The Mau Pride is responsible for the near extinction of the Makangoes.

After years on the brink of civil war, the Mau Empress Kasha rules over her Pride without question. Only a strict status-based social order has enabled the Mau to control their fierce feline territorial instincts, so they have never been able to progress beyond a dictatorship government. Their predatory society can't suffer the stasis of peace and demands constant state of war so that the Pride doesn't turn against itself in civil conflict; the Empress promotes war so as to secure her position. By extension they are xenophobic: all other races are either prey-food or another predator, therefore a threat. In both cases they deserve to be conquered or destroyed.

The Royal Family rules over the feudal government, with an Empress ruling over all. The Empress leads the Mau into battle during times of war and manages her royal court in times of peace. The Mau royalty are looked upon as the source of strength for their battalions in times of war.

While they are a feudal government, nothing about their laws or policies are oppressive. The Mau as a whole value freedom from religious, creative, political, and personal oppression. They believe in living as they please, loving whoever they want, and above all being fearless in battle.

Little is known of Mau history beyond their extended chronicles of brutal civil wars.

Mau are willful and independent, and their long history as hunters has shaped their culture fittingly. Their entire culture is based on a sense of aggression, elevated to religious levels. Both in individual and social level, Mau are predators; even though they don't have to hunt physically to feed themselves any more, their predatory nature is expressed in their instincts, thinking, manners, rituals, and way of fighting; their existence is predicated upon conquest and the clear definition of superiority and inferiority.

Honor is a set of principles that permeates Mau life, especially that of a warrior. The construct of honor was employed to counter submissive behavior, which is unacceptable in warfare, within the hierarchical system. Honor directs the lesser warriors to engage more potent enemies; honor obliges a Mau to answer a challenge to combat to the death, backing down is punishable by death. Each generation of Mau cubs, including nobles, are expected to perform their rite of passage, by doing their duty in the battle, drawing blood and winning honors on their own. Once this obligatory blooding was done, they had the right to step aside from the more dangerous risks, and leave them for the younger ones.

Mau females control all religious factions and direct all offerings and religious festivities. Most of the worshiping and celebration takes place simply by fighting, hunting and offering part of the captured prey at one of the many temples entitled to the war god. The most important religious ceremony known in Mau culture is the ceremony which is celebrated every year and preferably performed on newly seized territory, a fact that drives most Mau wars and has caused the confrontation with the other races. This ceremony is of utmost importance since it ensures that the Mau instinct to fight and kill is directed outward to enemies, rather than inward with the risk of sparking heated civil wars between the tribes. Their reclusiveness has given rise to some rather extreme religious sects. A large proportion of Mau worship a new incarnation of the ancient Fire War God. Many are masters of the flame, which they believe pleases their god. They worship the sun and track the cycle of day and night; life and death. Their natural curiosity about necromancy and the passing of regal souls into kingdoms of glory in the afterlife inspires them to construct massive tombs.

The Mau consider themselves a powerful and advanced species. Their society places a great deal of importance on strength alone and subjugating the weak. Any show of weakness is met with disdain. They equally meet failure with great severity, such as political exile. In many regards, despite their war-like nature, the Mau observe general niceties and basic respect when among others, maintaining a calm and reasonable air.

The Mau seem to be simple peoples who mostly follow a military structure and live the way of the warrior, but not all of them are limited to becoming warriors of their land. Their culture is homogeneous, with little or no variations of language or religion.

They see themselves as the peak of predators, and any other life from who crosses their path is regarded as fair game.

The Mau see the world as a great adventure. They fight for freedom and the right to explore any corner of the world they desire. The Mau are too adventurous to be kept in the confines of their homeland when there are thousands of lands they have not seen. The Mau are some of the deadliest gunners in the world and they will use those gifts against any who try to block their path.

They possess an empire that has warred with many other races in the past, they engaged in several expansion and imperialistic wars against other races, including the makangoes. Although in the modern day, trade agreements have been established and cordial relations made between them and other races. Most individuals fear the Mau on their reputation as warriors, and as a species their physical prowess is legendary. Ruthless militarists, the Mau make honorable allies and devastating enemies. However, their mercurial temperament means a treaty with them needs to be backed up by strength.

They often strike out against even their closest allies just for the sport of battle. They are easily offended, and will pursue relentlessly anyone they feel has slighted them, heedless of the consequences.

They are a highly decorated race with beautiful art, architecture, and flawless personal style. Designs from Mau culture often catch a high price in any market, as their products are exquisitely made and luxurious in nature.

Mau are lean, muscular and agile. They are clever with magic and move quickly across the battlefield, able to avoid many obstacles in combat. Like their distant relatives, the cat, Mau are fast and nimble. This genetic heritage has left them with keen senses and fast reflexes. They have the ability to move their bodies with a grace unknown to virtually any other race. Compared to other races, Mau are mostly controlled by instinct and biology. Although they have in general been able to curb their aggressive impulses, the Mau still retain a keen hunter nature. The Mau are the most unpredictable and vicious fighters in the world. Decisive and confident, they will strike first and without mercy when threatened. Mau ferocity is legendary. The most devout strive to unleash their inner predator, seeing mercy as weakness.

Mau is a general category which is comprised of a number of different breeds. These breeds can vary in physical appearance, ranging from smaller breeds such as Cats and Leopards, to larger ones such as Tigers and Lions. The Cat breed can also be divided even further, with breeds such as Maine Coon and Siamese falling under the category. In some breeds appearances can vary between male and female. For example, male Lions have muscular builds as well as scruffy hair, whereas female Lions have builds similar to a female Leopard's.

The voices of some female Mau have a soft purring quality. Agitated Mau can also make a variety of cat-like hisses and yowls.

Mau experience several hormonal cycles and go into periods of extreme sexual behavior or mating seasons, with their first time at age sixteen. They have the need to be intimate once a year, or else their hormones will drive them crazy; normally this could be alleviated using stimulus devices to satisfy their desire to procreate.

Mau female/male ratio is 30:1 (one male to thirty females). Because Mau males are very rare, polygamous marriages are allowed in Mau law.

When opportunity favors them, they pounce and kill without mercy.

Mau go into a hyper state after sniffing catnip.

When stressed, Mau enjoyed playing inside boxes.

Art by  cosmicmilx