Yuanti Snake people of Wildreach

Physical Description and Geographic Location-

• Serpentine Features: Like their Yaun-Ti kin, the Shontari possess serpentine features such as forked tongues, slit-like pupils, and scales covering their bodies. However, their scales take on a muted, earthy palette, blending seamlessly with the rocky terrain of their underground domain. Their eyes are keen and observant, able to pierce through the darkness of their subterranean realm with ease.
• Adaptations for Subterranean Life: In contrast to the traditional Yaun-Ti, the Shontari possess adaptations tailored to their underground existence. Their scales are thicker and more resilient, providing protection against the jagged rocks and rough terrain of their subterranean domain. They also have keen senses attuned to the nuances of their environment, able to detect subtle vibrations and changes in air currents with remarkable precision.
• Sturdy Build: The Shontari Yuanti exhibit a sturdy and robust build, well-suited to the challenges of life underground. Their muscular frames are honed through years of navigating the twisting tunnels and rugged caverns of Wildreach, allowing them to move with agility and grace even in the tightest of spaces.
• Stealth and Camouflage: As adept hunters and scouts, the Shontari have developed natural camouflage patterns that allow them to blend seamlessly into their rocky surroundings. Their scales feature mottled patterns of earth tones and desert hues, providing them with excellent concealment amidst the rocky outcrops and dusty caverns of Wildreach.
• Wild West Influences: For those who spend time in the Wildrech towns, many Shontari Yuanti choose to embrace the Wildreach style of dress, with some individuals adorning themselves with leather vests, bandoliers, and wide-brimmed hats reminiscent of cowboy attire. They may also bear tribal markings or tattoos, reflecting their cultural heritage and allegiance to their underground clans.

Gods and Heroes-

• Do not worship any within the pantheon, however some do hold reverence for The Gunsligner , and the Demegorgon.
• Some also have continued the ancient practice of worshiping Dragons, or what remains of them.

Defining Cultural Aspects-

• Mystical Traditions: The snake people have a rich tradition of mysticism and shamanism, practicing ancient rituals and ceremonies to commune with the spirits of the land. They believe in the power of magic and the unseen forces that shape their world, using their mystical abilities to heal, divine, and protect their communities.
• Cave Dwellers: Due to their history of persecution and exile, the Shontari Yuanti have adapted to life underground, dwelling in vast networks of caves and subterranean tunnels beneath the surface of Wildreach. These underground settlements serve as sanctuaries and strongholds, providing shelter from the harsh wilderness above.
• Cultural Stigma and Prejudice: Despite their rich cultural heritage, the Shontari Yuanti face widespread prejudice and discrimination from other races in Wildreach, who view them as cursed and untrustworthy due to their association with the dragons. This stigma has led to a sense of isolation and distrust among the snake people, who often keep to themselves and maintain a cautious distance from outsiders.
• Resilience and Survivalism: The snake people possess a strong sense of resilience and resourcefulness, forged through generations of adversity and hardship. They are skilled hunters, gatherers, and artisans, able to thrive in the harsh and unforgiving environment of Wildreach.

Other Notes-

• Stat Blocks- Yuan-ti "Copper Heads"  

History-

• Ancient Origins: Millennia ago, the Shontari Yuanti emerged as the indigenous inhabitants of the vast underground labyrinth beneath Wildreach. Their ancestors thrived in the dark recesses of the earth, forging a harmonious existence amidst the twisting tunnels and cavernous depths of their subterranean domain.
• Alliance with the Dragons: When the dragons rose to power and established their dominion over the continent, the Shontari Yuanti made a fateful decision to pledge their allegiance to these powerful overlords. In exchange for their loyalty, the snake people were promised protection and prosperity above ground as the Dragons personal enfrocers and loyal army.
• Isolation and Exile: While other races rose up in rebellion against the tyranny of the dragons, the Shontari Yuanti remained steadfast in their allegiance, refusing to join the cause of the rebel alliance known as "the 15." This decision proved to be their undoing, as the victorious rebel forces, upon overthrowing the dragon overlords, branded the snake people as traitors and cast them out from civilized society.
• Persecution and Exclusion: Branded as pariahs and outcasts, the Shontari Yuanti were driven into the depths of the underground realm once again, forced to eke out a meager existence in the harsh and unforgiving wilderness of Wildreach. Cut off from the world above, they became a forgotten people, haunted by the legacy of their past betrayal and condemned to a life of exile and isolation.
• Adaptation and Resilience: Despite their exile, the Shontari Yuanti endured, drawing upon their ancient traditions and innate resilience to survive in their underground domain. They developed intricate tunnel networks and subterranean settlements, carving out a new existence amidst the darkness of their underground realm.
• Legacy of Betrayal: The decision to side with the dragon overlords remains a dark stain on the history of the Shontari Yuanti, serving as a constant reminder of the consequences of their past actions. Yet, even in exile, they cling to their identity and cultural heritage, determined to reclaim their rightful place in the world above and forge a new destiny for themselves and future generations.