Lamia

Basic Information

Anatomy

Humanoid form above the waist, but with a snake like body below the waist

Biological Traits

Lamia's sport a snake like tail which can be used to not only assist with climbing but also be used to constrict prey and squeeze the constricted prey until they suffocate to death. The tail also allows a lamia to swim effortlessly through the water. Lamia's also possess a forked tongue which can stretch out longer then a human tongue. Lamia's by nature are cold blooded and so risk entering brumation, a state in where they attempt to sleep in order to regain heat, similar to a bears hibernation.
Four subraces of lamia have come into being:

• Apophis: Slightly smaller then the rest of their kind, they make up for this in being incredibly nimble. They use these forms to squeeze into places and to avoid attacks. They also have sharpened fangs and venomous teeth that can paralyze and slowly sap the strength of their prey. These types of lamia travel in nomadic communities around the world, and sometimes take up work as assassins'.
• Dusa: Dusa are native to Carall, and live both with the Tajiran people and a few even went with the Shezarkai into the plane of fire. They are quite skilled in speaking their way out, able to occupy positions as bards and charismatic sorcerers. However, many cover their eyes with masks or veils due to a curious magical adaptation where their eyes are said to have latent powers of hell itself. Staring into their unmasked eyes can paralyze a creature in panic as it is shows what the creature fears most.
• Echinda: Echidna, unlike the rest of their kin, are native to Ustaria, and have adapted to the cold long ago. They are stronger then the rest of their kin, and have sharpened teeth like the apophis, minus the venom. They also possess hardened scales and their human skin seems magically stronger then normal, meaning they have a sort of natural armor without needed to wear other types of armor.
• Quatl: Said to be the descended of the strange Couatl beasts within the Ishtar Ruins, the Quatl have a spark of divinity in their vines. They are able to see into the future with strange omens, and are also able to makes their presence from magical forms of tracking, and can likewise track others through supernatural and magical means. However a strange quirk of this subrace is seemingly the hard time to lie, many have been documented at admitting they are unable to lie, far too many to be a coincidence.

Genetics and Reproduction

Lamia's reproduce sexually, with a gestation similar to humans at 9 months

Growth Rate & Stages

Lamias mature at around the same rate as humans

Ecology and Habitats

While they can live wherever, most  much prefer warmer climates to live in.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Lamia's possess elongated ears similar to elves, as well as small patches of scales around the lower part of their cheeks, and lamia's have snake like eyes. Lamia's also love to change their hair colors to very vibrant and wild colors

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Due to the importance of mating with other races, lamia's have spread out far and wide, but a few sub races have found preferred environments

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Lamia typically take up the naming structure of the dominant culture they live in, however every lamia has a clan that they occupy, and their clan name is always in their full name.

Relationship Ideals

In the past, when lamia were new to the world, some believed that lamia would abduct males by luring them into the forest and forcing them to be their husband. While this isn't able to be proven, lamia can be quite jealous partners. Though it is a very important step to bring a potential mate they date to their clan. This event is seen as a serious commitment, and is essentially just a step away from marriage. Once someone enters this stage, they are considered apart of the clan, and will be expected to help the clan if anything serious comes up and visit as often as they can, for lamia get homesick very easily.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

While lamia typically adopt the cultural norms and ideals of the land they are living in, all lamia belong to a clan. These clans are ancient even by lamian standards, and lamia are incredibly loyal to their clans.

History

No one can quite agree on how the lamia came into being. Some suspect they were the result of arcane experimentation, seeing what could be created with both a snake and a human female. Others suspect they were the offspring of some long dead lizard like god. Whatever the case, tales of strange women with the upper bodies of humans and the lower of snakes would prey upon those lured by their ethereal beauty. In the sands of Carall, the lamia would be the first to integrate with wider society, being accepted as one of the many interesting races of the sands. It would be a little later before the rest of the lamia would reveal themselves to the wider world, and as such now a days they deny rumors of ever having lured hapless travelers into the forests to consume them.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Most other races view lamia positively, given the ability of lamias to woo a crowd with their dance and their performance. Though some lamia prefer to act in more "evil" ways, this doesn't largely affect the main consensus of lamias as a whole.

Lifespan

800 years

Average Height

5-6 feet

Average Weight

around 800 pounds counting their tail

Average Length

can elongate their tail to be about 10 feet long

Average Physique

Due to being a mono-gendered species, lamias possess very alluring female forms. It is said in ancient times they used these forms to tempt men and women into the forests to prey upon.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Usually sport humanoid skin tones