Felarid

Felarids are tiny bipedal catfolk with small frames, resembling upright house cats. They tend to have puffy fur that makes their true form harder to pinpoint, though different variations of the cat-people do exist. They tend to speak in quiet tones that are hard for less perceptive peoples to hear, much less understand, but on the few times they do speak louder, their voices often end up coming out scratchy and punctuated by cat-like mewls. Despite seeming fragile, they are a relatively strong people with a mind for justice, seeking out the evils of the world to destroy them at their source. Unfortunately, their relatively short lives can cause their valiant crusade to be cut short.
Many find Felarids to seem child-like, both due to their size and their cat-like appearance making them seem less threatening overall. They tend not to mind this and will often play into the stereotypes of their race to make others happy or more at ease. Much like the elves, they enjoy natural beauty, but also enjoy man-made beauty, including intricately crafted arms and armor. Some far more than others enjoy magic, and particularly that which affects gravity on themselves, areas, or especially objects. Felarids form large packs that act much like towns, though most of them end up being mostly nomadic. They tend to prefer landlocked areas, or at least areas where they do not risk getting wet more than absolutely necessary.
Felarids are highly perceptive and have a mastery over their own force of will, being capable of great feats of persuasion and diplomacy. They do, however, have bad tendencies to engorge themselves on food when it's available in large amounts, and especially favoring raw meat. While they do tend to have goodness and law in their hearts, few felarids can resist this urge, even if it ends up meaning having to steal the meat. Luckily for them, however, few have much of a problem when it comes to sharing with the would-be cat burglars.
Felarids rarely have names of their own—at least not that are audible to most other peoples. They communicate amongst themselves in frequencies too high for others to hear, and their names are pronounced in this same way. As such, they often happily accept a nickname from their companions, and it is not uncommon for a single felarid to be known by tens or potentially even hundreds of different nicknames if they travel far as they see the nickname as something specific to a person or group, not something to identify themselves by personally.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Felarids, being small bipedal catfolk, exhibit slight differences in size and strength based on gender and role within their society. Their life expectancy averages around 40 to 50 years, though those in more peaceful or less dangerous roles may live slightly longer. Felarid warriors or scouts, due to their high-risk lifestyles, tend to have shorter life spans, while elders are often revered for surviving the rigors of nomadic life. Their comparatively short lives drive them to act swiftly in their pursuit of justice, often making impulsive decisions when faced with evil.
In terms of size, Felarids tend to range between 2 and 3 feet tall, with females typically being slightly shorter than males by a few inches. Despite their small frames, they possess dense musculature hidden beneath layers of puffy fur, allowing them to perform feats of agility and strength disproportionate to their size. The average Felarid weighs between 15 and 25 pounds, though warriors or those in more physically demanding roles may be at the higher end of that range. Their lightweight bodies, combined with their natural agility, make them quick on their feet and adept at stealth, a trait they use to great advantage when hunting or in combat.
Felarid fur serves multiple purposes beyond aesthetics. The puffy nature of their fur creates the illusion that they are bulkier than they truly are, which provides a natural defense mechanism, making predators or enemies underestimate their true size. Their fur varies widely in color, with shades ranging from soft pastels to more vibrant hues, though earth tones such as gray, brown, and black are the most common. These colorations allow them to blend seamlessly into different environments, whether in the dense forest, open plains, or rocky terrain. Variations in fur patterns—such as stripes or spots—are common, and often serve as identifiers among different Felarid clans or regions.
Felarids also exhibit a unique sensitivity to changes in their environment. Their whiskers, much like those of domestic cats, are finely tuned to detect subtle vibrations in the air, allowing them to sense approaching danger or shifts in weather patterns. This heightened awareness makes them particularly difficult to ambush, and many Felarid warriors use their whiskers to aid in combat by reacting to their opponent's movements before they can fully perceive them. Furthermore, their eyes are adapted for low-light environments, giving them excellent night vision, a trait that has proven essential to their nomadic lifestyle, where they often travel or hunt during the darker hours of the day.
Gender distinctions among Felarids are subtle but present. While females are generally shorter and lighter, they are known for their superior dexterity and often take on roles that require intricate movements, such as crafting, weaving, or magic use. Males, while slightly stronger, tend to serve as protectors and hunters, though there is no strict division of labor based on gender. Both sexes are equally capable of serving as leaders, diplomats, or warriors. Some Felarid groups may have matriarchal or patriarchal tendencies depending on regional traditions, though egalitarianism is far more common.
Felarids have a complex life cycle, progressing from kittens into adulthood relatively quickly. They reach full physical maturity by the age of 10, and their short childhood is filled with intense learning, as young Felarids are expected to quickly master skills necessary for survival. The elderly, while physically weaker, are known for their incredible mental acuity and wisdom, serving as the memory keepers of their packs. Unlike many other species, Felarids tend to age gracefully, with only a slight dulling of their fur and a gradual slowing of their once-quick reflexes marking the passage of time. Their community-driven nature ensures that even as they grow older, they are cared for and revered, particularly for their deep understanding of the world.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Felarids are obligate carnivores, meaning that their dietary needs are fully met through the consumption of animal flesh, with no need for plant-based foods. They have a strong preference for raw meat, particularly favoring fish and small mammals, though they are not particularly picky when it comes to their prey. Felarids are known to be opportunistic hunters, often relying on their agility and stealth to catch live prey, but they are also adept scavengers, willing to take advantage of any available meat. While they prefer to eat freshly caught prey, their high metabolic rate and nomadic lifestyle often necessitate the consumption of preserved meats, which they either salt or dry using traditional methods. In environments where hunting is scarce, they have been known to form hunting pacts with other species, trading their skills in stealth and reconnaissance for food.
Their dietary habits, however, are not without complication. Felarids have an intense and instinctive love for feasting, often finding it difficult to resist overeating when large quantities of food are available. This indulgence, especially when raw meat is concerned, can occasionally lead to issues such as weight gain or lethargy, particularly in more sedentary Felarids. Despite their disciplined and justice-driven society, few Felarids can completely suppress their instinctual urge to gorge themselves when food is plentiful, leading to the occasional need for intervention by their fellow pack members to prevent overindulgence. Their love for food, combined with their knack for stealth, has also made them notorious as cat burglars in cities, where they sometimes steal meat from butcher shops or markets, though their charm and childlike appearance often lead to forgiveness from those they "borrow" from.

