Shi

Trigger Warning: This species entry discusses a history of gendered violence and discrimination
Shi are a species of cat-folk distantly related to tabaxi, native to extremely cold climates. They have thick deep grey to snow white fur, and outside of their arctic climates tend to dress as lightly as possible to avoid overheating.
Shi society is deeply matriarchal, ruled by an exclusively female monarchy that typically traces its lineage back thousands of years. Most Shi colonies have been ruled by the same family since being founded, but there are whispers that the history of several colonies has been altered to hide uprisings and political coups. There are a handful of documented successions where the new heir to the throne was not the progeny of the existing queen, who was infertile and in at least one case intersex, but instead was typically the eldest daughter of the next youngest female in the queens litter (or subsequent litters from the queen mother).
Shi are powerful sorcerors, and fierce warriors. Shi royalty is bred by a closely guided eugenics program, and there are no publicly known instances where a princess has been a warrior, nor a prince a sorcerer. This gendered bias is clearly artificial, and considered oppressive outside of the nobility, but is a point of pride amongst the aristocracy. Among the upper class young male Shi who show skill with the arcane arts are shunned, and young female Shi are judged harshly by their peers if they take up the blade. Gender non-confirming Shi are verbally and often physically abused,
The middle and lower classes of Shi society (the latter of which there are remarkably few of) do not share this bias, and encourage their children to follow their hearts and interests. Many common Shi dream of the day a Prince takes the crown, or a Princess leads the Royal Guard. Sadly, such dreams appear far from fruition.

Shi Traits

Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 4–8 feet tall)
Speed: Your walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed.
As a Shi, you have these special traits.
Claws. You can use your claws to make attacks. When you make an unarmed strike, the attack deals or 1d6 + your either your Dexterity or Strength modifier slashing damage.
Graceful. You have proficiency with Perception and Stealth.
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 discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
Cold Resistance. You have resistance to cold damage.
Icy Heritage. You gain advantage on attack rolls while you are in snow or arctic conditions, or within the ongoing area of effect of any cold spells (such as ice storm).