant Felaryan predator would eat humans and nekos.
Contents
[hide]Known Nekos
Enishi
Sub species
Vithe Nekos
This species of plains-nekos is mostly found in the Great rocky fields, where they thrives on a nomadic lifestyle in several large tribes.
The fur and skin of a Vithe neko is usually spotted, a bit like a Cheetah's, and they typically look lean and edgy, with tall and slender bodies. they hold physical prowess above anything else, and so they regularly train their bodies to survive the harsh conditions the Rocky Fields throw at them. Vithe nekos love to race each other more than anything else and they are famous for their superior dashing speed, sometimes running on all fours. If a galloping centaur threatens them, they will scatter at high speed and attempt to out-maneuver the predator.
Vithe nekos usually dislike staying in the same place for too long and possess a very nomadic mindset. They create homes out of the greenish blue grasses that grow there, making their huts easy to assemble and disassemble quickly. It also gives them a slight protection, as their homes blend in with the grass, protecting them from the zone's many types of flying predators, such as harpies.
Vithe nekos are naturally curious and many of them leave their tribe to wander in Felarya. Some of these nekos become couriers, selling their incredible speed and racing from village to village to deliver messages, news, and warnings. Many a tribe has been saved from a predator's stomach, from the timely arrival of a Vithe neko with a friendly warning. Negav has several of these nekos in it's employ, and they are a common sight, racing through the streets to deliver a message.
However, Vithe nekos tend not to do so well out of their native plainslands... at least at first. Their habit of running instead of hiding has been known to get them into trouble in the jungle, where the environment takes away some of the advantage of speed. Vithe nekos who are alive have typically travelled a lot and seen a lot. If you could ever get one of them to sit still long enough to talk to you, who knows what they'd be able to reveal from their travels !
Tribes
Selneit Tribe (destroyed)
Located on the northern side of the Frost Peak Mountains, this tribe was utterly destroyed by Felaryan predators a few years ago. The only know surviving member of this tribe is a female named Shallandra, who has currently taken refuge in the jungle Bowl.
Scorching Claws Tribe
This tribe lives in the Sandfall maze. Their name comes from their powerful fire-imbued weapons and claws which are very painful. Even a giant harpy quickly learns to avoid contact with their long whips and combat staves. While Scorching Claws nekos still often end up in the bellies of the numerous harpies who inhabits the zone, the nekos have make pacts with a few of the harpy tribes. The pacts are an agreement that the nekos will feed the harpies the much more tasty human travelers they manage to capture in exchange for those harpies not eating the nekos. Surprisingly, the pacts have been upheld by both sides without fail for several years, which has allowed for some very odd (but solid) friendships to form between harpies and nekos.
Broken Hill Tribe (destroyed)
This neko tribe was unusual in not only being nomadic but also in its connection to the spirit world. It is (or was) their tradition to send aspiring shamans out alone into the jungle to contact their spirit guide. This spirit guide is usually the spirit of a deceased member of the tribe who connects to the shaman and shares the benefits of a lifetime of experience with them. Sadly, sometimes a shaman is contacted by a different kind of spirit entirely. It’s not uncommon for shamans to be possessed by malicious spirits, and to sometimes turn into creatures of great evil. Some say a few of these creatures are still roaming around.
Sonya is the only known surviving member of the Broken Hill Tribe. The tribe became weakened by repeated assaults from predators, until one day the naga Crisis went on a feeding frenzy and ate what was left of the tribe...
Rosic Nekos
A small neko community situated in the eastern part of the continent, a day's walk west of the coast of the Topazial sea, half a day's walk east from the swamps, and south of the Jewel river. Rosic nekos are said to be the origin of the best music that’s ever come out of Felarya. Their village has surprisingly few defenses and they live on the ground, rather than up in the trees. They have developed a very original way of protecting themselves: they use music.
They can fight almost as well as the average nekos, but they only ever fight animals, deaf predators, or ones that are too hungry to care about pretty music. Most intelligent predators however, and quite a few of the unintelligent ones too, will look for a different meal in exchange for a song or two. In fact, many of the local predators around the tribe somehow protect the Rosic nekos from the more voracious ones. They don’t want their favorite musicians to become lunch! It’s like the saying goes: "Music soothes the savage stomach" ^^
This has allowed the village to prosper amazingly well. Of course, in order to keep up the high standard and reputation the village has, when young nekos reach maturity they have to pass a test: the Rosic test.
On many worlds, in many cultures, youths are sent out into the wilderness to prove themselves. The Rosic test is exactly that: The young nekos go out into the jungle, either by themselves or with a band of friends, and look for a predator. Once they've found one this troupe must use their musical talents to prevent themselves from being devoured. As proof of their deed, the young musician(s) must take a memento from the predator : a naga’s scale, a harpy’s feather, a notch off a mermaid’s fin, etc.
If victorious, the youth comes back and begins a career as a music-neko for hire. If the neko fails to impress the predator, they end up making a different kind of music in its stomach. In this way, the tribe weeds out the unskilled, and makes a reputation for itself among the nearby predators... or at least keeps them fed.
- Credits goes to SilentEric for the design and idea of Rosic nekos and the Vite tribe, and to Zoekin for the broken hill tribe.
