The catfolk pouncer's statblock is really nothing radical and new with two special abilities, one lifted straight from a fighter feat, and another potentially falling into the category of what the Gamemastery guide calls "invisible abilities" and suggests avoiding.
That said, the catfolk have appeared in so many media across the years, in so many different incarnations, evil, good, and everything inbetween, that you have an insanely big well of ideas to draw from, and not giving them something interesting lorewise would really be a mistake.
In the world of Landya, there is a dark secret behind the catfolk's creation. Apparently, long ago, the world was ruled by humans (now reduced to small, hairless, semi-bipedal primates) while the cat "folk" used to have a form of mere "cats", quadruped forms of their now bipedal bodies. A small white cat prayed to the god of dreaming, to end the cats' suffering, and when she woke up, the world was as it is today.
When a druid with a human companion learns of this, he seeks out sages, wizards and clerics, seeking to find a way for both versions of reality to coexist.
The Unluckies are a group of black catfolk who specialize in divination and illusion magic, as well as thievery. While they are well known to be thieves and scoundrels, there are many legends that say those who try to go after them bring misfortune upon themselves. Of course, such stories may be circulated and inflated by the catfolk themselves...
Thuomas and Gerardo are a famously opposed catfolk and ratfolk. Thuomas is a paladin of Arslan, a catfolk deity of "might and light", while Gerardo is a chaotic scoundrel, popular among the common folk, but hated and hunted by many authorities. The stories following the two's escapades are numerous and possibly inflated, but that chaos follows wherever one of them arrives is certain.
While clearing out the basement of a chateau they inherited, a group of heroes stumble upon a ratfolk nest, with the notorious scoundrel easily identified among them. He offers them riches beyond measure if they smuggle him out, but behind the golden-fanged smile there's the obvious threat of a knife in the dark if they rat him out (pun damn well intended).
Otherwhere, the city has seemingly overnight been covered with posters promising gold and the mercy of gods to those who report any information about Gerardo to the Paladin, currently staying at a local tavern...
That said, the catfolk have appeared in so many media across the years, in so many different incarnations, evil, good, and everything inbetween, that you have an insanely big well of ideas to draw from, and not giving them something interesting lorewise would really be a mistake.
In the world of Landya, there is a dark secret behind the catfolk's creation. Apparently, long ago, the world was ruled by humans (now reduced to small, hairless, semi-bipedal primates) while the cat "folk" used to have a form of mere "cats", quadruped forms of their now bipedal bodies. A small white cat prayed to the god of dreaming, to end the cats' suffering, and when she woke up, the world was as it is today.
When a druid with a human companion learns of this, he seeks out sages, wizards and clerics, seeking to find a way for both versions of reality to coexist.
The Unluckies are a group of black catfolk who specialize in divination and illusion magic, as well as thievery. While they are well known to be thieves and scoundrels, there are many legends that say those who try to go after them bring misfortune upon themselves. Of course, such stories may be circulated and inflated by the catfolk themselves...
Thuomas and Gerardo are a famously opposed catfolk and ratfolk. Thuomas is a paladin of Arslan, a catfolk deity of "might and light", while Gerardo is a chaotic scoundrel, popular among the common folk, but hated and hunted by many authorities. The stories following the two's escapades are numerous and possibly inflated, but that chaos follows wherever one of them arrives is certain.
While clearing out the basement of a chateau they inherited, a group of heroes stumble upon a ratfolk nest, with the notorious scoundrel easily identified among them. He offers them riches beyond measure if they smuggle him out, but behind the golden-fanged smile there's the obvious threat of a knife in the dark if they rat him out (pun damn well intended).
Otherwhere, the city has seemingly overnight been covered with posters promising gold and the mercy of gods to those who report any information about Gerardo to the Paladin, currently staying at a local tavern...
Just wanted to take a sec to tell you how awesome all these prompts are. Definitely gonna come back for more.
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