Help about Catfolk lore [Roleplay question]

[Aikaal]

I made a catfolk rogue in one of the campaigns I play. I tried to look at any Pathfinder / paizo catfolk lore and I got nothing except they live in small tribes and help each other.

I know catfolk rogues are extremely potent as a build but I mainly play for the roleplay before a power build. While I allocated some stats and skills for my character's personality, he is still really strong.

My current issue is before the campaign started, in his background, he was cursed after getting an object in a Calistria tomb. He was pretty young and did this to impress a nearby girl that told him to get something from there. Immature with a lack of wisdom, he angered the Goddess of Vengeance who put a divine curse on him. The Goddess knew the reasons he was doing this and she knew what kind of girl he was trying to impress. The curse turned his male human body into a female catfolk body and since the human girl is straight, the only he can have a chance again is if he can get the Goddess curse removed which would take a lot of time. I base myself from Elminster that took years to remove his own curse.

In my background, he escaped with her but had to separate himself from her to protect his friend. His main goal was to find her one day which he succeeded and with Leadership he keeps her as a cohort.

Normally, he would separate from the group so he can get rid of the curse but my DM is now on the second step of his campaign and right now it's a huge wall to his plans. My DM decided to try the new technology and space features of Pathfinder and an army invaded Golarion and they let my party know they would hunt us so we aren't safe. Kingmaker rules will be applied and this will take years.

While my character is true neutral and I could be careless about it. They threatened me and my cohort while the balance of his world is at risk. My group feels forced and is really angry this invasion blocked them (I am not the only one with my project ruined) This is so the campaign turns into an epic space battle with mythic rules (Because we are aware of a Great Old One named Hastur)

I can't remove that curse simply by using wish or miracle. I'd need to do a long task and it would take years. While I can become immortal with mythic talents, the more time passes and more I feel my character should simply accept his fate. My party happen to have a priestess of Calistria which is ironic and he is driven by vengeance because his plans are screwed and he's actually adopting that philosophy of Calistrae despite the curse.

Despite not being a true Catfolk, my character does share similitudes with the race. But since he has gave up on the idea to get the curse removed my character has been moody and angry which never happened before. I even let an obvious hint on purpose so my group would figure his secret since he had never mentionned his curse.

His cohort is neutral good and feels bad because he wouldn't have got that curse if she didn't have dared him to do so. She also understand his feelings but to her, he's a close friend and nothing more. She would love to help him and one of the other PC said she'd help also. I was thinking trying to find other catfolks to help my character accept what she is. This is where my problem happens. I have found absolutely nothing about a known catfolk tribe nor my party have encounter another catfolk. My character doesn't even know the language but he shares the curiousity, help for community, center of attention and lack of common sense.

Does anyone have an idea how I should proceed? Should I simply ask my DM to make something or there's a known place in Golarion where Catfolks hangout. I know since it will take years to build a kingdom I could on the sideway try to cleanse that curse but I feel it would be much better for my character roleplay wise to stay like he is. I originally picked Catfolk because it would bring humour in the game and it was a success.

[Kalindlara]

The only Golarion-specific catfolk info I've seen (and I consider myself quite well read) comes from The Asylum Stone, wherein a catfolk woman appears. The adventure only notes that catfolk come from southern Garund, well off the Inner Sea map. (They are also said to live in the Valashmai, in southern Tian Xia. Don't go into the Valashmai, though. It is DEADLY.) So, I'm afraid that's all we know (officially). Sorry. :( The only other places are those where wanderers and outcasts might appear, but they'd be lone cats like you.

You could try Asking James Jacobs, though. He might just say "Unrevealed", like he does, but it's worth a try.

[LazarX]

There isn't much catfolk lore. In fact, we're not even quite settled on what they LOOK LIKE. Thanks to the disparity in Paizo art.

[Ms. Pleiades]

Ask the DM to have the invading aliens all be completely asexual, lawful neutral stiffs, thereby offending Calistria. Your character's years-long effort to remove the curse is to appease Calistria by halting the alien invasion.

It sounds petty, but to be honest, Calistria is all about pettiness.

[Aikaal]

How do you ask James Jacobs :3?

Also... I know there's an Aasimar specific town in the Jade Regent campaign. Even if there's no lore of them, I'd figured normally there'd be a place you'd see more of them at least. I think it's worth a try because it is mentioned how Catfolk society works together and they are generally good aligned.

As how they look, I didn't know much either. I know some people prefer to have fur everywhere but I prefer the more human like. Regardless, I think my DM didn't even bother with the look so I picked what I preferred.

;; It seems like Catfolk isn't the only race in this situation. I know players usually tend to take core races but the other races need love also.

[Ms. Pleiades]

Aikaal wrote:

How do you ask James Jacobs :3?

