Reptiliads

Written by Forjgenon

This is a mocking riff off of the alien lizard overseers who make men do evil so they can feed off the evil energy of Earth in their goal of galactic conquest.

Reptiliads are an odd race, most likely the true breed of a wizard or warlock's magically concocted minions. While reasonably intelligent they suffer from paranoia, delusions of grandeur, inferiority, incessant lying and deception. Reptiliads are simply on a quest for power and status. "To Rule the World" is a normal life goal. They are not builders, but traders and squatters. They understand manipulation and motivations; excelling more at the craft of the deal than the goal of the long haul. They see themselves as pullers of the strings of the world, often taking credit for things with no explanation of how they participated. They consider themselves a proud warrior race, stealth ninjas in their own minds, but they are not great fighters. They like the imagery, the status and the bargaining position such a boast gives them. Reptiliads like to be well prepared, but as consumate liars are strong improvisers. A member would likely secure an item that they can use as a bargaining chip to obtain a safe exit before meeting a foe. They would think less of fighting their way out and more about an item desirable enough to the foe to buy their way out. Their skills are with illusion, sleight of hand, sneaking, thievery and tinkering. They share the latter with gnomes, but their tinkerings are nowhere near as refined. Their machines tend to be larger and less elegant. Some surprising machines have been encountered, but there is a suspicion that some borrowing and self-aggrandized claiming was involved.
Their presence, however, cannot be discarded as inconsequential. They possess enough skill to be a nuisance and with numbers can form a threat. Disruption and chaos are a good end for a Reptiliad. With the confusion of chaos comes much opportunity.
They often set up shop in more crowded towns and cities and use dark of night and underground to move about. During the day they rely upon costumes and illusions to allow them to go out in the day. No social caste is known, nor how they procreate. There is a suggestion that they have a few unique spawning undergrounds that all reptiliads return to for mating; which involves eggs. Male and females look identical and young versions have not been recorded. They usually have odd out of place names, like Hermann, Eddy & MaryLynn.
Reptiliads have access to magic, but they suffer from limitations. Most of their magic is imbibed into objects during longer rituals. They rely heavily on their shapeshifting and illusionary skills.
Shrouds - a magical standard amongst the Reptililads is the shroud. This patch of fabric, usually rich silks, has stitches of metallic threads running through it in geometric patterns. Hard amber-like beads are fixed to the shroud, which the Reptiliad makes from their saliva. The magic of the shroud appear to be unique to the Reptiliad that created it. On one side is designed the eyes and mouth of a generic face. The shroud must be laid on a person's face for three rounds with the decorated side up. The person must not move much and is typically unconscious. After that, the Reptiliad can drape the shroud across his face and take on their appearance and sound to doppelgang them. They make these is large numbers as each one holds the visage of only one creature.

by Royal Frazier

Chainmail Coifs (Farradeighs) - The reptiliads wear chainmail coifs. This is worn ritualistically, as it has significance in their religion or culture. The links are usually triangular or diamond patterned, oversized and layered rather than tighter, neater chains. Rich fabrics, colorful and varied are worn beneath, and sometimes threaded in bands as decorations. Across the forehead, cheeks, and across the chest at the breast bone are often trinkets hanging from the chainmail. Some, like tattoos, are personal and meaningful. Others are usable, like keys or magic. When the ventail is used the head is completely covered. The ventail has significant large links at the section over the eyes to see easier. The ventails are used when sitting quietly, sleeping, waiting.
Castillets - these imbibed trinkets contain functions like spells. Sometimes throw, sometimes touched to access.


They are well known to have Gray Monkey Cats--which they claim to have created from their magic. These small shape shifting animals are pets and servants. But they are rambunctious and tend to cause a bit of their own chaos. They appear as regular cats and their shapeshift is not magical, so detect magic does not expose them. Reptiliads will usually have many of them living around them, running about mixed with real cats. Their monkey form is like a capuchin monkey, but very bald with limited tuffs of black fur and ashen gray, wrinkly skin. Not very visually appealing, they look like old men with big black eyes. They lack that cute monkey appeal. However, the monkey form is useful as they are very dexterous and can easily open things and search for information or objects. Lore says that the monkey form is the more vulnerable true form. In the cat form, a death causes it to revert to the monkey state with a regeneration of hit points. It is believed this may have led to the lore of cat having nine lives.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Reptiliads are turtle-nosed, reptilian-featured humanoids. They have somewhat tough reptilian skin and natural carapace plates along their hunched back. They have clawed feet and retracting claws on their somewhat thick fingers. There face has wide eyes and a hook of bone that narrow as it comes down in front of the mouth.