Yuan-ti Purebloods

Purebloods form the lowest caste of yuan-ti society. They closely resemble humans, yet a pureblood can't pass for human under close scrutiny because there's always some hint of its true nature, such as scaly patches of skin, serpentine eyes, pointed teeth, or a forked tongue. Wearing cloaks and cowls, they masquerade as humans and infiltrate civilized lands to gather information, kidnap prisoners for interrogation and sacrifice, and trade with anyone who has something that can further their myriad plots.

### **Yuan-ti**

Yuan-ti are devious serpent folk devoid of compassion. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.

### **Forsaken Humanity**

Not all of the beings of the New World forsake the forebears and their ways. In the early days, a group of humans and feyborn sought to learn the Old Science of the forebears and reclaim the powers they once held. In their searching, they found ancient laboratories similar to those who birthed the Simic Hybrids, and through their studies, they found a way to use the Old Science to alter themselves physically. Thus these early pioneers took on the aspect of serpents. Coming to glorify snakes as their symbols, they lauded the serpent's sinuous flexibility, its calculated poise, and its deadly strike. Their advanced philosophy taught the virtue of detachment from emotion and of clear, focused thought.

Yuan-ti culture was among the richest in the mortal world. Their warriors were legendary, their cities grew quickly and suddenly. Yuan-ti temples stood at the centers of ancient metropolises, reaching ever higher to reach the heights of the ancient beings they so idolized. In time, fascination turned to fanaticism as the yuan-ti began learning more about the Old Science and the sacrifices it would require to master. Cults bound themselves to the worship of the Old Science and indulged in human sacrifice to achieve greater power, eventually sacrificing their own humanity and becoming more snakelike. The instability caused by this fanaticism, as well as attacks from other civilizations who saw the atrocities the yuan-ti were committing, caused the once great yuan-ti cities to crumble and become abandoned almost as quickly as the rose.

### **Cold of Heart**

Humanoid emotions are foreign to most yuan-ti, which understand sentiment only as an exploitable weakness. A yuan-ti views the world and the events of its own life with such extreme pragmatism that it is nearly impossible to manipulate, influence, or control by non magical means, even as it seeks to control other creatures through terror, pleasure, and awe.

Yuan-ti know that the world they hope to rule can't be bound for long by brute force, and that many creatures will refuse to serve. As a result, yuan-ti first influence other creatures with the promise of wealth and power. Time and again, humanoid cultures make the fatal mistake of trusting the yuan-ti. They forget that a yuan-ti that acts honorably or lends aid in a time of trouble does so only as part of a grander design.

Yuan-ti leaders are cunning and ruthless tacticians who readily sacrifice lesser yuan-ti if potential victory justifies such losses. They have no sense of honorable combat and strike first in decisive ambush if they can.

### **The Silver Three**

The yuan-ti believe dedication to the Old Science as transcending their mortality, and their physical transformation is a representation of this. The eventual culmination of the yuan-ti’s experiments is to become gods. Whether or not this is possible is yet to be proven, but three yuan-ti have come very close, and those three, known as the Silver Three, are worshipped as demigods. Most cults or sects of yuan-ti will typically follow the ideals of one of these three beings.

Dendar, the Night Serpent. Dendar's followers believe in weaponizing the fears and nightmares of others. Dendar herself is a mystery, some say she has fashioned herself into a giant snake that grows larger by devouring the fears of the world, while others say she is a tiny worm that lives in the back of your mind, feeding on your fears until you are an empty husk of yourself. Whatever the case, her followers are dedicated to feeding her fear by terrorizing as many people as possible.

Merrshaulk, Master of the Pit. Merrshaulk decrees that only by killing and consuming others can you grow stronger. Followers of Merrshaulk partake in acts of cannibalism and sacrifice, and revere those who have killed the most. Cultists in these sects also partake in the most body modification, hoping to create the most powerful champions they can. They often use their human sacrifices to stitch together great monstrosities which they test in the fighting pits.

Sseth, the Sibilant Death. Sseth’s cultists are thieves and criminals that pride themselves on infiltrating cities and gaining political power. Liars and double-crossers, these yuan-ti offer gifts of great power created by the Old Science, and then use these items against any foolish enough to accept them.

### **Snake Leaves**

Recently, a new sect of yuan-ti have emerged that study the Old Science, yet shun the Silver Three and their fanaticism. Instead they follow Serpens, the god of healing and rebirth. Little is known about these yuan-ti as they are highly secretive and keep to themselves, though the few that have interacted with them claim they are unlike any other yuan-ti.

### **Yuan-ti Names**

Hatsi, Hikhi, Zhohsha, Zhessiah, Thesul, Zitzu, Sshussozhieh, Ssutsashlih, Zsatstlolla, Zutsotiu, Zukhus, Zhektlie, Ssotzius, Humas, Salsee, Tizsu, Altlesuih, Utuileesh, Essuyiuh, Uzshohu