A R C H I V I S T
An example of a lowland Kad’uliik
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To create a unique war-mount / pet and symbol for Clan Haran’jai.
Image Credit: Far Cry Primal / Ubisoft
Canon: N/A
Links:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Tusk_cat
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Zanbar/Legends
GENERAL INFORMATION
Name: Kad’uliik (lit. “Saber-beast” in Mando’a), alternatively called the Zanbaran / Mandalorian Sabercat
Designation: Non-sentient
Homeworld: Zanbar
Language: None
Average Lifespan: 30
Estimated Population: Planetary
Description: Kad’uliiki are large feline predators not unlike lions / tigers of Earth, or the tusk-cats of Naboo. They grow to sizes that make them rideable war-beasts, often enough to carry grown men. Their most distinctive trait are long, saber-like upper canine teeth and powerful claws.
PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Breathes: Type I
Average height of adults: 1.63 Meters (at shoulder)
Average length of adults: 1.83 Meters
Skin color: Pinkish flesh bits on nose and ears.
Hair color: Lowland breeds typically have coats that are warm colored to blend in with tall grasses and lowland foliage. Highland breeds are typically lighter in color, usually greys and blues not unlike Earth’s snow leopards to blend into the stones of Zanbar’s highlands.
Distinctions: Highland breeds of Kad’uliik are more slender and graceful in their designs, to better suit their mountainous habitat. Lowland subspecies are often built more stocky and like a tank to take down the large game they hunt. One distinction of an elderly cat is that they will develop a whitish-silver line of hair running down their back, neck, and the crest of their heads. These individuals are often called “chiefs”, for their the tufts’ resemblance to a primitive headdress associated with tribal chieftains
Races: None
Strengths:
-Powerful: These cats are strong, even the more slender highland breeds, making them formidable animals to face both in the wild and on the battlefield
-Stalkers: Like many feline hunters, Sabercats are rather patient and stalking creatures. They will take their time to hunt their prey until an opportune moment opens up.
-Tameable: It has been proven that, at least in the case of Clan Haran’jai, these animals are capable of being domesticated as war beasts and companions
Weaknesses:
-Broken Tooth: While the upper canines are a magnificent part of the animal, age and general wear and tear will often leave cats’ with a broken tooth.
-Soft-Bodied: Despite their great strength and power, the cats lack any natural armor. This makes them vulnerable to slugs and blaster fire, as well as lightsaber strikes.
CULTURE
Diet: Carnivore, primarily wild game
Communication: Growls, purrs, and ‘chuffing’
Technology level: None
Religion/Beliefs: None
General behavior: Sabercats are generally considered to be solitary, only truly bonding with mates or with human companions. A mating pair will often stay together and raise a couple litters of cubs, which range around 1-6 cubs per mating. They are predatory animals, often patiently stalking their prey before pouncing. They use their claws to hold down prey, and their mouths over the animal’s throat suffocate it. The large canines come into use for disemboweling prey to access the high protein content often found in the belly of large grazing beasts.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The evolutionary ancestors of the Kad’uliike did not originate on Zanbar. According to xenobiologists that have managed to study them note that the sabercats’ genetics bear some resemblance to the genome of Naboo’s tusk-cats. It is suggested that a population of tusk-cats were introduced to Zanbar sometime in the distant past, which resulted in the evolution into the modern variety of the Kad’uliike.
Their first real contact with sentients came with the arrival of Clan Haran’jai’s ancestors. The two did not start off on good terms, but eventually, it became clan tradition for a Haran’jai to tame a sabercat as a rite of passage. Like all species, they were affected by the events of the galaxy. The Gulag Plague made them deathly sick, and the Netherworld swept some away. But all in all, the species still maintains a strong presence on Zanbar, becoming the official symbol of the Mandalorian clan they are so deeply entwined with.
