Any sentient being who has undergone mutation due to extended exposure to a demonic influence, or have received demonically mutated genes through sexual reproduction. The level of mutation varies wildly between individuals in all races, some forms of the gene manifest as simple patches of discolored skin while others are left with large curling horns or strange semi-prehensile tails.
Appearance
Flesh
Skin colors include, but are not limited to: Red, green, pink, blue, charcoal black and all original race skin colors. The saturation of the more abnormal colors is proportional to demonic exposure and/or saturation of Katara parents. The most common color changes are red, blue and charcoal black, though generally this is one of the lesser represented mutations among Katara populations. More often the flesh is affected by the “Skrila”, a hardening of the skin’s texture that makes it thick and brittle in scattered patches. Skrila in very large pieces can be dangerous
Form
Body shape does not vary outside of racial norms except for occasional dramatic increases/decreases in height. There are strange occurrences and tales of Katara being born with odd vestigial limbs and tail like growths but these are extremely rare cases, some of which are believed to be largely myth or hyperbole. Bone structure at its most basic level remains unaltered, though there are reports by some academics that lead some to believe there may be additional bones in the Katara skeleton that do not make sense, but appear to have no effect on the physiology of the cursed individual.
Horns
Often boasting one or more horns at varying stages of development. The horns can manifest almost anywhere but most commonly are found on the head. In more extreme cases horns may cover large portions or even all of the body. It is also possible to exhibit bundles of much larger horns in a single spot commonly referred to as the “Demons Bouquet”. The Horns in question do sprout from and connect directly to the nerve and bone structure closes to the flesh they sprout from, this makes them sensitive at the base, losing most feeling the farther the horn extends from the body.
Eyes
Heterochromia is common enough among Katara mutations that it is often ubiquitously associated with them despite the fact that non Katara can exhibit the same mutation and Katara themselves may not in some cases. Generally it seems that Katara with altered eye color also see some kind of Skrila or pigmentation alteration on the face or head, the eye color itself often being a complementary color to the pigment change if any. The common combinations seen are the following:
- Red skin - Black Iris
- Green skin - Purple Iris
- Pink skin - White iris (often called pin-eyes in a derogatory sense for they way their eyes appear with only a small amount of contrast to the surrounding white.)
- Blue skin - Red Iris
- Charcoal black skin - Bright Blue Iris
If there is no pigmentation change its rare for any unnatural eye color change as well.
Notable Exceptions
Rugadh Sliabh
There have been no recorded or even mythological references to Rugadh with Katara mutations. Their strange method of reproduction is still largely unknown to most but it’s likely some aspect of this unique process of birth which somehow negates the corruption.
Krest
Krest Katara are not unheard of, but exponentially more scarce than others. They do not have a personal history which touches upon Demons or proximity to them, and few lived with non-Krest groups in ancient times.
Krest Katara are easily spotted thanks to their feathers almost unanimously undergoing strong mutations. Everything from complete body coverage to remarkable changes in individual feather size and texture. The telltale horns also appear but more commonly on the limbs and no tail’s ever manifest.
Gameplay
If you are choosing Katara as your race for stats it is assumed you exhibit above average levels of mutation. You can pair minor mutations with any other race
World Builder Notes
Naming Notes
Katara comes from Καταραμένος in greek meaning cursed
Skrila comes from Σκληραίνω in greek meaning hard