Leonin

The leonin guard the shining lands of Oreskos, a golden plain where even the gods rarely trespass. Prides of these nomadic, lion-like humanoids rarely interact with other peoples, having all they need in their shimmering homeland and knowing the treachery of strangers. Still, some leonin wonder what lies beyond Oreskos’s border mountains and seek to test themselves in a wider world.

Noble and Fierce

Leonin tend to be tall compared to humans and move with a boldness that suggests their physical might. Tawny fur covers leonin bodies, and males grow thick manes ranging in shades from gold to black. Rare among the race is the white fur color which also generally presents itself with icy blue eyes. They typically wear light hides in the form of loincloths or leg slit skirts; anything allowing them ease of movement. While their hands prove as nimble as those of other humanoids, leonin have retractable feline claws, which they can extend instantly. This, along with their ability to produce bone-shaking roars, gives most leonin an air that readily shifts between regal and fearsome.
Leonin often act with confidence, which can come off as imperiousness. While this can reassure their allies, it can also suggest defiance in the face of what they perceive as imposed authority or unworthy experts.

Honor

The leonin are an honor-based society and adhere to a strict morale code within their individual tribes known as prides. To break these codes is to be cast out and exiled to wander alone from the pride. The leader of pride is known as a the Kha. Each pride has their own way of selecting their Kha whether it be through a feat strength such as trial by combat or hunting a large beast with no weapons.
While engaged in combat, leonin are brave and chivalrous, never backing down from a challenge, and never resorting to underhanded trickery. While leonin are not engaged in war, they commonly train. When they are not training, leonin can often be found hunting or holding ritualistic celebrations.

Pride and Self-Reliance

Few leonin devote themselves to the service of the gods. Centuries ago, the leonin worshiped the same gods that humans do, but after many of their prides suffered depravities at the hands of the tyrant Agnomakhos, most leonin rejected the gods. It’s not that they deny the existence of deities; they merely see the gods as mercurial and ultimately unworthy of adoration. The Leonin and the Gods table suggests the range of attitudes that leonin might adopt toward the gods.
Leonin rely on themselves and their prides. A pride is bound together by the experience of a shared challenge and, in particular, the sacred act of the hunt.

Leonin and the Gods

d6	Attitude
1	I’m amused by the antics of the gods and their earnest, but ultimately deluded, mortal champions, and I feel smugly superior in my detachment.
2	The meddling of the gods in mortal affairs makes me angry and bitter. I wish they would just leave us all alone!
3	I view the gods as worthy adversaries—incredibly clever and well-prepared to play a long game but ultimately doomed to lose their games.
4	I’m certain every bad thing that happens can ultimately be blamed on the gods, but I roll my eyes at each new twist of fate and try to get on with my life.
5	I wish that I could be as naive as humans and other mortals who actually think the gods are looking out for them. I miss that kind of innocence.
6	I don’t talk about it among other leonin, but I actually revere the gods and try to please them by my actions.

Leonin Names

Along with their personal names, leonin identify themselves by their pride. A member of the Flintclaw pride with the personal name of Ziore, for example, would likely style herself as Ziore of the Flintclaw.
Female Names: Aletha, Atagone, Demne, Doxia, Ecate, Eriz, Gragonde, Iadma, Koila, Oramne, Seza, Ziore
Male Names: Apto, Athoz, Baragon, Bryguz, Eremoz, Gorioz, Grexes, Oriz, Pyxathor, Teoz, Xemnon, Xior
Pride Names: Embereye, Flintclaw, Goldenfield, Ironmane, Starfeller, Sunguides

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Leonin Traits

Your leonin character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and a different ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Age. Leonin mature and age at about the same rate as humans.
Alignment. Leonin tend toward good alignments. Leonin who are focused on the pride lean toward lawful good.
Size. Leonin are typically over 6 feet tall, with some standing over 7 feet. Your size is Medium.
Here’s how to determine your height and weight randomly, starting with rolling a size modifier:
Size modifier = 2d10
Height = 5 feet + 6 inches + your size modifier in inches
Weight in pounds = 180 + (2d6 × your size modifier)
Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
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. You can speak, read, and write Common and Leonin.

“Alara had tracked the beast since morning. Shadowing it at a distance for hours after encountering it, keeping careful track of wind direction so as not to alert the beast of her scent. Her patience had paid off." — Halévra the Unbroken