Name - Night Cat(s)
Original - Unknown; thought to have been a female that died when time was still young…
Temperament - Night Cats are extremely varied within the individual, and hardly can be averaged up to produce with a general estimate. They are passionate, willing to risk life and limb for a cause or creature that they believe in, even if they may be wrong and know it. They are very intelligent, often shocking some off-worlders with their innate knowledge of computers and mathematics. They are not scientists, however, and rarely find a productive use for their intense knowledge. They are overall friendly creatures, lending a helping hand in most tough situations. Their logic, however, on which they base such given help is often strange to any non-Cat. They enjoy life intensely, having one of the longer lifespans of Lavanians, and loving the simple things most of all.
Culture - Night Cats are very social creatures and often form packs or live in Centers where they can be around plenty of other Lavanians. Good-natured in general, Night Cats like being around just about any race and don't have any mortal enemies. Night Cats pass their knowledge of most things down with their young in a unique way; the cubs simply have the knowledge of their parents at birth. Of course, the parents must teach them how to use it and what it means, but it's how they know computers, and languages, and other such things. It is, generally speaking, a pool of knowledge to which each individual adds after they die. Speaking of death, Night Cats can live past their 100s, though cubs are considered adults after only one year; two 'Cats will mate for life and have two to four kittens/cubs per litter…
Habitat - Anywhere. Night Cats can thrive in a wide variety of climates and temperatures.
Height at Shoulder - 2.5-3.5 feet
Physical Description - About the size and general shape of a black jaguar, Night Cats look very plain, despite some minute differences. First of all, their head is more sleek, streamlined, with larger eyes and many whiskers. They have a long, shaggy ruff, and any wanderers grow manes. Their bodies are sleek and streamlined, and somewhat slinking at first glance. The hide is soft and smooth, and the fur is always short. Their forearms are flexible and cleanly muscled, and end in furred, five-fingered hands with retractable claws. Their hindlegs are slightly longer than their fore, just as flexible and more powerful, ending in clawed, feline paws. They have a 'half-length' tail, about 6 to 12 inches long.
Coloration - 'Cat fur, normally short, can be a small variety of colors. Black is most common, and may include a few handfuls of tiny white or silver markings. Deep deep blue is the next most common, and is often seen with many silver or white flecks, giving the impression of the Cat wearing the night sky. Least common is a dark smoky gray, which almost never has any other color in the fur. Their eyes range from blue, purple, or green to gold, silver, or brown; claws tend to be dark grey or black.
'Gifts' - The Night Cat race considers the Creator to have given them three gifts. The first is the aforementioned pool of knowledge, while second is fading from the species in the modern era and the third is abstract. Night Cats can morph; it is accomplished by absorbing (by inherent magic) the form (DNA) of another creature. This process of 'learning' a form is long and tedious, though not complicated, and rarely used; however, after learning a form, the 'Cat will always be able to shapeshift into that form (which takes about twenty seconds total). Right before the Dark Wars, Night Cats became close enough with Nila metalworkers that they were able to have made for them 'morphing rings'. These rings (silver with some representation of the 'Cat on the band) were very special, and in the modern era are exceedingly rare. The rings could be coded so that only an individual of a certain species could use it, or even only one individual; this was done through an obscure, little-known ritual that the 'Cat who was giving the ring would enact. Adding new forms to the ring only requires a drop of blood from a willing donor of the desired species and a keyword that is magically bound to the form within; the ring also stretches and conforms to its wearer's morphed shape as needed. The third gift is less concrete than the first two, however. Aside from the ability to stop their heart and breath for a surprisingly long time, Night Cats MAY be reincarnated. There are many loopholes to this. First, a Night Cat must not intend in any way its death. (Meaning no suicide, whether it be worth it to save a friend or not.) Second, if a Night Cat is killed of magic or old age, they will stay dead. If a Cat enters a battle/fight with the pure belief that it shall come back and is killed, even if it did not intend to die, it will not come back. But, if none of these things happen, a few minutes will pass, and the Night Cat will heal and awaken as though from a short painful nap. Also, if a Cat dies in morph, it will come back as that creature, and stay that way permanently, if it comes back at all. It's handy, but not something to rely on at all.
Name - Night Cat(s)
Size - 2.5-3.5 feet at the shoulder.
