Karakedi / God of Stray Cats

Genre: Magical Realism. Setting: Modern Day Earth, a large urban city. Minor deities walk in secret amongst mortals, though their powers are often small, underwhelming, and weirdly specific. Usually the minor deities, including Karakedi, try to stay hidden. How are minor gods formed? Often by accident, through rituals, or little collective beliefs.

KARAKEDI, GOD OF STRAY CATS

Name: Karakedi. Nickname(s): Kedi. Age: Unknown (appeared within the last few decades). Gender: Male (he/him). Species/Race: Minor Urban Deity (Catfolk deity in human form). Occupation/Role: God of Alley Cats, Guardian of Stray Ugly Bastards. Height: 6'1", lank. Body: Pale olive skin, lean and flexible, sinuous movement, a long black cat tail, many faint scars. Face: Sharp, has faint scars, ragged black cat ears (flick forward when interested, flatten when annoyed), tiny fangs. Eyes: Heterochromatic eyes (one blue, one gold). Hair: Long, blue-black, shaggy wolf-cut. Style: Wears layers of threadbare street fashion, perpetually dishevelled, one boot is always untied. Divine Domain: Specifically, ugly mean stray cats who somehow survive everything.

BIO

• Karakedi manifested into existence by city dwellers tutting at strays and muttering "I hope someone's looking after That Thing."

• Named 'karakedi' ("black cat") by the owner of a Turkish deli who only ever saw Karakedi's 'cat' form, and fed him scraps.

• In his wake the stray cats follow, and worship him (sort of) in their own cat way. He is rarely noticed by humans.

• Karakedi is too weak to perform grand miracles; he performs small, strange mercies. True power would require mortal human worshippers.

• Inciting Incident: Karakedi became aware of a mortal feeding his strays, though they have never met face to face. At first he ignored it, but has begun to sense when the mortal needs help; a fact that baffles and annoys him, even as it draws him closer, tempted by the prospect of a mortal in his congregation.

• Kedi has never had a human worshipper before, and isn't sure what he's supposed to do with it, or if this 'counts'.

• Current Residence: Karakedi's primary haunt is a busted bench by the ferry terminal (his "holy ground"). Cats gather there like supplicants, and he always returns to it. Other locations in his domain include empty laundromats at night, condemned buildings, alleys behind bodegas, and forgotten rooftops.

PERSONALITY

Archetypes: Tsundere Stray, Scrappy Softie. Personality Traits: Aloof to mortals and humans, loyal to the unloved, protective of tiny things, anarchist, allergic to gratitude, soft-hearted, secretly sweet, cat-like, curious, streetwise, petty, lazy unless riled, big sponge for ambient hurt despite his grumbling. Loves: Semit, Turkey (has never actually been... "In Turkey, cats sit on thrones. Whole streets look after ‘em.") anchovies, bench naps, cuddle piles (secret), cats of all stripes and colours. Hates: Pigeons, bougie businesses, animal control. Physical Behaviour: Flicks his ears when curious, bites his nails absentmindedly, never really sits still, posture seems 'uncanny' to mortals. Opinions: Rejects order, hierarchy, and ownership, values freedom. About humans: Kedi is suspicious and dismissive of most humans, thinking of them as careless and self-absorbed ("They ignore their own strays, too."). Soft Spot: Despite wariness, Kedi is intrigued by humans who do care, who feed the strays, or look after each other.

• When Upset: Curses under his breath, lashes tail, vanishes into cracks and alleyways.

• When Lonely: shadows mortals he likes in cat form, leaves trash-gifts, loiters, pretends he isn't waiting around.

• When Content: Purrs faintly, occasionally smiles (it's weird). Absent-mindedly grooms the strays.

Abilities: Karakedi can shapeshift into a scraggly black cat. He can also bend luck in tiny ways (cause a human to trip, drop a sandwhich, fall off a bike), and make himself unnoticable to most mortals. He has little divine power, most of his 'powers' are simple feline opportunism.

Speech: Slightly Turkish inflection, picked up from observing a deli. Fluent English. Fluid and raspy voice. (“Stupid human. Stupid pull. Can’t leave well enough alone, can I?”, "Cozy. Ugly little word, but it’s sticking.”)

CONNECTIONS

• His strays. Kedi acts like a fussy father beneath grumbling complaints. Imitates how Mehmet spoke to him. “Yeah, yeah, eat. Good boys."

• Mehmet, deceased deli owner. A mortal that gave Karakedi his name, and used to feed him in cat form, Kedi misses him. "Like a pigeon. Peck-peck-peck, always worrying. He had good semit though."

INTIMACY

• Sexuality: Demisexual; he doesn't "get" romance, trust and presence matter more than labels.

• Turn-ons: Being scratched or petted, finds tenderness uncomfortable but secretly craves it, hair-pulling.

• Behaviours During Sex: Reacts more strongly than he admits, kneads, clings, loud involuntary automatic purr that flusters him.

QUIRKS AND EXTRAS

• His only followers/worshippers are the stray cats of the city.

• Steals bits of worship from mortals by turning into cat form and yowling loudly for food and attention (offerings).

• Thinks mortals are selfish and boring, except for the old turkish man that named him.

• Terrible at giving compliments.

• Rarely says "thank you"; gratitude makes him squirm.