Chezucore

The Yuan-ti form a theocracy under the influence of the high priestess called the Chezucore.

Government

The Chezucore are led by the high priestess, a servant of the gods who will only give birth to the Chezucore's next leader. The Chezucore are highly religious and the high priestess serves both as an intermediate to their god and as a leader.
The high priestess is always a woman of extreme beauty, and her child will also always be a girl, destined to become the next high priestess once her mother dies in a ritualistic death. The death ritual is an important ceremony were the high priestess gives herself to the god with a bloody sacrifice when her daughter turns 14.
This is a rather rare event, as only the chosen of the god will be able to provide the high priestess with a child.

• Green Earth Union
  • Hobgoblin empire
  • Horseskull clan
  • Chezucore
  • Tortlesnapper clan
  • Oreskos pride

Culture

Vampire and Chezucore.

Chezucore have a different moral compass, some may call them emotionless. As such, they appreciate higher vampires as wise elders instead of fearing their wrath. This, in addition to their old tradition, leads to a friendship with some high vampires. The names of those vampires are transmitted from high priestess to high priestess.

"The relationship between the Yuan-ti and the Higher Vampires is a little-known and often shrouded in mystery. The Yuan-ti have been observed to have some sort of connection with Higher Vampires, but the nature of this connection remains unclear. It is speculated that the Yuan-ti may view the Higher Vampires as wise and powerful figures, however, it is hard to confirm as the Yuan-ti tend to keep to themselves and their culture is not well understood by outsiders."

— Antonidas

Ritual Sacrifice

The Chezucore theocracy places a strong emphasis on religious rituals. One such ritual is the sacrificial ceremony, which is performed every 90 days. During the ceremony, four nobles hold the chosen victim, typically a slave or prisoner, while the high priestess carries out the sacrifice.
The sacrifice is considered a crucial part of Chezucore culture, as it is believed to appease the gods and bring blessings to the community. The high priestess performs the sacrifice by cutting the victim's throat without killing them, then opening the torso and tearing out the beating heart. The heart is placed on the altar as an offering to the gods.
After the ceremony, the body is consumed, with the meat being used to make soup. The head is then impaled and displayed in the center of the city as a symbol of worship and as a deterrent to intruders. The Chezucore people view these religious rituals as a way to maintain order and harmony in their society, and they take their religious beliefs and practices very seriously.

Slavers

The Chezucore theocracy dominates the north of the jungle and forces the Tortles, a humanoid tortoise-like species, into enslavement. The snake people are cunning and overpower the Tortles, who are not known for their warrior abilities.
Tortles are used for manual labor and, for those who follow their druidic traditions, are forced to practice Necromancy and raise armies of the dead for the yuan-ti.

Hymn

In the heart of the jungle, where serpents entwine,
Chezucore, our sanctuary, where Sseth's will align,
Hear the hiss of the faithful, in shadows we reside,
Under Sseth's watchful gaze, we shall never hide.
Sseth, Sseth, our god divine,
Beneath the moonlit canopies, your power we enshrine,
With scales of wisdom and fangs that gleam so bright,
Guide us through the darkness, our eternal light.
In the coils of the jungle, our devotion runs deep,
Through sacred sacrifices, our faith we keep,
As we shed our old selves, like skins cast away,
We emerge renewed, to serve you each day.
Sseth, Sseth, our god divine,
Beneath the moonlit canopies, your power we enshrine,
With scales of wisdom and fangs that gleam so bright,
Guide us through the darkness, our eternal light.
High priestess, our leader, your voice we obey,
In your wisdom and guidance, we find our way,
With venomous tongues, we sing your decree,
In Chezucore's embrace, forever we'll be free.
Sseth, Sseth, our god divine,
Beneath the moonlit canopies, your power we enshrine,
With scales of wisdom and fangs that gleam so bright,
Guide us through the darkness, our eternal light.

Mounts and pets

The Calames jungle boasts a unique population of dinosaurs, making it imperative for the Chezucore to establish a well-organized system for utilizing these creatures as mounts. Understanding the diversity and temperaments of these dinosaurs, the Chezucore have categorized them for various purposes.
Brachiasaurus: Large wooden structures are meticulously crafted on the backs of Brachiasauruses. These immense structures serve as an excellent choice for large caravans, providing organized spaces and a significant vantage point, thanks to the creature's towering size.
Triceratops: For shorter journeys, or for merchants in less accessible regions, Triceratops are a preferred choice. Their robust physique enables them to carry heavy loads efficiently, making them ideal for this role.
Warriors' Steeds: Warriors among the Chezucore favor the likes of T-Rex and Anjanath. These mighty creatures are more challenging to tame but provide a considerable edge during battles in the dense jungle, making them the preferred mounts for combat.
Pterodactyls: A select elite among the Chezucore employ Pterodactyls to achieve air supremacy. The use of these winged creatures gained prominence during the War of the Serpent and the Sky, where aerial dominance became crucial.

Sports

Despite their often grim traditions, the Chezucore are known to have a strong affinity for Rafinuka being a particular favorite among them. This magical sport places a high value on arcane skill, strategic thinking, and agility, making it a popular pastime for Yuan-ti.
Many of them can be seen playing Rafinuka during their free time, viewing it not only as a form of entertainment but also as a way to train and hone their magical abilities. It serves as both a leisure activity and a means of improving their arcane prowess.

