Great Felines

Kitty

Across the world, the great feline predators continue to rule forests, plains, and mountains alike. Though most are solitary and elusive, they are among the most respected and feared creatures of the wild. Many are in decline, some are adapting, and a few remain deeply woven into the myth and daily life of mortals.
Felines are one of the great predator families of the world, with various species adapted to vastly different climates and terrains. Some are widely known—such as lions and tigers—while others remain obscure and local. All share the traits of power, stealth, and keen predatory instinct.

While having a pet cat is quite usual nowadays, these little friends are the kin of much greater sires that bring fear to the hearts of mortals to this day.

Lion

The most iconic of the great cats, lions were once common across the Yavinian plain. Unlike other felines, they live and hunt in prides, a trait that once made them easier for hunters to locate and kill. Today, their range is significantly reduced, and their former territory has largely been taken over by wolves, and some of it by sabre lions. They can still be found in more isolated regions, such as mountain sides and dense forests.

Current Range: Sparse populations remain in eastern Westingham and the Rend. The Armirian lion survives more strongly in Baskth lands, where populations are lower. Northern Nalsai'ia also hosts a remnant population, though heavily hunted.
Notable Traits: Social behavior, large body size, loud roars.

Tiger

The tiger is the striped feline of the east, among the largest and most powerful of its kind. Solitary and elusive, tigers have fared better than lions in avoiding extinction, largely due to originating from regions much less populated by sentient hunters.

Northern Range: Blood Marshes and northern territories. Northern tigers are in steep decline.
Southern Range: Southern tigers thrive in the deeper Blood Marshes, where they hunt alligators, large fish, and waterfowl.
Armirian Range: Present in western Armir and the northern pine forests, with distinct local subspecies.
Traits: They are primarily solitary, staying with a mate only for the sake of protecting their child, and then splitting up again. They rely on power and stealth to catch prey.

Sabre Lions

Despite what their name suggests, they are not related to true lions. Sabres are massive felines known for their prominent upper canines. They are the dominant feline predator of western Veskar, and one of the only felines that has actually managed to increase their habitat.

Range: Originated in the Caraethina Highlands and the Marn Forest, now widespread across western Veskar.
Traits: Solitary, fast, endurance-based hunters. Known livestock predators and frequent targets of monster hunters.
Notes: No populations confirmed outside Veskar.

Puma

Though not as large as the tiger or sabre, pumas are powerful, wide-ranging felines with strong jaws and exceptional adaptability, specializing in high-altitude predation. They smaller size and more elusive nature, as well as their prefference for mountainous habitats, away from population centers, has allowed them to endure, even thrive, in the modern world.

Range: Found in nearly every mountain range in Veskar and throughout Armir, especially in the Baskythenian highlands.
Traits: Solitary, highly adaptable. Most widespread of all great felines.

Jaguar

The jaguar is the apex feline of the Enyanian forests, preferring dense jungles and warm climates. This choice of habitat has largely protected it from decline, but also severely restricted its native habitat. They are known as some of the strongest of all felines.

Range: Exclusively found in the Enyanian rainforest, as well as the surrounding Caraethina Highlands.
Traits: Ambush predator. Prefers tropical forests with high prey density.

Dire Cat

Unique to Armir, dire cats are massive solitary hunters, playing the role dire wolves fill in Veskar. They generally live in mating pairs, much like their canine counterparts.

Range: Northeastern forests and western coastal regions of Armir. Compete with tigers in the northwest.
Traits: Built for endurance hunts. Larger than most feline species.

Leopard

Leopards are elusive predators primarily found on the elven islands of the west. They are smaller than tigers, not as strong as jaguars, but still, they are formidable predators.

Range: Common in the Tiananmyan archipelago, absent from Trianmye. Rumors suggest rare sightings on Armir, but no confirmed populations.
Traits: Stealthy, tree-climbing ambush hunters.

Lynx

The lynx is a cold-weather feline native to Armir, where it occupies ecological niches otherwise dominated by wolves in Veskar.

Range: Southern Armir, often overlapping with the range of the southern tiger.
Traits: Small game hunter. Rare and reclusive.

Caracal

Desert kin to the lynx, caracals are medium-sized felines with tufted ears and exceptional agility.

Range: Southern Baskythenian desert.
Traits: Primarily insectivorous and opportunistic hunters. Notably, they are the ancestors of the Armirian domesticated cat, which retains a larger size and tufted ears.

Ocelot

Ocelots are smaller forest-dwelling cats, distantly related to jaguars.

Range: Found across the Marn Forest.
Traits: Prey on small mammals, birds, and lizards.