K’Dasi (Savage SDF)

Physical Description

The K’Dasi evolved from a felinoid species, on their homeworld of K’Das beyond the Rim. They appear as humanoid felines, shorter than the average human, and can vary in fur color, from pure whites or gray, to stripes, to patches. They also have tails that are usually about 1/2 to 2/3 the length of their body. They are similar in appearance to old Earth domestic felines, even in attitude. Some say they descended from the same feline species as the Halogai’, however, the Halogai’ refuse to admit this. They are bipedal, but can run faster on all fours if necessary. They are also quite agile.

Average Size: 1.2 m

Average Mass: 75 kg

Average Life-span: 165 yr.

Reproduction: Heterosexual, viviparous

Body Temp: 39 degrees C

The K’Dasi’s homeworld has a gravity of 1.21 times Standard Gravity, and atmospherically is human normal. It is typically cooler than human standard, with a longer winter period, and a shorter summer period. The planet’s year is 405 days long.

Historical Details

Throughout their history, the K’Dasi’s social development can be best described as the same as their day to day attitude – laid back. They detest making things complicated, so their governmental system was always simple. They have a finesse for avoiding bureaucracy. For all outward appearances, however, it seems like chaos and anarchy.

On there homeworld and on all their in-system colony worlds (collectively called the K’Das Conglomerate), there is a Council of Elders, which advises each family or clan. Each ruling clan has members of the Elder Council. Only the most powerful clans have members, and the membership of the Council fluctuates on a regular basis. From the outside, it seems like total anarchy, but in reality it has worked for many thousands of years.

The K’Das Conglomerate was first encountered by the Ifshnits in their attempt to find more trading partners. The K’Dasi were more than willing and joined the Ifshnit as a trading partner.

Senses

The K’Dasi have an incredible sense of hearing. They can hear twice as well as any human. They are usually the first to hear anything in the group.

Speech and Languages

The K’Dasi speak Pan-Gal common with slight difficulty, but they are comprehendible. Languages common to their species have died out, and in fact, on the two hundred K’Dasi worlds there are over eighteen hundred mutually incomprehensible languages and over thirty thousand distinct dialects.

Attitudes

The K’Dasi attitude is best represented by the species’ hero image, the harlequin or prankster. They have a passion for physical pleasure and relaxation, and they respect a good sense of humor and a quick wit. They also respect a person of good character. They are the rebellious-teenager species when it comes to government. As said, they despise complications, and prefer the simple way of doing things (even if it’s not the right way).

However, on the darker side of K’Dasi society, there are others that encourage the adherence to another hero image: the assassin or thief. The K’Dasi are the best assassins and thieves in the region. This following is kept extremely secret within the K’Dasi society.  The secret assassin guild of the K’Dasi is called the Hissska, and they specialize in “mouse-trap” style booby-traps to kill their prey. About these contraptions, one would say “If it wasn’t so deadly, they’d actually be funny…”.  There is no single thieves guild, but many based on clan.

By many major races, the K’Dasi are treated as the biggest irritation in the universe, but they are tolerated. They have no problems with most of the species in the region, unless they seem too serious – in which case the strive to break that serious attitude and introduce some humor. In any serious situation, they always have a joke or a witty comment. Sometimes their practical jokes aren’t to bad, but at other times they can be considered overboard.

Social Structure and Standards

The K’Dasi clan system has been around for thousands of years.  It has multiple layers based on family lineage and fur patterns.  The more solid and rich your color, the higher in the system your clan is.  There are dozens of clans, all with their specializations and roles in society, however, there are some known latteral moves between clans, at least on the lower levels.

It is socially acceptable for a single K’Dasi to have many mates, and to even mate outside it’s clan. The K’Dasi tend towards a equi-polygamous society, where it is acceptable on both sexes are allowed multiple partners. Some K’Dasi might show preference to one mate or two for a long period of time, but in general, there is no social morals tying them to any particular mate. This balance between the sexes exists throughout the K’Dasi society. The resulting children usually align with the which ever clan is the most powerful between the father and the mother. However, the parent does not have an obligation to breed within either clan (avoiding the traditional inbreeding problem).

Common Names

K’dasi names are heavy in vowels, and multi-syllabic. Ex: Aakishara’nisk, Haraaashisk’ay, Treeisk’krurru

Racial Abilities

Skill Bonus – Move Quietly (+1): The K’Dasi have an innate ability to being sneaky and quit.  This gains them a +2 to Stealth.

Skill Bonus – Climbing (+1): The K’Dasi have a natural ability to climb. This gains them a +2 to Climbing.

Small (-1): K’dasi are small, -1 to their Toughness