Cold Glade Confederacy

The Cold Glade Confederacy, or the Lizardfolk of the Dark Basin, is a large collection of slightly advanced Lizardfolk tribes turned clans in the North-Eastern swampland of the world. They have been open to the idea of technological advancement and progression towards a civilization due to unchecked trade with the Empire of Eternus. With the byproduct of all the trade and interaction being the advancement of the Lizardfolk tribes of the Dark Basin into a loose Confederacy of Lizardfolk clans in a monarchical feudal system. With the largest, most powerful Lizardfolk leading their respective clans. Owing all of their allegiances to the strongest Clan at the time.

### **Species**

The Lizardfolk as a species are vast and alien to normal people. They are taller and stronger than normal men, with claws that can disembowel creatures and jaws that can snap bones with ease. Covered in scales stronger than most armor, Lizardfolk tear through their foes easily. Being reptiles, they have little to no emotion, this consequentially leads to most Lizardfolk not having a grasp on concepts like morality or good and evil. They solely are driven by survival instincts and cold blooded logic. Most Lizardfolk stand between 6'-7' and weigh on average between 200-250 lbs. With larger sub-species standing between 8'6"-9'6" and weighing between 550-650 lbs. Lizardfolk are cold blooded creatures, obviously relating to their reptilian counterparts in nature.

Lizardfolk tend to stay in the swamps and wetlands they were born in, often eating any trespasses that come their way. In the eyes of the Lizardfolk, meat is meat, no matter what. Lizardfolk have been known to be cannibals due to this ideology. Which leaves many of the other humanoid races to view them as savages that only live to raid, slaughter and devour. Which is a moderately accurate depiction.

### Politics

The Cold Glade Confederacy is exactly what the title states. It is a confederation of Lizardfolk clans located in the Dark Basin. A massive bog and swampland located in the North-Eastern regions of the world. Many minor clans give fealty to the Great Clans- who control major provinces and command vast hosts of Lizardfolk. Many great clans have expertise in different types of the social hierarchy. Clan SunClaw for example, is filled with many intellectual Lizardfolk, would be scribes, researchers and diplomats. While on the opposite side of the spectrum there is Clan IronJaw. Which prides itself on martial culture and ability. Many larger warriors that replace one of their many teeth after each battle with one forged from metal, to signify their veteran status.

    Great Clans such as these answer to the strongest of the Great Clans. At this time it is Clan BloodScale. Which is comprised of ferocious warriors and Black Scale Lizardfolk- the largest and most dangerous sub-species of Lizardfolk. Clan BloodScale is lead by the Cold Blooded King - a massive and ancient Lizardfolk that has earned his title through unparalleled bloodshed and violence. Yet he has an open mind when it comes to innovation and progression unlike most of the other Lizardfolk throughout the world. Leading his feudal clans into a Golden Age for his people.

### Culture

Much history and culture for most Lizardfolk is only spoken and not written. However, during the last 15 years of advancement the Cold Glade Confederacy has adopted written language and early documentation of their history has been taking place. Many different clans descend from different tribes, whom all have different creation stories of why the Lizardfolk are there. However many believe that the Lizardfolk descend from the indecisiveness of one of their deities, who split into two. A female half, and a male half. With the former being more passive and focused on nurturing whilst the latter focused on aggression and conflict. This has set in stone the ideas that female Lizardfolk are to take care of the young, tend to the camps or clans, and help bring the tribe forward. Whilst the males were responsible for hunting, defending their territory and exterminating threats.

When Lizardfolk passes on, their funeral wake will end with their corpse being eaten by the rest of the tribe or clan. To become one with their tribe or clan forever both figuratively and literally.

### Religion

Most lizardfolk worshiped Semuanya, who focused solely on the survival and propagation of the lizardfolk species. This religion was maintained by clerics who served as tribal shamans; they bestowed Semuanya's blessings on the lizardfolk people whenever required. Although they had no shrines or temples, nor even regular ceremonies, lizardfolk were very proud of their religious traditions and their deity. However, Semuanya was an uncaring and unfeeling god who dismissed even the suffering of his followers, expecting them to take care of themselves.

