What is a Lleoid?
The Lleoidae are a species that use barriers produced by certain stones to hide themselves from the outside world. While they can see the world while behind the barrier, the world cannot see them. Usually when wandering/traveling out their barrier cities, they will more often than not have a special cloak only they can use to hide themselves from danger. To other species, when in attempt to use the cloak it functions as a type of towel/blanket, but will not cloak them. They've watched humans evolve, and over time it's introduced foreign objects to them, such as clothes, technology, and the taming of beasts. Thanks to their development of subtypes, these omnivores can be found living in almost every part of the world. From the coldest parts of snowy mountains to the scorching desert heat, there's probably a Lleoid establishment nearby.
The Lleoidae are a somewhat reclusive group that have no known mother plane. From the researchers that have been lucky enough to meet one they have been only able to collect information if they are deemed trustworthy by a Lleoid. When speaking to each other, they seem to have their own language and even their own alphabet according to some recent findings. What is seen as common knowledge is that the creatures are incredibly cautious around human-like humanoids and less so with more obvious non-humans ones like that of the Tabaxi and Orc. Although they are unwilling to speak to humans, they will observe them from afar, going as far as to physically alter their appearance to seem more humanoid. It is confusing why they go to such lengths, but it appears to be out of some sort of deification or even envy.
Young Lleoidae are born with satyr-like legs, but some of them will either surgically rearrange their leg bones to remain upright or outright break and apply a cast for those on the lower rungs of their society. Average size can be about 3’5, bipedal but can run on 4s if in dire situation (if still retains original leg structure)
Some aren’t too keen on living in hiding their entire lives, so they end up going off into the world in search of glory, comradery, and adventure. When asked about their deities it has been understood that they are able to make their own “gods,” who are born with mutations allowing for seemingly supernatural abilities. These “gods” however are incredibly rare and even the descendants of them must be either placed under protections or go into hiding as the other Lleoid will be unable to leave them to their own devices.
Lleoidae are quick to adapt to their environments within a few generations and are even able to live to see the differences in their children’s ability to adapt to their surroundings. The Lleoidae can have any variation of eye, fur, and skin colors, but they usually are developed and taken from the “mother’s” dominant color genes.
Although a lot of the Lleoidae will go without clothing, it isn’t uncommon for them to wear clothing either. Clothing is often taken or “borrowed” from nearby human settlements, or consist of stitched together pelts from nearby fauna. For example, the ocean lleoids get their fashion from sunken human shipwrecks, and usually send parties of 3-5 to steal goods from night markets when the humans are preoccupied.
Lleiod tend to have names based on their habitats. Ones inhabiting urban areas also tend to have more human sounding names. Some will Change their names more befitting of their work. You wouldn’t have to follow this rule, it’s more of a lore-type thing
(Name examples: Willow, Snow, Obsidian, Squid, Baelin, Fen, Blossom, River, Bees, Scratch, Silver)
Although uncommon to find in the outside world, once an adventurer has made the acquaintance of one of these fuzzy creatures, they usually are capable and useful allies that bring a lot more to the table than one would imagine. However, their innocent and timid demeanor is almost always the reason for the downfall of their foes as they are often taken lightly.
