Khattas and Katthas
Khattas and Katthas

The terms "Khatta" and "Kattha" apply to just about any feline-humanoid found on Sinai, whether or not the whole of them are genetically compatible. It may well be that there are a multitude of species of "Khatta", with different worlds of origin. While "Khatta" is sometimes used as a catch-all term for feline humanoids, it more specifically refers to those with a plantigrade (flat foot, human-like) leg stance, whereas the term "Kattha" refers to those with a digitigrade (jack-legged) leg stance.

As a note of clarification, the term "Khattan" is not synonymous with "Khatta" or "Kattha". If someone is referred to as a "Khattan", it means that the person is from the Khattan Emirate. While the vast majority of people claiming such nationality are, in fact, Khattas or Katthas, this is not always the case.

There are possibilities for confusion in different regions, as, due to the mutating effects on the surface, a feline born to a digitigrade "Kattha" family may be born with plantigrade legs, and thus be either called a "Khatta" by definition, or a "Kattha" by heritage. The similar spelling and pronunciation of the two "race" names doesn't help matters.

Beyond that, though, "cat-types" corresponding to every imaginable Earth-parallel breed can pretty much be found ... though it should be noted that, for some reason, feline-humanoids with spots are almost unheard-of in general society -- Or, at least, they have been, until various developments in very recent history.

In line with this, it should be noted that Savanites are not considered "Khattas" or "Katthas".

Khattas and Katthas are very wide-spread across Sinai, found in many lands. If they have a "homeland" at all, it would be the Khattan Emirate, spanning much of the Himaat Desert, and with its heart in the port city of Abu Dhabi. The "race-language" of the Khattas and Katthas would be "Khattan".

PC Requirements:

Due to widely varying genetics, there are no skill or ability requirements to play a Khatta or Kattha. The bulk of them are fairly close to human in range of abilities, but many have an assortment of "cat-like" abilities, such as heightened agility/reflexes, natural weapons, night vision, and the like -- either due to genetic variance or mutation.

Distribution:

Khattas and Katthas can be found widely distributed across Sinai. Here are some of the more well-known places where they can be found in larger concentrations:

  • Aeztepa: This is a matter of legend, and obscure legend at that, though recent events have stirred up interest in some circles in the goings-on on this large island off the southern coast of Ur, covered by a giant Forbidden Zone, and rumored to be cursed. Some legends speak of a race of Khattas with jaguar markings, known as the Aeztepans. (Given the nature of this land, though, no PC is very likely at all to be from here!) There were also believed to be several of these jaguar-people on the sky island of Paradys, but there are only two known survivors as of this writing: a couple of children known as Enos and Pouncer Zoltanos, living in Rephidim.

  • Chronotopia: Chronotopia, located in the northern region known as Nordika, sports a large concentration of black Khattas. The native tongue here is Bosch, a harsh-sounding language.

  • Gigi Coast: On the eastern part of Ur, near the Ashdod Territories, there is a strip of the coast known as the Gigi Coast, named after the golden felines known as the Gigi who live there. While their national language is a close derivative of Rephidim Standard, they are best known for wide-spread use of "jabberwockyisms": They routinely make up new words to describe things in the middle of conversation, which are only to be understood in context, and may possibly never be used again. Unlike the stereotypical Khatta, Gigis are actually quite fond of water, as they are well-known to be good pearl-divers and fishers, as well as accomplished surfers.

  • Himaat / Khattan Emirate: This is the homeland most associated with felines, as they are the dominant species to be found here, especially in the capitol port city of Abu Dhabi. Khattas and Katthas from here will most likely have Khattan as their native language, though Rephidim Standard is also widely used, and some may know Zerda.

  • Kroz: As with Sylvania and Chronotopia, there is a high concentration of black Khattas, but also a number of digitigrade Katthas of various types, owing to close proximity to Olympia. Krozite Khattas and Katthas are almost always the type to have human-like head hair. Of the eight Principalities, the eastern province of Dack is ruled by a family of black Khattas (though they claim "Kattha" heritage). Krozite genetics are fairly strange, and it is well known in Kroz that every cat born to the line of Dack will be a black Khatta, regardless of the fur color or species of the wife. The present ruler, Prince Sebazhan Dack, is married to a Krozite Skreek (Willow "the Wisp" Dack), and their daughter, Jezebel Nene Dack, is also a black Khatta (though with red head hair). This is by no means unheard of in this backwoods land, where magical weirdness and monsters are almost commonplace.

  • Olympia: Olympia, a smaller nation in the area known as Nordika, has the largest known population specifically made up of Katthas rather than Khattas. The national language of Olympian is considered a "scholarly" language in many circles, due to Olympia's ancient heritage as a one-time cultural center of great influence.

  • Rephidim: Of course, Rephidim, mixing pot of the nations of Sinai, has a large number of felines dwelling here as well. The variety in types is about as wide as can be found in the Khattan Emirate, though not as large of a population as can be supported in Abu Dhabi. Naturally, Rephidim Standard is the most widely used language amongst felines found here.

  • Sylvania: Sylvania, neighboring Chronotopia, also has a large population of black Khattas. Sylvania has its native language of "Sylvanian", but Rephidim Standard is in wide use. There is at least one noble family of (mostly black) Khattas in Sylvania, that being the line of Kurai in the county of Blackshire.

  • Titania: Some of the "Titanians" are in fact feline, though they tend to be of larger stock: tigers, lions, etc. Titanian felines share the same culture as the lupine Titanians, and the same PC requirements. (See PC Requirements.)

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