Leonin

The leonin guard the Sun-Touched Place, widely considered the homelands of the tabaxi. The exact location of these islands are the catfolk's most closely guarded secret, but legends tell of a tropical paradise that features towering mountains, lush jungles, and wide open plains. Unlike the tabaxi, whose curiosity and wanderlust lead them to leave their homelands, the leonin stay sequestered away, content with the safety and resource-rich lands they call their home. Leonin are similar to tabaxi in their feline features, but they resemble more closely big cats like lions and tigers and are generally much more muscular. Prides of leonin establish strongholds on the islands and guard their secret paradise ferociously. Still, some leonin wonder what lies beyond the Sun-Touched Places' shores and seek to test themselves in a wider world.

### **Proud Beasts**

The leonin are confident in themselves. They’ve taken care of themselves and their island since they were created, and they don't believe they need help from any other race. This causes them to have an imperious attitude towards things – they think they can handle things themselves. Leonin are mistrustful of outsiders, and can often lash out at them aggressively; fighting with words, fists, or swords to defend their honor and pridemates.

On average, leonin very tall, and tower over their tabaxi cousins both in height and overall muscularity. They have a variety of pelt patterns ranging from a tawny brown to deep orange with black stripes. Leonin have large hands that hide retractable claws that they can extend instantly to use in combat. This, combined with their earth-shaking roar, makes the leonin a regal and fearsome creature to behold.

### **Fierce Competitors**

Outsiders may see leonin as easily offended, aggressive, or belligerent, but they are more aptly described as competitive. Leonin love to test themselves against other creatures, they believe the path to strength and truth is constant testing and trials. They enjoy debate, sparring and wrestling, anything to exercise their minds and bodies.

Leonin also don't tend to carry grudges, conflict is common and enjoyed amongst pridemates, so it would stand that they wouldn't stay mad at each other for long.

### The Sun-Touched Place

The Sun-Touched Place are the ancestral homelands of the tabaxi and the leonin, and is considered a paradise for the catfolk. Countless songs, poems and art pieces have been made surrounding the legendary place by those who have been lucky enough to set foot on it. However, that pool of people is incredibly small, as the exact location of the isles is a closely guarded secret by those who have been there, to the point where many people don't even believe it exists.

The catfolk of Wormwood, are rarely found in the common world primarily due to how few of them choose to leave the Sun-Touched Place. The leonin very rarely venture out from their homeland. They feel charged to guard and keep the Sun-Touched Place safe from any outside intrusion, maintaining the peaceful paradise of their ancestors. A leonin may be forced into a life of adventuring if they are exiled from the isles or if they are otherwise charged with seeking a goal beyond their borders, such as hunting a criminal or serving a higher (or lower) being.

### **Leonin Names**

Leonin identify themselves with their name and pride. Names tend to be abstract but snappy, while prides tend to be the traditional, two-words-put-together names – similar to Dwarves, but more catlike.

Male Names: Apto, Athoz, Baragon, Bryguz, Eremoz, Gorioz, Grexes, Oriz, Pyxathor, Teoz, Xemnon, Xior

Female Names: Aletha, Atagone, Demne, Doxia, Ecate, Eriz, Gragonde, ladma, Koila, Oramne, Seza, Ziore

Pride Names: Embereye, Flintclaw, Goldenfield, Ironmane, Starfeller, Sunguides