Name: Karacel
Creator: Grind + Wretch
Home Zone: Precipice + Hoopla
Project Appearances: Pretty Much Everything
Species Development Thread: Species Development: Karacels

Karacels are a feline species native to Taverne, primarily Precipice and Hoopla. They are plentiful in other parts of Morbit as well and are adaptable to most regions.

Karacels originated in Hoopla and Precipice, and were created by Grind and Wretch. They were primarily created by Grind, with Wretch providing assistance due to her inability to create a species on her own. The first morph created was the shorthair morph, with others evolving over time.

Karacels can be found all over Morbit, but primarily exist in Taverne, primarily in Precipice and Hoopla. They are often nomadic by nature, though some bloodlines have settled down and become more stationary.

They tend to have very loose family affiliations and scatter themselves around based on their individual needs and life choices.

Karacels, despite being created by Grind and Wretch, have many kinds of different worshipers. The highest numbers come from Grind and Wretch, with Wax, Wane, Alloy, Velvet and Rein coming up in middling numbers. Spit worshipers are rare, and other worship varies based on region.

Karacels are not especially prone to any kind of specific disability, though the loss of a tail can be traumatic. They seek stimulation frequently, and many toys and tools are created to help satisfy a karacel's busy mind.

Karacels are highly adaptable to different kinds of housing, so long as they have safe places to nap. They are fond of standard beds, and some will seek out higher places to sleep.

Karacels are sometimes very fond of gears and metalwork if particularly affiliated with Grind and Precipice. They are very fond of bright lights and hot temperatures if particularly affiliated with Wretch and Hoopla.

Due to the wide variety of karacel locations, education is handled entirely based on the zone. Karacels do well in schooling situations allowing more freedom, and worse in situations where they (and their sensory inputs) are restricted.

Karacels sleep more than many other Morbit species, averaging 10-12 hours a day. Schedules in Hoopla and Precipice tend to be based around karacel sleeping habits, leaving other species with a little extra free time. Karacels outside of their home zones often counteracts the inability to sleep their 10-12 hours by squeezing naps into their day.

Karacels are extremely capable in combat thanks to their teeth and claws (retractable and otherwise), as well as their powerful prehensile tails. Coiling with their tails can be both comforting/affectionate and aggressive, with many karacel fights ending with tangling and choking.

Sleeping with tails intertwined is considered very intimate and personal to karacels, and is typically reserved for close partners.

Karacels tend to lean towards physical sport when it comes to entertainment. Television is also very popular among karacels, especially flashy or action-filled shows. Theatre is also popular, especially improv shows or other forms that require spontaneous bursts of energy/acting.

Karacels are feline in appearance, have tufted ears, and longer fur around the neck. The shape of their ear tufts depends on the morph. They range from 4'0-6'0 for “normal” adult height range. They have standard arms and digitigrade legs.

Naturally colored karacels have neutral coats with bright color accents, always on the tail tip, eyes and ear tufts, sometimes on the nose, paw pads, and internals (such as tongue and inner ears). Karacel organs and blood remain red/standard colors outside of mutations

Marking types bear similarities to those found on Earth cats but can vary, especially when body mods are involved. Stripes are common, as are patches and pointed tips. All naturally occurring markings are splotchy/stippled around the edges.

Their pupils are typically slits in a neutral state but can be rounded in the case of mutations or other phenomena (and sometimes in the presence of bright light).

Karacel voices are typically composed of cat sounds, including meowing, yowling, purring, and hissing.

All karacels have paw pads on their palms, with most having them on their fingertips (aside from clawed morphs). They can have either retractable claws or claw fingers/toes.

Karacels can have hair or no hair regardless of morph (though the presence of hair on a hairless/furless morph is extremely rare)

Karacels have skeletons, muscles, nerves, organs, and blood. They have sharp teeth, often uniform in size and shape (but not always, especially if mutated or uncared for). They have a lifespan of 100 years and reach maturity at age 18-20.

They are omnivorous with a strong leaning towards meat (particularly fresh).

Karacel energy levels cycle between low and high, with long periods of sleep and shorter periods of energetic activity.

