Wemic

Wemics are leonine counterparts to centaurs. A wemic’s body consists of a leonine body with a humanoid torso extending from what would be a lion’s neck. The typical Wemic measures ten feet from head to rump. When standing erect in centaurian posture, the wemic stands 6 to 7 feet tall. Most of the body is covered in dusky golden fur. The tail is tipped by a brush of long, black hair. Adult males also have a mane of long black hair; the mane covers the top and back of the head and extends to the neck and shoulders. Male cubs develop this mane in their third year. The underbelly is covered in short, white fur. The nose may be black or russet. The eyes are gold with vertically slit pupils.
 

Species Name: Wemic, Half Lion, Lion-men, Lioncentaur, Jungle Centaur

Type: Humanoid Feline

Physical Traits: Wemics have the appearance of lions with human torsos, arms, and heads where the lions heads should be, like to lions as centaurs are to horses. Their lion parts are identical to those of true lions, covered in soft coat of golden-brown fur, with tails ending in tufts of dark-brown hair. The human portions are particularly muscular and hairy, and head hair is worn long in both sexes. Such hair is softer in texture than a male lions mane. Males have thick, dark-brown manes that run down their backs; females have pale golden hair Their faces are basically human, but with forward-thrust jaws, pointed ears (placed high on the head) that can move like those of a cat, and sharp feline teeth. Their eyes are feline as well, with pupils that contract to a slit in the day and open to great orbs at night, affording them excellent night vision.

A Wemic's internal organs are divided up between his human and lion halves; he has only one of each sort of organ. The brain is located in the human head, and the lungs are in the human chest. Everything else, including the heart, digestive system, kidneys, etc., is located in the lion body, approximately where they would be found in an actual lion. The night vision of Wemics is sufficient for them to see on moonlit nights as well as a human could in broad daylight, and on a cloudy night as well as we could in bright moonlight.

Height: 5-7' feet

Weight: 50-250lbs

Abilities: Wemics are faultless trackers, using both their excellent noses and their knowledge of animal lore. They are as silent as any great cat and are able to conceal themselves from sight in their native grasslands.

Digits on all limbs end in claws which are retractable. Claws do 2-7/2-7 HP damage. The Wemic's roar causes fear (as the spell) in a 6 radius, to all normal animals (such as horses). The effects last D8 rounds. Well trained animals, such a war horses, have +4 on their saves. The Wemic leap attack is very powerful. It is made at normal probabilities, with no consideration for armour aside from shield and dexterity, and inflicts +2D6 damage from the sheer weight of the lionman, knocking the victim down. If this attack is successful, the Wemic attacks with all four claws at +4 to hit in the same round. If at least two claws hit, the Wemic strikes with his weapon automatically on this and all following rounds, hanging on with his claws, until forcibly removed. The only way to remove the Wemic from the victim is by inflicting at least 8 hp damage on it in a single attack. The victim can attack, but at -2 to hit.

Mobility: Legs. They can run at up to four times their normal speed for bursts of two minutes or less, and are able to leap 3 metres up or 9 metres forward while standing, or 15 metres forward with a running start.

Sensory Organs: Visual

Communication: Vocal

Reproduction: Sexual. Like humans, Wemics mate at any time of the year. The gestation period is six months. Twins and triplets are not common but are not as rare as with humanity. The cub is born with its eyes open, like a human baby, and grows at a remarkable rate. They are weaned at six months, then taught the skills of the pride by their third year. A father will teach his son, and a mother her daughter. Parents love their children immensely.

INT: 3D6, WIS: 3D6, STR: 3D6, DEX: 3D6 +3, CON: 3D6, CHA: 3D6, MR: 5D6, HPs: CON +D20, AC 6

Orbit/Climate: See Earth

Feeding Habits: Omnivore

Lifespan: 50 years

Technology: 2

Culture: Standard. Diversified mix of kind and evil people. The lion-folk roam temperate and tropical grasslands in hunter-gatherer bands usually called prides. Each pride consists of about a dozen males, one or two dozen females, and as many as a dozen young, age five years or less. A number of loosely related prides in an area make a tribe. Wemics are carnivores, but they cook meat and know how to preserve it with salt and various spices and herbs (they have acquired a taste for hot spices, in particular). They hunt often, for their active lives require them to eat twice as much as other humanoids of their size and weight. Hunting reveals the personalities of the lion-folk. They constantly seek intense emotion and excitement, as found in love and battle. They express their emotions in roars and yowls of anger, sadness, or happiness. They fear nothing except boredom, and respect courage, loyalty, and honour above all else. They are always truthful, never hide their feelings, and always keep a vow until death. This remarkable honesty may be in part explained by their tails. Like domestic cats, Wemics show their emotional states with their tails: held high for pride, hung low for fear, slashing for anger, tapping for annoyance, etc. Thus they see no use hiding their feelings when their tails betray them.

