A traveler makes their way through the wilderness, as they have been for the last three months. It’s hard going, but they like to think they are quite used to the tricks and trials of the forest by now. Suddenly, the hear the movement of something large in the treetops. A giant sloth, nothing more, they think to themself, though they know those move much more erratically, or a jaguar. To their surprise, a snake nearly the length of a trolley, but dressed absurdly like a human, emerges from the canopy. It speaks to them in perfect, if archaic, nahuatl, and encourages them to join it in returning to its treetop village. The traveler, though wary, agrees, and makes their way up the massive trunks, meter after meter, as the peculiar snake-person continues to make smalltalk and encourage their progress. At last they emerge into a bustling township of treehouses connected by rope bridges, and not only snakes, but people of all backgrounds doing trade, chatting, and relaxing in the sunbeams. As the traveler is introduced by their companion, they notice some people are neither human or snake, but something between the two. They are bathed, fed, and shown around town, and decide it couldn’t hurt to stay a few days - after all, these people are so welcoming and ernest. As the months pass, they begin to wonder if they really want to return to their former life at all. These are the coatzitzintin.
Basic Information
Ranges from almost entirely human with a few serpentine features such as scales, eyes, and fangs (pehuacoatzitzintin) to almost entirely snake with a few humanoid features, such as arms and a torso (chiacoatzitzintin).
Given averages are for a chiacoatzintli. Pehuacoatzitzintin share the same average as a human, and ahcicoatzitzintin vary depending on which parts and how much are serpentine.
Genetically human - all alterations are directly the result of Quetzalcoatl’s meddling, and are technically reversible. Reproduce as humans do (i.e. through sex and pregnancy), but may have significantly more children at once (average litter size is 5). Give live birth after 12 months. Children are very small, but mature at the same rate as a human.
Coatzitzintin are genetically compatible with humans. Tentatively compatible with tabaxi, orcs, cuicameh, gnomes, most beings from the Inner Planes (elves, dao, efreet, etc.), although such couplings may have strange outcomes.
Most coatzitzintin live in Huehuetlan, a rainforest nation they created after being turned. They prefer small, treetop villages with populations of approximately 10 to 2,000. These villages are very sustainable and have minimal impact on the environment in the long run. They prefer warm weather but can survive in colder temperatures, as they are still warm-blooded.
Omnivorous, but prefer meat and eggs. Hunt and forage in the rainforest, as well as practice minor horticulture (slash-and-burn). Capable of food preservation such as drying and salting, but prefer fresh foods.
Additional Information
Huehuetlan, with tiny populations in the C.A.S.A., Acatlan, and the unclaimed wildlands
Enhanced vision, especially at night (darkvision). Most posess a Jacobson’s organ (used to detect pheromones). Worse hearing than the average human, but not enough to noticeable affect communication.
Civilization and Culture
Follow the traditions of religious humans at the time they were turned, which is to say they are several hundred years out of date. Names consist of a Nahuatl personal name (e.g. Male: Coyotl, Xipilli, Tochtli, Iztli. Female: Necahual, Xoco, Tepi, Coszcatl.) and a calendar name, which is quite complicated to calculate but includes the exact date of the person’s birth on the year and day calendars.
Cult of Quetzalcoatl (formerly), Followers of Quetzalcoatl (current)
The more like Quetzalcoatl one looks, the more beautiful they are considered. Generally, this simply means looking as serpentine as possible, but feathers are also considered a highly desirable trait and are often worn for formal occasions.
Men and women are considered separate, but equal, and have their own domestic and religious roles. Switching roles is tolerated, but nonconformance or blending is frowned apon unless there is a concrete rationalization from Quetzalcoatl for why they should accept it.
Low; they prefer tradition over progress, so have abandoned anything further than horticulture. Have proportionately advanced clerical magic, timekeeping, and navigational skills.
Classical Nahuatl, Neoclassical Nahuatl
Very polite and archaic in their manners, especially to outsiders. Present a good face to newcomers in an attempt to convince them to convert. Extremely open to and accepting of converts, no matter their background.
Men must wear a tilmatli and loincloth and women must wear a blouse and skirt. These garments are almost completely ceremonial, and are worn due to tradition rather than any actual benefits or coverage. They prefer very brightly colored and patterned textiles.
(Old-fasioned humans basically)
(Aztec religion with Quetzalcoatl bent, prefer light and air, fairly eugenics-prone)
Denouncing Quetzalcoatl, claiming gods/religions are not real or have no bearing, attempting or suggesting modernazation, breaking traditional roles
(Teozalo plus origin story)
Good terms: lizardfolk, kenku, firbolg, minority species
Tense terms: orcs, cuicameh, humans, gnomes
Terrible/feuding: tabaxi
RPG Datasheet
Chiacoatzitzintin:
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma and Wisdom scores each increase by 1.
Size. Your size is Large.
Speed. Your base movement speed is 10 1/2 meters (35 feet).
Darkvision. Like a snake, you can see in dim light within 18 meters (60 feet) of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Nonstandard Anatomy. Your anatomy is far enough from that of the majority populations that any armor or fitted garments must be custom-made to your body before you can wear them.
Friend of the Serpent. You can cast animal friendship an unlimited amount of times with this trait, but can target only snakes with it. Use Wisdom as your spellcasting ability.
Quetzalcoatl’s Blessing. You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Bite Attack. You can use a bite attack to make an unarmed strike. This attack does damage equal to 1d6 + your Dexterity modifier.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Celestial.
Subrace. Ahcicoatzitzintin and Chiacoatzitzintin are further divided into two more specialized subraces, viper and constrictor types. See farther down the page for details.
Ahcicoatzitzintin:
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma and Wisdom scores each increase by 1.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base movement speed is 9 meters (30 feet) if you have legs, and 10 1/2 meters (35 feet) if you do not.
Darkvision. Like a snake, you can see in dim light within 18 meters (60 feet) of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Nonstandard Anatomy. Your anatomy is far enough from that of the majority populations that any armor or fitted garments must be custom-made to your body before you can wear them.
Friend of the Serpent. You can cast animal friendship an unlimited amount of times with this trait, but can target only snakes with it. Use Wisdom as your spellcasting ability.
Quetzalcoatl’s Blessing. You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Bite Attack. If you have a serpent’s head, you can use bite attack to make an unarmed strike. This attack does damage equal to 1d6 + your Dexterity modifier.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Celestial.
Subrace. Ahcicoatzitzintin and Chiacoatzitzintin are further divided into two more specialized subraces, viper and constrictor types. Choose one.
Pehuacoatzitzintin:
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma, Wisdom, and Intelligence scores each increase by 1.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 9 meters (30 feet).
Darkvision. Like a snake, you can see in dim light within 18 meters (60 feet) of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Friend of the Serpent. You can cast animal friendship an unlimited amount of times with this trait, but can target only snakes. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast suggestion once per long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast warding wind once per day. Use Charisma as your spellcasting ability.
Subraces:
Viper:
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Venomous Your bite attack does an additional 1d6 poison damage. Roll a d20. On a 1, the target dies in 1d6 rounds if it is a living creature susceptible to poison damage.
Constrictor:
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength or Constitution score increases by 1.
Improved Grapple. Due to your long and muscular body, you have advantage on all grappling checks and are considered proficient, even if you don’t have proficiency in the Strength (Athletics) skill. You can also travel your full movement speed while holding a creature grappled unless the creature is larger than you.
http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/SJNVP_VzW
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