Felari

Felari

Information
Homeworld	Virilune
Habitats	Dense jungles and forests
Unique Traits	Pointed ears, tails, whiskers, claws, vaguely feline appearance
Writer(s)	Kareena (Convixen)

"We are the claws in the dark, the rustle in the leaves, the shadow in the canopy. We know the forests like no other." — Felari scholar

The Felari homeworld of Virilune contains many regions dominated by a thick, dense, massive forest called the Mahavana (“Great Forest”), which has determined every aspect of their lives. Though believed to descend from the same genetic stock as the Canari, they’re much lighter and more nimble. The predators in the Mahavana are swift and vicious, leaving no opportunity for glorious hunts. Instead, Felari rely on stealth to survive, and most are generally of a very subdued and patient disposition. They believe in balance, in life weighing the same as death, and thus the dead are not mourned but celebrated as a sacrifice for the good of the Mahavana. Attempts to introduce modern technology have largely been rejected in favor of tradition and privacy. Legends tell of dark cults and strange rituals performed in the shadows of ancient trees.

Core Worldview

"Life and death are merely states of being. When one dies, they become one with the forest-- to nurture generations to come. Do not weep, for they are closer to us now than ever before." --Priestess Anaya Mulacarya, speaking at Nira Sherazi's funeral

Felari see their homeworld and the Mahavana less as an environment and more as a living system that includes them. All are parts of the greater whole. States of life and death are equivalent in the sense that each allows an individual to contribute to the continued function of the Mahavana and Felari society.

This worldview comes across as insensitive and apathetic to outsiders, though Felari do express compassion between one another when loved ones die or suffer. However, the act of dying is largely seen as one’s body and essence returning to the Mahavana to allow for the forest to sustain the living. As such, funerals are more celebrations of life than they are times of intense mourning. Grief is borne quietly and typically without tears.

Physiology and Design

"Don't run in the house! You'll trip over your own tails!" --overheard Felari father, speaking to his two children

A typical Felari (artwork by Dani)

Descended from the same genetic stock as Canari, Felari are humanoids with feline traits. Felari have pointed ears, tails, whiskers, keen eyes, and fur. Fur and markings appear around the face, on the arms and legs, and along the back and hips. Felari also have digitigrade feet (paws), which give them the appearance of a person standing on their tiptoes constantly. This evolutionary trait has allowed them to walk near-silently.

All Felari are based off of a cat species. Cat species that are valid for Felari characters range from domestic housecats to big cats in the wild. However, hybrids between two feline species are not valid in Felari society due to the way cat species are passed from parents to children.

When parents of differing cat varieties have children, the genetics from the cat traits don’t mix. Instead, it is a coin flip of whether the child is parent A’s or parent B’s cat species. For example, a lion Felari and a tiger Felari will not make a “liger” Felari, but rather the child has a chance of being a lion Felari and a chance of being a tiger Felari-- hybrids do not exist.

Felari tend to have short hair if they are in professions involving physical labor, or any profession that requires them to venture into the Mahavana. If a Felari wishes to have long hair in one such profession, they will typically wear it up or braid it to avoid snagging on branches.

Felari in professions that do not require venturing out into the forest, such as artisans, scientists, or priests, are able to have longer hair or have their hair down.

Skin tone, hair color, and cat features should all be relatively in the same family. A snow leopard Felari will likely not have natural blonde hair, for example. However, a snow leopard Felari could very reasonably have black or white hair instead.

Felari come in earthy, natural tones first and foremost. Whites and grays are less common and create an evolutionary disadvantage for the individual. Unnatural colors (like blue, purple, green, etc.) never appear without dye involved, and even then, bright colors tend to compromise stealth on Virilune and are thus looked down upon (outside from unique circumstances such as festivals).

Felari live 1.5 times as long as the average human being.

Social Structures and Community

"It is my honor and duty to serve our people once more." --Lila Vanaputra, speaking after being re-elected as a Sutradhar

Felari communities on Virilune are typically somewhat matriarchal, lineages traced through the mother rather than the father (last names are passed down through the mother’s side). Those in positions of power or influence are more likely to be women; however, Virilune does function largely as a representative democracy, with individual communities electing leaders to represent them in the larger Virilune courts.

