The Named are a clan of comprehensive cats (or paleo-felids). They encompass the mental acumen of modern humans - capable of verbal speech, cognitive thought, emotional appreciation, and a sense of identity. This capacity for wisdom is openly witnessed in the acute clarity of their gazes - an alert focus known to all as ’the light in the eyes’. This ‘awareness’ is a treasured gift, highly valued among those of the Clan. One is not considered ‘Named’ without it.
Most important to those of the Clan is one’s own concept of Self - the prolific knowledge and understanding of the term ‘I‘. To commemorate this perception of personality, each felid is bestowed a title following birth, one they will carry until their dying day, hence their label, the ‘Named’.

Their ability to plan and rationalize has led the Clan cats on a trail of unique adaptations.
They have evolved a sense of order by appointing leaders, ranks, and positions.
Instead of hunting, these felids entertain the herders lifestyle by managing the local fauna. Doing so ensures there is a stable prey supply for future generations. Their flocks consist of threehorn deer and dappleback horses.
To assist in labors that claws alone cannot perform, they have adopted treelings, small lemur-like creatures eager minded and quick to train. The bond between each ’cat’ and his or her treeling is distinct and often irreplaceable.
Perhaps the most unusual alteration to the Clan’s routine is the exploitation of fire. A fateful lightning storm kindled an unruly blaze that devoured much of the known forest. When the raging flames cooled to fading embers, only one among the Named was brave enough to investigate and explore their dying potential. It was then that the ‘red-tongue’ was tamed, and after much social unrest, introduced to the Clan as both protector and destroyer. It is used to guard herdbeasts, and to ward of raiders should fangs fail to do the trick.

To ensure the genetic stability of their species, the Named limit their breeding to those within the Clan. To seek a mate outside of the group is a crime punishable by exile or death. Couplings with the Un-Named prove not only disdainful, but hazardous to the inherited intellect that the Named respect and value. Hybrid cubs frequently grow ‘empty-eyed’. In them the ‘light of awareness is dim‘, if not absent all together. These infants are swiftly abandoned, and the disobedient parent quickly punished.

Because they pair strictly with their own kind, those of the Clan bear similar physical traits. Their forms are strong, but sleek, with the powerful elongated forelegs of a sinuous Cougar and the swift hind limbs of a robust Cheetah. Cubs are spotted, but as they mature, their speckles fade, and gradually vanish. Adult pelts are of one solid hue, alternating from pale fawn to a deep russet and anywhere in between. While gray-coats are possible, dusky colors such as copper and black are not standard, and may indicate an untrue lineage - the same applies to dark spots, rosettes, and stripes. The only markings displayed by Clan cats is a white tail tip.

Numerous readers enjoy viewing the Named with the pelts of modern cheetahs. This creates a problem for Role Players, as some wish to RP the Clan as the novels describe them - with full-bodied tawny hues - while others seek to depict them with charcoal spots.
To avoid this dilemma, ItM has created a middle ground, inspired by ToC's Fan-Art.
Those within the Clan are allowed to bear residual 'cub' markings, much like those witnessed on certain adult African Lions. These are faded rosettes retained from adolescence, a shade darker than the mature coat, typically present on the legs and belly of Panthera leo.

The above content has been provided by Trails Of Conquest. It has been posted with permission and is strictly Copyright ToC.

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