Physical Description - They are definitely feline, about the size and general shape of a big earth cat, but with several differences. First of all, their head is more sleek, streamlined, with larger eyes and many whiskers. They have a long, shaggy ruff, and any wanderers grow manes. Their bodies are sleek and streamlined, and somewhat slinking at first glance. The hide is soft and smooth, and the fur is always short. Their forearms are flexible and cleanly muscled, and end in furred, four-fingered hands with retractable claws. Their hindlegs are slightly longer, just as flexible and more powerful, ending in feline paws. They have a 'half-length' tail, about 6 to 12 inches long. Another noteworthy ability is reincarnation. Aside from the ability to stop their heart and breath for a surprisingly long time, Night Cats MAY be reincarnated. There are many loopholes to this. First, a Night Cat must not intend in any way its death. (Meaning no suicide, whether it be worth it to save a friend or not.) Second, if a Night Cat is killed of magic or old age, they will stay dead. If a Cat enters a battle/fight with the pure belief that it shall come back, and is killed, even if it did not intend to die, it will not come back. But, if none of these things happen, a few minutes will pass, the Night Cat will heal, and awaken as though from a short painful nap. Also, if a Cat dies in morph, it will come back as that creature, and stay that way permanently, if it comes back at all. It's handy, but not something to rely on at all. Night Cats can also morph by absorbing (by inherent magic) the form of another creature. This process (called by some 'bonding') is long and tedious, though not complicated, and is rarely used unless by spies. After this, however, the Night Cat will retain this form until death or painful magic removal…. or Banae (curse/hex). There is no limit on morphing, in any way. They are the creators of the morphing ring, through which the ability to morph is given to another species.
Coloration - Their fur, normally short, can be a small variety of colors. Black is most common, and may include tiny white or silver markings. Deep deep blue is the next most common, and is often seen with many silver or white flecks, giving the impression of the Cat wearing the night sky. Least common is a dark smoky gray, which almost never has any other color in the fur.
Temperament - Night Cats are extremely varied within the individual, and hardly can be averaged up to produce with a general estimate. They are passionate, willing to risk life and limb for a cause or creature that they believe in, even if they may be wrong and know it. They are very intelligent but rarely find a productive use for their intense knowledge. They are overall friendly creatures, lending a helping hand in most tough situations. Their logic, however, on which they base such given help, is often strange to any non-Cat. They enjoy life intensely, having one of the longer lifespans of Lavanians, and love the simple things most of all.
A Night Cat… such a simple name, such a complex creature…. yet easy to picture, easy to underestimate… one of the most incredible creatures to travel the stars and reside on the planet Lavana….
A Night Cat. About this creature you shall learn now.
History: Back in the Dawn of Times, there was nothing. It was when the universe was young, but not an infant. When all of the Tri-System's glory and splendour was nothing but three large rocks and a large gaseous planet. The Creators came, from whence no one knows, and saw a possibility in this. Now, that tale of Creation is long and complicated, and told of in the Times scroll. (Note: Some creatures say it was the Phoenix of the Flame who first came, as told of in the Olde Kusani. But it's a debatable point.) To summarize; the three Planets were Created, the original gaseous planet made into a Sun, and two Moons Created as well. The first to be Created, and also the first to be populated, was Lavana, the largest planet. (See 'Lavana') Upon it many beauteous things were made, and nothing living was there to see but the Creators. So they puzzled this, and one of them, being more imaginative, figured they ought to Create some Life. (There are many variations of this tale.) Upon the first place they landed, they had planted the very first Kusani (song) tree, which later was to become the Tree of the Center, and adored by all, and its descendants (yes, the tree's descendants) spread across the whole of Lavana and flourished, and many Centers were gathered where they grew. But anyways, the gold-leafed Tree was very tall and wild by now, and nearby was a cliff ledge, for the Tree was on a mountainside. The ledge was underneath the bottom-most branches of the Great Tree, and was shaded. In this clear-floored Clearing was nine pillars of stone, very large, and linked together at the top with a broad arching stone. These nine pillars made a crescent circle, facing the Tree. Some quiet Creator must have found the arrangement pleasing, for it was done while grasses were spreading across the Plains and foliage blooming in the Jungles. The head Creator (or, some say, the Phoenix of the Flame itself) settled to Lavana in that circle, invisible, of course; and he shouted aloud some words of Creation. In the pillar whose back was to the Plains, and side to the Mountains, and face to the Forests beyond, a dazzling flash of light was borne. It formed into the blurred shape of a small black feline with noise like a spark in the night, rain on the Sun, wind in the cosmos. Brilliant green eyes blinked as the Original Night Cat came into existance, and it looked around, and saw the beauty, and first felt love. The Creator, now ignoring his first Creation, turned to the next pillar, closer to the Mountains, but facing the same general way. A white flash there, and another feline shape flashed into life at the other black cat's side. This one looked very much alike, and was a sister-species to the first. Now, seven other beings were Created as well, but that tale is told in full in 'Creation', and I shan't repeat it here. All that matters now is that the Night Cat was Created First, and the Snow Cat, it's sister-kin, Created Second. The Night Cat Original's identity is not known, and very few things are acknowledged to be true of it. No one even knows whether it was male or female, though the general feeling is that it was female. The Snow Cat is the same mystery, sharing even that with it's sister-kin Original. Time passed, species were Created, and the Night Cat was being pushed out of its rightful place in Life. They needed to evolve a defense, and very quickly. This could not happen, though, since at that time, not one species had evolved in the slightest way. It would be considered a move of the defeated to evolve. The Night Cat Original then released a piece of information to the members of its species and the Snow Cat populace. This information carried magic upon the wings of flight, and told of how to morph. Morphing was an easy thing to do, truly. Each Night Cat was born with at least one other form, and all they need do was speak aloud the name of that species in the Elder Language, and they would Shift to that form in a matter of seconds. Easy. Also in that were many many dangers. (See Special Adaptions for rest.) After they learned to morph, Night Cats (and Snow Cats) began to prosper once again.
