Savanites are also known in slang as "Spotties", and in recent history it has become
evident that they are related to a space-faring species known as the "Silent Ones".
Savanites are also known in slang as "Spotties", and in recent history it has become
evident that they are related to a space-faring species known as the "Silent Ones".
A Savanite is a digitigrade humanoid with feline features, golden fur and "cheetah" markings. They possess human-like hands with four fingers and a thumb each, the tips ending in non-retractile claws which are relatively blunt. Toe claws on the feet are similarly non-retractile. The eyes are human-like, and are typically brown. The Savanites sport human-like head hair which is almost invariably black, lightening rarely to dark brown.
Height is within human range, though the "royal" line (denoted by the "spots" on the back blending together into tiger-like stripes) is often much taller, sometimes as tall as 7 to 8 feet, and there are tales of even taller Savanites.
Body Build is slim and wiry, leaning toward "thin", with long legs.
Savanites are natural-born sprinters. Other than that, however, they do not possess any special senses or abilities beyond human average. A major disadvantage is that Savanites are all mute, having to rely on hand signs and observance of body language and visual cues when communicating with each other.
Distribution and Status:
Savanites/Silent Ones are fairly widespread on both Sinai and Abaddon. They can be found in significant numbers living freely in Xenea, Kilmanjar, Kroz (Diamante and Dack Principalities), Sylvania (Blackshire County), Chronotopia, Rephidim, and Rephidim protectorates. They can be found as slaves in the Khattan Emirate, Nagai Proper, the Ashdod Territories, Olympia, and (unofficially) in Gallis.
Until recently, the majority of Savanites were slaves. Though they are still treated as a slave species in many nations on the surface, they have been freed in Rephidim and Rephidim protectorates since late 6099 RTR, as decreed by Captain-Astromancer Tahir Archelaus the First upon hearing word of the presumed death of his Savanite friend, Leeta (aka "Fire-Mane") in the Nagai massacre at the City of Hands.
In Nordika, which by and large does not have slavery per se (with the exception of Olympia, and possibly Gallis), Savanites have pretty much not been found -- Chronotopia, for example, would prohibit the entry of any Savanites into its boundaries, since it would not tolerate slavery, but also did not wish to damage relations with Rephidim by becoming a haven for runaway slaves. With the example set by Rephidim, and the activities of a few noteworthy individuals in Sylvania and Kroz, most of Nordika has opened its doors to Savanites -- and since they have been pretty much unknown for this time, prejudices aren't as strong as they would be in Rephidim. (Savanites are mostly just seen as another type of Kattha ... just awfully quiet.)
With the break-up of the Nagai Empire, free Savanites can also be found in significant numbers in the newly independent territory of Xenea, governed by a Savanite "Priest-King" or "Priest-Queen". However, they are still kept as slaves in Nagai Proper and many of the "splinter" territories that were once part of the Nagai Empire, as well as in the Khattan Emirate, Ashdod, and Olympia, among others.
"Wild" Savanites:
Many Savanites still live in a hunter-gatherer existence in the jungles and on the plains of the Savan Territories (Xenea or elsewhere) as they have for countless years, oblivious to the political and technological changes going on in the world outside their lands. These Savanites typically live a nomadic existence in the plains, though they may form villages in the jungle.
The leadership of a village is split between the best hunter/fighter of the group, and the "spiritual leader" -- the shaman. He is the authority on teaching the kittens, largely by way of example and through the tradition of stories told by way of dance-pantomime plays with colorful costumes and masks. He is also expected to have command of supernatural forces by way of performing complex rituals, applying the appropriate herbs, and such. A shaman is usually marked by some sort of distinctive deformity, which is considered the touch of the gods. Whether magical aptitude is truly associated with the "mark" or not is a matter of debate. It should be noted that "marked" kittens born to slave households are usually quietly disposed of for a variety of reasons.
Silent Ones:
In addition to Savanites, there are other members of this species that hail from another world: Abaddon. Abaddonian "Savanites" are known as "Silent Ones", though they typically refer to themselves as "the People" in private discourse. While Savanites may worship any number of deities, most Silent Ones are born into a culture that venerates an entity known as the Star, a creator god in a monotheistic religion that has very close parallels to Christianity and Judaism of Earth ... but often with a militaristic twist, and a tendency toward seeing unbelievers as "infidels" and not above going on religious "holy wars" or "crusades" on occasion.
