Tepe

The Tepe are a race of catfolk from that have spread out across the Medran Content. There are the leopards from the jungles and steppes of Ayauitl and Tsoh Sei, as well as the Snow Leopards from Koshkmyu. They were believed to be created by Tepeyollotl in his image. They have very private and spiritual cultures that can seem unusual or had to adapt to for outsiders, though few outsiders are permitted within their societies.
Ability Score Increase: Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age: Tabaxi have lifespans equivalent to humans.
Size: Tabaxi are taller on average than humans and relatively slender. Your size is Medium.
Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision: You have a cat's keen senses, especially in the dark. 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.
Feline Agility: Your reflexes and agility allow you to move with a burst of speed. When you move on your tum in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the tum. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.
Cat's Claws: Because of your claws, you have a climbing speed of 20 feet. In addition, your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Cat's Talent: You have proficiency in the Perception and Stealth skills.
Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Naming Traditions

Other names

Each and every Tepe has a single name determined by the clan and based on a complex formula which involves astrology, prophecy, clan history, and other esoteric factors too. Those Tepe names can be applied for both males and also females and most of them are use their nicknames which are derived from or inspired by their full names. Usually, the clan names are based on the geographical feature located in or near by the clan’s territory. For example, a Tepe name could be Seventh Thundercloud over the Mountain Tree, which would be shortened to "Thunder."

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Though they may seem serious and straight forward to outsiders, Tepe have a strong playfulness and sense of humor. They often play jokes on each other, continue to rough house and play games well into adulthood, and have a culture of dry humor that can be seen as dark or even rude to outsiders. This can be confusing because of laughter is far less common in their culture, but nonverbal expressions of joy and amusement are prevalent. Therefore outsiders might not fully understand a joke without the context of the nonverbal communication. Others might fear they offended a Tepe who did not laugh at their teasing, simply because they didn't understand the physical signs of tail twitches and ear movements that show great amusement.

Common Dress code

Aside from the Tepe of Koshkmyu, most do not wear clothing, and only wear armor when involved in hunting parties. The particularly powerful of renown individuals might wear simple wrap style clothing with decorative jewelry, but most individuals do not bother with clothing. In Koshkmyu, the cold temperatures mean the Tepe are more likely to done additional coats and avoid metal based jewelry.

Art & Architecture

The Tepe of Ayauitl and Tsoh Sei typically have grass style "huts" that are kept neat with straw mats and a central cookfire. The Tepe of Koshkmyu have huts of almost identical shapes and lay out, but usually made of stacked rocks or even stacked snow. Around a home, a family member might keep a particularly well renowned family members fur (which is called an ancestral tapestry). To refer to it as a pelt would be extremely rude and disrespectful as the fur of loved ones is kept by high religious leaders and treated by a very special process. A very powerful warrior might wear the ancestral tapestry of a family member who was also a warrior as a cloak, in order to bring good luck and "empower" themselves. This is never worn into battle however, and is purely a ceremonial piece. An ancestral tapestry might be divided and worn into battle for lower ranking warriors who have many children, as each child might take a portion to war as luck or protection, in cases it might not be proper to keep the entire tapestry due to a lack of further renown. The culture of Ancestral Tapestries, when they can be worn, when they can be displayed, and when they can be made is a complex and personal culture to the Tepe.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The Tepe have an intense culture of rituals and traditions that can also be hard for an outsider to adapt to. For example, Tepe kiss their second paw and then put their paw on door frames before entering a household to prevent evil following them in. They tuck tails around themselves at all times in households. Most homes are adorned with talisments and astrological symbols carved in bone hanging around their homes to ward off evil and negativity. They consider broken mirrors extremely bad luck and will bury them while avoiding showing their reflection in it, believing that a mirror can be a portal to the Othersphere, and that a broken one will trap your soul in the wrong plane. Certain fur markings and melanistic color variants are omens of doom and destruction. The Ancestral tapestry of a loved one will protect a home. Tepe even believe it's important to not say another's name arounda  cookfire. Cookfires draw in strangers and spirits to the good smell, conversation and warmth. Its good to host for such visitors, but never say your name, because it can give them power over you. These are just a few of the many strongly held beliefs of the Tepe that have made it difficult for outsiders to adapt to.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Giving birth is a private affair typically between a woman, her mother, and sometimes sisters. The women close to the mother will typically help take care of all needs while the mother tends to the new child. The maternal grandmother will often be the one to name the child, interpreting meanings of patterns and through astrological symbols.

Coming of Age Rites

Tepe are usually considered adults around 18 or 20. At this age, men are allowed to go on hunting parties and compete in seasonal tournaments. They typically do not have more ceremony than that.

Funerary and Memorial customs

When a Tepe dies, typically they are taken out away from the community and left for nature to tend to. Some families may have an extremly respected elder make an Ancestral Tapestry of the Tepe's coat, in order to treasure the loved one. But this is typically only done under certain circumstances. Little else is kept to remember lost ones. However, during the northern solstice, Tepe will light candles in their windows to light the way and welcome spirits of their lost loved ones home. They will also typically have a silent feast this night in hopes he spirits of loved ones will sit with them for a while.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Tepe culture has a deep seated tradition of reading the natural markings of their kin as signs of their future and lives to come. Certain styles of markings are considered particularly good fortune and desirable, while other markings such as large empty patches without spots are considered undesirable. Melanistic are considered to be such bad luck or such ill omens that parents might abandon such children or community members will refuse hospitality to such colorations.  Some markings are considered to be so important that families will keep and protect the furs of lost loved ones for generations beyond.

Gender Ideals

In Tepe cultures, females come together to create stable communities within villages and cities. They often are the ruling power, controlling child rearing, hunting parties, and political decisions. Men are expected to hunt, provide, and protect the societies, though all Tepe are powerful hunters. When a mating season occurs, men will compete in a series of games and competitions for the rights to father children that year. The amount chosen are usually determined by the size of the community.

Courtship Ideals

Most communities host a series of games during the first equinox of the year. During this time, males compete in a series of games and tournaments to get noticed and become potential mates for the year. Tepe do not have a standard sense of dating, living mostly independent, with groups of women raising children together, or independently. Men provide for the community as a whole.