Basic Information
Anatomy
To put it simply, the Drakenath are gargantuan snakes - constrictors, specifically - with little else to differentiate them from their feral brethren beyond their much more civilized demeanor and a prominent third eye set in the center of their skulls. Like the dragons that serve as their namesake, they partially reflect elements of their surroundings, as well as visual aspects of the local serpent species, but unlike dragons and some of the other species that develop in this way, it's a slower process that tends to take a few generations within a region for these developments to become fully visible.
Genetics and Reproduction
Drakenath give birth to live young, with females gestating the young for roughly 7 months. During that time, there is technically the possibility for anywhere from four to twelve young to develop, but in the vast majority of cases, half or more of the eggs fertilized will fail to develop to any meaningful degree, and frequently another quarter or so will cease to develop somewhere along the way, or else be stillborn. This seems to be a something of a hold-over from the Drakenath's early days, where young Drakenath were frequently preyed upon by Mordrekain's various predators and so needed to be accounted for through large broods. In modern times, with life generally being easier for their young, Drakenath mothers' bodies have adapted to the lessened need for many children, but not entirely.
Gealaímoot
Named in the language of the Underkindom, the Gealaímoot is an annual meeting of every Drakenath within a significant radius. All at once, they converge on a single secluded region - whether determined by some kind of group agreement or chosen by instinct, the Drakenath refuse to say. The precise month is not set from region to region, but individuals seem to have an innate awareness as to when the time of the moot is upon them. Even without being expressly taught, young Drakenath reaching adulthood have expressed a sudden awareness of the time and place where they are needed.
During the daylight hours of the meeting, the Drakenath socialize, discussing the knowledge they’ve gained since the last moot and generally propagating information throughout their species. As night approaches, however, the more primal purpose of the holiday becomes clear.
Gealaímoot is the breeding period of the Drakenath. Though their species doesn’t experience any explicit sexual drive under normal circumstances, during this period it falls upon them all at once. In most cases - through strangely not all - every member of their species within range of the moot will feel an intense desire to procreate. Though it can be ignored, first-hand accounts describe doing so as being intensely annoying, like suffering an itch that can't be scratched. Few individuals outside of their species are allowed to witness the events of the Gealaímoot, but it is said to be an oddly dispassionate affair, for all that it’s essentially a region-wide orgy. Individuals involved have no loss of mental faculties, and will still often be quite picky about who they involve in their mating efforts. By the end of the event, females actively seeking to breed will frequently have collected genetic material from a wide assortment of males, providing much more diversity to their offspring.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
With their two primary eyes, Drakenath are capable of viewing the world in much the same way most other intelligent species do, although their capacity for color vision and depth perception are slightly hampered. Their third eye, however, make up for a similar lack of mundane vision by granting them the ability to see the spiritual plane as well as the surface thoughts and emotions of others. Combined with their ability to 'taste' scents on the air with their tongues and detect infrared radiation with the pit organs on their faces, Drakenath make unparalleled trackers and hunters. These skills also have a habit of making them rather unnerving in polite conversation. It's never quite clear when they might have picked up on that last snide thought or noticed all of the blood pooling in your face...
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
As the Drakenath have no real 'language' to call their own, their internally-used names are more nebulous than most other species can grasp. They're named after feelings, emotions, or fleeting moments in time that were important to the mother at the time they were born. These are hard to translate to most other species, and so they will generally also have a Spoken Name. This can be pretty much anything; nouns, verbs, entire statements... Drakenath who spend enough time around the other sapient species tend to pick up on how their naming structures work and will borrow from more 'acceptable' names, though often without quite grasping the finer points.
Relationship Ideals
The Gealaímoot tends to make relationships between Drakenath something of a separate entity from breeding - a rather unique viewpoint among the sapient species. The snake-folk are solitary beings by nature, and so people they choose to spend time with are those who have managed to draw them out of their shells and connect with them on a personal level. It is perhaps because of their solitary nature that the relationships most often formed by Drakenath are with beings from other species entirely; the sorts of people who are not held back by introverted tendencies... or terrified of the notion of a gargantuan, intelligent snake.
In the cases where a Drakenath and their partner intend to commit themselves to one another, the traditional means of displaying their commitment is to adorn themselves in something unique to themselves. For most, this involves getting tattoos of infrared-emitting dyes around the Drakenath third eye - or in the center of the foreheads for most other species - in a shape and form personally designed by the couple. Those who worry about the permanence of such things, or who are incapable of getting such markings for one reason or another, will instead adorn themselves in jewelry, paint, or some other form that can represent the tradition.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The Drakenath do not speak in the traditional sense. Their mouths aren't capable of forming the majority of the sounds other sapient species use in order to speak. Instead, Drakenath speak through the mind, channeling their moderate telepathic abilities into sending thoughts, emotions, or ideas to one another. When interacting with the other mortal species, most will have learned to channel this ability into forming words, or else traveled alongside one who has.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
To many other sapient species, the Drakenath are inherently frightening. This makes most forms of interpersonal communication difficult, but also has its advantages in circumstances where intimidation is required. Once firmly ingrained within society - and once their finances can support it - most city-dwelling Drakenath will hire 'Hands' for themselves, allowing them to more easily interact with a world built with appendaged beings in mind, and to purchase things or speak with others without terrifying the common folk.
Lifespan
115 - 150 years
Average Length
5 - 7.5 meters
Drakenath Psionics
A rarity among non-draconic sapients in Teicna, Drakenath are blessed with an innate capacity for a limited amount of psionic magic. Focused within the third eye in the center of their forehead, they are capable of loosely detecting energies of the spiritual plane, and through this detection, may pick up particularly loud or "spoken" thoughts from the minds of souled beings in their vicinity. Additionally, should they make direct eye contact with a living being with their third eye, they will be able to delve into a shallow pool of the being's surfacemost thoughts. Immediate fears and concerns, flitting ideas bubbling up from the subconscious... It takes concentrated effort and practice with more traditional magical techniques in order to delve any deeper than this. However, because of their natural leg up with these foundational levels of mental intrusion, a significant number of Drakenath are drawn towards these magical specializations, using them to stun prey in more untamed regions, and to employ remarkably cutthroat tactics among the upper echelons of those who believe themselves to be more "civilized".
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