Lizard Man
Common lizard men are tall, reaching heights between 6 to 7 feet at adulthood. They have a robust build, weighing up to 250 pounds. Males and females share a similar size, making it challenging for other races to discern gender differences. Lizard men are exceptional swimmers, moving effortlessly through water. They can hold their breath for an extended period, providing a strategic advantage during aquatic encounters. However, wearing armor hinders their swimming abilities, prompting them to often hide in the water even while armored. They adopt a stealthy approach, standing on the river or lake bottom with only their nose and eyes exposed, much like a lurking crocodile.
Lizard men are largely indifferent to other races, focusing primarily on their own survival. Their society revolves around the principles of self-sufficiency, and they generally avoid unnecessary conflicts with other races. They are known for their resilience and adaptability, thriving in environments that may be challenging for other species.
When provoked or threatened, however, lizard men transform into fearsome warriors. They employ simple yet effective tactics, relying on their physical strength and aquatic abilities to outmaneuver foes. In battle, they exhibit a primal ferocity that catches adversaries off guard. Their survival instincts have honed their natural cunning and stealth. Lizard men excel at ambushing enemies, utilizing their aquatic prowess to strike from unexpected angles. Their ability to blend into aquatic environments allows them to observe and gather information without being easily detected.
Basic Information
Ecology and Habitats
The lizard men's preferred habitat is the murky and dense swamplands, where they have adapted to both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Their communities are often nestled within the heart of expansive swamps, providing them with abundant resources and natural defenses. Lizard men construct their settlements using a combination of mud, vegetation, and submerged elements. Their architecture is designed to blend seamlessly with the swamp environment, making their dwellings difficult to detect for outsiders. These settlements are interconnected through a network of elevated platforms and submerged tunnels.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Lizard men are primarily piscivores, relying heavily on fish and aquatic creatures as the staple of their diet. Their aquatic adaptations, including excellent swimming skills and the ability to hold their breath, make them proficient hunters in water environments.
In times of scarcity or heightened aggression, some lizard men tribes may resort to cannibalistic practices. This involves the consumption of members from rival tribes or those who have transgressed against their own community. Cannibalism serves both as a means of eliminating internal threats and as a ritualistic act to absorb the strength or essence of fallen foes.
Civilization and Culture
Average Technological Level
The lizard men exhibit resourcefulness in their weaponry, crafting tools and weapons from materials readily available in their swampy habitat. These weapons not only serve practical purposes in survival and warfare but also are believed to carry cultural significance.
- Sharpened Bones: Lizard men commonly fashion weapons from the bones of large aquatic creatures they hunt. The sharp, durable bones are repurposed into daggers, spears, and even serrated blades. These bone weapons are not only effective in combat but also reflect the lizard men's ability to utilize every part of their prey.
- Igneous Rock Blades: In regions where obsidian or other igneous rocks are abundant, lizard men fashion blades with razor-sharp edges. These obsidian weapons are highly valued for their cutting precision and lethality.
Common Myths and Legends
Lizard men from different tribes adorn themselves with totems and tokens, displaying a striking similarity in design despite their tribal diversity. These ornaments, intricately crafted from bones, feathers, and bits of obsidian, symbolize a hidden link between the tribes and rumors of a mysterious worship practice tied to an ancient being.
The totems and tokens share a common design element—a depiction of a colossal lizard in a dormant state. The intricate carvings portray the ancient creature with eyes closed, resting amidst the swamp's vegetation. This shared symbol suggests a shared reverence for what they perceive as a primordial monster, or some speak in hushed tones of it being an ancient green dragon that once hunted the regional coastline.
Human and elven scholars have rough translations from some of the more "docile" of the lizard man but much of the validity of this beast is still as murk as the waters of the swamps and marshes. Each tribe have their own name but all suggest the same entity.
- Lizard Man Dialect: Skar'thulor - A combination of the words for "ancient" and "guardian" in the lizard men dialect, reflecting their belief in the creature as an ancient guardian of the swamp.
- Scholarly Interpretation: Wyrmquiescent Primogenitor - A scholarly interpretation combining the terms "wyrm" (a mythical serpent or dragon) with "quiescent" (at rest) and "primogenitor" (ancestor), emphasizing its role as an ancestral, dormant wyrm.
- Elvish Elegance: Serpentis Venerabilis - In Elvish, this name translates to "Venerable Serpent," encapsulating the reverence and age attributed to the creature in elven lore.
"The swamp echoed with the hiss of concealed foes, and before we knew it, the water erupted with them, their bone blades lurching from the shadows. It was like fighting the very swamp itself—silent, ruthless, and utterly unpredictable."
-soldier after a lizard man ambush
Average Height
6 to 7 feet
Average Weight
250 lbs
