Iather

Written by invadersforever

The Iather, often called cat-people, are a traditionally nomadic people from Gracia. Iather are often associated with luck, invention, and divine forces, though some consider them to be tricksters. Their ancestors are thought to have come from the Otherlands, which makes many Fae suspicious of them. The majority of Iather in the Empire are celestials.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Anatomically, Iather closely resemble mortals. While often referred to as cat-people, the Iather rarely resemble mortal felines. Their ears may be feline in appearance, but more connection in functionality exists between elven ears and Iather.

Biological Traits

• Cat like ears and eyes (with the increased senses that are associated)
• Ability to leap twice the height of Fae (when no magic is involved)
• Unusual balance
• Eye Colours: Green, Blue, Brown, Gold, and Purple
• Hair Colours: Brown, Silver, White, Black, Blonde, Grey, and Blue
• Some Iather may have: unusually sharp teeth and nails, a tail, patches of fur, cat like noses, or be quadrupeds.
• Iather of unusual power may possess: the ability to manipulate fate/luck, shapeshifting capabilities, or Fae like grace (See Fae-like Grace )

Growth Rate & Stages

Child- 0-15 years of age

   The early developmental stages of an Iather's life. Iather are born closely resembling human mortals, aside for their ears and other more feline features. Most Iather reach their full height around 14 or 15. 

Teen- 15-26 years of age

Young Adult- 26-40 years of age

Adult- 40-90 years of age

Elderly- 90+ years of age

Additional Information

Social Structure

Traditionally, Iather tended to be nomadic, and often traveled in family groups consisting of five or six generations. They valued knowledge highly, and had the highest literacy rate in Faerie for some time.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Most Iather live in Gracia or the Far Empire. There are rumors that they originally came from the Otherlands, and that there may be more Iather there.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

• Exceptional hearing and eyesight
• Some Iather have whiskers, which give them an excellent sense of what is going on around them 
• Other Iather have exceptional senses of smell

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

In the traditional Iather lifestyle, children are named after great heroes or inventors of their family, natural events that occurred near their birth, or the old Iather gods. In more modern times, the tradition behind many of the names has been forgotten. For example, in the old days to be named Lebenviata was to be named after life themself, but now Lebenviata is just a name.
With the rise of Fae religion in Iather culture, it is now common to name a child after a celestial body or important religious figure.
Traditional Iather Names (with meanings): Feecopil (Creator of Faeries), Fondatorelfenhaft (Creator of Iather and the Otherlands), Ghiaccioneró (Keeper of the Earth Sea), Inventierfindung (Parent of Inventors), Lebenviata (Life), Muskelcer (Holder of the Sky), Narratorelied (Inventor of Song)

Common Myths and Legends

Most Iather myth has been lost to time and the cultural breakdown. However, there are many surviving myths that tell of arriving on 'unfamiliar coasts' and meeting 'fur-less beings of fantastic power'. This is often interpreted as the first Iather arriving in Faerie. A compiled version of these myths is included in Lircy Newstar's Complete Mythology of the Iather (released in m. 93 of the age of Shadow). Newstar's book is regarded as the best resource for Iather mythology, despite numerous complaints of inaccuracies and translations that seem to bend the meaning of certain myths.

The Complete Mythology of the Iather is a collection of myths translated, recorded, and collected by Lircy Newstar in the final years of the Shadow Dynasty. Claiming to draw from the Traditional Iather's oral history, the book has faced harsh criticism from Iather and Fae scholars alike. Despite being somewhat controversial, The Complete Mythology of the Iather is seen by most as the most reliable source for Iather mythology. The collection's telling of "The Coming of the Iather", adapted from Iather Mythology Anthology (Collected by Fotae Lebenviata, 24219 Sh)'s "The First Iather Landing", is generally seen as evidence for the Iather's Otherland origins. Sources The Complete Mythology of the Iather uses adaptations from the following sources: Iather Mythology Anthology Tales of the Iather Legends From Gracia Myths of the Otherland Species Whispers of Desperation: Stories and Tales from the Storm Dynasty assorted oral histories Contents The Coming of the Iather Mistress of Song The Discovery of Invention The Sheiking Tree The Goddess Under the Sea King Camelus The Gift of Heaven The Divine of Thieves Forest of Silver Flee To The Fog Rise of the Sorrow Child In Search of Sunero Escape From Univara The Echo Gauntlet Feather of Demons Invention of the Chaos Cube Authors The Complete Mythology of the Iather was written by Lircy Newstar. Newstar was a noble Fae scholar from the Far Faerie Empire. He graduated the High University of the Arts in Ashfire before working at the Grand Imperial Library in Emberton. He penned seventeen books, including The Complete Mythology of the Iather, Elven Myths, The Epic of Faerie parts 1,2,3, and 4, A Brief History of Otherland Species, Legends of the Age of Blood, War Tales: Myths and Histories of the Guardian Wars, and In Heaven's Name: A History of the Order of Sky. Criticism

THE GRACIAN UNIVERSITY OF INVENTION AND TECHNOLOGICAL DESIGN

The only tabaxi run higher education facility known to exist in Faerie, the University draws the brightest minds of Gracia and the Empire both. For many tabaxi who choose not to enter the clergy, University is the best way to make a life for themselves. Unfortunately, the entrance exams are extremely difficult  and the cost of attendance is high, so most tabaxian youth wind up in the temple anyways. The University has a large population of Fae attendees, and many noble houses will send their children there.
When the University was formed, the vast majority of inventors were tabaxi, due to a more equal and available education system. However, past millennia have seen a decay in tabaxian culture and education ideals. Adding to this an improving Fae education system (partially due to Day Oath public schools, which, ironically, were first proposed by tabaxian clerics) and there are now far more Fae inventors. Still, the tabaxi's reputation endures, for better or worse.
Due to it's reputation and popularity, the University offers a wide variety of classes and majors that have little or nothing to do with invention.
Alias of House Echo attended the University for a time, studying literature and the history of invention. Luna wished to attend, but he failed to pass the entrance exam. Other important students include: Queen ___, Lord Nebula, and most members of the higher houses.

Genetic Descendants

• Other/Hybrid

Origin/Ancestry

Glacian, Faerian, and Stranger

Lifespan

180 years

Average Height

0.91 meters to 1.52 meters

Average Weight

36.3 kilograms to 45.4 kilograms

Geographic Distribution

• Emberton
• Faerie
• Gracia
• Otherlands

Related Ethnicities

• Otherland Iather
• Traditonal Iather