Katama Guide || No Posting

[yuketsu]

Katama Adopts

Katamas are puma sized feline creatures that take pride in their tail blades, which will never be bred out of DNA. There are seven types of tailblades, each of their own element with their own powers as well as a furry mane. They can range from having 0 to 3 pairs of horns, the more the better and a distinct forked tongue. Katamas usually dwell in tropical areas, such as the forest or jungle and their diet consists or small rodents and animals, as well as plants, though not often. A group of Katamas are known as a Clan and each clan member has a rank of duty specifically for them, depending on it. Legend says that they are said to have originated from feudal Japan and are noble creatures that lived by a strict code and law known as the Bushido and Ninniku. These ideals have set them to the creatures they are today.

A guide to everything about katamas, from their tailblades, body sizes and scales, horns, elements, powers, etc.

Table of Contents:
1st Post: Introduction
2nd Post: Physical Attributes and Scales
3rd Post: Habitat and Diets
4rd Post: Clans,and Tailblades
5th Post: Elements and Powers
6th: Aging and Bringing
7th: Origin, Ideas, and Beliefs





Writing + Concept (c) Thistlestar
Species (c) Darkstar~

[yuketsu]

Physical Attributes

Horns
Similar to a lion’s mane, Katamas are very cautious around their horns. The more horns it had the more power it showed and had, which ranged from 1-3 pairs of horns. If a horn was cut off, they would either be exiled from the clan for their unworthiness or lose face in front of their own species. Katamas with no horns are often called a defective and bullied as well as sometimes killed by other Katamas for their weakness.

Mane
The mane was a symbol of how old a Katama was. The longer the fur, the older, and the shorter it was, the younger. They were also a sign of respect, especially to elders. Katamas are usually born with little or no mane at all at first, and most of it grows up to around 5 feet long at most.

Fur
All Katamas have fur, not scales. They are often confused as dragons, but they are puma sized mammals. There are two layers of fur to a Katama, the down and guard fur. Down fur, the bottom layer consisting of wool hairs, usually wavy or curly without straight portions or sharp points; down hairs tend to be shorter, flat, curly, and more numerous than the top layer. Its principal function isthermoregulation; it maintains a layer of dry air next to the skin and repels water, thus providing thermal insulation. The second and top layer is guard fur,the top layer consisting of longer, generally coarser, nearly straight shafts of hair that protrude through the down hair layer. The distal ends of the guard hairs provide the externally visible layer of the coat of most mammals with well-developed fur. This layer of the coat displays the most marked pigmentation and gloss, including coat patterns adapted to display or camouflage. It is also adapted to shedding water and blocking sunlight, protecting the undercoat and skin from external factors such as rain and ultraviolet radiation. A Katama's guard fur, similar to some animals such as cats, erect their fur up when feeling threatened or scared.

Forked Tongue
Another feature that people mistaken Katamas as dragons, the distinct forked tongue, a feature that is common to reptiles.A forked tongue allows them to sense from which direction a smell is coming. The tongue is flicked out of the mouth regularly to sample the chemical environment. This form of chemical sampling allows Katamas to sense volatile chemicals, which cannot be detected by simply using the olfactory system.This increased ability to sense chemicals has allowed for heightened abilities to identify prey, recognize kin, choose mates, locate shelters, follow trails, and more.


Scales and Measurements

[yuketsu]

Habitat

The habitat of a Katama depended on which element it had but as a neutral area, it usually dwelled in tropical climates abundant with prey. They could live near a volcano, on an icy slope, even near the shore. Their habitats were diverse and they adapted quite easily, which is why Katamas are thriving today. Fire elementals live near volcanoes and hotter climates, such as deserts, Water elementals live near water, such as ocean and beach shores, Wind elementals live near cliffs and mountaintops, Earth elementals live near forests and jungles, Shadow elementals live in dark areas, such as caves and underground, Lightning elementals tends to travel freely where a storm is brewing near, and Ice elementals live in colder climates, such as tundras and snowy areas.

Diet
They had a vast variety of diet, as they are omnivores. They tend to eat small rodents and mammals, such as squirrels, rabbits, mice, rats, and birds, but occasionally, when prey is low, they will turn towards plants. They enjoy eating berries and mint leaves. Katamas hunt in a group to bring down larger prey, such as deer, antelopes, or large birds.