Leaders bear the title of Sutradhar (pronounced “soo-trah-dar”, meaning director or narrator in Sanskrit theatre).

Felari populations typically settle vertically in and around massive trees, connected by large suspended bridges and hollowed-out trunks. Settlements are extremely well-hidden and are not visible under the canopy by aircraft or ships in orbit. There are no impressive towers, nothing that pierces the canopy, no lights visible through the leaves. Those living on the top levels live in relative darkness, as lighting fires or lamps is not permitted to avoid discovery. Travelers do not discover a Felari city; they simply realize they have been within the bounds of one for hours before noticing. Populations are extremely dense, as expanding out into the Mahavana is difficult and slow-going work.

Religion and Spirituality

"The forest nurtures all." -- Felari religious text

Instead of worshipping one deity, Felari hold a deep ancestral veneration for the spirits of the Mahavana at large. Temples and altars revere the forest and the spirits of the dead who have joined with it. Gravesites are sacred.

Holy spaces are typically decorated with flowers, plants, and cloth, to avoid disturbing the forest as much as possible. When entering one such space, Felari and any other guests are expected to remove their shoes and speak quietly, if at all. In especially dire moments of Virilune’s history, Felari have been known to gather at such spaces for their leaders to pray to the Mahavana for guidance and mercy.

Use of Magic

"Unseen, like shadow. Flowing, like water. Deadly, like the viper." --Felari mage

Much like the Canari and the species on Virilune’s sister sphere, Velora, the Felari tend to practice magic in various nature and life branches/constellations.

Living in environments filled with vegetation, many have practiced druidic spells and magic to allow the manipulation of plant life, whether by causing plants to move or to grow. This allows for agricultural advancement. However, due to the necessity for stealth, Felari have also become excellent when handling cloaking magic, often inscribing enchantments onto their spacecraft and equipment to allow them to slip away unseen.

Some Felari have also been known to work with the magic of the dead, to commune with and ask for advice from the ancestors. These rituals are shrouded in mystery and not widely practiced.

In traditional Felari language, 'magic' is referred to as 'vidya', derivative of their word for 'knowledge'. Various branches of magic are referred to as 'vidya of the __".

Felari mages are referred to as Vidyari. Especially experienced Vidyari are known as Vidyarim, an especially prestigious title to attain typically only held by extremely powerful mages.

When speaking of magic to other races and those not fluent in Felari language, Felari tend to default to common terminology of 'mages' and 'magic'.

Technology

"Look, sir, I understand your concerns. But I still don't have interest in letting colonizers help themselves to our forests, and that means no outsider technology." --Taraka Mahi, head of a prominent tech company on Virilune

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  A standard Felari wrist-mounted analysis tool
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  A standard Felari communicator
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  Felari coins

Technological advancements from Virilune were previously noticeably lacking in comparison to those of the other species on other planets, largely due to the Felari’s distrust of machinery from other planets. Most, if not all, Felari hold the belief that machinery could taint the forest and cause imbalance in the ecosystem, which would be catastrophic for the longevity of Virilune and its inhabitants. This mindset has, in a way, kept Virilune protected from those who may seek to colonize and terraform, keeping its secrets locked away beneath the trees.

Since establishing peace with the Canari, technological advancement has caught up with that of other species, but remains distinctly organic in nature. Differing from the Canari’s objective of working alongside forces of nature, the Felari seek to adapt and use the Mahavana to their advantage. The result are biomechanical systems that combine advancements in nature magics, biology, botany, and engineering, and have been implemented in place of standard technological solutions anywhere possible.

Chemistry and Biological Enhancement

"Everything is learnable. While death should not be overcome, perhaps it can be postponed..." -- Kavi Vanapala, researcher and professor

Where the academics of the Felari really shine is in biology and chemistry. Learning to understand the genome is a large part of the scientific community. Creating compounds out of plants, advancing medicine using what’s readily available in the Mahavana, and engineering newer and better means with which to combat the things that frighten them are the main goals of the many researchers and scientists Felari society produces.

