Exerpt from the Siren Star setting:
Appearing as anthropomirphic, tailless cats, the Vashari look deceptively innocent. All Vashari possess golden hair, silver fur and monochromatic irises (Their irises are jet-black, while their pupils sparkling white). For the Barrani, the Vashar'lynn form is the epitomy of beauty. Hence, they would never consider marring it with cosmetic surgery, gene-therapy or scarring. Traitors, however, have suffered an eldritch curse when they abandoned the empire. They are forever marked (a pair of tear-like black lines that run from eye to mouth) and instantly recognizable as Traitors. Because of this, they are less adverse to adopting more exotic looks, incorporating their markings into ornamental designs and assuming more creative appearences. The Traitors are a splinter faction of the Vashar'lynn people, who have forsaken the Barrani Empire and followed the Traitor Empress Mana’Sha in seeking refuge with the Coalition. While still possessed of their haughty demeanor, the Traitors have entered an alliance of mutual convenience. Empress Mana’sha, being an exceptionally cunning and intelligent woman, has quickly integrated her people into the Coalition society, bringing large amounts of Vashar'lynn technology in trade. Furthermore, had it not been for their forewarning and aid, the Coaliton worlds would have fallen to the surprise offensive by the Barrani Empire several years back. Thus they hold a tenuous trust with their allies.
All Vashari are suffused with the eldritch and volatile Vashar energy. They are highly resistant to its debiliating effects, and some can even manipulate and project it from themselves. The infusion is such, that when a Vashar'lynn's black blood leaves his body, it begins to seethe and crackle with the latent energy. Upon death, the energies are released, consuming the Vashar'lynn's body and possessions in the blast.