Catfolk

Maksha given names are typically a phrase based on complex astrological formulae at the time of their birth, shortened to a one-word nickname for daily use. Maksha Names: Mist on the Clifftop (Mist), Seven Oaks (Oak), Shadow in Dark Water (Shadow), or Jade Shoe (Jade). Elders and wise men are typically only referred to by their full name as a sign of reverence.

The Maksha are primarily a nomadic people. While a few permanent Maksha settlements exist, they mainly live together in traveling caravans or small fleets of merchant ships, each made up of multiple families. Fleets and caravans are often named after parts of nature or the caravan's founder; such as the Icy Winds Fleet or the Warm Meadows Caravan. As natural-born travelers, Maksha readily adopt pieces of the cultures they visit, while keeping strong ties to their own heritage through spirituality and tradition. History and oral tradition is passed down through song and dance, with some being unique to individual families and caravans.   Maksha make their way in the world by tending herds of sheep that move with their caravans, trading goods and wool products, and in the case of sea-faring groups, by fishing and privateering.   Almost all Catfolk speak Maksha and Common.

Religion

Ratuu is one of the few deific creatures that Maksha worship, with him being the god of celestial visions, and constellations. Maksha society values the gathering and passing down of knowledge, and the respect of greater powers in the universe. They believe their task to ever gaze upon the night sky, and bring the messages of the spirit world to mortals. In return. Almost every group has some sort of elder who has learned to read the stars for omens and gives spiritual guidance to the others. The wisest of these elders are held in high regard and some may commune with the spirits of the past. They may not always lead the community as such, but their advice is respected. They are typically also the most knowledgeable about their group's history and traditions.   Maksha believes in a spirit world, veiled in dream-like visions and magical energies. Some are more naturally in touch with this spirit world than others and can sometimes see past the veil, giving them the ability to commune with past spirits, and know the will of the spirits. This includes reading the stars, as they believe the constellations are the windows through which great spirits watch over the mortal world.

Family

The members of a caravan are considered to be a sort of extended family, and young adults are encouraged to join other caravans or otherwise venture out to find a spouse and follow their personal passions. Most Maksha who choose to leave home eventually return either to the caravan they were born into, or the caravan of their spouse. Most wish to raise children and grow old with the support of their family close by.

Food

Since Maksha are mostly a nomadic people things such as farms and fenced off cattle for food are a rare sight. Most caravans have a small herd they bring alongside them, consisting of mainly Raptaurus, sheep, and a few pigs. Fleets, meanwhile, utilize the bountiful sea beneath them. Generally, Maksha are diverse eaters and tend to eat whatever is placed before them as long as it does not seem dangerous. Their cuisine consists of dishes like beef tripe soup, lamb haggis, and jumări for land faring Catfolk. Those who face the ocean eat garlic butter baked salmon and fish nuggets, along with dried fruits and vegetables. Dessert is where Maksha cuisine shines. Candies, ice creams, pies, and cakes are where Maksha excel in the culinary arts. Their desserts are a wonderful balance of sweet, with delicious notes of the aromatic spices of Anoma. An easy treat they make are berries dried in honey, typically candy given to well behaving cubs. Pies and cakes, while common for other cultures, are reserved for more momentous occasions due to multitude of ways to decorate them in honor of the spirits.

Maksha clothing is often very flowy and brightly colored. Close-fitting woolen pants and long tunics are common casual wear. Those who can afford to trade for silk and silk-like products often prefer loose, puffy pants and shirts with lots of motion. Many also simply adopt local fashions, adding their own flair in the form of flashy jewelry and their favorite colors.

Accessories

It is common, especially among the more devout Maksha, to dye or paint patterns into the fur, signifying an individual's status, paying respect to a specific astrological state, or to represent a particular character in cultural dances and plays.

The Maksha place a large focus on passing down their history and oral tradition. As they are a nomadic people, the keeping and distributing of a detailed written record across every caravan would prove overly cumbersome. Instead, they rely mainly on performance for their storytelling. Maksha cultural performances fall somewhere between opera and interpretive dance. Characters (historical or mythological) are each played by a dancer, using his or her acting to imply or pantomime most of the setting in place of complicated stages and scenery. Dialogue is typically sung in the first person, and sections relying on audience participation are commonly incorporated when representing spirits or large groups. It is expected that by adolescence, most Maksha will be very familiar with most of the stories of their people.

Creation Story

Maksha believe that The Master was their creator, the first a pair of panthers and, as he was aptly named, their master. They also agree that the urges were also his creation.

No solely Maksha settlements have been discovered by the Anoman colonists. Perhaps you can find one, or make your own...