Lamia (Lah-mee-uh)

Lamia are essentially snakes that learned to pull themselves upright and grew arms. Their face is that of a snake's. A male lamia will have a hood like a cobra, that they can collapse and reveal at will. Female lamia will not have this hood. Lamias' lower body and tails can be up to thirty feet long. Lamia learn magic faster than humans but slower than naga.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Lamia are a mix between humanoid and snake. Their main body, from the waist up, stands upright, but they have no legs, and the rest of them is mainly tail, so they get around by slithering. They have two arms, with two fingers and a thumb on each hand. Their face is similar to a snake's, so they have no ears or nose, but have the snout of a snake, and the infrared heat pits that go along with it. Their entire body is covered in scales, and the larger scales of their underbelly also climb the front of their main body.

Genetics and Reproduction

Lamia reproduce sexually and lay eggs instead of giving live birth.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Lamia are carnivores, and hunt large prey, like tigers and bears. Unlike naga, they try to refrain from eating people when hungry, and will guide someone to safety if they can.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Lamia have no noses or ears. Their teeth are pointed, they have two large fangs on both jaws, and their eyes have slits instead of pupils.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Jungles or deserts

Average Intelligence

Human or higher

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

• Constriction
• Hypnotic Gaze: Like naga, lamia can channel magic through their eyes to produce glowing rings, spirals, or solid shades of varying color. When a target is exposed to these for longer than five to ten seconds, they will be unable to break their gaze, and will eventually be placed into a deep trance. As lamia are somewhat more polite, reserved, and professional than naga, they will only ever use this power if they have to.
• Thermoreception: Lamia have the ability, due to the heat pits on their snout, to see heat signatures and sources, much like snakes. Unlike snakes, however, they can turn it on and off at will, allowing them to either see normally, or via infrared perception. They cannot sense magic, however.

Civilization and Culture

Beauty Ideals

Lamia, like naga, place beauty value on scale pattern and color more than anything.  However, unlike naga, lamia are less bound by human standards of beauty.

Average Technological Level

Lamia put no faith in any significantly advanced technology, and use magic for most things.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Lamian

Common Dress Code

Lamia generally wear nothing; their genitalia are internal.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Lamia get along well with most other races, except for the residents of Hell, and "dark" variants of other races.

Scientific Name

Varying

Lifespan

60-80 years

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Average Height

5-6 feet (152-183cm)

Average Weight

1,500-2,500 lbs (680-1134 kg)

Average Length

20-25 feet (6-7.6 m)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Varying