Frozen North catfolk

The catfolk that live along the coasts of the Boreal Seas are known as the Frozen North catfolk, or catfolk of the Frozen North Tribes. It is something of a misnomer, given that all tribes save for the Yhupi'vhut live north of the Cradle of Light and west of Eldhërwye, which is not generally considered part of the region of the North. Nevertheless, the no-man's-land that they live in is far enough north that most continue to refer to these reclusive tribes as the catfolk of the Frozen North.

Appearance
Unlike the more varied coloration of their fellow feline kin, the catfolk of the North are a pale, subdued color. Dusky whites and grays are the most common, with light tans being somewhat uncommon. Pure, snow white coats are rare, and when they occur the child is usually considered a blessed thing, leading a fortuitous life. Markings in the form of pale stripes and rosettes abound, evoking imagery of lynx and snow pards.

Unique to the northern breeds are a thicker fur, causing tails to be a bushy source of warmth. Males and females both exhibit a thick mane around their collar bones and chest, providing extra warmth for the core organs.

Culture
Hunter-gatherers, each clan lives in a particular territory north of the Cradle or on the fringe of the North and depends on the wildlife of the tundra for their entire livelihood. Seals, whales and caribou are highly valued by the tribes of the Frozen North, and the catfolk of the Nunhu'vhut hunt and use the entire body of the massive mammoths that trawl the tundras for foliage and grazing.

All tribes live near to the coast. Those that live closer to Shoneun trade furs and fats for valuable goods like worked metals and forged weaponry. Their main transportation comes from caribou or dog pulled sleds, and many tribes keep small herds of caribou for this reason. Yaks also provide valuable commodities and serve as the catfolk's equivalent to dairy cows.

Though a few of the tribes are nomadic and move from location to location to follow their preferred hunting, they are far less nomadic than the cultures of the deserts or plains.

Religion
Catfolk of the Frozen North worship the goddess Adenah and demigod Anuli as regularly as any other group of catfolk and do not have any particularly unique practices concerning either, though Frozen North catfolk do revere Anuli as a god of hunt. That said, they do have a particularly devout following and reverence of the sea god Nairen, praying to him to favorable seas and bountiful sea hunting.

The Inivu'vhut tribe is particularly fond of Ailerion, living the furthest north of any of the catfolk and celebrating revelry under the aurora borealis, which they believe to be the light of Ailerion's victories over Raneiss.

Tribes
Frozen North tribe names follow a Rhylan vocabulary, as they share a number of loan words from the neighboring nation.