Cat

Cats are known for their abilities as vicious hunters. Often, but not always reclusive, these animals rely on their strong senses of seeing, hearing and touch to be effective predators in various climates. For their skills, wild Cats have long been tamed by mortals to use in their own hunts. They vary in size and weight, with the common variety "House Cat" being only a few kilos whilst larger "Wild Cats" weighing upwards to a few dozen to even over a hundred kilos.

The feline-like Shrevir hold a reverence towards Cats.

Cat Species

Cats are relatively common in Auria's wilderness. Every planet features one or even a few unique species of Cat with their own traits and cultural significance.

Lycar
Planet: Wyrmeron
Region: Frostfire
An ancient Urson fairytale tells of an exiled Storulv and an injured Umbra joining together against a Demonic incursion. They fight off the defilers and fell deeply in love, leading to the two beasts to mate. It is why their children, the Lycar, possess both feline and canine traits. From their more pronounced jaws, their sharp claws down to their skeletal structure, Lycar are feline-canine hybrids that fit into either category. They are pack animals that live together within large dens in clearings, usually close to flowing water, using an hierarchal societal system with an Alpha Male and Alpha Female at the top. They are noble creatures that possess greater intelligence and are relatively peaceful when approached by well-meaning strangers.

Sither
Planet: Gwynbrenon
Region: Medenaris; Suprenus
The unique pantherine Sither-Cat is a fabled beast of legend that prowls in Tranquilon's forested or mountainous regions. They live in pairs of two for life, hunting and raising cubs together. This makes taming a Sither difficult, as the loyalty of the feline is often stronger towards its life partner than it is to the Beastmaster attempting to sway it. Sithers are masters of subtlety, being one of the most elusive Cats in Auria thanks to their sleekened bodies, silent movement and quick reflexes. Sithers also possess magic in the form of short-distance teleportation and even curses that weaken their prey. This makes them ideal partners not only for roguish hunters but also sorcerors seeking a magical anchor.

Umbra
Planet: Wyrmeron
Region: Desolate Towers
These large half-giant felids live amongst the Desolate Towers isolated from one another. Due to the harsh environment and sparse resources, Umbras must act aggressive towards anyone they spot in their territory. They possess massive ears that grant them unparalleled hearing, short razor-sharp claws and are usually heavy thanks to their thick coats and muscles. Being a very dominant beast, Umbras very rarely submit to attempts to tame them. Instead, the process of taming an Umbra requires the tamer to lower themselves to the Umbra's presence and build upon a slowly-made friendship. Once properly tamed, an Umbra is fiercely loyal to their companion, to the point they may grow hostile towards those they perceive a threat to their companion's safety. Some attribute this to jealousy.