Vagrant Cat

## **Biology**

An above average sized cat with large ears to help it cool down in the desert heat. They have thin, lanky bodies and a short, sleek, nearly hairless coat. People familiar with these cats would describe the way their fur feels akin to that of oiled leather, which makes sense. Vagrant cat’s skin is naturally oily, as they use this oil to help dust and sand stick to them which acts as both sunscreen and insect repellent. It's not uncommon to see these cats rolling around in the sand as part of their grooming rituals.

Vagrants come in a variety of coat colours, although the general population leans heavily towards a silvery grey that fades to black towards their feet and stomach. Many of them have very blurry stripes, as if someone had done charcoal rubbing across their backs. They've adapted to blend in with the civilized world. When lying still, these cats are almost impossible to distinguish from cobblestone pathways or stone walls. Their camouflage is almost too good, in fact. It's not uncommon to see these cats frantically running out of the streets in mass when carriages or carts come rolling by

## **Personality/Instincts**

As the name would suggest, Vagrants are, well, vagrant. These cats are in a grey area between domesticated and feral. They're known for wandering from place to place, taking advantage of the locals' kindness. Seeing as cats have been held in such high regards in Vertgate for so long, it’s only natural they’d become accustomed to the lifestyle.

Vagrant cats are very hard to keep as indoor pets. Over the years they’ve adapted to city life. These cats are full of energy, as in the “wild” they spend a large portion of their day wandering from city to city in search of the next kind stranger to score a meal off of. These cats infest many of Vertgate’s ruins, as the large indoor areas act as the perfect shelter. It’s not uncommon to see hundreds of these cats lounging around abandoned temples or towers.

## **Relations**

In general Vagrants like pure beings, although they have a certain amount of caution that any wild animal would have around unfamiliar creatures. Being "adopted" by a family of these cats is seen as a good Omen. It usually indicates a trustworthy and kind individual, as these cats aren't bound by anything and can come and go as they please. If they keep returning to a particular individual, It means that person is selfless enough to help care for them.

## **History**

It’s not entirely clear when the Vagrant breed first came to be, but records of them are known to date back all the way to Lykan-ruled Vertgate. People estimate they first came into existence shortly after the first purity scale revamp; roughly 3256 BDI. Early records depict people harvesting the oils produced by these cats and manufacturing them into sunscreen for Humans or other furless creatures.

## **Adventures**

Vagrant cats are known wanderers, although it’s extremely rare to see them outside of civilized areas. One can easily find them just about anywhere in Vertgate, as they wander the streets and sidewalks in mass. They’ve also managed to migrate to both Bane and Adastin. Outside of this region, though, they’re few and far between. Vagrants historically make bad pets, so people haven’t been all that inclined to intentionally breed or distribute them. In addition to that, since they don’t survive all that well in the wild, they have no real natural means of spreading. The three countries they dominate only have such high populations of these cats due to their shared borders.

## **Abilities**

While not adept in the field of magic, Vagrants do have a few skills that make them stand out from other cat variants. For one, they have a keen perception on daily city life. They’ve been known to learn the routines of shops, nobles, carriages, etc and use this information in order to get easy meals and avoid the dangers of the city. They’re also really good at “reading” people. They’ve learned common behaviours of pure beings to the point they can easily tell who’s friend and who’s foe with very little interaction.