Sak'ap'thi (SACK AP THEE)
The Sak'ap'thi of the Mij'esian Empire, commonly known as serpent men, are a rare sight on Carentress or Jessia as currently their empire on the far eastern Serpent Isles is in a state of self imposed isolation. While in the Age of Myth they sailed the sea in golden fleets seeking treasure and slaves, now they have descended practically to the point of legend.
Basic Information
Behaviour
Most of the serpentmen have a reputation for being cold, calculating, and ruthless. Tradition holds that this is because their blood is mixed with the venom of serpents, but it is just as likely the result of the cultural norms of living in the Mi'jesean Empire.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
For the Sak'ap'thi, in general, the closer one resembles a snake the more beautiful, pure, and noble one is seen. This extends to appearances that would frankly be considered monstrous in other places in Sanzeia. Serpentmen that appear indistinguishable from humans occupy a unique position in the caste system as they are typically raised from birth to to be spies, assassins, or other tools of the empire.
Gender Ideals
Owing perhaps to the general lack of sexual dimorphism in the snakes that they attempt to emulate Sak'ap'thi generally consider sex or gender unimportant in social settings and serves as little more than a distinguishing trait such as hair or eye color.
Historical Figures
Common Myths and Legends
While most races of Sanzeia hold the tradition that they are descended directly form the gods as told in Dawn of Younger Races, the serpentmen belief is a little more complicated. The believe themselves to be the descendants of the Ap'thi a race of divine serpent beings. Legend tells that the serpents won a great war against an terrible foe, but it left them unable to produce more eggs. The tales tell that the first Sak'ap'thi was born when a human woman laid with one of the divine serpents and bore a golden egg. The Sak'ap'thi maintain a complex concept of castes based on (among other things) the perception of closeness to their serpent ancestors, generally the most serpentine the features the more noble one is considered.
Origin/Ancestry
Divine
Average Height
5'7'' / 1.7m
Average Weight
165 lbs / 75kg
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Myths
Comments
Author's Notes
More than any other race, using the "Yuan-ti" has always felt very D&D specific and I'm not sure why it strikes me as more proprietary than an aracokra, but it always has to me. Strange no?