Kithkin

A kithkin appears as a menage of the larger cats, crossbred with humans; however anyone mentioning this fact will likely wish they hadn’t during the last seconds of their lives. They are a combination of great strength, keen senses, sharp intelligence, and lightning reflexes — making a kithkin possibly the most perfect hunter anywhere in Miranda.

Both male and female kithkin are expected to hunt, herd, and defend the tribe. Those that show special skills often find themselves becoming traders, craftsmen, teachers, or even a shaman. The kithkin have no form of currency; although most tribes have a cache of coins and jewels to trade for the materials they need.

Most kithkin will live no more than 40 years; however the oldest known kithkin lived well past 200 years. Unlike most other races, a kithkin is considered fully-grown by the age of 8, with most walking and speaking before their first year is over. Young females will give birth to one or two children every other year, while older females may only have a successful birth every five years.

Still, this rarely stops any female from attempting, as children are very special to kithkin tribes. The kithkin have even been known to adopt orphaned children of other races until they reach maturity — after which they are set outside the tribe. Only mature kithkin of the tribe and children may freely stay within the lands of the tribe. Physical

Males are around 5½ feet tall, while females are less broad around the chest. Their bodies are covered with a soft layer of fur and a short mane extends behind the head, which can hang as low as middle of the back. The coloration can consist of stripes, patches, or any number of solid colors. Unknown to many outsiders a kithkin’s exact pattern is dependent upon their birth tribe, as coloration is passed down to descendants.

It is often the face that unsettles most people that have never seen a kithkin. Although they appear descended from human stock, their eyes are placed forward and their jaw extends outward, barely covering a deadly set of teeth. Their eyes tend to be colored from dark browns to light green — with bright yellow seen as either a good or bad omen.

The short whiskers near their cheekbones, and ears set atop their head provide a kithkin with senses of a born predator. Their legs are more similar to a cat than human, as they move and bend in a way that seems foreign to any other race. This causes them some discomfort when moving around in a world full of things made for the other races. Psionic Abilities

Although not listed in their racial package, most kithkin have one psionic trick. This ability is usually focused on enhancing their already excellent hunting instincts. Each player interested in playing a kithkin should decide on their trick and work out the details with the GM. Common psionic abilities include hunting sense, limited foresight, animal empathy, limited invisibility, or even psychic weapons.