Donestre

The Donestre are a race of lion-headed humanoid monsters dating back to the days of Alexander the Great.

Myths & Legends
They were infamous for their perplexing actions - able to speak any language they would befriend travelers from other lands before devouring them, leaving only a decapitated head that the monster would then sit by and mourn.

This act of mourning sets the Donestre apart from many other monsters of the period.

Appearance
This creature has the body of the human and the head of a lion. They also have human intelligence, despite the fact they eat humans.

Theories
It is believed by some researchers the mourning of the Donestre is symbolic of how travelers would mourn a loss of their own identity when trying to become part of a foreign culture (this is also used to explain the cannibalism).

The Donestre are but one of countless humanoid monsters that were likely a result of exaggerated tales by explorers of exotic animals, foreign cultures and medical mysteries as well as symbolism for social and religious wrongs.