Akicitia of Martapa

The Akicitia (a Lakotah word for police, I seem to remember) are the lion men of the plains. They are bipedal and have the body of person and the head of a lion, covered in fur and baring a tail. The men have thick manes, the woman baring a sprout of hair at the base of the neck which they allow to grow long and usually braid. They stand about six and half feet on average and are good sprinters. Their colors vary from white, to tan, to sandy brown, even black. Solid colors are most common, though some have stripes like a zebra might, but they are rare. Mane color is usually a little lighter then the rest of their body, but can be the same color or a different color all together. They have retractable claws, so an Akicitia is always armed.

The Akicitia are a long lived race, living thousands of years, but they only have a cub about every century and they don't always survive to adult hood. Because they live so long they are considered adults at a much older age, though around the age of two decades they are allowed to be on their own and take part in hunts, they just aren't allowed to make decisions for their own lives until they reach the century mark.

Of all my races, the Akicitia are the most honorable. Their word is their bond and they do not lie. It is not their way to lie and they find the act reprehensible. This small trait causes my Akicitia, Krom, and thus his friends, problems, but makes for fun situations to write about!

Their tribes live in villages much like the natives of Kenya. (If you haven't seen these compounds they are cool, with wooden palisades and everything!). And I would picture them in the same kind of surrounding as in Kenya, the open plains with the neat trees and the same kind of animals. The village is ruled by a group of elders who have proven themselves through the centuries as fair, level headed, and good leaders of the hunt. Families live in large, circular huts made of native material, though strong and cool in the summers which get very hot.

They wear open toed boots or sandals (because they have claws on their feet as well), leather pants which are died and painted with fanciful designs or made from cloth. The woman wear a top which simply crosses across their chest with two pieces of fabric or leather. Elders wear cloth robes decorated to represent their lives. They decorate their manes with bones, beads and feather, usually representing something important in their life. Spears are the most common weapons, but short swords, daggers and bows are common as well.

Some classes I would suggest are barbarians, warriors, even paladins which may need to be tweaked a bit. Healers are well revered amongst their culture, but are rare. Magic is not used save for some elders. I would give a bonus to Strength and Constitution, but Wisdom and Intellect should take a hit. A would give a bonus to spears or bows, and tracking should be free. Oh, and give a bonus if they can sense a scent. They have an excellent sense of smell.

They get along with all races as individuals, they do not judge a person on their race, but they are at odds with the Empire of Ariella because of their slavery. They understand the balance, but do not like the Dark Gods or those who harm the weak, the young, or the unarmed.
Tomorrow: The Tsula