Exquip lion

Exquip lions, also known by their scientific name lioll armaias, are a race of shapeshifters that hold a special affinity with weapons and armor.

Biology
Among the creatures of the main galaxy that BZPB takes place in, the Lioll armaias or, more commonly, Exquip lions possess a number of unique traits. Firstly, while they have not possessed the ability to shapeshift naturally for most of their evolution, the current generation have inherited it from their immediate ancestors, the Lioll naelel, aka the Talon lions.

The Exquip lions have the exceedingly rare natural capacity to use abilities called Requip and Exquip - In Requip, specially-enchanted weapons and armors can be summoned from any distance, so long as enough energy can be exchanged; in Exquip, the user turns their own body into a weapon that changes depending on the intended wielder.

Exquip lions are known for possessing a nearly freakish work ethic, friendliness, and desire to please. They are normally averse to combat, and can be very emotional. Many are prone to developing OCD tendencies, and while they love to write, the writers of this kind have an extraordinary tendency to overreact when they encounter writer's block.

Finally, they are all sugar addicts and are capable of fiendish pranks wherever sweets are involved.

History
The Exquip lions are immediately descended from the Lioll naelel - aka, the Talon lions - that hold the distinction in the galaxy's history as the oldest shapeshifting race.

It is believed that this was originally caused by an offshoot of the Crim armaias, or Exquip vampires; parasites that became deadly weapons while feasting on their host's energy. This theory is supported by genetic and fossil evidence, but largely ignored for not being the fabulous and mystical origin story that most scholars would want to write about. Thus, one screwball found a fancy ocarina and made up a hokey theory that their abilities came from mystic rituals involving specific music in ritual circles. Since this story feeds into the short attention spans and desire for the fantastical of the average reader, it has become quite dominate.

Due to the Exquip lions' abilities and the race's bizarre lack of violent tendencies, for roughly 600 years after being discovered, over half of the population were sold into slavery as living weapons. It is only recently that intergalactic laws were enforced strictly enough to largely kill the Exquip lion slave trade.

Originally, there were six major tribes of Exquip lions: The tribes of Sword, Spear, Axe, Hammer, Bow, and Whip. The Sword Tribe have largely survived, but are still fragmented and recovering from their mistreatment; the Spear and Axe Tribes are in similar positions, but even worse for wear; the Hammer and Bow Tribes are so badly fragmented that they may never reassemble again; and the Whip Tribe has not been seen for over 130 years.

Trivia

 * The Exquip lions were based on the Spadamon from Digimon.