However, it is worth noting that actually altering one’s genome or body to a significant degree can be considered a taboo practice. “Significant degree” can be defined as changes that consume over half of the body, direct alteration of one’s genes beyond small fixes, such as enhancing a sense, or especially invasive prosthetics. In such cases, the blame is typically placed upon the scientist and those involved who aided in this practice. For Felari academics, knowing where to stop is just as important as knowing how to perform the procedure to begin with.

The medical work done by Felari medical professionals on Virilune is truly stellar, to the point where members of other species may arrange for a visit to some Felari healers and medical professionals to gain access to their medicines and practices when all else fails. While others may rely on artificially synthesized remedies, Felari doctors tend to lean towards the natural, and a large number of them are also accomplished botanists in the sense that they know which plants contain useful chemicals and how to best extract said chemicals.

Traditional Clothing and Fashion

Felari fashion for working professions

"You'll alert half the forest with all those jangly bracelets!" -- Overheard Felari woman, scolding her friend's choice in imported jewelry

Generally, Felari fashion functions under basic principles.

Casual, day-to-day clothing must not have much loose fabric to avoid snagging on bark and twigs while running and sneaking through the forest. Clothing is highly practical and tends to come in earthy tones (greens and browns) to blend in with the forest. Felari with light colored fur are expected to wear more conservative clothing for their own sakes, to not draw attention from the predators lurking in the canopy. Clothing must be flexible, easy to move in, and durable.

Ceremonial wear and clothing worn by those not traveling out into the Mahavana can be looser, with layered sashes and fine embroidery depicting flora and fauna.

Felari fashion for craft and religious professions

Piercings are minimal and often symbolic. Jewelry tends to be closer to the skin rather than dangling, resulting in Felari preferring cuffs, rings, and chokers rather than necklaces or loose bracelets. Bone, wood, amber, and woven twine are popular materials.

Exceptions to traditional clothing rules are made due to profession or other extraneous circumstances– for example, lab coats remain white, which would otherwise violate a guideline about bright colors. Altogether, Felari fashion prioritizes functionality and practicality.

Literature and Artisanship

"Our stories are always worth telling and sharing. The forest whispers too, if one learns to listen." -- Devasa Mulavid, lecturing to his class

While the scientific community on Virilune prospers quietly, it’s those in the arts that win the hearts of the community.

Literature is often read aloud or even performed, in the cast of plays. Theatre is an especially common form of art on Virilune, with elaborate puppetry and costume design. Stories are passed down between generations in this way.

Records are kept with a strong desire to keep tradition flowing, large servers full of written works and photos.

Artisans are also highly respected, and Virilune regularly produces excellent craftsmanship. Felari artisans make use of the materials at their disposal, creating uniquely designed tools, equipment, toys, and architecture.

Music tends to be soft, blending with the sounds of the forest at first before coming into its own melody. Oftentimes, music is created using flutes or hollow reeds.

Most transactions on Virilune are done through digital currency, but areas that still utilize physical means of payment make use of coins or tokens. These tokens are metal, with holes in the center to allow them to be tied together with string or twine. Tying coins together prevents them from making noise by jostling against one another. The value of the coins is determined by the number of leaves engraved on the vines depicted by said coins.

Other Occupations

"All have their role in the forest." --ancient Felari saying

There are several other unique occupations Felari hold on their homeworld, including:

• Canopy Navigators: Individuals who can easily and quickly find their way around the canopy are instrumental for staging rescue operations or expanding existing settlements.
• Root Engineers: Those who manage and regulate the expansion of settlements, and keep a close eye on the Mahavana’s stability at the roots. A good root engineer predicts a problem before it happens, identifying sources of structural instability before disaster can strike.
• Archivist: Those who keep and tend to the expansive records of Virilune, with every bit of data just as important as the rest.
• Lawmen: Those who uphold the will of the Sutradhars and enforce Virilune’s laws and policies. They are also the ones who are sent to investigate and subsequently dismantle security threats.
• Soldier: Loosely called soldiers, these are individuals who form Virilune’s greater fighting force– both against the predators in the Mahavana and against threats from other planets. If placed under greater threat, Virilune’s fighting force is dynamic and prepared to expand to include almost any able-bodied individual whose talents are not better spent elsewhere.

