Atroxi

Atroxi
The Atroxi are a feline-humanoid people, with extensive racial variety, showcasing striking differences in physical build as and fur patterns.

Among the most widespread races, Atroxi have found a niche on nearly every continent. Their original home is thought to be somewhere in the now extinct ancient savannahs of Ekuka. The spread of the Oxylo Jungle is credited with the Atroxi dispersal outwards into other regions, over time adapting to their new homes.

History
Like many of the people's of Ekuka, the Atroxi were once tribal inhabitants of the open savannahs that preceded th Oxlyo Jungle. There were 3 different tribes, each a common ancestor of the modern Atroxi subraces, living largely separately from one another, with little interaction between them.

When the Oxylo advanced, and drove them from their homes, the tribes each made journeys away from their vanishing savannahs. One tribe moved to the northern edge of Ekuka, near to the border of Tol, not willing to relinquish their ancestral home entirely. Seeing this area taken, the next tribe travelled further, making their new home in the less habited areas of Tol, between human settlements. The final tribe was thus forced to travel much further, undertaking the arduous trek along the western mountain range and into the Land of Gamb, settling on the steppe.

Society
The three sects of Atroxi each exhibit unique societies that have been significantly influenced by the regions they inhabit, as well as by the people's they interact with in these regions.

Onca
The Atroxi of Ekuka. As the original home of the Atroxi, they can be found in the greatest numbers here. The majority subraces present are Tiger, jaguar, and panther. The Onca are city builders, in a way that other Atroxi are not, spurned by the dangers of the Oxylo Jungle. Perhaps more so than other Atroxi peoples, the Onca make extensive use of bows, being far less inclined to engage in melee combat unless left without choice, using long kukri knives when such situations arise. They also prefer to avoid clunky metal armour in favour of tough hide leather, granting greater mobility and being far more practical in the humidity and thick foliage of the jungle.

The area they occupy, towards the northern edge of the Oxylo Jungle, is often referred to as Atrox by outsiders due to the pre-eminence of the Atroxi here and cartographers due to the perception of it being the Atroxi homeland.

The majority of Onca live inside of the city-like complex of interconnected settlements known as Sogolon. Due to the ever present threat of the Oxylo Jungle, which always seeks to claim territory, the layout and shape of the city changes often, with new villages added and whilst older sections of the city are abandoned. This constant flux can make Sogolon almost as confusingly dangerous as the jungle it's inhabitants seek respite from.

Onca society strictly prohibits personal relations between subraces, upon punishment of being banished. In line with this, the Onca are ruled by a triarchy of monarchs, one each of Tiger, Jaguar, and Panther.

Uncians
The Atroxi of Gamb. Generally broader, more muscular, and with thicker fur, the subraces of Gamb Atroxi include leopard, lynx, cougar, and more rarely snow leopard. Their more robust builds reflect the harsh steppe they have made home. Like most races of Gamb, Uncians live mostly nomadic lives, although a few permanent villages do exist in elevated and defensible locations. As nomads, they often travel in small familial groups, hunting and staying on the move for the most part due to the dangers posed by the likes of Ogres, the giant (carnivorous) Moas, and the various other megafauna that make Gamb dangerous. Without mines or blacksmithing, Uncians instead favour a mix of hide and bone armour, using scavenged or traded metal weapons alongside natively made maces commonly inlaid with sharpened obsidian.

Theirs is a hardy people,

Sucuar
The Atroxi of Tol. Although a rare sight to humans, small communities of Atroxi do exist, usually in more sparsely populated areas, with the main subraces here being lion and cheetah Atroxi. The Sucuar tend to live in villages and small towns, usually in naturally fortified areas that lend themselves to Sucuar territoriality. Much like humans, the Sucuar took advantage of advances in metallurgy (with improvements in weapon and armour crafting) brought by the Faun. In adapting it to their own designs, they in many ways improved upon Elven craft, creating the longer, lighter Flyssa swords, which are often inlaid with ornate decorative patterns. It is common for Cheetah Sucaur warriors to dual wield their flyssa's, although they still carry circular shields on their back.