Silent Ones vary significantly in their disposition according to which religious sect they hail from. The "Keepers of the Flame", for example, are quite racist, seeing themselves as the "Chosen People", and tending toward violent resolution of problems with "heresy". A number of warrior-priests of this sect came to Sinai when the "Boomer" swapped a piece of Abaddon's soil with that of the area around Elamoore (capitol city of Himar), bringing with it a fortress belonging to this sect of the Silent Ones. They are generally quite condescending to non-Silent-Ones, and are divided in their opinion of Savanites.
The "Light Bringers", on the other hand, are more favorably disposed toward other species, though their rhetoric at times may still sound jingoistic and even offensive to other species and faiths. While they are still militaristic to a certain degree, they are regarded as "pacifists" by the more extreme "Keepers of the Flame".
Abaddonian Silent Ones have very little genetic variation at all. Although there is evidence of Quantum Uncertainty resulting in genetic variation amongst humans on Abaddon, it appears to have left the Silent Ones almost untouched. One Silent One can pretty much pass for another of same gender and similar age. They therefore have a tendency to wear robes and armor that bears sigils identifying the wearer, even to the point of wearing masked helmets with identifying marks on the face-plate. This has become such an accepted part of their culture that a Silent One showing his face is akin to being naked, and something not to be done in the presence of the opposite gender. Silent One interaction with other species on Abaddon, however, has insured that this taboo doesn't extend to thinking of non-cheetahs as "naked" if their faces aren't covered, for the most part.
Silent Ones are uniformly digitigrade humanoids with cheetah markings, and amber-brown eyes, with head hair that is an extension of their fur coloration -- golden-white, with black streaks instead of spots. However, Silent Ones commonly dye their hair, and those that have been dealing with Sinaians have typically taken to making their hair black to more resemble the norm of Sinaian Savanites.
Ancient tablets found in excavation of the City of Hands suggest that the Savanite Empire had its origins with the Silent Ones. They also seem to suggest that this taboo about showing one's face was not known to those Silent Ones, and may be unique to Abaddonian sects.
PC Requirements:
Please note that "-1 Slave Caste" is no longer a PC Requirement for this species. It is
possible to play a slave, but highly recommended against, since we have had more failure
than success with players that try such a role.
Recommended additional skills/abilities:
Slave: Trivial and minor skills pertaining to one's role as a servant, entertainer or secretarial assistant would probably apply. Perhaps one might also have contacts or even some inside knowledge, as some persons are prone to forget that just because a Savanite can't speak doesn't mean that he or she cannot listen.
Tribal Freeman: Living out in the Savan, skills pertaining to hunting, tracking, herb knowledge, animal knowledge and other "in the wilderness" abilities would be appropriate. Fighting skills may be appropriate, too, especially for males.
Shaman: In addition to those skills appropriate for a Freeman (though fighting is not a common role for a shaman), a greater knowledge of herbal healing, tribal dance, legends and lore. The Shaman should have some sort of deformity, though it need not be physically limiting, and may be something as mild as just having an odd mark on the fur or a strange color of eyes. Shamans do not possess or create magical artifacts ... beyond simple talismans consisting of leather sacks containing a mixture of herbs intended to ward off this or that evil spirit or monster. The exact nature and extent of their powers is very subtle, if there is even much truth to them at all. Details should be worked out with the GM.
Gifted: In addition to those skills and disadvantages that define a Shaman, the Gifted individual should have a distinguishing deformity. At one point, this would have been a -1 point Disadvantage, but now having such a mark is not that likely to get one killed.
Abaddonian Silent One: Silent Ones from Abaddon will have at least 1 point in Magical Resistance, though this ability sometimes fades with prolonged exposure to Sinai. Also, Silent Ones typically dress in armor (functional or ceremonial) and robes, and cover their faces with masked helmets. Fighting skills and technological knowledge is common. "Silent Tongue" is the basic language for Silent Ones, and even though they are not from Sinai, knowledge of Rephidim Standard is common, though they don't call it that. (To them, it is "Expedition Standard".)
For any Savanite character, the Silent Tongue (also known as Savanite Sign) is a very valuable native language. The Savanite should also know any languages of his master(s), if a slave. (Even if he can't speak them, he should still know them.)