Nekomata

Nekomata are a rare and often misunderstood sub-race of Youkai. They are deeply associated with death in most Youkai cultures and folklore ties them to first developing the methods and talismans needed to birth Jiangshi. In more recent times, with increasing trade and travel between Kirara and Lyr, Nekomata are often mistaken for Catfolk by Lyrian natives, with their primary distinguishing feature being their twin cat tails.

Nekomata are most often solitary wanderers with only the rare villages to be found hidden in dense mountain forests. In fact, most people in Kirara will go their entire long lives without ever seeing a Nekomata. Unfortunately, this elusiveness makes any stories or tales involving a Nekomata stand out all the more and the most memorable are almost always those that are shocking. This has given Nekomata an undeserved reputation of hostility and maliciousness in Youkai society due to the actions of cruel pranksters, arsonists, and serial killers throughout history. A Nekomata traveling through Kirara will often find their actions and steps watched carefully by suspicious townsfolk and guards, although this reputation hasn’t spread well into Lyr.

Beyond their ability to puppet the recently deceased and their close connection with death, Nekomata are most known for their grudges. They do not forget an insult, a thrown stone, or a slight nor the faces and voices of the ones that said the words or threw the stones. It is likely that many of the cruel pranks, burned buildings, and slaughtered families are from a Nekomata settling their grudge decades later.

Nekomata adventurers are often cautious to trust their companions but will form deep bonds if their trust isn’t betrayed. In fact, adventuring parties that have a long standing Nekomata member would be wise to keep an eye on their twin-tailed friend, especially when insults begin to fly. Because a Nekomata holding a grudge for themselves is dangerous, but a Nekomata that is holding a grudge in defense of a friend is something lethal.

And a Nekomata using the corpses of their recently defeated enemies to help in looting is a perfectly normal cultural quirk.

“I remember the stone you threw twenty winters ago. Do you?”