Leonin

Appearance

Leonin take their name and appearance both from the lions that hunt throughout The Varolian. Typically having golden or sandy fur, these feline humanoids sport cat-like faces, claws, and tails. The males can have massive manes of black or gold fur, and one can often judge a leonin's strength based on the size of his mane.
They are often garbed in colourful clothing, and enjoy decorating themselves in small metal disks along their hems rather than wearing jewellery like humans do.

Description

Pride and Family

Leoning live and travel in their own packs like true lions, preferring to wander the plains outside of civilisation as nomads rather than setting down permanent roots in any one place. While they often trade and talk with other species in their journeys, they are fiercely independent and avoid welcoming outsiders into their clan, and similarly dislike entering settlements populated by other folk. Of course, this is never a rule, and on occasion Leonin will leave or be forced from their group, leading them to interact with the rest of the world.
Individual leonin that learn to trust often develop protective feelings towards other folk they travel with as adventurers, almost as though becoming the leader of their own pride. This protectiveness may stem from the leonin’s reliance on themselves; they think they’re the only ones capable of protecting their friends and so step up to the challenge. 

Nomads & Warriors

The most common place to find prides of leonin is the Denósian Steppe, a massve region that dominates The Southern Varolian. It is outside the borders of any nation, but is also teeming with monsters, both natural and magical. The fact that leonin continue to live there, and do so successfully, is testament to their determination and skills as warriors. In fact, it is suggested that the various disciplines of martial arts first had their start with these powerful folk, and the first human monks learned from them.
For most of the year they travel, wandering from place to place and killing monsters as they go. During the Winter they set up their tents and remain in one place until the storms end. Often, they will set up near to Lofsjarna or Kanios in order to trade with the dwarves or humans during these months.

Religion & Politics

Iconoclasts

Leonin almost universally despise the Gods, though the reasons for them doing so is often unclear. Did they worship older deities before knowledge of The Pantheon reached them? Were they once devout, and betrayed by the Gods? Or do they simply hate the idea of anything holding so much power? Regardless of the reason, some leonin prides have often gotten into trouble with locals for raiding shrines and temples, entering civilised lands only to deface their statues and then leave.
They seem to acknowledge the Gods exist and have power, but treat these beings as enemies and things to be defeated. Luckily for all, they have never grown violent with the people who worship, taking care to only destroy buildings and artwork, leaving the folk alone.

Republic of Ósa

Leonin have existed alongside the Republic ever since it began, and are accepted as citizens if they wish to join, but this rarely happens due to Leonin preferring to go it alone. Leonin also rarely become wizards or sorcerers, and the few druids or rangers amongst them see little point in joining the Mages Assembly.
Recently the Republic’s attitude has become more polarised due to religious differences - the mages of the republic understand and often agree with the Leonin desire to best the gods, while the priests of the religious capital in the South have begun spreading malcontent towards these “heathens.”

Kingdom of Praelos

Praelos has a mixed relationship with the lion-folk; the rare leonin who lives there natively or chooses to join them is celebrated and lauded, for they are always skilled fighters and the Warrior-Kingdom is ever in need of them. On the other hand, however, there are Praelan raiding parties that travel south every few years to kidnap and enslave these mighty people. Casualties are always high on both sides, but the value of enslaved leonin warrior unit seems to outway the costs of capturing them - at least in the minds of the Praelan elite.

Mechanics

Ability Scores: Con +2; Str +1
Size: Leonin are typically over 6 feet tall, with some standing over 7 feet. Your size is Medium.
Speed: 35 ft.
Languages: You can speak Common and Leonin.
Darkvision: You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Claws: Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Hunter's Instincts: You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, or Survival.
Daunting Roar: As a bonus action, you can let out an especially menacing roar. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you that can hear you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. The DC of the save equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest. Languages.

Details

Lifespan: Leonin mature and age at about the same rate as humans - adults by their late teens, and living for less than a century.
Population: Fairly populous, though as they tend to stick to themselves it can be rare to see one within human settlements.