Zinjan

"If I can hold it, it is mine to hold."

Zinjan are native to Mrisinnia, but may be found in Cinnabar, Thrace, or Scythia. First appearance: Beast Men of NUM (1932).

Physiology
Zinjan are feral-looking humanoids. A Zinjan's body is covered with short soft fur in a striped black-on-white pattern, similar to a zebra or white tiger. Their eyes are typically red (rarely green), and their cranial hair is usually black (sometimes white, rarely striped). Rare Zinjan (roughy 1 in 1000) have ram-like horns and a long cat-like tail, which is considered a mark of divine favor. They have two sexes (male, female), but their breeding habits are sufficiently different from those of humans to cause some strained relations between the two races.

While Zinjan have the same sexual urges that humans do, Zinjan females are fertile for only a week or two per year. A female Zinjan's fertility can be determined by changes in her coloring, as well as increased sexual fervor. However, for most of the year there is no chance for offspring to result from Zinjan sexual encounters, and for this reason Zinjan do not place the same taboo on sexual activity as do the typical human culture. It is not uncommon for a Khitaj, for example, to look on all Zinjan as irresponsible and immoral.

Culture
The Zinjan are nomadic herders, with almost no agriculture. They are also fierce hunters of the stalk-and-kill variety (as opposed to the wait-and-pounce variety). They have little respect or understanding for other races' fixation on property.

A tribe tends to have more children if the females are eating really well. Single births are the norm, with two to three children per family usually surviving until adulthood. Only about half of Zinjan form permanent mating bonds, so their population grows very slowly.

Language
The zinjan of the Mrisinnian jungles speak a sibilant language which is difficult for non-zinjan to learn. The zinjan have no written alphabet, although they do use pictographs to record the history of their tribes and their leaders. They also use pictographs to mark dangers or leave scouting notes for other zinjan. For example, a drawing of three spears over a wavy line indicates, "clean water may be found three spear-throws distance in that direction".

Reputation
Zinjan have a reputation for being casually violent and sexually promiscuous, but they also value a healthy sense of humour.

Racial Traits

 * An individual is a "Zinjan"; plural "Zinjan" 
 * The descriptive term is "Zinjan" 


 * Zinjan tend to have higher than average Dexterity, and lower than average Wisdom
 * Zinjan have one rank in Super Senses: Low-Light Vision
 * Zinjan treat bolas and boomerangs as martial weapons
 * Native languages: Zinjan
 * Name style: African