Felinism

**This subject has been revealed by an author of Fernwood, or this page created by them, but the subject has not been revealed within Fernwood itself. It is to be considered authorial intent and subject to change until it appears in Fernwood or is confirmed to not be canon.**

## Felinism

A common variation on the most widely accepted symbol of Felinism, a depiction of the Lady of All Cats spreading her wings to protect all catkind.

### Deity count

Semi-Monotheistic (Primary Deity and Demigods)

**Felinism** is a religion followed by a few groups, being one of the most mainstream religions followed by actual felines, and is also followed by some human societies; it has also in recent years become mainstream among other humanoid species.

## Structure

Three main sects exist: Humanoid Felinism, the sect that most non-felines believe in (named so for it being popularized by human groups that believed in it), Mainstream Felinism, which is exactly what it sounds like, being the more mainstream of the two sects believed in by actual felines, and an sect which lacks a formal name but is generally called Extremist Felinism or Biased Felinism, which is a development of Humanoid Felinism but considered to be the result of a misinterpretation of Humanoid Felinism.

## Mythology

The main crux of Felinism is a belief in a goddess, either referred to at the Dragon Goddess of Cats or the Lady of all Cats, who protects felines from undue harm. The Lady of All Cats title is older, and predates dragonkind; She is believed to appear to non-felines in the form of a dragon in modern times to present a suitably imposing figure.

Mainstream Felinism posits that the Lady of All Cats associates with or originally was a feline (or both), and thus protects them due to feeling kinship with them.

Humanoid Felinism posits that cats are sacred animals to Her and that She protects them due to this.

Biased Felinism interprets this as cats being Her chosen people; and thus espouses ideas of feline supremacy. Both Humanoid Felinists, due to considering this to be malevolent, whereas the Goddess is benevolent, and Mainstream Felinists, due to believing in entirely different reasons for Her choice to protect felines, are opposed to them.

### Frideswide Story

A story exists, which proposes an origin for the Fowline species; according to it, all Fowlines are believed to have been sired by two individuals: Aloysius, a Type 1 Fowline, and Eiddwen, a Type 2 Fowline. The two types of Fowlines, who numbered in the thousands at a time, entered into a long, bloody, 25-year war. Aloysius' mate was injured during it and died shortly after giving birth to a child, whom she named Frideswide. Frideswide was another type of Fowline, having two tails like a Nekomata; this type would be referred to in modern times as Type 3.

Out of grief, Aloysius massacred many Type 2 Fowlines over 15 years, until Frideswide heard of this; at which point, the two fought, with this ending in Aloysius' defeat and death; he was subsequently sealed within the Spirit Realm. On his deathbed, he attempted to curse Frideswide's descendants to be ruthless and bloodthirsty.

Some time after this, Frideswide discovered that she could alter her voice to mimic other species' manner of talking, and shortly after, discovered that she possessed shapeshifting abilities.