Three Stripe Clan

"If you can imagine it, those are the creatures who once savagely hunted our ancestors. They haven't really amounted to much as they cling to their outdated methods of living. President Gadwin Loomling was the one who originally proposed this protected zone in order to preserve their quaint lifestyles which allows us to observe them today." -Tour Guide's spiel on a airship tour over the Three Strip Sanctuary


The Three Strip Clan used to be the largest society of catfolk in the world. The were spread throughout the continent of Gnam and lead bloodthirsty hunts against the gnomish population. Fierce hunters and terrifying warriors within the forests of area, they stood as the ruling race for centuries on end. However as the rest of the world began to learn and advance in their understanding of the arcane and technology, the Three Strip Clan stuck to their ways. Eventually the gnomes began to be able to fight back effectively, and eventually start turning the slaughter into a war. The gnomes won the war and took over the continent from the catfolk. Many of whom fled over the see or deep into the south. The clan however refused to be chased from their lands and fiercely defended their forest in the north. If they really wanted to the gnomes could have obliterated their meager and primitive defenses. However the President at the time, a Gadwin Loomling, decided to allow them to keep their land and humiliate them by putting them on display to the rest of the world. The tribe is described as savages who cannot comprehend civil society. Played off as simpletons and halfwits. They are cut down at every turn by the gnomes and because of it a bad reputation has been attacked to the catfolk at large and the clan specifically.

Naming Traditions

Unisex names

Moon Watcher, Tree Tamer, Water Dancer, Death Fighter, Cold Fur, Blade Singer, Mind Walker, Leaf Whistler, Wolf Gutter, Crazy Fangs, Willow Waver, Stable Hill, Motionless Fish

Culture

Common Etiquette rules

Things commonplace amongst the tribe is the respect of unit heads. You do not asks questions about a family other then to its head, you do not asks questions of a hunting party other then to its leader, and you do not ask questions about a tribe other then to its head. Doing so is the equivalence of talking behind someones back and is considered deceitful at best.
Of the many rude behaviors some of which are,

• Extending your claws in the home or a public place

• Lifting your tail in public

• Baring your fangs in someone else's home

• Not locking eyes with a new arrival

• Offering unsolicited help to party member

Common Dress code

Normally the tribes do not wear clothing unless it is ceremonial in nature. Much preferring not to be weight down by needless coverings which may stand out in the forests of their home. Ceremonial garb usually consists of skinned furs of larger beasts which are usually left untailored and allowed to trail along the ground.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The Chase of the Weak

Is a bi-annual event which involves all children 6-10. These young kids are dressed in plain clothing such as pants and shirts. They are given a small bag of rations and given a day to hid in the forests. The next day the older hunts and those wishing to become adults give chase and root them out of the forest. Bringing them back bound hand and foot. The event is to remember their ancestors and the glories of hunting their past prey, the gnomes. Those kids who remain uncaught for 3 days are allowed to join the humiliation of the caught children as they are thrown into a lake or river.

Promise Day

Once every 3 years a gathering is held where people carve promises into stones. You are to inscribe goals, tasks, personal missions and such into the stone as a promise. A promise that you will complete them before 3 years time has past. These stones and then placed in a river and allowed to erode. Those unable to retrieve their stones before their promise is washed away by the rushing waters are to give up on the promise they made. Let it be washed away by the river and move on with your life.

Champion's Week

Every year all the tribes gather together in order to compete against each other. Competitions such as archery, javelin throw, relay climbing, and Predator & Prey are setup in order to determine which of the tribes deserve the title of clan champions. It is a week long event with many games and events. Food from all over the forest is brought for the collective feasts. The champion tribe is given the opportunity to grant one tribute from the rest of the clan as their prize. Tributes can be as simple as fresh fish for a year or stupidly silly as forcing one of the tribes to preform a dance in full human dress.

Coming of Age Rites

At age 10 a child is given a chance to prove themselves and participate as a hunter in the Chase of the Weak. If they succeed in catching and bringing on of the younger children back to camp they are considered adults and are allowed to choose their names. If they fail they remain a child until they can prove themselves.

Common Taboos

Discoloring your fur is a shameful displace no matter what your purpose is. It is seen as a betrayal to your family before who's pelts you inherited. Marrying outside your race is also seen as a similar betrayal.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Athleticism and a powerful body are what are held in high regard with the clan. Being able to see the defined muscles move even under their fur is considered the most appealing of bodies. However muscles are not everything. Pelts with more defined and pronounced stripes are envied over and many people meticulously groom themselves in order to sharpen the contrast between stripe and general fur color. This emphasis on stripes in beauty is socially painful to the few who do not have natural stripes.

Gender Ideals

There is a great competitive nature within these people. The urge to hunt and outdo each other has left little in the way of a difference between genders. Those who stay home strictly depends on who is determined to be the weakest.

Courtship Ideals

If someone finds a person they are attracted it is normal for them to try to become involved in competitions and hunts they are apart of. During this time the pursuer gauges their skills to their own. It is unattractive to pursue someone of greater or less strength and skill then your own. This continues until the pursued notices and either spurns the attention or begins to assess their pursuer. This back and forth game continues until one of the parties approaches the other for a "private hunt". If the two still wish to engage one another they will publicly announce their Trophy Hunt. This is a special event which binds these two as mates. This hunt pits the couple against one another only ends when one of the two is subdued. The victor is recognized as the head of the new family.