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Table of Contents

Game Statistics

Custom System

Ability Score Adjustment. +1 Charisma, -1 Intelligence
Hit Points. 1d6
Size. You are a Small humanoid with the felarid subtype. Small creatures gain a +1 bonus to Dodge and attack rolls and have 3/4 the carrying capacity and lifting capacity of a medium creature.
Vision. Low-Light
Racial Skills. You gain a +2 Racial bonus to Acrobatics.
Burst of Speed. As a swift action on your turn you can put on a burst of speed, gaining an additional move action. Once you do so, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest.
Felarid Agility. You gain a +2 Racial bonus to your Dodge score in addition to the bonus you gain from being Small.
Friendly Feline. Felarids are naturally trusting and kindly, putting them at a disadvantage when interacting with those who would seek to take advantage of them. You have a -10 Racial penalty to Intimidation and a -5 Racial penalty to Sense Motive. Additionally, you gain a +5 Racial bonus to Persuasion when made against Good-aligned creatures.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Felid.

5th Edition

Ability Score Adjustment

Your Charisma score increases by 2.

Size

Your size is Small.

Speed

You have a base land speed of 30 feet.

Burst of Speed

As a bonus action on your turn you can put on a burst of speed, doubling your movement speed until the beginning of your next turn. Once you do so, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Low-Light Vision

You can see in dim light as though it were bright light.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Felid.

4th Edition

Ability Scores: +2 Dexterity, +2 to your choice of Constitution, Wisdom, or Charisma.
Size. Small
Speed. 6 squares
Vision. Low-Light

Languages. Common, Felid
Skill Bonuses. +2 Diplomacy, +2 Heal
Brave. You gain a +5 Racial bonus to saving throws against fear.
Slinky. You can move up to your speed when you use the squeeze action.
Soft Fall. If you fall from 10' or less, you do not land prone and you do not take falling damage.
Burst of Speed. You have the burst of speed power.

3.5th Edition

To be made

2nd Edition

Special Advantages. Felarids are naturally agile and hard to nail down in combat, and all felarids gain the Tumbling skill without spending any nonweapon proficiency slots.
Felarid infravision lets them see in the dark to a range of 60 feet.
Once per day, felarids can enter a focused state of hyperactivity. During this time, their move base increases by 5 (they can move an additional 50 feet per melee round) for 1 turn.
Because of their nimbleness at evasion, all felarids receive a -4 bonus to Armor Class when fighting creatures larger than man-sized and a -2 bonus to Armor Class from attacks from man-sized creatures. The two bonuses are not cumulative.
Due to their child-like appearance, felarids recieve a +2 reaction bonus with good-aligned creatures so long as the felarid is friendly.
Felarids can use their claws as natural weapons, dealing 1d3 slashing damage on a hit.
Special Disadvantages. Due to their small stature, felarids are slower than most humanoids, having a move base of 9.
Because of their child-like appearance and tiny stature, felarids find it incredibly difficult to frighten others. As such, they cannot take the Intimidation skill.

Pathfinder 2e

Hit Points. 6
Size. Small
Speed. 25
Ability Boosts. Charisma, Free
Languages. Common, Felid, Felarid Dialect (based on your Heritage), Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive). Choose from Dwarven, Gnomish, Elvish, Halfling, Kobold, and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region). You can additionally choose any dialect of these languages, such as Rock Gnomish or Braveheart Halfling.
Traits. Felarid, Humanoid
Low-Light Vision. You can see in dim light just as well as you can see in bright light, so you ignore the concealed condition due to dim light.
Burst of Speed. You gain the Burst of Speed action.

Genetic Descendants

• Hairless Felarid

Lifespan

45 Years

Average Height

2-3 Feet

Average Weight

15-25 lbs.