Lizardfolk
Only a fool looks at the lizardfolk and sees nothing more
than scaly humanoids. Their physical shape notwithstanding, lizardfolk have more in common with iguanas
or dragons than they do with humans, dwarves, or elves.
Lizardfolk possess an alien and inscrutable mindset,
their desires and thoughts driven by a different set of
basic principles than those of warm-blooded creatures.
Their dismal swamp homes might lie hundreds of miles
from the nearest human settlement, but the gap between their way of thinking and that of the smooth-skins
is far greater.
Despite their alien outlook, some lizardfolk make an
effort to understand and, in their own manner, befriend
people of other races. Such lizardfolk make faithful and
skilled allies.
Alien Minds
The lizardfolk's reptilian nature comes through not only in their appearance, but also in how they think and act. Lizardfolk experience a more limited emotional life than other humanoids. Like most reptiles, their feelings largely revolve around fear, aggression, and pleasure. Lizardfolk experience most feelings as detached descriptions of creatures and situations. For example, humans confronted by an angry troll experience fear on a basic level. Their limbs shake, their thinking becomes panicked and jumbled, and they react by instinct. The emotion of fear takes hold and controls their actions. In contrast, lizardfolk see emotions as traits assigned to other creatures, objects, and situations. A lizardfolk doesn't think, "I'm scared." Instead, aggressive, stronger creatures register to the lizardfolk as fearsome beings to be avoided if possible. If such creatures attack, lizardfolk flee, fighting only if cornered. Lizardfolk aren't scared of a troll; instead, they understand that a troll is a fearsome, dangerous creature and react accordingly. Lizardfolk never become angry in the way others do, but they act with aggression toward creatures that they could defeat in a fight and that can't be dealt with in some other manner. They are aggressive toward prey they want to eat, creatures that want to harm them, and so on. Pleasurable people and things make life easier for lizardfolk. Pleasurable things should be preserved and protected, sometimes at the cost of the lizardfolk's own safety. The most pleasurable creatures and things are ones that allow lizardfolk to assess more situations as benign rather than fearsome.Utility and Survival
The lizardfolk mindset might seem unnecessarily cruel, but it helps them survive in a hostile environment. The swamps they inhabit are filled with a staggering variety of threats. Lizardfolk focus on survival above all, without sentiment. Lizardfolk assess everyone and everything in terms of utility. Art and beauty have little meaning for them. A sharp sword serves a useful and good purpose, while a dull sword is a dead weight without a whetstone. Lizardfolk see little need to plan more than a season or so into the future. This approach allows them to maintain their current level of influence in the world, but it limits their growth. Lizardfolk have no interest in developing writing, making long-term plans, or cultivating other methods to progress beyond their simpie existence as hunters and gatherers.Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Lizardfolk take their names from the Draconic language. They use simple descriptives granted by the tribe
based on an individual's notable deeds or actions. For
example, Garurt translates as "axe," a name given to a
lizardfolk warrior who defeated an ore and claimed his
foe's weapon. A lizardfolk who likes to hide in a stand of
reeds before ambushing an animal might be called Achuak, which means "green" to describe how she blends
into the foliage.
Lizardfolk make no distinction between male and female in their naming conventions. Each example name
includes its translation in parenthesis.
Lizardfolk Names: Achuak (green), Aryte (war), Baeshra (animal), Darastrix (dragon), Garurt (axe), Irhtos
(secret), Jhank (hammer), Kepesk (storm), Kethend
(gem), Korth (danger), Kosj (small), Kothar (demon), Litrix (armor), Mirik (song), Othokent (smart), Sauriv (eye),
Throden (many), Thurkear (night), Usk (iron), Valignat
(burn), Vargach (battle), Verthica (mountain), Vutha
(black), Vyth (steel)
Major Language Groups and Dialects
You can speak, read, and write Common
and Draconic.
Lifespan
60 Years
Average Height
7 Feet
Average Weight
200 Pounds
Related Ethnicities
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