Karacels use tails and ears for body language, with tail gestures being considered more personal and emotional.

They can hear things above the average for most species, have excellent reflexes, and can see very well in the dark. They also canonically have whiskers, but these are not always drawn in visual projects.

Karacels are prone to urges to chase moving objects and living things, and are drawn to motion in general.

They are more sensitive to loud and/or sudden noises than other species and are more comfortable in warmer, higher locations.

Karacels shed regularly and require a significant amount of grooming and hygiene upkeep.

Karacels can also squeeze through any space they can fit their head into, a feat that tends to startle most other species.

Karacels reproduce sexually and have minimal amounts of sexual dimorphism. They give live birth and have 1-2 children, referred to as kittens.

Karacel kittens are very active and curious and generally require constant supervision. Kittens are also prone to finding small spaces to squeeze into, leading to most parents having to be particularly watchful. Fights are common during childhood, though most are for play and not actually trying to hurt each other. Karacel kittens have much shorter tails proportionally and grow into their adult sizes. Karacel kittens leave the family typically based on whatever the culture around them advises, though in their native zones this typically falls under after education is completed.

Family structure varies based on region and culture, but karacel families tend to be fairly small. Chosen families, however, can grow quite sizable.

Both casual and committed relationships are common, though casual and long-distance relationships are slightly more viable due to the frequency of nomadic lifestyles.

Morphs are based on different types of felines in general, can take inspiration from obscure/less common felines as well as housecats/big cats. Mixed morph children will typically have a blend of their parents' fur types, such as a hairless/longhair child having partial hairless sections (think lion cuts).

Karacel hybrids often have long tails and ear tufts, as well as sharp teeth and claws.

Common mutations include saber/protruding teeth, sharper/bigger claws, pupil changes, ear tuft changes, extra mouths, tail mouths, tail length increase, split/multiple tails, behavioral changes, increased hunting urges, hunger, and issues with temperature regulation.

The shorthair morph is based on shorthair house cats and has short fur, more fur on the tail tip, overall thick tails, round ear tufts, and average amounts of neck fluff. Housecat patterns are most common for natural markings, though other kinds have been noted. This morph is associated more with Hoopla and Precipice than other zones, mainly due to being the first morph created.

The longhair morph is based on longhair house cats and has long fur all over its body- aside from the hands and feet, where long fur stops right beforehand. Its fur is longer on the tail tip, and their tails are thick. They also have fluffy ear tufts and heavy neck fluff. Housecat patterns are most common for natural markings, though other kinds have been noted. This morph is associated more with Solitude and Bluster than other zones, mainly due to the colder temperatures causing the morph to develop faster there.

The wild morph is based on big cats and wild cat species and has very short fur on most of its body. It has a tufted tail tip with longer fur, the tails themselves being thin up until that point. It has claw fingers with no paw pads (though a palm pad exists), pointed ear tufts, and average neck fluff. Big cat patterns are most common for natural markings, though other kinds have been noted. This morph is associated more with Consumption and Precipice than other zones, presumably due to both zones having hunting and survival against the elements be a particularly necessary part of life, even in modern times.

The maned morph has no specific species basis and is based on feral/stray cats. Fur length varies across its body, leading to a sort of “patchy” effect. Some patches may be hairless depending on how much hairless karacel morph there is in the bloodline, with other morph heritage having similar effects. Tails alternate between short and long fur, creating a distinct ringed look. This morph has wispy ear tufts and layered neck fluff. Housecat patterns are most common for natural markings, though other kinds have been noted. This morph is associated more with Wonder and Whimsy than other zones, for reasons unknown.

The hairless morph is based on hairless house cats and has no fur. Some hairless karacels can have hair on their heads, but it is incredibly rare naturally, and most cases are body modded. It can have both thick and thin tails, with most leaning on the thinner side- it also lacks a furred tail tip, but accent markings still persist on the skin. It does not have neck fluff, instead of having especially baggy skin around the neck. Housecat patterns are most common for natural markings, though other kinds have been noted. This morph is associated more with Hearth than other zones, for reasons unknown.

WIP Data pending.

WIP Data pending.