Yuan-ti

**Yuan-ti** are a race of serpent-like humanoids native to the southern planes of Yuantica. They are one of the oldest extant races in Ygdren, and are exceedingly proud of this fact, often believing themselves to be superior in most ways to other mortal races. They are typically warlike and aggressive, though they can be subtle and scheming when it is required of them.

## Description

The appearance of yuan-ti varies greatly from nearly human-like to nearly snake-like, but all have some serpentine features. In more snake-like forms, this varies from snake tails and heads, to almost a full snake body. In more humanoid forms, the changes are more subtle; lidless eyes, serpentine nose, forked tongues, and so on. Scale colours are usually simple greens and browns, but more elaborate swirls, stripes, or diamond patterns are possible, even in blues and reds.

Yuan-ti notably give off almost no scent that a human could detect, because they do not sweat, but animals can sense a dry, musty odour from their bodies, much like a snake, which makes many mammalian beasts nervous. Only the most human-like forms of yuan-ti wear clothing, but all varieties wield weapons if they have the means to carry them.

## Culture & Society

Yuan-ti exist only in large numbers in the wide savannas of southern Yuantica. Their society is formed into a pyramid of castes, with each caste holding near absolute authority over the ones beneath it. In general, the more serpentine features a yuan-ti possesses the higher its status in yuan-ti society. Shaitans are at the top of the pyramid, followed by malisons, and finally purebloods. Each subrace is further split into castes by wealth, strength, and achievement. A yuan-ti is born into their caste, and rarely ascends to higher levels except by extraordinary deeds.

Despite the rigidity of this societal hierarchy, there is still a staggering amount of politics within the castes. Every advantage and small gain is sought and fought over hungrily. Since yuan-ti are born in clutches, with no parents or familial ties, each yuan-ti rarely seeks any milestone that does not directly benefit themselves. They will work together for common goals, but friendship and closer ties are scorned except for reproduction, which is seen as a duty of those in the upper tiers of their caste in order to produce the "best" possible offspring.

## Subraces

### Purebloods

Purebloods are the least serpentine of the yuan-ti. Outwardly, they fully resemble normal humans, and only minor traits distinguish them as otherwise. Their skin is generally cold and their heartbeats slow if they aren't in the sunlight, and their tongue is longer than normal and forked. Despite their low status in yuan-ti society, they are prized as adept spies, and used to infiltrate places where more obviously snake-like yuan-ti cannot.

### Malisons

Malisons have the lower body of a giant serpent, but the torso, arms, and head of a human. They are the most common of the yuan-ti, and have positions as officers, foremen, priests, and administrators of middling to low rank. Unlike Purebloods, their human half is more obviously snake-like. They have slitted eyes, scaley patches of skin, and hollow, fanged incisors.

### Shaitans

Shaitans are the only yuan-ti to fully resemble a serpent, aside from their scaled arms. They are the elite upper class of yuan-ti society, acting as high priests, generals, and other positions of wealth, power, and influence. They have no traces of human appearance, and in yuan-ti society are considered the "pure" ones, despite the predominantly Domari names suggesting otherwise.

## Properties

### Purebloods

* ***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
* ***Size.*** Your size is Medium.
* ***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
* ***Darkvision.*** You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.
* ***Serpentkin.*** You know the *poison spray* cantrip. When you take the Attack action, you can replace one of your attacks with a casting of this cantrip. In addition, you have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with snakes. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return. Unless provoked, they view you as an ally, and you have advantage on all checks made to influence them.
* ***Cold Blooded.*** When you are forced to make a saving throw against a spell or other magical effect, you can give yourself advantage on the saving throw. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
* ***Forked Tongue.*** You gain proficiency in the Persuasion and Deception skills. You also have advantage on checks made to disguise yourself physically as human.

### Malisons

* ***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Constitution score increases by 1, your Dexterity increases by 1, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
* ***Size.*** Your size is Medium.
* ***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
* ***Darkvision.*** You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.
* ***Serpentkin.*** You know the *poison spray* cantrip. When you take the Attack action, you can replace one of your attacks with a casting of this cantrip. In addition, you have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with snakes. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return. Unless provoked, they view you as an ally, and you have advantage on all checks made to influence them.
* ***Cold Blooded.*** When you are forced to make a saving throw against a spell or other magical effect, you can give yourself advantage on the saving throw. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
* ***Malificent Legacy.*** Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the *sleep* spell with this trait. Starting at 5th level, you can also cast the *darkness* spell with it. Once you cast *sleep* or *darkness* spell with this trait, you can't cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

### Shaitans

* ***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
* ***Size.*** Your size is Medium.
* ***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
* ***Darkvision.*** You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.
* ***Serpentkin.*** You know the *poison spray* cantrip. When you take the Attack action, you can replace one of your attacks with a casting of this cantrip. In addition, you have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with snakes. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return. Unless provoked, they view you as an ally, and you have advantage on all checks made to influence them.
* ***Cold Blooded.*** When you are forced to make a saving throw against a spell or other magical effect, you can give yourself advantage on the saving throw. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
* ***Snake Glide.*** By lowering your body to the ground and propelling yourself with your snake tail, you can move more quickly for a time. As a bonus action on your turn, you can increase your walking speed by 10 feet until the end of your turn.
* ***Constricting Tail.*** You can use your tail to grapple a creature without occupying your hands, and can make and control this grapple with Dexterity (Acrobatics) instead of Strength (Athletics).