Coatl (Ko-Aa-tl)
Basic Information
Anatomy
A Coatl is often seen as a Human and Snake Hybrid, as most seen today share the features of both. Most scholars have a spectrum for the possible anatomy of a Coatl, where one end is the most snake-like, where their legs are replaced with a long trunk, their head is topped with a large crest which forms an upward facing horn, skin completely replaced with scales, and their internal organs resemble that of a snake. The other end is the most human-like, where the Coatl in question will have only a snake's eyes and a patch of scales somewhere on their body like a birthmark, and an immunity to many poisons.
In the middle, a Coatl will likely be mostly covered in scales and have fangs for canines, but will otherwise resemble a human. A rare mutation that can occur is where a Coatl grows feathers on the end of their tail. This is seen as a sign from the respective Coatl's god that the Coatl in question is destined for greatness.
In the middle, a Coatl will likely be mostly covered in scales and have fangs for canines, but will otherwise resemble a human. A rare mutation that can occur is where a Coatl grows feathers on the end of their tail. This is seen as a sign from the respective Coatl's god that the Coatl in question is destined for greatness.
Biological Traits
Female Coatl's tend to be larger and stronger than Males, standing at up to a meter taller on average. Those who possess both male and female organs tend to lean towards female physiology. Female Coatl's rarely have the horn and crest but are more likely to grow the snake trunk.
The Trunk itself is generally about as long as the Coatl's legs would have been, plus half a meter, and then while it extends another meter, it can no longer support the Coatl. Most Trunked Coatls slither on the first meter and a half of their tail that is strong enough to support them, leaving them at about 2 meters in height.
A mutation that can occur is when a Coatl will grow two trunks, which split at where their knees would be, making them resemble a Dracaenae. This variant is usually forced into the life of a clergyman or slaughtered once the mutation si discovered, depending on their home culture. Either way, thus mutation becomes rarer and rarer every generation. Another rare mutation, one which has never been documented as occurring with the Dracaenae gene is the feathered tail, where the end of the tail will sprout multicolored rainbow feathers which seem to perpetually blow in a nonexistent breeze. This mutation is seen as carrying divine baggage, with the subject at hand being slated as destined for greatness, or at least future as a priest.
The Trunk itself is generally about as long as the Coatl's legs would have been, plus half a meter, and then while it extends another meter, it can no longer support the Coatl. Most Trunked Coatls slither on the first meter and a half of their tail that is strong enough to support them, leaving them at about 2 meters in height.
A mutation that can occur is when a Coatl will grow two trunks, which split at where their knees would be, making them resemble a Dracaenae. This variant is usually forced into the life of a clergyman or slaughtered once the mutation si discovered, depending on their home culture. Either way, thus mutation becomes rarer and rarer every generation. Another rare mutation, one which has never been documented as occurring with the Dracaenae gene is the feathered tail, where the end of the tail will sprout multicolored rainbow feathers which seem to perpetually blow in a nonexistent breeze. This mutation is seen as carrying divine baggage, with the subject at hand being slated as destined for greatness, or at least future as a priest.
Genetics and Reproduction
Coatl can be male or female, but usually have the organs for both, so can switch between one and the other. Many pick one specific gender, but those with both organs can reproduce with anyone. Despite their similarity to snakes, Coatls are mammals, so reproduce as most mammals do.
Growth Rate & Stages
Despite being similar to snakes, Coatls are mammals, who give live-birth. A Coatl matures at about the same rate a human does, being born with their scales, but growing their fangs. If they get a trunk instead of legs, by age ten their legs will fuse, and form the snake body.
Ecology and Habitats
Coatl are sapient species, capable of adapting to any environment if necessary. There are reports of the occasional Coatl living with the BeiNar of the far north, but these are always migratory from their preferred habitat, the jungle. The Coatl originated in the Ever-Jungle, and most of their civilizations reside within it. They have an uncanny ability to navigate the jungle depths, even if the Coatl in question has never visited themselves.
Dietary Needs and Habits
A Coatl can subsist on a vegetarian diet, but to be the healthiest they possibly can, it is best they maintain a semi-omnivorous diet. Otherwise, they need all the nutrients a human does, aside from dairy. Most Coatl's are lactose intolerant.
Biological Cycle
A Coatl rarely sheds its scales, but individual ones will fall off and regrow on occasion. It usually happens as they get older.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Coatl form the same sort of social structures that most sapient beings do. The only exceptions are the Coatl with feathered tails held in higher regard than most, and Dracaenae being held in lower contempt, depending on the culture.
Facial characteristics
Aside from the crest that males sometimes form, Coatl share the same features as Humans.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Coatl are near completely foudn within Empire of Laran, and of that population, most of the Coatl live within the Ever-Jungle.
Average Intelligence
Coatl's tend to have difficulty fully comprehending emotions. Most have a partial view of emotions as an outside spectator. The best example is if the friend of a Coatl has a pet pig they really love, the Coatl won't kill the pig, but it will only partly be because they don't want to hurt their friend for fear of losing the friendship. The colder, more snakelike side won't kill the pig, even though it's a great source of food, because that friend might attack them in revenge, and they would permanently lose an ally. It has been compared as a less extreme version of Disassociative Personality Disorder, as the snakelike side will generally regard the more "human" side with some sort of contempt. Otherwise, the average Coatl has the intelligence of the average human, with roughly equal peaks and valleys.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Coatl's have limited blindsight but mostly rely on the same senses as Humans, though their sense of smell and their hearing is much more powerful.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
THe ideal for Coatl beauty is long stylized and braided hair, with a human upper body but a snake trunk, clear skin, and muscles all around.