Thanks to Semuanya's close links to nature, and because lizardfolk were naturally close to the land, ready to take what it gave them, many lizardfolk had no problem shifting to worshiping nature itself. This led to a high number of lizardfolk druids.

However, the lizardfolk had other gods. Their original god was Essylliss, who focused on the lizardfolk themselves. But as Semuanya's influence grew, Essylliss's worship declined until he was almost forgotten. He was followed by a bare few lizardfolk until recently. As the Cold Glade Confederacy has perpetuated his worship, leading to a strong progressive sentiment amongst the Lizardfolk of the Dark Basin.

Throughout a lot of the settlements in the Dark Basin, rudimentary pyramid temples rise from the murky swamp-waters that are temples dedicated to Essylliss. These temples are made from clay brick and decorated with bronze and copper. Many of the priests of Essylliss preach that their god wants them to progress and to become the best versions that they can be, no longer satisfied with just mere survival. The Lizardfolk must rise up and display their true dominance as a species.
There was also the cult of Sess'innek, a demon lord who represented dominion and his version of civilization. He sought to corrupt the lizardfolk, and created the demonic lizard kings to this end; they operated as tribal leaders or shamans. Sess'innek's followers were hostile, territorial, and greedy. They tried to convert all other lizardfolk to their cult, or else kill them off, and they attacked Semuanya's shamans on sight.

Due to recent events, where the god of beasts, Qezotl, appeared to many of the clan leaders within their dreams. However it was when he communed with the Cold Blooded King in his dreams, he issued his divine providence. The world would face a calamity like never before seen. The Cold Blooded King must unite all the Lizardfolk of Yamga to insure their odds of surviving the coming scourge. As well as to partake in Qezotl's great hunt. Where Lizardfolk must hunt great beasts to appease him. Qezotl bestowed upon the Cold Blooded King the mark of the beast. Burning intricate designs all over his body in a dream, and resting his claw on the King Lizardfolk's head. Marking him with a white clawmark across his scarred visage.

The purpose was clear, the Cold Glades Confederacy driven fanatical for their divine work laid before them. There will be unity or death, no one will stop them.

### Major Cities

    What could be called the capital city of the Confederacy is the seat of the Great BloodScale Clan, Ichor-stone. A vast and very impressive city especially for Lizardfolk. It has massive mounds surrounding the city made from clay brick and mud that acts as walls. With towers intermittently scattered along the walls. Ichor-stone is in the heart of the Dark Basin, buried deep in the swamps with no real roads leading to it. The barely allowed travelers from Eternus usually traverse these treacherous swampland via boats along the rivers. Many of which lead to Ichor-stone.

The resemblance to actual cities is very clear, the effects of the trade and mingling with the Empire of Eternus rubbed off on the Lizardfolk in many ways. City blocks and markets apparent, with guard patrols and a semblance of a working bureaucracy is present. At the center of Ichor-stone is the Vermillion Keep. A massive and ancient citadel ruin that has been repaired using clay bricks and stone. Adding to it a maroon brown hue, giving it its name. Within these moss covered walls and semi-flooded halls sits the Cold Blooded King, a massive and intelligent Black Scale Lizardfolk that rules over the BloodScale clan. The Cold Blooded King meets regularly with Eternus Imperial Emissaries and his own advisors. Behind his scarred vision he ponders what moves he should take that would lead his people further along the road to prosperity.

Clan IronJaw is seated in the South-East of the Dark Basin, located in their home of Stone Mound. Again, another stone ruin from an empire ages past. Since their decline, the fortress was claimed by the Swamp, and then the Lizardfolk of the IronJaw clan. Finding this drowned fortress must have been a gift from Essylliss to Clan IronJaw, which fitted its every need as a martially focused clan. Utilizing its armories buried deep within to create crude weapons and to use shards of blades to replace their teeth which is significant in the culture of Clan IronJaw. The ruin would be repaired and refurbished as a seat of local power for Clan IronJaw. Building sprawling, muddy shantytowns around it. Where many Lizardfolk fish and apply their trades in relative safety in the shadow of the old fortress. Should any outside aggressors draw too near, they will be met with ferocious violence given unto them by the Lizardfolk of the IronJaw clan.

