Firelizards, Whers, Felines & Other Native Creatures

[Masterharper]

Firelizards

 

[Masterharper]

Watch Whers
Please note that the majority of wher-handlers will live outside of a Weyr! Whers are meant primarily for non-Weyr residents!

Watch wher, watch wher in your lair
Watch well, watch wher
Who goes there?

Watch whers, like dragons, are not a native species to Pern. They were in fact a failed attempt at creating dragons by the initial colony. Wind Blossom, unfortunately, was not quite as skilled as her grandmother, Kitti Ping, and her attempts resulted in the birth of watch whers.

Watch whers are stunted and less intelligent than the dragons. Though they come in the same five colors--gold, bronze, brown, blue, and green-- they have two claws on their back feet, and three on their front. Their eyes are substantially more senstivie to light, which often makes them photophobic. They tend to prefer the dark and can be nocturnal; though some whers might be more tolerant to light and can be seen out in the day (especially when protecting Theirs or on duty) they vastly prefer dark, or shaded areas.

Similar to dragons and fire-lizards, the whers eyes do change color based on their feelings and emotions. They have incredible night vision, and an even better sense of smell. Bonded whers can make excellent trackers, and they were originally used to guard Holds, and work in the mines. Their ability to smell "bad air" meant they were able to keep more miners alive--and their strength meant they could be put to work hauling heavy stone and equipment, or to help seek out life during cave-ins.

Whers have thick skin to help protect them from the elements, which does need to be bathed and oiled. Their wings are naturally small and stunted, and are too small to allow them the ability to fly. They are heavily muscled creatures, far more so than dragons, and are often described as ugly. Whers intelligence is far less than that of a dragon's. A bonded wher will most often send pictures and waves of feeling to express their desires, along with physical noises, such as creels, hisses, growls, grunts, croons, etc.; a particularly clever and closely bonded wher might have the ability to speak simple words, but it is more uncommon. Whers who aren't bonded, or are wild and feral, will not speak, even if they once had the ability.

Sizes
Wher eggs average about 8 to 12 inches, and like dragons and flit, require warmth to incubate. This is often done in hay or sand. The eggs have thick shells, and many in a clutch are often duds, as wher fertility is low.

Whers reach full size in approximately 6 months, and are considered sexually mature at 8 months of age. Unlike dragons, and more like fire-lizards, whers all age approximately at the same time. While greens are still the smallest of sizes, and golds the largest, their sizes can vary based on the wher breed. i.e. Gold Beauty whers are known to be a bit smaller, while gold Fighting whers are known to be larger than average.

The smallest a wher can be is 5' in length and 3' in height. The largest can be 5'5' in height, and 11' in length.

Approximate Wher Sizes
Gold: 9-11' in length // 5.5' height
Bronze:8-10' in length // 5' height
Brown: 7-9 in lenth // 4.5' height
Blue: 6-8' in length // 4' height
Green: 5-7' in length // 3.5' height

The above might change a bit once I create an actual size chart and putz around with average sizes.

Bonding
Bonding to a wher is similar to Impressing a dragon or flit. Generally speaking, when a bonded wher lays a clutch of eggs, the female wher will be incredibly protective of her clutch. In some cases a wher's handler might be able to remove an egg from the nest, but more often than not, the female won't allow it. Instead, prospective handlers must first meet the female in question. If the wher finds the prospective handler worthy, they will be given permission to choose an egg to remove from the nest; if the mother wher doesn't find them acceptable, she will likely drive them away, violently. In other instances, any unclaimed eggs might hatch on their own; prospective handlers will need to have food on hand and try to feed the babies to bond with them. This might, or might not, result in bonding. In some cases, the handlers are turned into food themselves, or driven out due to injury. Beware.

Whers who refuse to bond, or simply have no one to bond with, are often put down by handlers. Unbonded whers are often aggressive, violent, and unpredictable, which makes them dangerous and a liability. Whers can easily kill a human. Wild adult whers are considered dangerous pests, as they have no problem attacking and killing individuals near their territories. This can be problematic, even to riders, who might pass through the area. In very rare cases, some feral whers might be tamed, or, similar to felines, might choose to bond with someone over time. This is incredibly rare and dangerous... Usually a feral wher will kill upon sight, so the wher must have good reason to bond.