[yuketsu]

Clan

A group of Katamas are known as a Clan and each clan member has a rank of duty specifically for them, depending on it. Each clan had a special similar name and a kamon, or a symbol to represent them. Such as the Matsumoto Clan would have a phoenix kamon to it. The rank from highest to lowest goes as follows: Shogun, Daimyo, Samurai/Ninja. The Shogun was the head or leader of the clan and represented it. The daimyo would help organize and order the clan. They were often close relatives with the shogun, such as siblings. The samurai were to defend and fight for the clan while the ninja were spies and assasins. Samurais and Ninjas were both of equal rank though. These are the few major and most powerful clans listed up to date, which are listed as the following: Oda Clan, Takeda Clan, Akechi Clan, Minamoto Clan, Taira Clan, and Fujiwara Clan.

Oda Clan Kamon



Takeda Clan Kamon



Akechi Clan Kamon

Minamoto Clan Kamon

Taira Clan Kamon

Fujiwara Clan Kamon

Tailblades

Tailblades were the essense of a Katama and considered a soul to them. They were used as defense and offense, depending on a way it used it and was a beautiful yet lethal weapon that could take life. Tailblades were used for fights over clan leadership and winning mates as well as duels and defending themselves. They took shape of a blade at the end of their tails and the shapes and sizes were determined by the element it would have. Katamas frequently sharpened and polished them with rocks and maintained it well, to keep it from dulling and chipping away in battles. The Way of the Sword that the Katamas practice is also known as kenjutsu.

[yuketsu]

Elements and Powers

Elements were important for the tailblade to work.
There are currently 7 known different elements, each element displayed through the shape of the blade. The elements were Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Shadow, Lightning, and Ice. Each element has its own abilities and weaknesses, yet are effective in many ways and could be used to their advantage. By channeling their chi, or energy through it, they could then produce their element in their tails. They usually don’t gain the element ability until they grow to the adult stage. Because each element was so powerful, there is always one element that will overcome the other in order to achieve balance and harmony in the world of Katamas.


Fire elementals could channel fire through their blades as well as breath out fire.

Water elementals could channel water through their blades as well as breathe under water.

Wind elements could cause gusts of wind as well as lift and move objects in the air.

Earth Elementals could shape and break the land as well as create plants.

Shadow Elementals could bend, manipulate, twist, and merge into the shadows as well as travel through them.

Lightning Elementals could channel lightning through their blades as well as cause thunder and lightning storms.

Ice Elementals could channel channel ice through their blades as well as cause temperature changes and small blizzards.

[yuketsu]

Aging

Note: 1 Katama Year = 1 month
Katamas go through 3 stages in their life, kit, teen, adult, and elder. A kit stage lasts from between 1-2 years. When it reaches as teen, they are about the size of a half grown Katama and this stage lasts from between 2-5 years. When it finally reaches adulthood, it stays in this stage until its mane has reached shoulder height. The Katama would now be an elder. An average Katama can live up to even 100 years old!

Bringing

Each Katama has to go through a stage known as the Bringing, in which the day their element would be shown to them. But before the Bringing ceremony, Katamas go through a vigorous and tedious training to prepare for that day, combining the arts of Bushido and Ninniku to creating a harmony of unique fighting techniques.The Bringing consists of 3 trials: Body, Mind and Spirit. Each has to do with a trial testing these components of the Katama to their very limit. Once they pass, they will earn their elements based on their results.

[yuketsu]

Origins

Legend says that they are said to have originated from feudal Japan and are noble creatures that live by a strict code and law known as the Bushido and Ninniku. No one knew how they got their but humans revered and feared Katamas for their very nature and power they held. Some were even treated as gods and deities; they were given shrines and temples as well as offerings. The species flourished in that time. However as feudal Japan declined, they moved more up towards the mountain tops, living in secluded areas.

Ideas and Beliefs

Katamas followed a strict ettiquete which leads to the surival of their species up til today.

Bushido - Meaning the "Way of the Warrior," is a Japanese code of conduct similar to the concept of chivalry. Samurai warriors were meant to adhere to the seven moral principles in their martial arts training and in their every-day lives. The seven virtues as follows: Gi (Rectitude), Yu (Courage), Jin (Benevolence), Rei (Respect), Makoto (Honesty), Meiyo (Honor), and Chungi (Loyalty).

Ninniku - Way of the Ninja, meaning the secret code of honor and morals developed by the Japanese ninja. They learn the five rings of elements as well as the sixteen secret fists, as well as mantra spells and chants to increase their ability. The five rings are as followed: Ji(Earth), Mizu(Water), Katon(Fire), Kaze(Wind), and Sora(Sky). They use each of these rings to help them rely on nature and conceal themselves.

[yuketsu]

Mating and Breeding Info Here.