Ixitxachitl (SofS)

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==Ixitxachitl==
: "'Chits," deep zealots, demon rays
Ixitxachitl appear as larger-than-average manta rays with a malevolent, toothy maw and eyes that reflect only intelligence and hatred of anything not of their race or creation. Aside from having one of the more complex racial names of any race above or below the sea, ixitxachitl are an intelligent, yet highly single-minded race. While all 'chitls tend toward evil and the worship of dark powers, the demon rays of the Inner Sea build their lives around their religion. While only 5% of the populace actually become priests of Ilxendren, all of them worship this god and pattern their daily lives upon the teachings of that religion. The theocracy that governs the ixitxachitl stacks the upper echelons with vampiric ixitxachitl and greater vampiric ixitxachitl, making a clear distinction between the ruling class and the ruled.
The three upper ranks of 'chitl society are the vitans (who rule the great temples), devitans (who rule the great cities and their subordinate temples), the vitanar guards (who protect his Holiness, the vitanar), and the vitanar at the top (who rules from the Holy City of Xedras). As far as any ixitxachitl is concerned, the vitanar is its god manifest in Serôs. Unlike most governments, any commands from these leaders are never questioned, for to fulfill a request of a holy fanged one is to be one current closer to such a gift oneself. The vitans work up through the ranks, hoping to be turned by their vitanar and thus allowed into the upper echelons of power. The devitans and vitanar guard are all turned to vampiric 'chitls by their vitanar, and their bite then drains one life energy level from victims. The vitanar itself drains two life energy levels. All vampiric 'chitls regenerate lost hit points, rather than being as immune to harm as a humanoid vampire, though they are not banished to a night-time existence or an aversion to either.
A slaving race, ixitxachitl have kept and bred entire populations of koalinth and locathah slaves to perform menial tasks and heavy labor in their society. The cruelties visited upon their slaves are in keeping with their religion, which preaches cruelty and a noted preference for the strong who prey on the weak. The ultimate gift is to become a vampire and mutate into the more powerful forms of the vitans and above. Thus, in order to be worthy of such a gift, 'chitls from birth are arrogant, self-centered, and paranoid of all others and competition for anything is fierce. Unlike some of the other races of Seròs, 'chitls have always had both male and female rulers, as the only thing that mattered was one's ruthlessness and zeal for power and Ibendren.
The ixitxachitl of Xedran Reefs once were content to remain on the western shallows of Serôs, claiming their territory and invading very rarely into other claimed waters. With the advent of the Twelfth Serôs War, the 'chitls died by the thousands and they merely looked upon it as a "Time of Tempering," a crucible through which they would emerge stronger and more worthy. Thus, as this time continues for them through the present year, many 'chitls throw themselves into battle against unbelievable odds and believe that they are improving themselves and their society through this practice.
===Game Characteristics===
Standard combat tactics for ixitxachitl are hiding beneath the sand and swooping out of hiding after prey passes to attack from behind. All ixitxachitl of Seròs have a unique attack that is most often used on their slaves or others they wish to intimidate. Their tails, which normally just serve to guide them while swimming, can wrap around and hold a Medium-sized or smaller sized victim and holds, due to the tail barb threatening to cut one open, with a Strength 16.
Among its territories, more than 80% of the 'chitls are common, though among the settlements, the incidence of priests is much higher (and the larger the settlement, the greater the priests as a rule). On patrols and at war, 'chitls hunt in packs of ten led by a priest (L1-3), though such packs are often in groups of four to ten packs further overseen by a vitan (L4-5) or rarely (25% chance) a vitanar guard (L6-7) or devitan (L8-9). Given the changes to the attitudes among the vitanate of Xedran Reefs, any 'chitls leaving their reefs come back with news of victory, as a valuable prisoner to interrogate and sacrifice, or they do not return, having failed to survive Ibendren's Tempering.
Ixitxachitl, Common Serôsian: AC 6 MV Sw 12; HD 1+1; THAC0 19; #AT 1; Dmg 3d4 (bite); SA Barbed tail; SD None; MR Nil; SZ S-L (3-8 wingspan); ML Champion (15); AL CE; XP 35.
Ixitxachitl Priest (L1-3): AC 6; MV Sw 12; HD 1+1 - 2+2; THAC0 19; #AT 1; Dmg 3d4 (bite); SA Spells, barbed tail; SD None; MR Nil; SZ S-L (3-8" wingspan); ML Champion (16); AL CE; XP 65 (L1-2); 120 (L3).
Ixitxachitl (Vitan; L4-5): AC 6; MV Sw 12; HD 2+2; THAC0 19; #AT 1; Dmg 3d4 (bite); SA Spells, barbed tail; SD None; MR Nil; SZ M-L (5-8" wingspan); ML. Fanatic (17); AL CE; XP 270.
Ixitxachitl, Vampiric (Vitanar Guard; L6-7): AC 6; MV SW 12; HD 3+3; THAC) 17; #AT 1; Dmg 3d4 (bite); SA Spells, barbed tail; SD Regenerate 3 hp/rd; MR Nil; SZ M-L (5-8 wingspan); ML. Fanatic (17); AL CE; XP 420 (L6); 650 (L7).
Ixitxachitl, Vampiric (Devitan; L8-9): AC 6; MV Sw 12; HD 4+4; THAC0 15; #AT 1; Dmg 3d4 (bite); SA Spells, barbed tail; SD Regenerate 3 hp/rd; MR Nil; SZ M-L (6-8 wingspan); ML. Fanatic (18); AL CE; XP 975 (LB); 1,400 (L9).
Ixitxachitl, Greater Vampiric (Vitanar; L10-11): AC 6; MV SW 12; HD 8+8; THAC012; #AT 1; Dmg 3d4 (bite); SA Spells, barbed tail; SD Regenerate 5 hp/rd; MR Nil; SZL (8 wingspan); ML. Fanatic (18); AL CE; XP 3,000 (L10); 4,000 (L11).