Starships and Space Travel

"It's a shame so many of us live under the leaves. They're missing out on this view." --overheard Felari flight student

Although most Felari never leave Virilune, this doesn’t mean space travel is off the table. Virilune is home to several busy ports for trade and travel.

Felari-originated starships tend to look almost organic to the naked eye. While their interiors are reinforced with metal and the unnatural, the exteriors are often encased in chitin and stealth technology that would allow them to travel without being too noticeable on radars. This is the same shielding technology applied to many of the larger settlements on Virilune. Ships often feature spikes and hexahedral structures.

Ships do not feature harsh lighting, and interiors are maximized as much as possible. Smaller ships are more common, though larger, vast constructs can be seen hovering above Virilune’s skies, prepared to defend the planet if necessary.

Cultural Quirks and Daily Life

Felari draw a lot of their cultural quirks from their feline traits and the environment they live in.

For Felari, touching foreheads together or leaning one’s head on someone else is a more meaningful act than it is in other societies. This is a gesture to show affection or deep trust shared between both parties.

Speech tends to be soft, as Felari live in stealth. Shouting compromises the group. Felari who leave Virilune and grow accustomed to raising their voices often struggle to adjust when returning. To combat this, Felari have developed several means of communicating in silence. While signals with the tail and ears are natural responses, almost every educated Felari knows some manner of sign language. However, the individual versions differ depending on the region.

Hygiene is important in Felari societies; taking care of one’s fur is the mark of a ‘proper’ Felari. Similarly, touching someone’s ears or tail is only done with permission or between close friends and family.

Felari tend to dislike artificial lights and unfamiliar technology, and are naturally distrustful of outsiders. Felari are often fine with silence and long pauses in conversation, something that may unnerve members of other species.

Felari are often extremely alert, and when speaking to one, it is not uncommon to see their ears and eyes scanning the room.

Food is often heavily spiced and seasoned, using what is available in the Mahavana. Typically, these are dishes that feature meat and fish along with grains and mushrooms. Cooking is done slowly, and eating is typically done communally. Dinners never feature only one or two dishes, but often at least five options.

Felari are by nature a mysterious and secretive people, and deeply value their privacy.

Notable Locations

An example of a large Felari building

The Mahavana, or "Mahagranthi"

The forest without end, violent and beautiful.

Known by natives as the "Mahagranthi" ("Great Knot"), the Mahavana is the vast forest covering the entirety of Virilune. Although the forest biome itself changes based on climate (temperate to taiga and everything in-between), trees are ever-present on the planet. Trees stretch to seemingly impossible heights, taller than trees on any other planet.

The Mahavana itself is livable on all levels, resulting in settlements being constructed at varying points along the trunks. Nestled among the roots, where very little light reaches, Felari rely on their keen eyes and sharp senses to navigate. Higher up in the canopy, they create treehouses and platforms with large bridges connecting them, keeping their cities organic and sturdy utilizing the unique organic compounds that allow for their forests to remain so long-lived and durable.

Predators stalk among the leaves, making stealth a necessity to survive anywhere in the Mahavana. Venturing out into the forest alone is a suicide mission, and oftentimes search parties are dubbed merely "body retrieval" (when there is a body left to retrieve).

Certain areas of the Mahavana are left unmapped and uncharted, too dark and deep to be worth exploring-- at least, that's what the current Felari court says.

A Felari city

Vanasara

The heart of the forest, beating strong.

One of the largest Felari cities, Vanasara is a city woven into some of the biggest trees in the settled regions of the Mahavana. Spanning from roots to treetops, the city houses a large number of major trading, academic, and legislative buildings. The most notable building location is the Sabha, Virilune's capital building, where the Virilune court meets in regular assemblies to discuss legislative decisions.

Pandura

The pale, the shadowed, the deathly.

A broad term used to refer to the unsettled areas of the Mahavana, those considered too dangerous and inhospitable. A large number of these regions are pale forests with black leaves, leading to its name.

Sometimes, Sutradhars (or the courts) of Virilune will utilize exile into the Pandura in lieu of traditional execution. Very few are ever seen again after being escorted into the pale forest.

Niranta Udyana

The endless gardens, symbols of peace.