Summer-Sun is the seat of the SunClaw clan. It is located on the coast of the Dark Basin in the South-West along the strait. It is easily seen from the coast due to the reflection of the many boulders that dot the landscape from which the Lizardfolk sunbathe on. Summer-Sun is a key port city and seen as a hot spot of activity. As many Lizardfolk of SunClaw aren't outwardly hostile unless provoked or hungry. So many merchants from the Empire of Eternus sell their wares and conduct trade in the vast sprawling markets of Summer-Sun. Many Lizardfolk also travel here for the luxuries provided, as Summer-Sun is easily one of the best places to sunbathe for all cold-blooded kind. As well as plenty of fishing opportunities along the coasts. Where Lizardfolk swim and sail all along the coast.

Sable is the seat of the Great EbonTooth clan. Buried deep within the Northern Swamps of the Dark Basin. Many of the Black Scale Lizardfolk find themselves owing their lineage to the EbonTooth clan. Which consists of mostly Black Scale Lizardfolk, the largest and most dangerous sub-species of Lizardfolk. Sable is a small and well kept secret of the Confederacy. Being a minor location in the shadow bogs, where many dangerous creatures await. Here the EbonTooth focus on raising new Black Scales for future conflicts as well as focusing on the creation of Black Scales- with breeding pits and burrows dug deep within the marshes. To compensate for this concealed hotbed of activity, a lot of meat, fish and greens are sent to Sable to sustain the growth of the ravenous Black Scale population. The only defenses of Sable are the terrible shadow bogs that surround it, consisting of many tar pits and venomous creatures, and the Black Scales themselves. Nobody in their right mind would want to traverse such terrible territory to only come upon ogre sized Lizardfolk.

### Military Forces

The war hosts of the Dark Basin are forces to be reckoned with. Towering reptiles with crude industrialized weapons make up large swathes of the forces. Most forces are able to use simple or rudimentary copies of most modern weapons, however the Lizardfolk seem to favor weapons that maul, crush, bludgeon, hack and slash above all. Owing to their love of overt violence. Many Lizardfolk will wield halberds, poleaxes, massive cleaver swords, mauls, war-hammers, throwing axes and javelins. While being supplemented by bows and blowguns utilized by the smaller in stature.

Many Lizardfolk don't require armor due to the nature of their hard scales, but that does not stop the Confederacy from cladding their own warriors in leather, bone or bronze armor. However, much of this depends on what clan the war host derives from. Sunclaw Lizardfolk might be more prone to wearing leather but wielding more lighter weapons or ranged weapons. Whilst IronJaw will be clad in the heaviest armor they could find with the most nightmarish weapons the Lizardfolk could produce. While Black Scales will wade into the masses in heavy armor and massive great weapons to crush or cut swathes of foes to pieces.

Due to the Confederacy's nature, many war hosts are dependent on the Clans they derive from, the strongest coming from the Great Clans. Whilst the smaller clans could produce a single raid party at least. Many of the Great clans also have access to a great many giant riding lizards, whom make up the sole animal of their cavalry forces. Though a little slower than standard horses, Great Lizards make up for it in pure offensive capability, maneuverability and adaptability. Riders are able to climb over obstacles and city walls easily, and also being able to swim underwater for relatively long amounts of time. Adding to war host armies being extremely capable at ambush tactics, especially in wet or coastal environments. However, war hosts will rarely venture into arid or freezing climates, being too cold or too hot and dry for their cold-blooded bodies.

All in all, fighting Lizardfolk, especially the organized Lizardfolk from the Dark Basin. Will be a nightmare for any foe who wishes to go toe-to-toe with these massive, ferocious reptilians. Those that survive are subject to the horror of being a prisoner of the Cold Glade Confederacy, rather, they get to live a few days longer watching their friends being used as a food source for the war host as it marches on in their never ending crusade to feed.