Cait-Sidhe

Interpersonal Reactions

Origin Archetypes

Cait-Sidhe are wanton creatures more concerned with entertaining themselves and staving off the effects of boredom than merely making money. They often choose paths in life that lead to social engagement, conflict or exploration:

• Entertainer, Forager, Gambler, Iconoclast, Nobilite, Nomad, Sailor, Thief, Yeoman.

Character Archetypes

Expanding on their Origin is as simple as combining the various facets of life that Cait-Sidhe enjoy. Acrobatics, intrigue, murder, dancing and thievery are all on the order of the day:

• Acrobat, Assassin, Bard, Blade-Dancer, Ranger, Thief, Treasure Hunter.

Common Names

Unisex Names

Typically speaking there isn't a difference between the gendered names of Cait-Sidhe. Most begin with an adjective followed by a noun. These can seem ridiculous and often comical to the other races, but seen as grand or important to the Cait-Sidhe.

Names such as Moonleaf, Silkloop, Sugartoes or Orangebee are treated with a great deal of seriousness by the Cait-Sidhe. This stems from the original Cait-Sidhe being elevated from normal household cats. Often given "cute" names by their owners, it was a way for those cats to reclaim their independence and eventually became tradition.

Family Names

Cait-Sidhe do not often have family names. Usually, if required, they refer to themselves as the Son or Daughter of another Cait-Sidhe. However, due to the unique nature of most Cait-Sidhe names, this level of distinction is not often merited.

Some Cait-Sidhe are also prone to collecting titles of a rather ridiculous nature and use them as a form of renown among their fellow Cait-Sidhe. One Such example is Olde King Tohm's direct offspring: The Young Prince Mister Waffles, Lord of the Amber Maples and Throne-Heir Apparent.

Other Names

When traveling among the other races as a human or other tribes the Cait-Sidhe will often adopt a name appropriate to the culture they embroil themselves in using it as their general name with strangers or people they do not trust. They guard their given names jealously and will not reveal them to anyone they do not believe are deserving.

Culture

Cats were not native to the Inis. One day, the Ardruid Brigit decided to create a creature that could quietly and subtly deliver her information from various households and streets. Thus, the common housecat came to be. However, one of the first, if not the very first, of these cats closely watched the Ardruids themselves. He slowly learned many of their secrets and was finally able to work magic as freely as they did. 

When the Wounding of the Good Son transpired this cat swept up a few of his favored brethren and fled to Otherworld. There he taught them how to change their shapes and raised them to a higher state of cognizance. This First of the cait-sidhe is asserted to be Olde King Tohm himself, although, that would make him an exceptionally old cat even by cait-sidhe standards. It also calls into question the veracity of cait-sidhe as feyfolk since they seem to stem from a created species.

Of course, the Cait-Sidhe themselves find the topic incredibly dry, so drawing any specific information from them on their origins is futile at best and invites puckish trickery at worst.

Native Language

Cait-sidhe speak tend to know Old Moni and Sióg, but a well traveled one would pick up new Moni fairly easily.

Customs & Values

Cait-Sidhe value independence, curiosity and subtlety as these are hallmarks of their liege lord Olde King Tohm.
Cait-Sidhe will not hurt another cat even if its a regular housecat nor tolerate one to be harmed. This stems from their origins as any cat may one day be elevated by the Olde King or his princes. However, until that day, the Cait-Sidhe will look down upon them as something of a lesser caste of cat.
Claims of Nobility - Many Cait-Sidhe recognize themselves as nobility and for the most part that seems to be all it takes. Although they would need financial backing for larger accommodations, servants and affectations, but nothing stops a cait-sidhe from being nobility other than disinterest. What their nobility gets them is dependent on how well known or respected they are.
Cavalcade of Japes - Cait-sidhe are possessed often times of an undying curiosity that they cannot sate and a wanderlust that drives them to make frequent forays into both the wider worlds. However, this often means that they are embroiled in problematic situations because another trait of Cait-Sidhe is boredom. A deep and abiding boredom that many seek to alleviate by playing jokes and tormenting the mortal races of the Inis. These are usually fairly harmless; using magic to foul someone's laundry, kicking things off roofs or window sills to assault passersby, etc. However, some Cait-Sidhe have a mean streak and will seek to do actual harm to others for their own amusement. These darker gaffs can end in maiming and death.

