Misiq
Race | Misik |
---|---|
Subraces | Aristan, Baris, Jolbaris, Silewsin |
Patron Deity | Freyja |
Vision | Darkvision |
Diet | Carnivorous |
Lifespan | 60-120 years |
Location | Southern Batis |
Language | Common, Misik |
Climate | Any |
Terrain | Any |
Height | ~6' (180 cm) |
Weight | ~200 lbs. (90 kg) |
Hair Color | Any |
Eye Color | Yellow, Green, Blue, Grey |
Build | Slight, petite |
Distinctions | Short, agile, flat face, small fangs, pointed ears |
Inspired by | Rakshasa, historical Rakshasa, countless fantasy cat-folk |
5e Equivalence | Tabaxi or Leonin |
5e Alignment | Any |
The Misik are a solitary race native to south-eastern Batis. Because of their detached nature, they rarely venture outside of their settled areas and few go on to become adventurers. For the most part, their existence is known to few outside of Batis. The Batistiktar themselves, however, have viewed the Misik as a problem. Whenever they wish to expand their towns and farms to produce more grains and livestock for export, they encroach upon Misik territory.
The Misik have never governed themselves the way humans or other races do, at least not in terms of drawing arbitrary lines on physical maps to denote territory. The 'right' to territory in Misik culture is subtle and complex. For a Misik passing through another's territory, for example, they might not breach a complaint if their passage is deliberate and marked with a raised tail, i.e. no intention to hunt. Travelling through another's territory with a lowered and waving tail and/or pushed back ears signifies that the Misik wishes to challenge territorial rights through combat or in taking game without permission.
So far, in their encounters with the Batis, these invaders simply take what they wish without making signals. Without tails or ears, their intentions are a mystery, though when they are accompanies by tools and arrive in numbers, it's very apparent that their intentions are to claim territory. The Misik have learned this the hard way. In confrontations with the Batis, the Misik rarely come out on top.
Misik Variants
Aristan
The Aristan are leonine humanoids with several distinct traits that separate them from the more common Baris variant. Most notably, the Aristan have a taste for big game, which makes them necessarily gregarious. They will hunt in packs and coordinate their movements to take down larger animals. They are often called on by tribes of other variants to assist in the dispatch of oversize pests that threaten their communities.
Though nearly feral, the Aristan have learned some more advanced skills through their brief encounters with humans and other species who have come across their race through travel and adventure. They have learned to make rudimentary armor from the scales of the beasts they are often called upon to slay. They have also learned to fashion weapons to assist in the culling of these disagreeable beasts. As such, Aristan encampments may be host to skilled weapon and armor smiths.
Baris
The Baris are the most common of the Misik. They can be found in the widest range of colors and markings. Their most distinguishing feature among the Misik is their lack of features, in that they rarely have additional fur forming anything resembling a mane. Their hair is most often short, but their colorings markings can vary from one to another quite greatly, from solid white to orange to black with many possible colors in between. Their fur patterns can also range from solid to striped to calico patterns.
In Misik society, the Baris tend to dominate anything resembling political or religious leadership. This is likely due to their larger numbers and more gregarious nature than the other variants. Those variants, might just prefer to leave such matters to those who care about such matters. It is the Baris who have been most recently taking up the Misik cause against the Batis.
Jolbaris
Silewsin
Half-Misik
Misik Countries
5e Equivalence
For those wishing to play Misik in a Dungeons & Dragons 5e setting, there are playable Tabaxi and Leonin races that can be found in the official Dungeons & Dragons 5e sourcebooks.
Player Notes
Misik... what's up with those guys.
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