Upon hatching, whers require their bonded to feed them an immense amount of meat. For a closer bond, the handler is encouraged to blood to the hatchling. This means that the handler will cut their hand or finger, and allow the wher to drink or lick up some of their blood to "taste" their bonded. This often allows for a closer bond than handlers who don't blood their whers.

The bond of a wher is a bit more flexible than a dragon. Whers won't die if they don't bond--they simply become feral and often more dangerous. When a handler dies, depending on how close of a bond they shared, a wher might also die, but he or she might also simply go feral, or choose to re-bond to someone else. It's also possible a wher might re-bond to a different handler if their own handler neglects them or abuses them, similar to how a flit might abandon its owner in similar circumstances.

Naming Conventions
Whers will take on the name of their bonded handler, but their names will always end in -sk. For example, if someone named Yulandion bonded to a wher and the wher named himself as Yulandiosk, it wold seem as if the bond was very close. The more of the name the wher takes, the closer the bond. On the other hand, if the wher named itself Yusk or Yulsk, the bond would be substantially weaker.

A weaker bond means the wher might be more unpredictable, or be less inclined to listen to its handler. In the books Lessa ordered a wher to stop its attack against F'lar. The wher tried to correct itself mid-pounce, and wound up breaking its neck, giving up its life, to obey. A less-bonded and loyal wher might not have done so.

OOCly, we do ask you avoid names taking only the first letter and adding a -sk. So please avoid naming your whers something akin to Ysk, etc. IIf an individual has a very short name, the bond could be considered either strong or weak, based on the players preferences.

Mating
Whers come in five colors with no whites. Golds and greens are always female, and both can have a clutch of eggs. Bronzes, browns, and blues are always male. Like dragons, gold whers will breed only with bronzes and browns, as a rule. Greens will breed with bronzes, browns, or blues.

As whers can't fly, they have runs. Interested males will likely start to hang around the green or gold. Proddy green or golds will often give signs that they are ready to mate--sometimes they begin to glow, sometimes they get more irritable, or more flirtatious; it varies from wher to wher. Once she is ready, the green will likely take off running, and force the males to follow her on a merry chase. Depending on the whers location, she might not get to run far, or fast; she might snap at the males, she might draw blood, and might encourage them to fight among themselves. Males, for their part, become particularly aggressive around one another as they chase the female--as well as anyone in their way.

Thankfully, wher runs don't last long, and don't happen nearly as frequently as firelizards or dragons. A wher run might last 5-10 minutes tops, with the male either being the last wher standing, or the one to "catch" the running female.

Injuries to other whers, as well as anyone who accidentally gets in their way is common.

Wher runs do affect their handlers. While they're not as strong as a dragon flight, they are stronger than a firelizard flight. Handlers can choose to ignore the feelings, but it's not uncommon for them to feel more pent up, be more flirty or irritable, or to give into the needs that are stemming from their whers with a partner of their choice. It isn't uncommon for handlers to fall together with one another, but it's not necessary. Handlers can simply ignore the feelings. The less bonded to the wher, the easier it is to ignore.

Like dragons, two gold whers who run at the same time can become aggressive with one another. Unlike gold dragons, they do not require other handlers to leave the area entirely--but it is considered a kindness to at least keep one gold wher away from another who is having her run or keep her penned up or distracted. Thankfully, female whers mate infrequenty, so it's rarely a problem. So long as there's some room between the golds, it usually isn't too much an issue.

Clutches & Infertility
Female whers mate infrequently. Golds might mate once a turn, or more likely, once every other Turn or two, while greens might mate one to two times a Turn. Infertility runs high among whers, which means sometimes a run might not result in a clutch at all, or the eggs are nothing but duds. It is thought gold whers tend to produce more viable eggs, but both colors tend to have many duds in their clutches.

In Echoes of Pern, each wher breeding that is won will also have a Fertility Success rate to go along with it! This will effect the number of viable eggs a wher couple will produce. This will change at random every time, so even if the whers only breed with another, sometimes they might have more viable eggs, other times they might have fewer viable eggs.

