Caitian

From ATS Wiki

Due to a lock of solid information, this article is drawn from several sources, in an attempt to draw together the most accurate information. As such, there are several areas composed of speculation, in an attempt to make this article make more sense.

General Description

Caitians are a distinctively feline race. They have sleek bodies, completely covered with soft fur of various shades. It is of note that very dark colours are extremely rare, while pure whites are noted as being practically non-existance. They have large eyes, with slitted pupils, long tails, and soft voices with a purring quality. Although capable of walking on all fours, Caitians are bipeds, though they still retain the digitigrate gait of their feline ancestors. Caitians are also extremely dexterous, agile, and fast. They have superior senses, with night vision on par with that of other felines, and hearing that extends into ranges both far above and far below that of most Humans. Caitians are carnivorous by nature, and find it difficult to digest many different vegetables, although they have less trouble with grains.

Of note, it has been claimed by the Kzin that Cait, the Caitian Homeworld, was essentially a "Lost Colony", from their early space travels/colonization efforts. It has also been suggested that it is true. Considering the similar genetic makeup of the species, those theories are possible, if there was sufficient supporting evidence. However, there is none that could be located. Another theory is that they are seperately descended from the felines of their respective worlds.

Language

The Caitian language is composed of soft tones and sounds, some of which are even outside the normal Human hearing range, spoken with a deep purring resonance, which flows together to form a beautiful and graceful language. Because of this form of communication, many Caitians have some difficulty speaking the phonetic languages of other races correctly. Likewise, it is difficult for non-feminoids, even without considering the inability to hear some of the tonal ranges of the language, to speak the language with any degree of understandability.

Caitian Naming

With the conformity into the galactic culture many things are not practiced as they were in the old days. Caitian names have no gender indicated, despite what some believe. Naming practices may or may not be upheld in modern times, depending on the parents decision but usualy the names are still composed of a prefix and the name proper even if the parents choose the prefix for sound or look rather then for personality of the kit. Traditionaly kits were normaly not fully named until around one year old because the prefix to their name has been an aquired trait. It is also of note traditionaly most names was of three parts, with the 'middle name' usualy being a clan name, and the final name being the family name.

With the conformity to the galactic culture, many things are not practiced as they were in the old days. Caitian names have no gender indicated, despite what some believe. Naming practices may, or may not, be upheld in modern times, depending on the individual decisions of the parents. Usually, however, the names are composed of a prefix, and a name proper. Though the prefix is often chosen for aesthetics rather than meaning, the prefixes do have specific meanings. Traditionally, the prefix is chosen when the kit is around one year old, to allow the kit's personaltiy to show itself.

Also of note is that Caitian names are traditionally of three parts, the first being a personal name, the second being the name of the clan, and the third name being the family name.

Traditionally, some of the more common prefixes that were given to complete the name are:
K	Protective or hunter's instinct
L	Thoughtful
M	Graceful or calm
N	Content
P	Sympathetic or empathic
R	Strong willed or stubborn
S	Curious
T	Gregarious
V	Impulsive

Home System

There are very conflicting resources on this information, thus it is a speculatory compilation of the available information. It may or may not relate exactly to the ATS coded representation.

The Caitian homeworld, Cait, is a medium sized M-class world, orbiting Ferasa, a type G3 V star, which means it is yellow, and slightly brighter than Sol, the Terran star. There are 8 planets in the system, as follows:

#	Name	C	Notes
1	N'rrrap	F	Molten Rock
2	Sotarr	K	Similar to N'rrrap, with a choking atmosphere of noxious gasses
3	Cait	M	The Caitian homeworld
-	Asteroid belt	-	The asteroid belt which divides the system in two
4	Misat	F	An extremely rocky world
5	Torrel	J	A large gas giant
6	Kezarr	J	A smaller gas world
7	Arrrot	G	A small frozen waste

Culture

Caitian culture has, over the years, become rather similar planet-wide. There was never a large-scale movement towards any particluar way of life, except for the fact that all of the various societies have sprung from traditional hunting groups. The reason that there eems to be a planetary pattern of behaviour is that most Caitians have reacted to the galactic community in a very similar, very Caitian, fashion.

The first communities of Caitians, other than basic family units, were hunting parties. Typically nomadic, they followed whichever game animals they had a particular taste for. Eventually, various animals were domesticated, and the hunting parties became exceedingly rare, as animals could be raised in larger numbers in one place. Over time, Caitians began to settle in larger numbers, centered around a local herd of domesticated livestock. These communities were typically communes, with each individual taking part in maintaining the herd, and, in turn, getting what food they required from it, with no central hierarchy. Each family being basically independent of the others.

This has been the basic model for the current Caitian society, though it has been extensively modernised over time. Now, people live around the economic hub of a city or town, with all business done in the commercial center. When the business is done, they return to their homes, which are still spaced apart from one another, but within a short distance of the economic center. The largest cities have come along only recently, made mostly for the purpose of accomodating off-world visitors, and regulating planetary issues.

Government

The planetary government is not as powerful as its counterparts on other worlds. For the most part, individual areas are free to govern themselves, and do so quite effectively. The government that is in place consists of two parts, the K'tarrela, and the Novirrass.

K'tarrela

The K'tarrela is the senatorial council, composed of 500 members from around Cait. The members do not represent any particular region, and are allowed to run for election only if they are shown to work solely for the good of Caitian society. They are responsible for creating laws and agencies, and control the planetary militia in times of crisis.

Novirrass

The Novirrass is the highest Caitian court. It consists of 13 Justices, nominated by the K'tarrela, and elected to office by a vote of the continental courts. Appeals can be made to the United Federation of Planets if parties are not satisfied with a Novirrass decision, though the Novirrass cannot accept cases from off-world. Any dispute with another world must be made to a Federation court, not the Novirrass. There are continental courts, which make decisions on individual continents on Cait, and are the last step below the Novirrass. Under them, there are several smaller courts, set up to handle particular regions. Centuries ago, most of the courts were abolished, due to globilization, and acceptance into the United Federation of Planets.

Caitian - ATS Wiki