Yuan-ti

The yuan-ti are a race of incredibly powerful and intelligent, shape-shifting entities with varying degrees of serpentine attributes that originated on the continent of Sahulia. How they came into being is unknown, though it seems they have existed since the Ancient Gods came to power. They once ruled over a vast empire that controlled the entirety of the Expanse after the Ruin, and almost succeeded in conquering all of Entaria. During their reign, the yuan-ti created numerous slave species and monstrosities from the creatures they captured and experimented on, which have since escaped into the wilds after their empire fell.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Due to the nature of the yuan-ti, their anatomical structure varies greatly depending on what caste they belong to - ranging from nearly human to almost entirely snake-like. However, any yuan-ti can ascend to a higher caste through increasingly more painful and dangerous rituals.

Aqala (La Aldamu)

Often referred to as "purebloods", these yuan-ti are the lowest caste within their society, and the most humanoid in appearance. They possess only minor reptilian features, such as scales, forked tongues, elliptical pupils, and fangs. Because of this, they are often used as scouts, envoys, spies, and assassins for the Yuan-ti empire, as they are the most capable of disguising their serpentine attributes.

Nfs Aldamu

Nfs Aldamu, or malisons, while not as common as purebloods, are the most greatly varied in appearance; in general, malisons possess an equal blend of human and serpentine features. The most common form are individuals with a humanoid body, and the head of a serpent. Other variations include a humanoid upper body with the lower body of a massive snake, a humanoid body with arms composed of one or multiple snakes, a humanoid body completely covered in scales, or a humanoid body with one or more snake-like tails.

Kamil Aldamu

The Kamil Aldamu, or abominations, are among the highest ranking castes in yuan-ti society, being seen as the closest to the ideal form intended by their serpent gods and patrons. They are almost completely snake-like in appearance, possessing very few humanoid traits aside from a pair of scaled, muscular arms. Within yuan-ti society, abominations are almost always in a leadership position, except in the presence of a yuan-ti Saeid.

Saeid

The pinnacle of the yuan-ti hierarchy, Saeids, or anathemas, are massive and monstrous serpentine entities viewed as demi-gods by their peers. In appearance, they resemble enormous Kamil Aldamu, measuring upwards of fourty feet in length, with six serpentine heads that rest upon their shoulders, and powerful clawed hands. They are exceptionally rare, as the ritual to create one is difficult, time consuming, and incredibly painful. Additionally, there are many yuan-ti that abhor the idea of creating one to begin with, as anathemas are substantially more cruel, aggressive, and brutal rulers than the abominations they are produced from, with more expansionist mentalities.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Yuan-ti can possess a variety of different sensory organ, which can vary between individuals depending on the species of snake or snakes whose features they express.

Origin/Ancestry

[Unknown]