For each breeding pair, colorists will roll a d10.

1. Low Fertility - 2 viable eggs only
2-4 Low Fertility - 2-3 viable eggs
5-7 Moderate Fertility - 2-4 viable eggs
8-9 Moderate Fertility - 2-5 viable eggs
10 High Fertility - 4-8 viable eggs

The higher the fertility roll, the larger the chance of a clutch. Note, though, that the minimum is two eggs, and the maximum 10 eggs per wher clutch. Unless a pair rolls a 1, where they auto-recieve 2 eggs max, the colorist will then roll from the grid to see the final egg count, and from there, randomize colors.

Colors will follow the fire-lizard grid based on color type. Only gold whers have the chance of producing another gold wher.

OOCly, there are sometimes runs that produce no viable eggs in a clutch. This is common, and not concerning to either wher or handler. After a period, the mother wher will abandon the nest, and the eggs eaten by tunnelsnakes or disposed of by the handler. The female wher will always abandon her nest once it is clear the eggs are duds. Please don't make it so the wher never leaves her nest or guards her unhatched eggs forever. That wouldn't happen.

Additionally, it is entirely all right to claim your wher had a run that resulted in no viable eggs, without winning a raffle, similar to NPC flights for dragons or firelizards.

ICly, the only time a wher should have viable eggs is when you win a wher breeding raffle =or= if you win a baby wher, or adult wher lines, and want to claim they came from a characters NPC clutch =or= you make the clutch entirely NPC. Similar to flits, you are allowed to claim your wher had a run with eggs that were sold, bonded, and/or duds for story purposes but they shouldn't be written or played by characters without first obtaining art.

All wher breeds are capable of breeding with one another. That said, EoP is going to take a page out of Disney. For example, if a Guard wher breeds with a Beauty wher, the offspring could hatch into all guards, all beauty whers, or a mix of both. This in mind, certain groups ICly might prefer their whers breeding with similar kinds, i.e. Crom miners might prefer only mining whers breed with one another, so they can ensure the resulting eggs will benefit the craft. Or those with fighting whers might breed only with fighters so as to ensure the next generation is just as fierce.

Wher Breeds
In the books, whers were generally used as mining companions or guards. In Echoes of Pern, we've different line for each different type of wher. Mining whers and guard whers are the most common type of wher found on Pern, but a few other types have been bred and each are often used for different purposes.

Please note, obviously tempers can vary on the individual. What's noted below is simply the stereotype and traits that were bred into the wher breeds, similar to how different domestic dogs are known for different skills and temperaments, but individuals may vary.

Mining Whers Common
Mining whers tend to be the default wher type. They are the true average when it comes to size, weight, and strength. They are incredibly strong, have sensitive noses, and the best night vision of all the wher types. They are also the most photosensitive. Mining Whers tend to be a bit sleeker as they must creep through smaller spaces in the mines. They are known to get along better with larger groups and individuals, as they are often raised to be around other miners. They tend to have a strong work ethic, and are protective of their camps and miners.

Positive Stereotype: Most sensitive sense of smell
Negative Stereotype: Most sensitive to sunlight or bright light

Guard Whers Common
Guard whers are most often found at Holds and Halls. They tend to be a bit larger than Mining whers, but stockier, and less sleek. They are trained to attack uninvited outsiders, or to sound the alarm or warning of intruders. Guard whers are extremely protective of Theirs and are more easily trained by their handlers. They can be suspicious of strangers, but are always vigilant in tasks given them by their handler. Depending on the size of the Hold, Guard whers can be either extremely approachable, if wary, of others; or more aggressive towards strangers until their Handler gives word they are safe.