Height at Shoulder:Anywhere between 2 1/2 ft to 3 1/2 ft.
Weight: 250 to 300 lbs.
Length: (with tail) approx. 5 ft, (without tail) 4 1/2 ft.
Colors: Their fur, normally short, can be a small variety of colors. Black is most common, and may include a tiny white or silver marking. Deep deep blue is the next most common, and is often seen with many silver or white flecks, giving the impression of the Cat wearing the night sky. Least common is a dark smoky gray, which almost never has any other color in the fur. Their eyes are any colors, truly, even orange or yellow.
Temperment: Night Cats are extremely varied within the individual, and hardly can be averaged up to produce with a general estimate. However, I shall try my best. They are passionate, willing to risk life and limb for a cause or creature that they believe in, even if they may be wrong and know it. They are very intelligent, often shocking some off-worlders with their innate knowledge of computers and mathematics. They are not scientists, however, and rarely find a productive use for their intense knowledge. They are overall friendly creatures, lending a helping hand in most tough situations. Their logic, however, on which they base such given help is often strange to any non-Cat. They enjoy life intensely, having one of the longer lifespans of Lavanians, and loving the simple things most of all.
Description: They are definitely feline. About the size and general shape of a big earth cat, but with several differences. First of all, their head is more sleek, streamlined, with larger eyes and many whiskers. They have a long, shaggy ruff, and any wanderers grow manes. Their bodies are sleek and streamlined, and somewhat slinking at first glance. The hide is soft and smooth, and the fur is always short. Their forearms are flexible and cleanly muscled, and end in furred hands with retractable claws. Their hindlegs are slightly longer, just as flexible and more powerful, ending in pantherish paws. They have a half-length tail, about 6 to 12 inches long. All in all, they are very impressive to look at, but first impressions, with these creatures, are always wrong.
Special Adaptations: There are quite a few of these. All were 'given' in the Creating of this species. The first is the collective knowledge. Night Cats pass their knowledge of most things down with their young in a unique way. The cubs (young Cats) simply have the knowledge of their parents at birth. Of course, the parents must teach them how to use it and what it means, but tis how they know computers, and languages, and other such things. It is, generally speaking, a pool of knowledge to which each individual adds to after they die.
Speaking of death, that is another adaptation. Aside from the ability to stop their heart and breath for a surprisingly long time, Night Cats MAY be reincarnated. There are many loopholes to this. First, a Night Cat must not intend in any way its death. (Meaning no suicide, whether it be worth it to save a friend or not.) Second, if a Night Cat is killed of magic or old age, they will stay dead. If a Cat enters a battle/fight with the pure belief that it shall come back, and is killed, even if it did not intend to die, it will not come back. But, if none of these things happen, a few minutes will pass, the Night Cat will heal, and awaken as though from a short painful nap. Also, if a Cat dies in morph, it will come back as that creature, and stay that way permanently, if it comes back at all. It's handy, but not something to rely on at all.
Another adaption is morphing. Information on this is in the History part earlier on this page. It is accomplished by absorbing (by inherent magic) the form (DNA) of another creature. This process (called by some acquiring) is long and tedious, though not complicated, and is rarely used unless by spies. After this, however, the Night Cat will retain this form until death or painful magic removal…. or Banae. There is no limit on morphing, in any way.