Makekineko (3.5e Race)

Manekineko
Summary::The manekineko are a werecat-like race blessed with unexplainable luck and fiesty, fight-happy behavior. Evolved from wildcats into a lawless land, the makekineko learned that survival of the fittest ruled the day, strength was your ally, and fortune your friend. Imbued with a belief that the divines favor them, they go out seeking danger and celebrating bravado, perhaps to their own detriment.

Personality
The makekineko have never known peace. It is not that they are warlike (though they are) or that they are repressed. Far from it, they have a love of freedom and bravery beyond all else, and perhaps too far, for bravado can easily be recklessness and freedom can be anarchy. The makekineko love to fight, always seeking a challenge and trying to best the dangers put before them.

In addition, makekineko are naturally enamored with wealth and shiny objects, an aspect that compares them with miserly dragons, and they tend to covet large piles of treasure for the sheer pleasure of simply having it. Combine that with a "might makes right" anarchic mentality, and you quickly have a civilization which is always bubbling with a low-level war in its borders.

Physical Description
Makekineko are humanoid creatures with generally toned builds. They have slit eyes, large fangs, large cat-like ears, oversized hands and feet, a bushy tail which splits at the tip, and fur covering their arms, legs, and most of their midsection. Being mostly covered in fur, some makekineko cultures have never bothered with a great deal of clothing beyond utility items. More civilized tribes at least try to wear some manner of wrappings or dress while in the presence of others.

Makekineko age rapidly, entering a teenage/young adult age at 11. They have slightly shorter lifespans than humans, but otherwise follow other aspects of their biology. Makekineko colors and fur patterns vary wildly, and are rumored to have an aspect in their personality "according to their breed".

Relations
Others find the greedy, warlike neighbors to be a bother and are only content if they have fallen into infighting. However, every so often, a charismatic warlord unites them, and they go rampaging across the land. This reputation, along with a partly deserved stereotype of being dull witted and foolish, have only given them disrespect equal to that of the orcs. Perhaps for that reason, they end up easier friends with the orcs and often engage in playful battles for the hell of it. Elves find them the most distasteful; associating with orcs, bringing disaster, and most shameful of all, they know that the makekineko have distant fey upbringing and so they display the most chaotic, destructive, and unpredictable forces that nature has to offer.

In the nation of Dahhkin, makekineko can be found in considerable number. They get along well with the similarly minded manu, and have effectively joined their cause.

Alignment
Usually Chaotic Neutral.

Lands
Makekineko in most realms live in the forests and plains, which is their ancestral home back when they were a more fey-like creature. They also frequent high mountaintops and places where monk retreats may be found, often challenging the poor monks to battle. This often results in legendary tales of demonic pugilists who would slaughter monks who were unprepared and slacking in their studies, though no one is sure if this is true or just a boogeyman the monasteries tell others to keep them in their lawful studies.

In the nation of Dahhkin, makekineko can be found in the city, but once again seem to prefer high places. This may be due to their cat-like nature to enjoy optimal ambush spots from which to drop upon their prey.

Religion
The original makekineko pantheon has grown muddled over the years. What is known is that they had gods of wealth, luck, and war; core aspects of their society. Also among them were a god or goddess of the moon, of the night, of death, and revenge. The gods' names are lost, but they are more than happy to worship current gods who embody this aspect.

Language
Manekineko speak Common and Feline, the language of cats. Of course, non-sapient cats often don't have much of anything meaningful to say.

Names
Makekineko names have a distinctly oriental flavor to them. They seem to make little difference in male and female names, choosing whatever they think seems to roll off the tongue well.

Racial Traits

 * ,, , : When you fight all the time, you become a killer. Strong, fast, but not too smart. Perhaps it's all the unarmed fighting and blows to the head, but they are not known for their mental prowess.
 * Type::Humanoid (Subtype::Anthro): Makekineko are furry humanoids which greatly resemble cat people.
 * Manekineko base land speed is 40 feet.
 * Aligned Exception : Makekineko never played by the rules before. They pick up on things which normally require a particular alignment and adapt it to their own lifestyle. A makekineko can ignore alignment restrictions for prestige classes, feats, and magic items. However, they cannot ignore codes of conduct (such as those required by paladin, cleric, or druid), nor can they ignore side effects of what these powers might offer. A CG makekineko who enters a class which casts evil magic will eventually become evil themselves if they use its abilities.
 * Cat Fall : You always fall on your feet. As long as you are not helpless, you subtract 1 die of fall damage from falling for every HD you possess (negating all fall damage at 20 HD).
 * Foolish : Makekineko are easy to rile, and easy to trick. They take a -3 penalty on saving throws against illusions and mind-affecting effects.
 * Lucky : Makekineko seem unusually lucky all the time. They gain a +1 bonus to all saving throws.
 * Opportunist : A makekineko fights all the time, and knows how to take advantage of an opening. They deal double the base weapon damage on attacks of opportunity. Strength and bonus dice are not doubled, but any enhancement bonus and other fixed properties are.
 * Pugilist : Makekinekos have Improved Unarmed Strike, and can deal either bludgeoning or slashing damage. If they pick up the feat or obtain improved unarmed strike from somewhere else, this instead increases the size of the damage by one.
 * Makekineko receive a +2 bonus on Appraise and Climb checks, and a +2 bonus on Search checks while looking for valuables greater than 1 gp.
 * Automatic Languages: Common, Feline.
 * Bonus Languages: Abyssal, Elven, Gnome, Gnoll, Halfling, Ignan, Orc, and Sylvan.
 * Favored Class: or
 * Level Adjustment: +Level Adjustment::0
 * Effective Character Level: Effective Character Level::1
 * Level Adjustment: +Level Adjustment::0
 * Effective Character Level: Effective Character Level::1