Common Etiquette Rules
Common etiquette for any in a Coatl dominated space is to bow before a Coatl with feathers on their tail, the more feathers, the more important. Disrespect of Snakes is not tolerated.
Common Taboos
No Coatl in their right mind would eat Snake meat or that of other sentient species. Otherwise, the usual apply, no murder, non-consensual sex, robbery, fraud, lying, etc. These are hampered somewhat by most Coatl holding Larani allegiance and cultural values.
History
The Coatl claim that their creator god, Quetzalcoatl, stole the right to create life in the jungle from the Cult of the Three Queens, cheating in a game of knucklebones to claim that territory. They cared not for the squabbling of the Drow Gods, or the bloodlust of the Makassi's deities, only for their own creation, the Coatl, crafted in the image of themselves and Aivyetcai, who they had a massive crush on. As such, the Coatl gained their forms, and lived lives of leisure in the jungles, worrying and wanting for nothing. Yet disaster struck when the jealous god Tezcatlipoca murdered Quetzalcoatl and shoved their body into the sky, mutilating them so they became the stars. The feathers that adorned their body were tossed into the heavens. Ever the duplicitous bitch, Tezcalitpoca granted some leniency to the desperate Coatl, erecting five grand temple cities for them to live in, complete with ancient texts and altars, and told them that once all one hundred of Quetzalcoatl's feathers returned to the land, their god would come back to life, starting the cycle of creation once more. The feathers were interpreted as comets by the Coatl. This, mixed with the general feeling of dread invoked by a giant flaming rock falling from the sky, as well as the way cycles worked, led the Coatl to believe that Quetzalcoatl's return would herald the end of a doomsday. As such, it is their role to bathe the world in fire and blood.
While the old ways have kept a far stronger grasp on the Coatl than most other species, they are still not a common belief. Most think the five grand temple cities to be the first Coatl settlements, the ancient texts written by the oldest incarnation of whatever the Coatl in question's favoured diety is. Something Coatl brought with them to many of the comparatively new religions they converted to, were the blood sacrifices. While not as infamous, the Coatl's tribalist religion was just as bloodthirsty as the Makassi's, with several kingdoms and empires rising and falling in the jungles.
Once the Empire of Laran began to expand into the jungles, many of the Coatl states jumped ship and allowed themselves to be annexed so long as the previous nobles became Lati in their own right. As Laran does, they agreed to these terms, then slaughtered every aristocrat who didn't have the potential to become a Lati. Whoever was in charge of the assimilation wasn't a complete idiot, however, instead of installing Makassi and Human rulers, they scoured the entire Coatl populace to find those with potential, then trained and assimilated them into Karani culture, sending them back to rule the Coatl kingdoms. This largely worked, and exception a few rebellions, most of the kingdoms that joined Laran are now considered ancient parts of the empire, core territories. The Coatl have become so assimilated that they are no considered part of Laran's hoily trinity of sapient species.
While the old ways have kept a far stronger grasp on the Coatl than most other species, they are still not a common belief. Most think the five grand temple cities to be the first Coatl settlements, the ancient texts written by the oldest incarnation of whatever the Coatl in question's favoured diety is. Something Coatl brought with them to many of the comparatively new religions they converted to, were the blood sacrifices. While not as infamous, the Coatl's tribalist religion was just as bloodthirsty as the Makassi's, with several kingdoms and empires rising and falling in the jungles.
Once the Empire of Laran began to expand into the jungles, many of the Coatl states jumped ship and allowed themselves to be annexed so long as the previous nobles became Lati in their own right. As Laran does, they agreed to these terms, then slaughtered every aristocrat who didn't have the potential to become a Lati. Whoever was in charge of the assimilation wasn't a complete idiot, however, instead of installing Makassi and Human rulers, they scoured the entire Coatl populace to find those with potential, then trained and assimilated them into Karani culture, sending them back to rule the Coatl kingdoms. This largely worked, and exception a few rebellions, most of the kingdoms that joined Laran are now considered ancient parts of the empire, core territories. The Coatl have become so assimilated that they are no considered part of Laran's hoily trinity of sapient species.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Coatl can reproduce most other humanoid species, simply replacing the human features with Coatl ones. The child will always be some sort of Coatl.
Scientific Name
Humanoid
Lifespan
150 Years
Average Height
1.7-2.4 meters
Average Weight
81.3-145.5 kg
Average Length
The tail is generally a meter after the center of gravity.
Average Physique
The Average Coatl is broad-shouldered and muscular, and even a weak Coatl would give the average human a run for their money. This doesn't completely prevent them from being sneaky, though it does hinder them, as those who practice can move near silently, even those with a trunk. Their large physique doesn't help them hide, however.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The colouring of a Coatl's eyes can be any colour of the rainbow, though Lati Coatl have their eye colour trend towards red and orange as Ascendance sets on. Scales can match this colour range though most don't shift colour after the first few years.
Related Organizations
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