The Sucuar, whilst generally avoiding conflict, will nonetheless gladly engage those enemies trespassing within their territories. They are fiercely loyal to their kin and fiercer still in battle with their enemies.

Trade links with the Onca do exist, particularly as the Sucuar are known to pan for gold from mountain rivers, utilising this source of wealth to acquire goods, knowledge, and expertise from all the people's of Tol too.

Perhaps their most significant settlement is Gattua, in the Brushlands. The Brushlands sit on the northern edge of the Nagamo Desert - the long strip of desert that dissects Tol. Gattua, like most Sucuar settlements, is nestled away amongst an area of particularly prominent rocky outcroppings that blot out visual access to the town. It's location on the desert edge makes it a favourite of the traders and caravens crossing the desert, stocking up on transport and supplies before making the trek. Gainful employment for the Atroxi is found here in the form of protection and security.

Leptal
The mythical Atroxi of Itania. Despite the mystery that shrouds Itania, Atroxi legendlos speak of a Serval and Ocelot Atroxi that dwell in Itania. Described as much smaller than other Atroxi, their existence has never been confirmed, although some lone travelling Atroxi claim to have been rescued by Leptal in areas close to the Persus Mountains.

Religion
Atroxi religion is rather vague, more based on spirituality than direct worship of any deities.

Their beliefs centre around the Trinary Cycle of Rebirth. They believe that every Atroxi has three lives; in the first they are born as a new soul and many mistakes are made, in the second they subconsciously overcompensate and attempt to fix the mistakes of their first life, and in the third they become the person they were always meant to be - their greatest self.

Though no Atroxi can know for certain which cycle they are in, many will spend significant amounts of time mediating to contact their past selves.

When an Atroxi is naturally talented at something, they are said to have mastered it in their previous life. When an Atroxi becomes a hero, or attains greatness as a master of their trade or practice, they are said to be in their third life.

Atroxi believe that if you have a life of struggle, of pain, or strife, then this is likely to be your first cycle. A brand new spirit exploring the material world for the first time, and learning as they go.

The second cycle is one marked by a desire to "fix" the mistakes of their first life, to strive for greatness nonetheless but to never truly attain it. This results in a life of confusion, as the Atroxi believe that you cannot fix all of your mistakes, and must learn to accept them.

In the third cycle, an Atroxi can finally realise their true potential, having learn from the second cycle how to become the best version of themselves. This is a cycle of acceptance, and although greatly associated with achievement and renown, this need not necessarily so. Self absolution is as much a third cycle achievement as becoming a master blacksmith or great warrior.

Warfare
Warefare, like much of Atroxi culture, varies by region. But what is consistent is their reluctance towards pitched engagements,

Subraces
Varying by region, there is a depth of Atroxi subraces.

Tiger, jaguar, panther // leopard, lynx, cougar // lion, cheetah // Serval, Ocelot

Machair
Onca legends speak of the fearsome Machair - The Smiling Terror (or simply, Smiler) - that prowls the darkest corners of the jungle. Like the Atroxi, they are feline-humanoids, but most of the comparisons end here. Theorised to be a primordial ancestor of the Atroxi, given new life by the Oxlyo Jungle, they will gladly make prey their smaller distant kin.

A Machair is nearly double the size of an Atrox counterpart, with dark mottled fur beset by black-lightning horizontal stripes. But they are perhaps most distinguished by the long, thick, fangs that protrude from the much more cat-like, much more pronounced snout. They are solitary, spending most of their (suspected incredibly long) lives in near total isolation from others of their kind, with vast individual hunting territories. They do not possess sentient intelligence, but do not be fooled, as they infamously stalk Atroxi, Lizareen, or Sload hunting parties for days before pouncing, or lying in wait for one unlucky enough to spring their carefully crafted trap. A Machair is as agile as they are strong, with an endurance to match. Ultimately, few have seen a Machair and lived to tell the tale; fewer still have escaped with all of their limbs the intact.