Tabaxi

The Tabaxi, sometimes known as the cat-men or jaguar people, are a race of feline humanoids native to the jungles of Xedaris. Thought to have entered the dense jungles and rain forests to the south during the convergence, they are a notorious and dangerous people that most prefer to avoid.
Tabaxi were taller than most humans at six to seven feet. Their bodies were slender and covered in spotted or striped fur. Like most felines, Tabaxi had long tails and retractable claws, which they regularly used in effective combat. Tabaxi fur colour ranged from light yellow to brownish red. Tabaxi eyes were slit-pupiled and usually green or yellow. They could see far in the dark and had an unrivalled sense of smell. They were competent swimmers, climbers as well as speedy runners, and had an unmatched dexterity and balance.
Tabaxi were a reclusive people who often avoided interaction with other intelligent races. However, as each tabaxi possessed a specific feline trait, some had an innate curiosity that compelled them to travel and seek out stories, artefacts, new experiences and knowledge, never remaining in the same place or obsessing over the same piece of lore for too long.
In general, tabaxi did not care for wealth, but they had an almost obsessive interest in ancient artefacts, relics and magic items, but not for the items themselves, as much as the stories and secrets they held. Once an item had been thoroughly examined and studied, and its secrets revealed, it would lose its allure and the tabaxi would quickly lose interest and pass it on. Not all tabaxi were motivated by curiosity to leave their homeland, however. Some found safer ways to satisfy their fleeting obsessions by becoming travelling minstrels and tinkers, often accepting interesting objects and stories as payment for their services. They occasionally were found in local tribes and villages trading wears and services for knowledge and food, but many would keep their distance for their infamy.
Tabaxi, particular those in the harsher northern Tsundar, were renound for being effective and cruel slavers, and this fact stigmatised many tabaxi in further regions of Xedaris. Their notoriety and general prowess made them fierce to live by.
Tabaxi were exceptional hunters and utilized these skills in combat. Speed and stealth combined with their natural camouflage meant that tabaxi were particularity skilled at surprise attacks. Tabaxi were even known to disguise their scent with aromatic herbs. Their hunting skills and intelligence made them formidable tacticians - groups would often drive prey into ambushes, sometime playing with their doomed foe before killing them. Tabaxi clans did have berserker warriors within them, these were known as blood-stalkers.
For weapons, tabaxi favored bolas, slings, macas, and javelins with atlatl. These weapons would often be made from wood, bone or stone. Tabaxi were just as likely to use weapons as they were to use their claws and teeth. Their preference of simple weapons was not due to a lack of capability. Tabaxi were quite capable of adapting to new technology or salvaged weapons. Due to their knowledge of hunting, intelligence and sense of smell, it was practically impossible to trap a tabaxi.
Tabaxi society was built around clans. Clans were split evenly between males and females with 3 to 12 young. Each clan had several Hunts each made up of two to eight individuals. The Hunts patrolled the area around the clan's lair. Although tabaxi lairs were sometimes just temporary, they were more often small villages of ramadas. Each ramada was built from wooden poles with grass roofs. 
Clans were led by elders. About half of the time, leaders were aided by shamans. Clans tended to avoid each other and did not engage in trade. Tabaxi considered trade to be demeaning but in rare instances would use third party agents to trade for them. The Tabaxi spoke a rare dialect of Tsaskarinian called Payit, and was incomprehensible by most on the continent. This allowed them to effectively communicate and made them even more dangerous in combat.

General Information

Size

Medium

Type

Humanoid (Minor Race)

Average Lifespan

Equivalent to humas

Homeland

The Jungles of Auxis

Languages

Common, Tabaxi

Deities

The Beastlord

Appearance

Average Height

6-7ft

Average Weight

200-250lbs