Blessed by Nuphis
The Felots of Planet Mœbius
These feline-like humanoids of the Hadar region of the planet Mœbius, are known for their herding of native livestock, topiary, licensed fur & hide trade and blind devotion to Nuphis, God of infinite lives & guardian of Hadar. Some clusters of Felots run very lucrative businesses in the Barrth trade region, which is the capital of Mœbius.
Often confused to be passive due to their background in herding, Felots are hunters and well to do formidable combatants, studying the Paw of Nuphis, which is a martial art and strategic art of terrain campaining. Although their weaponry and chosen armor may seem primitive to modernized species, the Felots can never part with what’s aided them in warfare due to special minerals of their homeland that craft such weaponary.
It is said that Felots have appeared on Mœbius more than 2,000 years ago, as their travels brought them from the southernmost region of the planet after being molded personally from Evara’s light. The Felots have evolved from being companions of the deity Evara to developing their own wants, needs, and destinies after serving in Evara’s covenant.
Only to find footing after the fall of their main deity and became surrounded by the light of Nuphis’ ascension who had promised to be the Felot’s guardian and watcher of the lands they have worked to cultivate through its many eras.
Their learned knowledge of the land, it's prized minerals and its heavily guarded livestock, has given the species a well grounded outlook on their longevity, including the aid of Nuphis through the light.
Though that did not protect all from the 50yr war of Blight in 2490, when invaders of the Western shores of Patolok sought to obtain Hadar as their own. The constant arms and loss of many Felots, embroiled them to sharpen their campaign skills and diplomacy to be better prepared for others looking to obtain the lands which were gifted to them by their God.
They will and always have an unsteady relationship with the Regents of Patolok due to their volatile history. They normally have diplomatic relationships with whom they trade with and outsiders of the Hadar region. Though the latter is of rare nature if contact has ever been made with capable species finding the planet, or Hadar in general.
—Felots are described as anthropomorphic big cats. Certain bands or clusters may differ from another, relative to appearance and some behaviors, which act as their own groups within Felot society.
—Felots can be under or over the weight (mostly 100lbs over) and height of average humans, depending on their band or cluster. The tallest felot is no more than 7ft as the smallest had been no less than 5ft.
—They have large membranous ears, barrel-chested torso with flexible spines, tails, vertical pupils, fangs and retractable claws.
—Most felots are covered with a thick coat of fur that comes in various combinations from solid colors and/or patterned spots or stripes. Those of a rare solid golden or black coat have been exalted by both Clerics and followers of Nuphis. Often serving within the bridge or choir of Nuphis in their adult life.
—Shedding is inevitable and as is full coat maintenance. The use of a weekly wash routine with local berries and the nectar of temerrn, allows for a healthy coat throughout the seasons.
—While Felots are mistakenly seen as a passive species, they are capable of displaying predatory instincts due to their physiology and cunning intellect.
—With their physiology comes with intense agility, balance, flexibility, unique senses, speed, stealth, strength, toughened bite, dynamic climbing, and environmental adaptability.
—Felots share the language Tongue of Nuphis (or ton for short), a vocal clicking or chattering form of speech, which also has a written form of vertical scribing. Although their dialects differ, they have also picked up on Common through centuries of trade routes, speaking in the third person when doing so.
—Passiveness can be pervasive in Felots, but they also value emotional openness not matter if it is negative or positive in their reactions. If a felot has a feeling, it is expressed openly. Sometimes one on one or within a group of peers or with even a leader of their band before the emotional output becomes rageful or violent in nature.
—Pride is taken for the skills and love, showing appreciation through playful wrestling. This is an informal greeting, other than issuing a paw touch or warrior embrace. Can extend greetings to other species if mutual respect is earn.
—Felots are mostly omnivores, leaving most of their herded animals for ethical commerce to maintain the region’s diverse biosphere, resorting to eating less meat and more plant life.
Within Felot society, there are branches of leadership, which are representatives from a founding or long standing leader of a band who by the light have been chosen to help advance Felots as a whole.
As their undying belief in Nuphis and its influence in the collective society, it is quite likely that these numerous branches of leadership are mostly cleric or cleric adjacent, including high rank militia personnel who are respected enough from their particular bands.
Most males and females operate in a balanced way, attempting to include equitable roles within the homes of individual families and that of their bands, though female felots are more prone to accumulating higher statuses or prestige duties.
No matter the trade earned or studied, Hagar does offer various forms of education, mostly taught in established seminaries and trade schools around Hagar.
As all on the planet of Mœbius share a similar aging process due to its unique relationship to time, the planet’s 48hr, 14 days of a week and 24 month year cycle, by extension, a Felot’s average lifespan can fall between 30-40 years, equivalent to 60-80 human years. Felots reach maturity at 9yrs of age (18yrs), with encouragement to settle into their lives as an adult with taken arms in its militia, further educational training or trade industry.
