He's based on a typo'd emoticon while talking to mooshay. His working name is "Thafator," which is a mish-mash of words concerning an inside joke about tornadoes and... Morrowind. Even if he has nothing to do with either of those things. I drew him on the fly, but I kind of want to do something with him because I like him.

What I know is that his face rotates, depending on his mood. When he is unsure about how he feels, or his emotions are incompatible with either anger or happiness, it just spins wildly until he either feels better or gets frustrated.

I'd imagine that, like most Imperial lions, he's a guard of some sort. Perhaps a test? I can imagine him "trying" intruders by having them tug his mane and spin his face. If he lands on a smile, they can pass. If they land on a frown, they can't.

Er, if it lands on the side, that's a free spin.

I wonder if he clicks like the Wheel of Fortune.