Positive Stereotype: Most protective of all wher types
Negative Stereotype: Most wary of outsiders and strangers


Hunting Whers Uncommon
Hunting whers were developed primarily from breeding selective traits from retired mining whers, fighting whers, and occasional guard whers. Over the turns, they have created a breed that has the loyalty of a guard wher, the sensitive nose of the mining wher, and the hardiness of a fighter. While these traits are often present in the Hunting whers, if not as strong as in the actual Mining, Fighting, or Guard breeds. They are capable trackers, often able to pick up scents superior to canines; they are large enough that they can often take down wild or feral whers that cause trouble in neighboring Holds or Halls, or felines for that matter. They tend to be highly intelligent, and take command well...provided the bond with their handler is strong. Hunting whers are perhaps the closest to bonding with a feral wher, as their instincts are sharp, and they seems to prefer to be outdoors on the hunt or trail instead of cooped up in a pen. Unfortunately, hunting whers have been known to go wild if the bond with theirs isn't strong.

Positive Stereotype: Most intelligent
Negative Stereotype: Most likely to turn on their handler or go feral if the bond isn't reinforced

Fighting Whers Uncommon
Fighting whers are the largest and strongest type of wher. They are bred purely for physical prowess, and the larger and stronger the wher, the better. They are known to be highly aggressive, so often need to have a handler who knows what they're doing. Accidents aren't uncommon with fighting whers, but it's also a source of shame for the breed and the handler; those that are too aggressive with people might well be put down. Fighting whers are exclusively bred to battle one another, or at least to be used to breed more fighters. Fighting is in their blood. They tend to have rougher hide than other whers, and are an incredibly hardy breed. They yearn to fight, and to win, and to please their Handler. Where they might be suspicious or aggressive with strangers, they tend to bond loyally to one handler until their death. Many Holds (especially in Bitra and Nabol and Rivercrest) have local fighting rings where fighters are invitied to test their mettle for entertainment and marks.

Positive Stereotype: Largest and strongest of all the wher types
Negative Stereotype: Most aggressive

Beauty Whers Uncommon
Beauty whers are the smallest of the wher sizes and were a result of breeding whers with the most docile and loyal tempers, along with whers that were known for being particularly "pretty". They are the least ugly of the whers, and the least aggressive. They are often more affectionate, loving, and loyal; while they can still turn aggressive when their family or handler is in danger, they are also just as likely to want pets or boops. The downside with their breeding is that their intelligence wasn't always taken into account. They're often thought to be less clever than some of the other wher breeds or more simple. They tend to have duller claws, smoother skin, and be more delicately built. Beauty whers are entirely bred for their looks and to be a more friendly-type of wher.

Positive Stereotype: Most affectionate & gentle of wher types
Negative Stereotype: Least intelligent

---

Once again these stereotypes and descriptions separate the breeds, but exceptions can be made. Some beauty whers might be more aggressive than standard, or not as cute; some mining whers might not have as sensitive a scent of small; some fighting whers might be herp-derps or not prone to aggression. Each wher is an individual!

Wherhandling in Echoes Of Pern
Please note that the majority of wher-handlers will live outside of a Weyr

If you have a character who wants to become a wherhandler or try for an egg, then you're in luck--this is a very common craft in Pern. Please remember though that whers are much more common companions outside of Weyrs. Most Weyrs have no need--and no space--for watchwhers. While each Weyr might have a small group of handlers on hand to assist in various tasks, more often than not there are none.

That means any prospective wherhandler is most likely going to have to live outside of the Weyr and in a Hold. Whers are not only often aggressive to strangers, but they're a resource that the Weyrs just generally don't need.

You should expect any wherhandler to need to leave the Weyr.

If that isn't daunting, then this is what will likely be expected.

Wherhandling as a Craft
Traditionally, wherhandling as a paid craft falls under Minecraft. Mining Whers are the most populous type of where in Echoes of Pern. Traditionally, apprentices will enter the Minecraft and study with fellow wherhandlers. This is where they learn the care and feeding of whers, get to know the roles expected of them, and most importantly, learn how to keep them in line. Whers are still dangerous to others even when bonded--unlike dragons, they can and will kill if they feel threatened.

This is primarily why most handlers should be trained in the Craft! Whers are far more aggressive than dragons, and in some cases, can even turn on their own handler. It is imperative the handler understands exactly what he or she is getting into.

