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Cathar

Medium species · Cathar
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New in SW5eNovel: A brand-new Star Wars 5e species, think Tabaxi meets Barbarian. A medium, clawed melee brawler whose retractable claws are natural weapons and who heals rapidly, with clan culture and Blood Hunt shaping your role.✨
Cathar
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Finesse 1d6 natural claws, darkvision, 30-foot climb speed, and a speed-doubling burst — a fast, mobile melee striker.
Proud clan warriors from tree-cities of Cathar, who mate for life and prove themselves through ritual hunts against entire nests of deadly Kiltik.
duelistscoutmelee-bruiser
●●●weight · Speed-doubling, 1d6 finesse, climb
Ability focusDexterity-first with a Charisma bump — a mobile finesse fighter or stealthy striker.
Standout traits
  • Cat's Claws — unarmed strikes deal 1d6 kinetic damage and have the finesse property
  • Leonine Agility — double your movement speed for your turn; recharges after a turn where you move 0 feet
  • Treeclimber — 30-foot climb speed plus advantage on Strength saves and Athletics checks for climbing
!Leonine Agility recharges by standing still for a full turn — in a fast-moving fight you may not get the opportunity.
mobilenatural-weaponsstealthydarkvision
Pairs withan Operative or Guardian Dexterity build · a Stealth-focused infiltrator · a hit-and-run melee striker role

Biology and Appearance

The Cathar have fur-covered bodies with thick manes as well as prominent, retractable claws that can deliver powerful killing attacks on foes and prey. Their bodies also possess rapid healing abilities. These traits make them the perfect hand-to-hand specialists.

The Cathar species also has two subspecies, known as the Juhani and the Myr Rho. Both of these are notably less catlike than mainline Cathar. Cathar are born into a litter. The Cathar species is biologically similar to the Bothan species.

Society and Culture

On their homeworld, Cathar live in cities built into giant trees, and are organized into clans governed by elders. Stories of their great heroes were often carved into the trunks of these tree-homes for following generations to see. The Cathar mate for life, to the extent that when one mate dies, the survivor never has a relationship with another. Cathar clan society includes great pageants and celebrations, especially for their heroes. Their religion includes a ritual known as the "Blood Hunt," in which Cathar warriors individually engaged in combat against entire nests of Kiltik in order to gain honor and purge themselves of inner darkness. The native language of the Cathar is Catharese, which included the emphasis of some spoken words with a growl.

Names

Cathar names can sound both melodic and fairly gutteral, but they almost always sound strong and fierce. Female names are typically longer than male names. Surnames are usually one syllable.

Male Names. Crurbirr, Isyrr, Nynorr, Suro, Tukarr

Female Names. Cuwin, Jyvohr, Mulahr, Solyri

Surnames. Jin, Ki, Mak, Rhir, Ta

Distinctions. Lion-like features

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age. Cathar reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.

Alignment. Cathar tend toward no particular alignment. The best and worst are found among them.

Size. Cathar range from 5 to 7 feet tall, and can weigh up to 300 lbs. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Cat's Claws. Your unarmed strikes deal 1d6 kinetic damage and have the finesse property.

Darkvision. Your vision can easily cut through darkness. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Leonine Agility. Your reflexes and agility allow you to move with a burst of speed. When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the turn. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.

Silent Step. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.

Treeclimber. You have a climbing speed of 30 feet. You have advantage on Strength saving throws and Strength (Athletics) checks that involve climbing.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Galactic Basic and Catharese.