Snakefolk Pureblood
Shut away in the muggy jungles that cover southern Ceren and Mahaad, the creatures who call themselves Yuan-Ti have become a constant source of strife and conflict for the "civilized" peoples of Orbith. Indoctrinated to serve an evil deity and corrupt at their very core, few snakefolk are regarded as good people, with even fewer being allowed to publicly accept such praise.
To make matters worse, both "Yuan-Ti" and "snakefolk" are simple catch-all terms for a diverse group of sentient creatures, ranging from simple humanoids to horrific snake-human abominations. This article will focus on the former, as they are the form most often encountered by the average person. Also, they're the only playable variety.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Being that they are often mistaken for humans, purebloods always have the standard mix of limbs and bodily functions to match. However, they often have traces of their true nature within their anatomy. Examples of this include patches of scaly skin, slitted pupils, forked tongues, retractable fangs, and unnaturally fluid movements.
Genetics and Reproduction
All forms of snakefolk start life as eggs, birthed by specialized malisons and protected within the large temples they call home. Only malisons and abominations are deemed "holy" enough to impregnate the others. Approximately five months after being lain, the eggs will hatch and reveal the form and breed of their inhabitants, which are then separated and raised in a manner befitting their station.
Growth Rate & Stages
Regardless of their form, snakefolk reach maturity by the age of 10, aging at twice the speed of the average human. From this point, snakefolk age differs from caste to caste, with the higher classes having longer, stronger lives in comparison to their weaker kin. Purebloods live about as long as the average human, though they occasionally live to be 80 or 90.
Ecology and Habitats
Snakefolk are most often found in hot climates found in the southern half of Orbith. Their cities are usually hidden away within large jungles or tropical forests, as their cold-blooded biology prefers warm, humid environments. Purebloods are unique in that they are not always found in these tropical climes, usually sent away to spy on other cultures and take them down from the inside-out.
Dietary Needs and Habits
While still carnivorous in nature, purebloods are unique in that they can gain nourishment from herbaceous foods, though this cannot sustain them for extended periods of time.
Biological Cycle
While active all year long, snakefolk are known to shed their skin 2 - 3 times per year. While this is not dictated by the seasons, most snakefolk have one shedding in the month of Primeset, usually as part of a ritual to Saint Anguis. It should also be noted that purebloods shed less often than others, with once annually being the most common.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Snakefolk exist in a caste-based society, with those closer to their vision of perfection occupying higher stations.
The Pureblood Caste performs most of the services considered too base for the malisons or abominations, but too skilled for slaves or broodguards. This involves most skilled labor and raising the snakefolk young, while also being tasked with infiltrating other societies and leading the cults that snakefolk use to undermine their victims.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Whether they have the means to use it or not, all snakefolk have a specialized poison gland in their throats. When a snakefolk dies, it is customary to remove these glands for use by the remaining population, as the poison is potent and can be kept in a usable state for some time.
Facial characteristics
Most purebloods have features similar to Harelian humans. This means they often have sharp features, hooked noses, dark hair, and eyes of brown, hazel, tan, and occasionally orange or green. Men can have facial hair, but usually have trouble growing large amounts of it.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
All snakefolk are based in the warmer climates of southern Orbith, with a natural predisposition for the vast jungles of Mahaad and southern Ceren.
Average Intelligence
As part of their culture, all snakefolk are given a relatively fair amount of education. Even the lowest pureblood tends to be clever by human standards.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
All snakefolk are possessed with improved senses, with being able to see in the dark and most having tuned senses of smell and hearing. In regards to magic usage, their magical nature allows snakefolk to use both arcane and divine magic in equal measures.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Snakefolk names are a mixture of Egyptian and Mesoamerican in style. When interacting with other races, pureblood often take false names in an effort to better hide their true nature.
Courtship Ideals
There is no form of courtship in basic snakefolk society, as there are no marriages and all forms of breeding are treated as sacred practices done only by the upper castes. Relationships occasionally form between members of the same caste, but these are usually hollow imitations of human emotion and connection.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
While they have no language of their own, snakefolk use Abyssal as their preferred tongue, primarily due to their history with the lower planes. However, this dialect is unique in that it is written using a Draconic lexicon, rather than the traditional Infernal. This makes the language almost impossible to read to those who do not understand both. Beyond this, they speak Common and Harelian frequently when interfacing with other races, a job left almost entirely to the purebloods.
Historical Figures
The greatest hero of snakefolk society is Saint Anguis, the first Yuan-Ti. Chosen by the goddess Pestyl to embody her ideals of poison and cold perfection, Anguis saw snakes as the ideal form of creature to match his powers. It was he who created and lead the first cults that blended human and serpent flesh, culminating in him "ascending" to the ideal form of Great Serpent. It is this form that all snakefolk desire to embody, though none have managed to replicate the process.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Snakefolk almost never have relationships or breed with other races, as doing so would lower their status as "superior" beings. Purebloods have been known to use such relations as a means to control their targets, but these are usually seen as a last-ditch effort. The few times they have been shown to have "true" relationships with others also involves purebloods, as they occasionally grow resentful of their nature and hope to join human society as more than a pawn.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Humo Anguis Lumis
Lifespan
50-70 years
Average Height
5'4 - 5'10
Average Weight
120 - 180 pounds
Average Physique
Purebloods can have most any feature that can be found on a normal human. With that being said, their proximity to certain cultures causes them to take the forms of those people more often than not. This is detailed more later.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Purebloods usually have the dark, coppery skin tone typical to the Harelian humans. Beyond this, those who have scales tend to have lighter-toned ones, with the colors being dull and faded.
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