Once a Master and the Hall recognizes that an Apprentice has the skills, knowledge, and temperament for a wher, he or she might be asked to seek out a green or gold wher's permission to take an egg.

This process is the most common way to get a wher egg, for the mother will chase out and even try to kill any perceived threats. Some apprentices have well lost their life by causing some offense and not running fast enough or heading the whers warning. Those who are successful are able to choose an egg.

There, they will care for it until it hatches. If it hatches. There are many dud eggs so it is sometimes Turns before an Apprentice finally is able to successfully hatch an egg. They will then blood to it, name it, and the next part of their training begins. There they will learn how to handle their wher, raise it, and begin their career.

Once certain they are not a threat to themselves or others, the Minecraft Hall will usually allow them to walk-the-tables, which allows them to work for the Hall on various assignments, or sometimes, go out and teach and train others, such as those who find it a hobby (or otherwise found a wher in their lives unexpectedly).

While Mining and Guard Whers are common within the Miningcraft Hall, they produce all types of wher, though fighting whers, up until recently, has been primarily looked down upon by the Craft. Wherhandlers traditionally try to stop the practice.

Wherhandling as a Hobby
Not everyone with a wher has been formally trained. In some cases, an individual finds hims or herself with a wher more as a hobby. Fighting and Beauty whers, in particular, fall under this category--particularly over the past 1000 Turns, when Thread allowed more individuals to create new hobbies and forms of entertainment.

There's a large number of handlers who have no formal training, and procured an egg in a different fashion. Perhaps they won it in a game, perhaps they bought it in Bitra or Nabol off the black market, perhaps they knew a handler whose own wher had a few eggs, which is common on Holds particularly among Beauty and Fighting whers. It's highly known that purchasing a wher egg is often considered a fools bet, since they are notorious for failing to hatch--but sometimes luck is on the owners side.

However someone obtained an egg, the egg will still require care. If an egg is obtained in a Weyr setting, there's a good chance if it hatches true, the handler will need to be sent elsewhere once it grows. Very rarely is there an opening for an inexperienced wherehandler to settle at the Weyr. While they are good for assisting in the Lower Caverns or helping guard passes that dragons are too big to fit/see into -- it is a limited group.

Thankfully, there is a large market out there for handlers whose whers are trainted.

So long as the wher can be trained and isn't a threat, there is usually work for handlers. Sometimes it's just having the wher do grunt work--even the most delicate of beauty whers are still terribly strong! Other times they will be tasked for a specific job or goal. Beauty Whers are highly coveted among Holdfolk and their breeding lines can make a man quite a few marks. Pit fighting is also popular sport among entertainers, and fighting whers (and even some guard whers) make many circles marks. Not every Hold allows wher fights, but Nabol, Bitra, Monaco Bay, and Rivercrest are notorious for their fights.

If a wherhandler is incompetant though, a wher can turn on him or her, or others. In those cases, it is entirely the handlers fault and they can be held accountable for what happened. In the best case scenario, the wher might be put down and the handler marked as inept. In the worst case, the rider might well wind up jailed or, if the attacks happen three times, he well could be executed as it seems less coincidence and bad fortune and more premeditated or negligent.

Wherhandlers usually run in similar circles. Those who have a wher still need to make sure the wher is taken care of. They still must be oiled regularly, they must be bathed, fed, bonded with, played with, and generally given a decent life. Those who can't afford to do will find the wher abandons them, turns on them or others, or Impresses to someone else who better cares for them.

Usually, those who don't seem to know what they're doing can find support among the wher handling community, but it is as rife with shady characters as it is with decent folk.
 

[Masterharper]

Felines

Felines have had a long history with the Pernese. The large cats were not native animals, and arrived with the colonists. Some of the colonists attempted mentasynth on the animals, but the creatures were thought not to handle it well, and went wild. They were known to be deadly, and would attack both human and dragon, sometimes with deadly results. For much of their history, felines were thought of dangerous pests; creatures to avoid and to kill. There were a few times throughout Pern's history that they were trapped and shipped over Pern as a novelty.

Historically, though, the felines on Pern were looked upon as feral beasts. They were the cause of the deadly plague that struck the Northern Continent during the Sixth Pass, and rumor has it spread illness to dragons during the Third Pass.

