Terraxus

History

The Terraxus are a race of colossal serpents, revered and feared throughout history by civilizations across the world. These creatures, known by various names depending on the culture - Drakvurn to the Dwarves of the underworld, Kophis to the desert-dwelling Kemeharans, and Zinitra to the pagan Humans of the north - are most commonly referred to as Terraxus, a name popularized by the far-reaching influence of the Vallerian Scholarum.
These serpents dwell deep within the earth, navigating the vast cave networks and caverns that wind through the bowels of the world. Their scales are as hard as stone, allowing them to slip through tight tunnels with ease, while their immense strength lets them burrow through softer terrains such as gravel, sand, and dirt. There are at least two distinct types of Terraxus: those who remain in the deep caverns of the underworld and those who burrow beneath the shifting sands of the world’s deserts.
Historically, Terraxus have been a reclusive and enigmatic race, rarely surfacing into the overworld, as the skies and lands above belong to the Dragons. In the deep, some races, such as the Kobolds and Raskatta, either fought bitterly against the Terraxus for their survival or came to serve them, offering worship and obedience to their serpentine masters in exchange for mercy. To these lesser creatures, Terraxus were seen as near-immortal gods, their immense lifespans unfathomable to short-lived mortal races.
For the Dwarves of the Under-Empire, however, the Terraxus were a constant threat, a lurking enemy in the darkness. Armed with their ingenuity and advanced technology, the Dwarves waged brutal wars against the Terraxus, slowly driving their numbers to near extinction. But when the Cataclysm tore through the underworld, ravaging its civilizations and twisting the very bedrock of the earth, the Terraxus all but vanished from history. For over a thousand years, no trace of their existence was found, leading many to believe they had been driven to extinction.
That is, until a Vallerian explorer, venturing deep into the forgotten crevices of the underworld, stumbled upon one of these serpents. Nestled within a labyrinth of caves, past a seemingly impassable maze of stone and subterranean rivers, the explorer found a hidden sanctuary - a vast cavern where a Terraxus nested, surrounded by an enclave of Kobolds who worshipped it as a deity. Here, far from the reach of the mortal world, the Terraxus continued to thrive, laying eggs for a new generation of serpents. It was a startling revelation: the Terraxus yet lived, hidden in the depths, finally free to exist without the shadow of their Dwarven nemesis, whose empire had long since crumbled at the close of the previous world.

Abilities

The Terraxus are not just gargantuan serpents in appearance but possess an array of supernatural abilities that elevate them beyond simple creatures. Their most notable power is telekinesis, allowing them to manipulate their surroundings with the force of their mind - whether it be shaping softer materials like earth or shifting massive boulders. This ability grants them immense control over their environment, enabling them to mold the very caverns in which they dwell or reshape tunnels to suit their needs.
Unable to speak in a conventional sense, the Terraxus communicate through telepathy, directly linking their minds with those of other beings. This psychic communication allows them to converse with sentient races, conveying their thoughts and commands without the need for words. It is said that the experience of such communication can be overwhelming, as the mind of a Terraxus is ancient and vast, filled with knowledge accumulated over millennia.
In addition to their mental prowess, Terraxus are also extremely venomous. While they are capable of easily crushing a mortal with their massive coils or tearing them apart with a single bite, their venom is an equally deadly weapon. This toxin is said to be potent enough to fell even other giant creatures, ensuring that few threats dare challenge the Terraxus in their domain.