Common Etiquette

There isn't much that passes for actual treason among the Cait-Sidhe, but the principle most cause for honor duels and vengeance is revealing a Cait-Sidhe's cat name to strangers or pointing them out in cat-form to the public. This is a transgression that will only be met with violence and shrewd espionage with a Cait-Sidhe seeking to make the ones who wronged it suffer as best they can before exacting justice.

Taboos

A Cait-Sidhe's given name, or rather its cat name, is not an open one and is often not shared with people the Cait-Sidhe in question does not inherently trust. So it is common for them to deliver a more "proper" name for the inhabitants of the the mortal realm and demand to be addressed by it.

Many Cait-Sidhe recognize themselves as nobility and will demand to be addressed as such with an incredible amount of flair and ceremony demanded of their petitioners regardless of the Cait-Sidhe's actual station.

Art & Architecture

While in Trynnalta, Cait-Sidhe do not often change the architecture of the buildings they use or inhabit. When in Ulthar, however, the story is a little different. Most reports are cultivated from visitors happening upon the cat-city or from the cat's mouth directly. They are described much the same as traditional Daoine structures and embellishments, although all human subjects are replaced with cats.

Their art is much the same. Songs and stories, murals and tapestries all seem to take the stories of Olde King Tohm, Unknown and the Cait-Sidhe themselves and make elaborate artistic representations of those stories. Probably with no small amount of exaggeration.

Clothes & Dress

In human form Cait-Sidhe dress inconspicuously to the tribe or culture they're hiding in. In Ulthar it is said the Cait-Sidhe dress in a manner befitting proper nobility, albeit in miniature, and parade about their estates in mock pomp of the other fey nobility.

Myths & Legends

Cait-Sidhe practice an informal form of worship and reverence for their patriarch, the cat-god Olde King Tohm.

The Final Nap - On the day a Cait-Sidhe passes into death, those closest to them place all jokes, needling and spite aside to gather and tell stories of that Cait-Sidhe's most honest and true accomplishments. The mourning period is brief but intense with bards and ovates hired to dramatize the deceased's life. Afterwards, they are brought to barrows beneath Olde King Tohm's cliff and interred forever.

Beauty Ideals

Cait-Sidhe relationships come and go as needed. Some remain in family units, though the larger they grow the more drama and in-fighting occur. So often they break apart to avoid the inevitable fallout. It doesn't help that the aristocracy is given to stirring the pot between different Cait-Sidhe families just to see what will happen.

Gender Ideals

Cait-Sidhe are fiercely independent and any attempt at fastening a specific ideal to one is met with great resistance. As such they come across as egalitarian, although, its largely because a Cait-Sidhe will do as it pleases regardless of outside opinion. This means that a lot of their culture is ungendered as any sort of societal pressure is discounted.

Courtship Ideals

Courtship is a pompous and incredibly showy affair where the suitor brings the prospective mate often lavish, ridiculous or ostentatious gifts. The one receiving the gift is almost required to continue turning down the gifts until a suitable amount has been offered. What that amount should be is up to the individual.

Such things as dragon's fangs, archfey hair, or even something as mundane as a dead bird may be considered adequate marital gifts.

Relationship Ideals

Cait-Sidhe relationships come and go as needed. Some remain in family units, though the larger they grow the more drama and in-fighting occur. So often they break apart to avoid the inevitable fallout. It doesn't help that the aristocracy is given to stirring the pot between different Cait-Sidhe families just to see what will happen.

• Olde King Tohm, the lord and progenitor of the cait-sidhe.
• Prince Mister Waffles, the Lord Heir-Apparent, son of Olde King Tohm.
• Mirlynn the Magnificent and Midnight Clad, chief arcanist of the cait-sidhe.
• Piewacket the Gold-Sewn Accountant, treasurer to Olde King Tohm.

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