Shortly after the 9th Pass, when Thread was thought to be destroyed for good, the Pernese began interacting more and more with the wild prides of Southern and Western. The colonists Mentasynth enhancements, while originally considered a failure, actually had taken strong affect on the animals. As the enhancements are passed on genetically, and are known not to fade with future generations, by the time the Pernese people truly started looking to felines the entire population was affected.

This would wind up being a good thing.

Some of the explorers decided to study the prides of the south. Instead of killing them on sight, they began trying to work with the animals, or at least protect them. Similarly to wild whers, it didn't seem fair to kill them just because they were considered pests. While certain prides were particularly aggressive and dangerous, some of the prides were less so. As the Turns passed, some of the explorers built bonds of trust with the wild prides.

Amazingly enough, a few of the felines chose to bond with the explorers. It was discovered that felines had the ability to communicate telepathically, just like dragons. They could speak when they chose, but also would communicate with images, similarly to firelizards. As far as feline intelligence goes, they seem to fall somewhere between dragons and whers. They are clever, but also fiercely independent. While they don't require being blooded, it is always the felines choice.

Unlike dragons, felines can choose to bond at any age. They do not suicide when their handler dies, though some strong bonds might cause the to die from grief. In other cases they might re-bond to another human, or simply go feral. Felines are known to speak to other felines, but never speak to those they are not bonded with. They are not considered equal or worth the energy.

Over the 1000 Turns, Feline Handling is looked upon as a new but curious Craft. They set up an official Hall at Monaco Bay where apprentices are trained and prepared to work with the large cats.

Not every feline or pride is considered bonded. There are many wild and feral prides, and they can be just as dangerous to Feline Handlers and their bonded pridemates. Furthermore, even bonded felines are known to kill those that displease them -- including their own bonded. This is why it's imperative that feline handlers are trained and prepared. Similar to dragons, felines choose their bonded partners, and no amount of bribery or force will cause it to happen.

Like dragons Impressing, bonding is a more emotional experience. The feline offers not only companionship, but shared senses. Feline handlers that are bonded are thought to have sharper hearing, a more sensitive nose, and better vision at all hours. They share in their felines abilities, to a certain extent. ((OOCly, please keep this reasonable.))


Feline Handling
This is where you can find general information concerning Feline Handling and its Crafthall.

Feline Breeds
These are the five breeds of feline that are found on Pern, though others may yet be undiscovered.

Southern Striped Cat (similar to Siberian tigers)
Northern Maned Cat (similar to African lions)
Western Spotted Cat (similar to African leopards)
Eastern Swiftpawed Cat (similar to African cheetahs)
Island Forest Cat (similar to Black panthers)
Igen Desert Cat (similar to a Cougar)

Southern Stripe: The largest of the feline breeds, and perhaps the hardest to train. These cats are a hardy breed, and are the most aggressive. They are known to be insanely protective of their Bonded, and will not hesitate to kill with or without command. They are rare to Bond, period, so if a Southern Stripe picks you out consider it an honor but also a great responsibility of keeping their strong prey drive in check. All Southern Stripes come with striped coats.

Northern Maned Cat These cats are the second largest on Pern, and can at times rival the Southern Stripe in size. The males have thick manes, and the females have shaggier fur. They are native to the Northern Continent, and tend to live in large prides. They are some of the lazier felines, for the most part, but visually stunning. They prefer to live in larger communities and prides with their bonded. If someone messes with one Northern Maned Cat, they mess with the entire pride.

Western Spotted Cat These cats are as independent as the Southern Stripe, but not nearly as aggressive or as large. They're considered an ideal feline because they are large, hardy, and generally can handle an inexperienced Handler without as large a threat of attack. They are native to the Western Continent, particularly in the mountain and forest areas. They are great explorers, naturally curious, and superb hunters.