The Niranta Udyana are flowering garden terraces housing pools of water encased by massive leaves, held in the middle-zones of the canopy. This area is considered a hub for medical training, with many proficient healers growing up and training with experts here. Individuals traveling to Virilune seeking medical help often end up in the facilities located here. Although Niranta Udyana looks like a botanical garden on the surface, it hides surprisingly high-tech buildings deep in the foliage. It is due to this layer of secrecy that the medical facilities have largely remained unharmed by conflict for so many years.

Prasthana Vata

The wind flows, to take you on your journey.

One of Virilune's largest air and spaceship ports. Security is taken extremely seriously, especially on ships coming from offworld travel. Outsiders are never taken without escort.

Prasthana Vata has connections to other ports all over the galaxy and beyond, making it easy for those who choose to arrive on or depart from Virilune to access the Warp Gate. However, most Felari tend to utilize the port for domestic travel.

Sunya Vahana

The bearer of the void.

The massive spacecraft hovering over Virilune, utilized for training and aircraft transport. Although it rarely moves now, as Virilune has not seen inter-planetary warfare in many years, it stands sentinel over the planet and is always manned with Virilune's warriors. Those training to become pilots or members of the militia are often sent aboard for training purposes, and it remains a symbol of peace and defense in Felari society.

Tantu-Kala

Weaving life, music, art.

An artisan's academy that specializes in teaching craftsmanship in all forms. Many Felari who seek to learn music, painting, theatre, carpentry, weaving, and all manner of craft attend this academy in droves. While Virilune places much importance on its technological and scientific achievements, the arts are by no means neglected, and often encouraged-- annually, the academy throws a festival where students present their work to the public and often make the start of their careers.

Samtulana Institute

Balance in all things is a science in itself.

Tantu-Kala's scientific cousin, an academic institute centered on the study of chemistry and genetic modification. One of many centers teaching similar practices, Felari society is fostered on reverence of the body and mind and the studies towards understanding each part. As a result, Virilune has produced a number of talented researchers in fields such as chemistry, biology, botany, biomechanical engineering, and botany-- all from similar institutions to this one.

The Samtulana Institute has also begun hosting courses and mentorship programs for aspiring mages, spurring on a new wave of druids and arcane scholars.

Mula-Mandi

Root markets, for anything and everything.

Market districts are popular destinations on Virilune, for anyone and everyone to sell anything and everything. Typically, these markets are extremely dense and packed with stalls, individuals taking up whatever space they can to sell. Artisans make their living in these places, as do farmers and those selling animals and livestock products. Knowing how to haggle your way into a better deal is a necessary skill in markets like this, as is knowing how to shake particularly persistent sellers.

Adi-Vrisk

The first tree, before all others.

In mythology, this is said to be the first tree in all of Virilune, the one who came before all the rest. Currently, the temple and sprawling holy site surrounding the tree is visited regularly by Felari tourists and those seeking spiritual guidance. It is the dream of many Felari on religious paths to come to worship and tend to the site.

Interactions With Other Species

The Felari have historically maintained a secretive, guarded stance when interacting with other species. This shapes much of their external relationships with a lens of caution and preservation. These isolationist tendencies have brought them into frequent conflict with the Canari, their neighbors on Virilune, and cultural differences escalated into periods of open hostility.

While these tensions defined much of their shared history, recent generations have seen a gradual shift towards peace, with both species rebuilding trust through mutual understanding and cooperation.

However, the Felari remain largely distrustful of the Aurelians, whom they view as interplanetary colonizers encroaching upon their traditional lands and disrupting the balance of their way of life, resulting in an onging undercurrent of tension even in otherwise diplomatic interactions.

Inspiration Images

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  A lot of Felari settlements are hung in the trees.
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  In areas closer to treetops, the light can filter in through the leaves.
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  Felari settlements can look modern/sci-fi, but always retain a somewhat organic feel.

Concept Art

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Trivia

• Much of the Felari culture is based upon Southeast Asian cultures, particularly India (Hyderabad region especially). Names being in Sanskrit is also due to this.
• Felari design is based upon trying to find some happy medium between traditional anime catgirls, and whatever the artists were on in the live-action Cats movie.