Felot mates find their person through blessings of the light and help from a cleric or through the matriarch of the felot’s cluster/band leader. It is rare for felots to pair on their own or through non-traditional means.
It is not unusual for felot mates to have multiple partners to the betterment of a band or cluster’s needs rather than individual casual wants, a practice that has been in use for over hundreds of years. Though casual partnership of multiple felots is not unheard of in more taboo circles who may denounce the belief systems or standard cultural practices, which these members of the felot society are often shunned or looked down upon if openly practiced.
Trials of combat are for those of felot society who have been issued punishments by leadership for indiscretions or heinous crimes according to the law of light. Sometimes these combative bouts can lead to lifelong maiming or death.
Nuphis is the hailed God of Hadar, watcher of the region and once true confidant of the desitut Evara; Goddess of Triumph, who was the former ward of the region and the religion’s fallen idol. Nuphis was once the companion and temple guardian to Evara, until after the great descent 1,000 years ago according to the written testament of Extin. He was an ancient scribe and trusted cleric of Evara’s Temple.
On the hill of Light, Evara’s temple ruins remain where parishioners go to worship Nuphis. Followers are often devout and borderline cultish with their faith, which is often frowned upon by outsiders and other inhabitants of the planet in lieu of misunderstanding. Nuphis is recognized as the god of Light & ward of Hadar. Depicted as a leo body-like being with tufts of hair like a lion, a herding stick, broad sword or spear and a halo crown of light, which was inherited after Evara’s fall.
Referred to as the light, Nuphistone is associated with the golden god, a material predominantly found in the Hadar region. Though it has been rumored to be found north of Hadar in treacherous forests, it actually is protected by Nuphis beneath the ruin of Evara’s temple, some mountainous areas, and deep beneath the coves of Hadar’s small coast to the east.
The mineral has been coveted by many but preserved by the inhabitants of its region. It is vital to some of Hadar’s percieved primitive technology and other uses due to its rumored magical properties, which are energy projection based.
Felots who follow the tenets of Nuphis religiously offer gifts in the temple ruins or other altars decorated all through the capital of Hadar or around its surrounding villages.
As the light is rare in form, Nuphis, according to some clerics, have blessed the felots in ways that they will forever be indebted to, including protection and the ever evolving knowledge of its land.
Most followers have a strict discipline of keeping a clean spirit and home. This mindset allows followers to also treat their lands and kind neighbors the same.
Clerics and students of Nuphis hold gatherings on termed holidays but most importantly on accession day, which is celebrated in a month-long festival for the rise of Nuphis and remembrance/collective grievance of their former Goddess of Triumph. Followers are joined by plays depicting the life of the deities, performances, fasting of Light Night (which falls on the changing of the spring like season), feasts, and commitment of offerings.
Skilled herdsmen and hunters all have a hand in supplementing the Felot’s nation with their prized livestock and beasts, which provide quality fur, hides, meats and other parts of the animal for trade or sale. Most herdsmen are taught at a young age or enroll in apprenticeships with veteran herdsmen who pass on their knowledge by the credo of the light.
The most known beings left to open ranges to herd are osatets, spa’alas, the royetti, and fururians. To help herd the livestock, Felots gain help from Starns. Although there are other animals that live within the region, some are left alone due to their volatile nature when disturbed.
But there are species which are sanctioned for bhunting parties to keep their populations controlled before becoming invasive. Some of the more rarer animals might be enticed for big game hunters of neighboring regions to capture, but there are protected sites that disavow unsanctioned hunting for sport.
The working classes of felot society don't necessarily rely on herding and its benefits when they incorporated some innovations that allow both civilians and military personnel to flourish. The use of the miasu blade, herding staff, or for some rumored mercenaries, the requiem great sword of light, have accompanied felots for work or personal defenses.
The Military itself has had access to munitions such as the standard lighrail rifle and fusil rattler, but keep their prized and most destructive technologies of war underwraps until its need as per the mandate of the light.
Although most civilized species on Moebius have their own form of technological advances, Felots are no different to the ways they differ in the eyes of outsiders. Its usefulness has the source of the Nuphistone, allowing designers of the past to attempt to bring the nation up to par with other species but would seem to fall short by a full margin when their developments get by on sheer innovation, gifts by the light, and hope.
To the felot’s credit, they rely on the Golden Light Tessellation to help provide power to the grid used by villages and known municipalities. It may also aid in modes of transportation such as the Grommet Cable & lift.
For miners and other labored workers, Felots rely on Lavope skytows. As civilians who travel by air or sea for longer distances would rely on the Oukulbus and Oukulbyne ship. Both were named after the architect, Oukul-Ven son of Narve.
Plenty of other day-to-day use of innovations are available as many more being developed with allies of other nations and returning visitors from other planets.