Eastern Swiftpawed Cat These cats are native to the Southern Continent, but while the Southern Striped rules the jungles and hills, the Eastern Swiftpawed Cat rules the open plains and islands. They are the smallest and most delicate of Pern's felines, but the fastest of them all, by far. They make great racers and hunters of smaller to moderate sized game, and are perhaps the sweetest of the felines. They're a popular breed, who enjoy the companionship of a Bonded, and are perhaps the most flexible of all the felines. They can do well in groups as well as singularly, and are perhaps the most tame. They rarely attack people unless genuinely provoked or defending their Bonded.

Island Forest Cat These cats are the second smallest of the feline breeds, but are naturally quite rare. They always have dark coats with dark markings, if not completely solid. They are dark coated and prefer to move around silently. Stealth is the name of the Island Forest Cat, and they love heavy forests and jungles which keep them hidden. They are also called the assassin cat, because they are so aloof. Their temperaments are flexible -- some are sweet, others aggressive -- but they tend to be quiet and quite secretive. They are the newest feline group to be discovered. They were native to the rainforests of Nerat, but with the introduction of Feline Handling, can be found in other locations.

Igen Desert Cat This species is similar in appearance to that of a cougar, and tend to have dusky coats made of browns, golds, creams, oranges, yellows, and reds. They are known for their independence but are more easily trained than a Southern Stripe. They are often found in the dry deserts of Igen, but can also be found in the mountains of High Reaches and and the plains of Keroon. They tend to prefer the company of their felinehandlers, and don't often take on mates long-term, but every feline is an individual. They are rugged and hardy and able to withstand the extreme temperatures found in the deserts. They can pounce great lengths and have no trouble navigating forests. Males are much larger than the females.

Mates & Breeding
Felines can technically have cubs in any given season, but is most common during winter or early spring. Generally speaking, bonded felines are as diverse in their mates as the dragons of Pern. Some might have no interest in pairing up (much to their Handlers chagrin), while others might be known to be quite sociable and open to partners and cubs. In Echoes of Pern, given Felines are sentient, they aren't entirely driven purely by instinct so may have different preferences than their Terran counterparts. Some may find companionship in one of the same sex or even of a different feline breed.

They are a proud species though and would NOT mate or bond with a wher or dragon. Find a friend in one, sure, but please do not try to pair your dragon, or your flit, or your wher, with a feline.

OOCly, we will open up Feline Breeding Slots at any given time. Felines can produce between 2-6 cubs if they are paired between the same species. Felines who are paired with different species will have between 2-3 cubs.

Quote:

FOR NOW: Mixed species aren't really a thing. We're pulling a Disney Effect where breeding two felines of different species together will simply result in the cubs taking after the mother or father's breed. For example, if a Southern Stripe and an Island Forest Cat were bred together, the resulting offspring could be either all Southern Stripes, all Island Forest Cats, or a mix of both. This may change down the road if I have time to create new templates but for now this is easiest. :3

Cubs can be a mix of the parents colors, or completely random!

When it comes to mating, and the effects on their Handler, it is known to vary from Handler to Handler. Usually it depends on how strong of a bond the feline and handler have; the closer the bond, the more of an effect the Feline's moods might have on the Handler. Unlike Dragons and Whers, though, there are no mating flights or runs. A handler might find their mood affected, or they might not; there certainly is no need for two Felinehandlers to fall into a moments lust as might happen with dragonriders, but it's not unusual for a romance (or night of passion) to spark between a pair of felines Handlers either.

Lifestyle
Most Felinehandlers are known to travel throughout Pern, depending on the Crafthall's needs and wishes, and their Felines. Some Felinehandlers have no trouble living in Holds, Halls, or even Weyrs--while others are definitely more suited to a more isolated and rugged life in the wild.

Some Felinehandlers are looked upon with suspicion or fear. Felines, in some parts, come with a stigma as being a pest. There are wild felines out there who known maneaters, and others who hunt on herds of domesticated herdbeast, bovines, and caprines; and some wild felines are thought to be rife with disease. Some Felinehandlers prefer the company of other Handlers and those of the Felinehall to others.

[More to come.]




 

[Masterharper]

Dolphins

 

[Masterharper]

Runners

 

[Masterharper]

Domestic Animals

 

[Masterharper]

Wild Animals

 

[Masterharper]

Insects