Chir

The Chir are a feline race from Chirnak at the southeastern tip of the Forgosian continent. They are humanoid and are covered in fur, which comes in a wide array of colors, patterns, and textures. Some are even hairless. Their heads are catlike, with slit-pupil eyes and long fangs. Their eyes are green, blue, brown, or grey.

## Biological Traits

Being feline humanoids, Chir possess sharp claws on their hands and feet. They have human-like hands with five fingers, but are covered in fur and have retractable claws. They stand digitigrade with catlike paws for feet, which also have retractable claws.

### Fur and Coloring

Chir fur comes in a variety of lengths and colors, with some being more revered than others. Brown is the most common color, with most Chir being some shade between beige and umber. Gray and black Chir are the next most common, followed by white Chir, who are often outcast for their unusual coloring. Red and blue Chir are the rarest, and are often considered to be omen-bringers or have some sort of prophetic nature.

### Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Due to their feline ancestry, the Chir have keen eyesight, even in darkness. They also have keen hearing, and can turn their ears individually to better detect sounds. However, Chir vision is more limited in color; they especially have trouble distinguishing shades of red, and often only use purple and crimson with few shades in between.

## Civilization and Culture

### Geographic Origin and Distribution

Chir are most commonly found in the more southern areas of Forgosia, up to Sapphria. However, they can be found throughout all of Forgosia, especially in larger cities.

### Naming Traditions

**Male:** Tarasal, Zaran, Faldiin, Akiliin, Kilnar, Saeriin **Female:** Masha, Rohtah, Zora, Maarne, Shana, Ealta

### Beauty Ideals

Chir beauty ideals are fairly similar for both men and women. Both sexes value lean, athletic builds. Some Chir prefer longer-furred coats, while others prefer Chir with shorter fur. Hairless Chir are almost universally considered ugly, heterochromatic Chir are perceived as weaker and less capable than normal Chir, although there isn't anything to back that up. In rural areas, heterochromia is seen as the result of black magic.

### Gender Ideals

Chir gender ideals are highly egalitarian. Traditionally, female Chir would go out to work and gather food and resources, while males would stay home to protect the settlement and make sure everything runs appropriately. In most modern Chir society, women are treated as equals to men, and not only do they participate in politics and the military, they hold prominent roles in both just as often as men. The exception to this rule are the traditionalist and conservative Chal, who hold to the concept of women serving as workers and exclusively men participating in government and military.

### Courtship Ideals

In Chirnak, arranged marriage is very rare, and marrying purely for love is the prevailing trend. There is an archaic practice in which the male suitor must defeat his spouse's father in single combat to win her hand in marriage, but this practice has largely died out, with only some backwater communities and certain Chal still practicing this tradition.

### Relationship Ideals

The ideal marriage in Chirnak is one in which both partners are truly in love with each other. Casual relationships are tolerated, but are not ideal. Homosexuality is fairly well accepted, but most other forms of sexual deviancy are not, and many are illegal. Polyamorous relationships, while uncommon, are accepted in Chir society, especially in Chal society. Relationships with non-Chir are illegal. (That's furry shit bro. I don't even want to think about that.)

### Common Etiquette Rules

The Chir put emphasis on good manners, friendliness, and overall niceness. Even if a Chir dislikes you, they are likely to try and hide it. Chir bathe very regularly, and rudeness is not tolerated. The Chal are often considered to be less hospitable than other Chir, as they make little effort to hide their prejudices, but they are more likely to bluntly honest with others.

### Culture and Cultural Heritage

Chir architecture is known for its gracefully curving stone arches and domes, many of which are decorated with mosaics and paintings of episodes from the storied history of the Chir. Likewise, Chir crafts such as tools and weapons are equally practical as they are works of art. Chir scimitars - curved, broad-bladed swords, are often gilded and engraved with art, and the hilts, guards, and pommels of these swords are often fashioned in the likenesses of animals, plants, or artistic shapes. Imagery of the North Star Taxis also often works its way into Chir art, and has a prominent place on the Chir flag. This is because of its cultural significance, and its role as the guiding light which led Chir to Forgosia in their flight from their homeland of Canterrae after its destruction.

### Common Taboos

The Chir consider any form of black magic or worship of any gods unrelated to the Deretil to be of the highest taboo. Many who are caught practicing any of these things not only face public backlash, but also legal action in many cases. To a much lesser degree, rudeness is not considered publicly acceptable, even if it is the truth.

### Common Myths and Legends

The Chir worship a select portion of the Deretil Pantheon. Similar to how the Sapphrians focus worship mostly on the family of Jiaantor. Those who follow this practice are called Followers of the Light. Despite this, the Chir are accepting of most other faiths, particularly those who worship variations on the Deretil Pantheon. Shamanism and animism are tolerated, but not very accepted. Demon worship is outright outlawed.

### Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The Chir, while well accepted by other races, tend to look down on other races themselves. While they generally hide this behind well-meaning smiles and polite gestures, many Chir are at least slightly prejudiced against other races.

Lifespan
90 years
Average Height
5'5"-6'

## Magic

Magic is highly valued in Chir society. Wizards in particular are held in very high esteem in Chirnak, and many Chir are innately born as sorcerers. Druids are respected throughout Chirnak, even in more urban areas, and especially in rural areas. Bards capable of performing magic are fairly common in Chirnak, although they are generally not seen as "serious" mages, and are mostly perceived purely as entertainers. Clerics are very common, and are held in nearly as high regard as wizards. Clerics in Chirnak generally serve deities of the Light and Life domains, although there are many who serve those of the Knowledge domain, and to a lesser extent, those of the War domain. Warlocks are outlawed, as their practices are considered unholy, as are black magics such as necromancy and dark magic.

The Chir have strong relationship with Order magic, as many of their most important deities, such as Jiaantor and Renka, are gods of order and knowledge. They also have strong cultural ties to the North Star Taxis, perhaps because it is the source from which many Order mages draw their power or the fact that it's constant position in the sky reflects a source of stability for the Chir. The only group of Chir which is suspicious of magic are the Chal, who are particularly distrustful of any mage who claims to be something other than a wizard, cleric, or bard. Many sorcerers and druids are openly persecuted in Chal areas, and wizards are seen as more of a necessary evil.