Also... I know there's an Aasimar specific town in the Jade Regent campaign. Even if there's no lore of them, I'd figured normally there'd be a place you'd see more of them at least. I think it's worth a try because it is mentioned how Catfolk society works together and they are generally good aligned.

As how they look, I didn't know much either. I know some people prefer to have fur everywhere but I prefer the more human like. Regardless, I think my DM didn't even bother with the look so I picked what I preferred.

;; It seems like Catfolk isn't the only race in this situation. I know players usually tend to take core races but the other races need love also.

You Ask Him Here.

[LazarX]

Aikaal wrote:

How do you ask James Jacobs :3?

Also... I know there's an Aasimar specific town in the Jade Regent campaign. Even if there's no lore of them, I'd figured normally there'd be a place you'd see more of them at least. I think it's worth a try because it is mentioned how Catfolk society works together and they are generally good aligned.

As how they look, I didn't know much either. I know some people prefer to have fur everywhere but I prefer the more human like. Regardless, I think my DM didn't even bother with the look so I picked what I preferred.

;; It seems like Catfolk isn't the only race in this situation. I know players usually tend to take core races but the other races need love also.

And for the most part, they have all the love they need. Not every race needs full development as a player character race.

As to the Aasimar thing, there is a nation in Tien Xia that is predominately aasimar (of the standard human variety) in population. Look it up in either the Tian Xia primer or the Dragon Empires setting book.

[Aikaal]

Thanks Ms. Pleiades :D

I guess you are right LazarX but it is mentioned in their society description that Catfolks value their tribe over personal wealth or goals. A normal Catfolk would most-likely go to an adventure for the sake of his/her tribe. I could see an exception if their tribe is killed and you are the lone survivor and you are adopted or you have been enslaved which would mean you don't know your culture.

I feel if you want to meet a Catfolk, you need to find a tribe and we don't know the most common place they live. You'll occasionally see Aasimar here and there but not Catfolks and even if we'd see a loner catfolk, good chances would be they don't know how their culture works like my character.

[LazarX]

Aikaal wrote:

Thanks Ms. Pleiades :D

I guess you are right LazarX but it is mentioned in their society description that Catfolks value their tribe over personal wealth or goals. A normal Catfolk would most-likely go to an adventure for the sake of his/her tribe. I could see an exception if their tribe is killed and you are the lone survivor and you are adopted or you have been enslaved which would mean you don't know your culture.

I feel if you want to meet a Catfolk, you need to find a tribe and we don't know the most common place they live. You'll occasionally see Aasimar here and there but not Catfolks and even if we'd see a loner catfolk, good chances would be they don't know how their culture works like my character.

There are tons of reasons to justify catfolk adventures, you're a misfit who doesn't fit with catfolk society norms. Maybe your'e abnormally curious, or abnormally selfish, or maybe you're an exile, either unjustly, or deservedly so. Remember the big drow arguments we've had... the upshot is the bestiary entry represents the "norm" not necessarily every individual.

[Ms. Pleiades]

Personally, I like the idea of "Sent out by the grandmaster to learn of the world" trope. It's normally associated with more stereotypically traditionalist and orderly races, like dwarves, so I like having it turn out that a lot of the beastfolk races actually tend to have very strong master-apprentice relations along with a stringent maturation ritual.

I especially like it for any character I make that comes from the Mwangi Expanse.

[Aikaal]

Yeah... I'm reading about Mwangi Expanse and it could be a good way to start. My Catfolk is not traditional and doesn't come from a tribe. She got a divine curse that turned her into that and she doesn't have the time to afford breaking that curse. To begin with, there was always the possibility of never being able to. It's more trying to learn the culture of your race and live with it.

Elves seem to be the ones that know more about these tribes and there is an elf tribe in the Mwangi Expanse since there is mention of less recognizable tribes.

Thanks a lot for the help c:

[CosmicKirby]

LazarX wrote:

Aikaal wrote:

How do you ask James Jacobs :3?

Also... I know there's an Aasimar specific town in the Jade Regent campaign. Even if there's no lore of them, I'd figured normally there'd be a place you'd see more of them at least. I think it's worth a try because it is mentioned how Catfolk society works together and they are generally good aligned.

As how they look, I didn't know much either. I know some people prefer to have fur everywhere but I prefer the more human like. Regardless, I think my DM didn't even bother with the look so I picked what I preferred.

;; It seems like Catfolk isn't the only race in this situation. I know players usually tend to take core races but the other races need love also.

And for the most part, they have all the love they need. Not every race needs full development as a player character race.

As to the Aasimar thing, there is a nation in Tien Xia that is predominately aasimar (of the standard human variety) in population. Look it up in either the Tian Xia primer or the Dragon Empires setting book.

Said country/group of Aasimars also have their own Worldwound of sorts, but with Qlippoth pouring out. Fun Stuff.

When's the eventual Dragon Empires Campaign Setting hardcover ever going to be more than just a dream?