Valour

Everyone is beneath them, and the weak of mind should be manipulated and exploited, and the weak of body should be enslaved and used, all of this to spread the influence of their realm.

Names

Yuan-ti names have meanings that have been passed down through the generations, although spellings and inflections have changed over time.
Some yuan-ti add more sibilants to their birth names to create an exaggerated hissing sound, based on one’s personal preference and whether an individual’s anatomy can more easily pronounce the name in this altered form. An adopted name of this sort is recognized as a variant of the birth name, rather than a unique name unto itself. A yuan-ti might refer to itself by its birth name, by its adopted name, or (especially among purebloods) by a name it borrows from the local populace.
Yuan-i Names: Asutali, Shalkashlah, Eztli, Sisava, Hessatal, Sitlali, Hitotee, Soakosh, Issahu, Ssimalli, Itstli, Suisatal, Manuya, Talash, Meztli, Teoshi, Nesalli, Yaotal, Otleh, Zihu

Diplomatie

Relations

The Chezucore are part of the Green Earth Union, and serve as the leader of said union, leveraging the union in international relations to strengthen their influence.
An annual inter-tribal council of the green earth union is usually held in Orrinshire, the Yuan-ti preferring it to take place in their city, where they have more control, rather than in the Hobgoblin city of Boatwright.
The Chezucore and their control over the majority of the jungle can probably be seen as those with the largest territory, and they are also the wealthiest.

Economy

Exchange

The Chezucore had kept mountains of gold from the age before the Great Extinction, and always used those as their own. small square with the corner cut off, an arcane symbol stamped on them, the effect of which was later found to be for identification purposes.

Ancient Coins

The ancient realm has preserved many ancient traditions, including the use of ancient coins. These ancient coins retain their value even in other realms, including Tana's Empire, the hobgoblin empire, or the Lightfoot Kingdom. However, most merchants won't accept them, and you'll need to exchange them at a bank.

• Magini - platinum coin
• Orini - electrum coin
• Sepi - silver coin
• Kauti - copper coin

The Chezucore count on their reserve to fuel their economy, trading mostly with underground networks dealing in slavery, and rare components found only in the jungle.
When it comes to banks, or ways to hold those valuables, the Chezucore stockpile the coins in their temple, the amount of treasure found in those temples is quite inconceivable.

Wealth

The common Yuan-ti folk live with what could be valued as 3 gold ecu, this amount takes into account the charge they have to pay to maintain their slaves, but this generally represents a few silver a day.
The Yuan-ti, probably thanks to their accumulated wealth, tend to be wealthy, exploiting others to make sure they keep a comfortable lifestyle.

History

Elven incusrion

In the year 2967 BD, a significant event occurred with the nexus overflow, resulting in the creation of Elven High Magic. This event triggered a desire for expansion within a portion of the Kingdom of Lórien. However, their Queen did not grant this wish, causing internal division.
As a result, various independent groups within the kingdom led by Yaevinn Murmevent resorted to guerrilla warfare and attempted to expand eastward. Unfortunately, these elves found themselves outmatched by the Chezucore Theocracy, as the Yuan-ti inhabiting the region prevented them from entering the jungle. Fearing substantial casualties, these groups eventually chose to unite and embark on a journey to the east.
After a challenging journey, they finally found safety and security in what is now known as the Lightfoot Land, where they established the Kingdom of Galandor.

War of the Serpent and the Sky

The Aarakocra, dwelling in the elemental plane of air, received a divine message beckoning them to the material plane in search of a sign. Upon their arrival, they found themselves within the territory of the Chezucore. Believing the sign they sought resided within Chezucore's domain, the Aarakocra sought to dominate the Yuan-ti, sparking a brutal war.
Initially, the Aarakocra held an advantage with their superior mobility and aerial prowess. However, the Chezucore, faced with potential defeat, delved into sinister experiments, ultimately creating a deadly magical disease tailored to the vulnerabilities of the Aarakocra. This plague decimated their ranks, and the war's tides shifted in favor of the Chezucore, who were immune to the disease. The Aarakocra were forced to retreat, marking the end of the conflict.

Death of a god

In 1135 AD, a group of adventurers managed to obtain an audience with the Yuan-ti god, Sseth. During this audience, they were tasked with the retrieval of three legendary items of great power for the god. The adventurers returned in 1136 AD with the artifacts, yet the god refused to honor his part of the deal, leading to a confrontation and ultimately, to Sseth's demise.
The Yuan-ti, losing their god, also lost faith in the high priestess, and the entire hierarchy started to crumble. This led the Tortles to rebel, creating a conflict among the territories of the Yuan-ti.
With the distrust of the high priestess, the commandment chain was broken, and with the rebellion of the Tortles, the food supply chain was also broken. This led to a state of crisis, creating internal chaos among the Chezucore, and numerous Yuan-ti fled to the Temple of Umunairu seeking the help of another god.
The Tortles, on the other hand, managed to flee to the Beastland, and the high priestess Sistine managed to retrieve control of the Theocracy. Offering many sacrifices in the name of the new god they would worship; Noxia.

Geography

Region
Calames Jungle
Capital
Orrinshire
Aliases
/

Society

Government
Theocracy
Leader
/
Races
Yuan-ti
Main pantheon
Yuan-ti Pantheon
Population
/
Timeline
/

Other

Type

Geopolitical, Theocracy