The Ursirae

A shout rose up in the trees and Ilva turned. One of the huntresses pointed toward the valley below and that’s when they noticed the flames against the blue of the darkness. There seemed to be about ten to fifteen figures marching. ‘That couldn’t be another hunting party, so what is it?’ Ilva thought as she walked up to the one who had shouted.
“What’s going on?”
“Ursiraen scouts,” growled the huntress. For about three years the Dahl have been fighting the race of leopard humanoids in the grasslands to the south, the Ursirae. The barbarians wanted the Dahl hunting lands and the mountains full of rich minerals, but the Dahl were not going to give them up easily. “Somehow they managed to find their way this deep into our hunting grounds.”
“We’ll just have to teach them a lesson, won’t we?” Sigrun said, now holding her axe in her hands. Ilva grimaced but nodded. A smirk suddenly tugged at the redhead’s lips.
“What was that you said about not being on the battlefield anytime soon, Ilva?”

Basic Information

Anatomy

Pardi look like leopards that walk upright on two legs and have opposable thumbs. They have the same facial features, spots, and claws as their more primitive cousins, but because of magic they have self-awareness and intellect. The color of their fur and spot variations depend on what part of the grasslands they are from.

Ecology and Habitats

They mainly stay in their home habitat of the grasslands, a place with plenty of prey to hunt. Only the brave loners (usually men) travel outside their homeland. Those who do rarely return, as they are shunned and possibly attacked by the other Pardi for leaving their race behind.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Pardi are limited to meat due to their carnivore ancestry. They cannot eat vegetables and fruits otherwise it would make them ill.
They hunt with spears and bows, mainly because they have a hard time setting up traps with their claws cutting rope and branches. They never store food, instead eating it as soon as it is caught.

Biological Cycle

During shedding season, Pardi shave their fur to cool themselves during the warm months. During winter, however, their coats grow incredibly thick.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Men are the more dominant of the two sexes, however women aren't far behind. Because Pardi rarely form groups of adults more than three or four, everyone is equal no matter their wealth. Rank in military is the only true form of social structure the Pardi have, and that is how to earn respect.

Facial characteristics

wide eyes, spots on forehead, large ears

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Bahadur Grasslands

Average Intelligence

Relatively smart

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Pardi have the same advanced hearing, smell, and sight as leopards do. They can run up to 30 miles faster than the strongest Dahl, and can lift up to 300 pounds.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Pardi are given a name at the age of 20, which is a symbol of who they are. Until then, they are simply called "Cub" by their mother. Their names are not like the other races and can instead be things such as "Red Sun in the Dawn" or "Curiosity of Life"

Major Organizations

The Bahadur Military technically is the ruling power in grasslands despite it... being a very poor ruler. They are focused more on trade and conquest rather than crime and economy troubles in their homeland. The people rule themselves more than the government.

Beauty Ideals

The ideal Pardus is very bulky and muscular (a sign they are a good hunter and therefore a good mate). Soft fur is another ideal, although less sought after than physical prime. Sharp claws are also considered very attractive.

Gender Ideals

Women are the caretakers of the next generation and also the main hunters. They don't interact much with males until breeding season, and after that they probably will never meet again.

Relationship Ideals

Men and women prefer not to interact with each other besides in the military or mating season. They stay with each other for a week during mating season, but after that, the male leaves while the female tends to the cubs.

Average Technological Level

Because of a lack of resources in the grasslands, most weapons are made of dull bronze or copper. The few trees they have are used to build shabby forts woven with straw.

Common Etiquette Rules

Pardi don't like to interact other than for breeding or military purposes. Some of the smaller females form small groups to keep each other safe from hostile males. Their manner toward each other is gruff, and conversations are typically short and clipped.

Common Dress Code

Women weave fabrics from silk worms that live in the grasslands. The typical dress for both men and women is one big sheet of fabric tied with some kind of sash or clip. While hunting, however, they wear grass skirts so that it is easier to maneuver in.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Pardi took a lot of their culture from the humans and the Trentalvi. Their form of dress and use of bright fabrics came from the Trentalvi, while their military formation was from the humans.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Pardi have a naming ceremony when a cub turns 20. The mother and all the siblings gather round the cub and sprinkle them with dust while chanting in old Leotherian. Once the chant is complete, the mother bestows a name on the cub, and they are officially an adult.
Pardi perform a war cry ritual called the Umazii before each battle, a dance to intimidate the enemy. They shout in Leotherian at the enemy while stomping their feet or banging their swords against their shields.

History

Before the Pardi there was the Leothera, the first generation of self-aware animals. They were created by the magic runoff from human experimentation. After destroying human town after human town, they fled to the Bahadur Grasslands to live in complete isolation from the other races. The Leothera eventually evolved into the Pardi the longer they stayed in the grasslands, developing spots to disrupt the landscape and make it hard for prey to see them.
The Pardi are more advanced socially than the Leothera. They work together in the military, the Pardi's only form of social structure. They wanted to open up relations with the other nations, but to do that, they needed to find something to trade. Nothing in the grasslands was of use to the other races, so the Pardi sought out the mineral rich mountains of the Dahl.

Historical Figures

General Titibaya

The Pardi's strongest general in the Dahl-Pardian War. Her original name was Valiant in Battle, but she took her new name from the high priest of Elk she killed in her first battle. She was killed at the battle of Klinehart by Ilva the Undaunted.

Ratimir Saab

A famous Halfling who is part of the Wanderers. He is a scholar who translated the texts that revealed the secret to Mstislav's defeat.

Common Myths and Legends

Pardi believe that humans in the grasslands are bad luck, and they should never be spoken to or else the Pardus will be cursed forever. Halflings are extremely bad luck, but recently the Pardi have been forced to add them to the military from a lack of troops.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Pardi are highly hostile with the Dahl because they want their mountain lands for mining, and the relations with the Trentalvi are also cold because of it. They don't interact heavily with either race unless a Pardus doesn't not support the war effort or has been banished from the grasslands. The humans are fearful of the Pardi as well, and they have been a target for racism in human cities.

“A halfling...” she muttered under her breath. Halfings were never treated well by pure-bred Pardi; They take too much pride in being an exclusive race.

Lifespan

40 years

Average Height

7'-8'

Average Weight

200 lbs.

Average Physique

Tall will strong legs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

grey, gold, red, black