Tasks among the lion-folk are strictly segregated between the sexes. Males hunt while females guard the cubs; males make weapons and other metallic items while females make the tents and blankets; and so forth. Female wemics are more conservative and controlled than their male counterparts, more prone to contemplation than rash action. But they are no less fierce when their young are threatened, and they, too, believe in conspicuous displays of emotion. Although prides are led by males, wives are a leaders most valued advisors (polygamy is practiced among the lion-folk but is permitted only to their leaders). Courtship among the lion-folk is slightly different from our own. Although the male pursues the female, it is the female who makes the choice of her mate. The lion-men are forever grooming, strutting, and duelling to prove themselves the best consort. This is the reason why only wemic leaders have more than one wife: The lion-women are very practical and always choose the strongest and wisest mate.

Government: Tribal

Population: 400,000


 

 

Creating a Wemic character

Step 1: Attributes
Roll attributes as normal but then add +3 to DEX. Mana = INT + WIS x3. Mana is recovered at a rate of 10 per hour if remain active (but not using magic) and 20 per hour if asleep. Mana can however be permanently traded for HPs at a rate of 1 for 1. Hit points = CON +20, +20 per level.
Step 2: Skills

Choose skills in the normal manner according to the character's class.

Step 3: Abilities

Wemic gain all the following free;

Wemic Body - All Wemic can hear, see and smell x2 further than any other humanoid race. Retractable claws in each paw which do D6+1 per paw.

Additionally Wemic start with 35 Points to spend on any of the following abilities. As they earns more experience they may buy or rebuy more abilities.

Ability Cost Notes
Enhanced Smell 5 Can identify the specific odour or scent of anyone that have previously met, and track by smell so long as they know the scent.
Enhanced Taste 5 Can identify the specific ingredients of anything that have previously eaten, drunk or sample tasted. This includes chemicals, animals, plants, toxins and poisons.
Increased Thac0 5 +1 Thac0 with melee weapons at levels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19.
Intimidating 10 This character has greater presence, +1 CHA
Leap Attack 5 The Wemic leap attack is made at normal probabilities, with no consideration for armour aside from shield and dexterity, and inflicts +2D6 damage from the sheer weight of the Wemic knocking the victim down. If this attack is successful, the Wemic attacks with all four claws at +4 to hit in the same round. If at least two claws hit, the Wemic strikes with his weapon automatically on this and all following rounds, hanging on with his claws, until forcibly removed.
Natural Chameleon 5 Using this ability the Wemic can blend into and render himself nearly invisible in wooded areas, fields of tall grass, clumps of bushes, or any other wilderness area with dark or shaded terrain. When hiding he can conceal himself from attackers and eavesdrop on his enemies. He can hide near a well travelled road and secretly observe passers-by, or conceal himself near an enemy campsite waiting for an opportune moment to steal their supplies. 

He may also move with a minimum of sound, almost as if he's walking on air. Even creatures with the sharpest ears are no more likely to detect his presence than they are to hear a feather drop. The ability works equally well in icy mountains, heavily wooded forests, or any other type of wilderness terrain. This goes well beyond the stealth skill raising it to a supernatural level and preventing any non magical detection.

Nature Survival 5 Due to a Wemic's extensive experience and training in jungles and forests they gain +1 to any physical, combat and survival rolls made while within that environment. He may choose an additional terrain at level 5. Terrain types include; Jungle, Desert, Tundra, Mountain, Forest or Ocean. Each time this ability is rebought he may either take an additional +1 with their terrain OR choose a new terrain.
Natural Mana 10 +10 Mana at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.
Reduced Sleep 10 The character needs one hour less normal sleep per 5 CON.
Roar 10 The Wemic's roar causes fear (as the spell) in a 6 radius, to all normal animals (such as horses). The effects last D8 rounds. Well trained animals, such a war horses, have +4 on their saves.
Step 5: Classes
Any but Shaman is the favoured mage class.

 

 

Races