Wemic
First Contact
The scouts first spotted him atop a far rise, and moving forward at a steady, loping pace. His long mane was beautifully brushed and braided, and golden eagle’s were woven into the braids. Over his torso lay a loose shirt of tanned, white hide embroidered with cactus quillwork running up the sleeves.
Marking his flanks were a series of coup marks, painted into his fur with the dark ink of the ajuka berry. His wrists and ears glittered with gold from raids, and in his hand he held a steel-headed spear, decorated with additional feathers. Any Wemic who spotted him would know that he was one of importance — a warrior of many raids, and many kills. Even his enemies could count his coup marks, respecting him as a warrior.
Munabitii turned from his position and spoke to a nearby female, “Tell the chieftain. A Dumatingo tribesman comes, and boasts much valor. For him to approach in the open may mean that he is here to trade.” The runner from his pack sped away, trailing dust from the desert floor. Munabitii moved into the open to greet the warrior. Making first contact would bring him honor as well.
Personality
Wemic society is based the idea of honor to ones pack and honor to ones self. A Wemic's personal valor and honor is paramount, more important than anything else, including his life, family, and Pride. This may make them seem stoic and uncaring, but Wemic are actually very respectful of life.
The Wemic idea of warfare is vastly different from most races. Open combat occurs, but is very rare. They rarely fight to kill, save for food, considering slaughter to be dishonorable and wasteful. Instead, they seek to perform acts that show how deadly they could be, without actually killing. The more risk they take themselves, the more valor they demonstrate, and the more honor they bring upon themselves. To make a raid, and color an enemy with paint, for example, would be a great Coup. To fail at the same act would show them as foolish, second in dishonor only to cowardice. Non-Wemic travelers of the desert may be puzzled to wake up with red paint across their throats, or to find their best guarded treasure spread around haphazardly, with only the flashiest of trinkets missing.
Wemic are excellent trackers and guides, especially in the desert. Some Wemic occasionally hire out their services in exchange for treasure or manufactured tools, such as weapons and magical items. They often also charge travelers a toll for safe passage through the desert between Yaty and Drythe.
Physical Description
A Wemic's body consists of a lion’s body and a humanoid torso extending from what the lion’s neck. A typical Wemic measures 10 feet from head to rump. When standing erect, they stand 6 to 7 feet tall.
Most of the body is covered in dusky golden fur, and the tail tipped by a brush of long, black hair. Adult males also have a mane of long black hair that covers the top and back of the head, extending to the neck and shoulders. Their head is a combination of human and feline features. Their nose is black or russet, and eyes gold with vertically slit pupils. The digits on their paws and hands end in retractable claws.
Wemic mate only once per year, during the spring, and the rate of success is very low. When a litter of Wemic children is born, it usually consists of two to five kits. 75% of all children born are male.
Relations
Wemic have fair relations with humans Flind, and Nerrid that wander into their lands. Although they are territorial, the Wemic understand the benefits of trade with these outsiders. At the same time, Wemic ensure that all such encounters with outsiders are on their terms. Other races find the Wemic to unusual to understand – seeing them more as animals than humanoids. The Wemic, could care less.
Alignment
As creatures who are one with nature, the Wemic tend toward neutrality. They understand the life of a predator, and respect the life of their prey. Notions of law and chaos, or good and evil, have little relevance in their world.
Wemic Lands
The Wemic live it the dry, rocky Narmouth Desert While this desert may be the mildest of Tarien’s great arid lands – perhaps more of a step land than a true desert, it can be inhospitable to those who do not know its ways. Wemic make excellent guides, and once their suspicions about a stranger have been alleviated, welcome newcomers to their land.
Religion
Wemic have a basic religion that worships the spirits of the land. To them, everything – rocks, birds, rivers, people, all have spirits. Theologically, they worship Shar’iish’ta, although only the most learned Wemic understands this interpretation of the gods. Their rituals are simple, sincere, and often brief.
Language
No one knows from where the Wemic language came. It is a simple language, with a vocabulary focused upon survival rather than theory. Wemic often sprinkle their speech with growls and actually can roar if angered or scared.
Names
Wemic names are simple, often based upon a physical characteristic or repeated action that the Wemic displayed as a cub. Names such as Fierce, Tabby, Tailchaser, Six-Toed are common. Once a Wemic reaches adulthood, he names himself, often choosing a name that reflects his skills, such as Runs to the River in One-Sun or Steals the Thunder from the Antelopes.
Adventuring
Young Wemic, especially males, often leave the Pride to seek their own way in the world. As there are rarely enough mates for each male, they feel that if they prove themselves in battle, away form the tribe, they will have the respect necessary to gain a mate. Wemic adventurers often collect odd trinkets to use in their suits.
Our patrol met with beasts half-lion and half-man. That fell upon us in a rush and we lost half of the squad before we even drew our spears. We had no choice but to flee deeper into the desert. I’m no traitor, It’s a miracle I survived.
The Narmouth Deserts, After a Storm
Related Organizations
Wemic Racial Traits
- Ability Scores: +2 to Strength, +1 to Dexterity
- Size: Medium.
- Speed: A Wemic’s base speed is 40 feet.
- Darkvision: A Wemic can see up to 60 feet in dim light as if it were brightlight and in darkness as if it were dim light.
- Monstrous: Wemics are frightening creatures, out of the ordinary. Many humanoids consider them monsters and menaces rather than sentient beings and may attack them on sight. Their creature type is monstrosity, rather than humanoid. Most civilized furniture will not support them and clothing and armor must be made especially for their unusual bodies.
- Naturally Athletic: Always being on the move has trained Wmics to be physically adroit. They have proficiency in Athletics checks. Additionally, their jump distance is doubled.
- Natural Weapons: The paws of a Wemic have razor sharp, retractable claws. They are able to use these natural weapons in combat with proficiency. In lieu of any other attack, they may strike with a paw, either with or without claws. A successful strike inflicts 1d6 points of base damage of 1d6 (plus strength and other modifiers) if claws are used, or 1d2 if they they are not. Wemic are not naturally proficient at using their hands or other body parts in unarmed combat.
- Scent: Wemics have extremely keen noses. They can detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. They can identify familiar odors just as humans can identify familiar sights with their eyes. They can track by scent, and have advantage on Perception checks that rely on smell.
- Tauroid Body: Wemic count as one size larger when determining their carrying capacity and the weight they can push or drag.
- Automatic Languages: Wemic.
- Bonus Languages: Choose two from: Draconic, Eldorian, Giant, and Yatian, Zennonaize. A Wemic may elect to spend one of these slots to learn to read and write one of their languages instead.