[Shane LeRose]

"Khajit has wares, if you have coin."

Wandering, tribal, yeah - they're the Khajit from Elder Scrolls.

Which is fine, I love that, not a complaint or critique.

Unlike Khajit though, their appearance is more MANthropomorphic as opposed to ANthropomorphic. I realize the Advanced Race Guide differs from this, but the Bestiary had them first so I say go with that.

It really comes down to preference though. Like if your female dwarves have beards or not (they have mutton chops in my campaign).

[boring7]

Honestly, undoing a god-curse is as easy or hard as you wanna make it. "If god gives you lemons, find a new god." But reading the entry here says they're folk, like any other folk, a bit heavier on the curiosity and advencha, their zeal tempered with family ties. The standard noble savage stuff. Honestly, I'm having flashbacks to Cameron's Avatar, and I never even watched that movie.

According to the Pathfinder wiki they have their biggest groups in the Valashmai Jungle. Valashmai Jungle is where Gojira (sorry, make that "King Mogaru") hangs out but also where Agmazar The Star Titan (wait, stars?) keeps rising from the dead to stomp out other dead.

So you've got two completely uncontrolled biological superweapons, one of whom was scientifically designed to eat armies and hate both each other and unnatural invaders, you've got hinted-at tribes of kinda-sorta your people, you've got a vague sense of hopelessness crushing down on your character, and an alien army burning and pillaging all the "soft" parts of town.

I don't know what YOU'RE going to do, but as a high-level adventurer of myth and legend trying to regroup, reconnoiter, and pull of impossible deeds my choice might be saying welcome to the jungle and bringing the fun and games. The heroes always run away from an overwhelming force by going into a place where "They'd be crazy to follow us."

Learn the language, fight the path, unite the tribes, reclaim your manhood if not your race, and use your army to draw out the enemy and into the maw of one or more terrifying giant Kaiju. It is your destiny, it is your duty, cry havoc and come all for violence.

[Mackenzie Kavanaugh]

Honestly, if I were the GM, the easiest way to get Calistria to stop caring about maintaining such a curse would be for your character to stop caring about lifting the curse. Such a thing would be far less of a burden to the devout of Arshea, for example, who enjoy experiencing life through the lens of a different gender and regard doing so as an expression of devotion. Calistria is indeed a petty goddess at times, but vengeance requires actually inconveniencing the target of your ire.

[lemeres]

Ms. Pleiades wrote:

Personally, I like the idea of "Sent out by the grandmaster to learn of the world" trope. It's normally associated with more stereotypically traditionalist and orderly races, like dwarves, so I like having it turn out that a lot of the beastfolk races actually tend to have very strong master-apprentice relations along with a stringent maturation ritual.

I especially like it for any character I make that comes from the Mwangi Expanse.

With a more whimsical twist, it could be 'go and sow your wild oats before you become a man' kind of thing as well. So a journey going from Calistria temple to Calistria temple.

[Ms. Pleiades]

lemeres wrote:

Ms. Pleiades wrote:

Personally, I like the idea of "Sent out by the grandmaster to learn of the world" trope. It's normally associated with more stereotypically traditionalist and orderly races, like dwarves, so I like having it turn out that a lot of the beastfolk races actually tend to have very strong master-apprentice relations along with a stringent maturation ritual.

I especially like it for any character I make that comes from the Mwangi Expanse.

With a more whimsical twist, it could be 'go and sow your wild oats before you become a man' kind of thing as well. So a journey going from Calistria temple to Calistria temple.

I've been kind of tempted to make a cleric/druid/inquisitor of Feronia who has that kind of attitude to their adventuring, given that Feronia's a neutral goddess of fertility. Calistria however comes across to me as the sort that doesn't want somebody getting bogged down in children.

[Greylurker]

Shane LeRose wrote:

"Khajit has wares, if you have coin."

Wandering, tribal, yeah - they're the Khajit from Elder Scrolls.

Which is fine, I love that, not a complaint or critique.

Unlike Khajit though, their appearance is more MANthropomorphic as opposed to ANthropomorphic. I realize the Advanced Race Guide differs from this, but the Bestiary had them first so I say go with that.

It really comes down to preference though. Like if your female dwarves have beards or not (they have mutton chops in my campaign).

I ended up breaking them into Northern and Southern Catfolk

Northern Catfolk are the more human looking ones and are kind of a European gypsy culture, while the Southern ones are the more cat like looking ones and pretty much going with the Elder Scroll's culture.

[EltonJ]

Aikaal wrote:

I made a catfolk rogue in one of the campaigns I play. I tried to look at any Pathfinder / paizo catfolk lore and I got nothing except they live in small tribes and help each other.

Snipped.

Any how, steal from the Elder Scrolls. The Khajiit are about as close to cat folk as you're going to get. Play the Elder Scrolls games for a while and take what you need from them. All five are rich in Khajiit lore.
:)