Ilseiss

Ilseiss, the serpent-men of Srathas, are a mysterious race native to the eastern rainforests of Auldenon. Because they rarely venture beyond the jungle, what little is known of their history and society comes from small groups of exiles who were cast out and settled in nearby regions.

## Description

Although bipedal and proportioned roughly similarly to humans or elves, the physiology of the ilseiss sets them apart from other races. Their torsos are also longer than those of humans, accounting for nearly a third of their height, while their mouths are disconcertingly wide and stretch nearly from ear to ear. Rather than hair, their skin is covered in minuscule scales that are nearly invisible to the naked eye, causing their unnatural coloration and characteristic shimmering in the light. Because their eyes are covered by a thin protective membrane that takes the place of eyelids, they do not blink.

The internal organs of ilseiss are arranged vertically rather than laterally while their skeletons possess flexile joints and ribs, a unique structure that allows ilseiss to squeeze through small spaces or contort in ways that would be impossible for other races.

## Personality

Ilseiss dwelling in Srathas tend to adapt a detached, callous outlook of their lives and relationships. Due to the harsh nature of life in the rainforest and the competition fostered by their caste system, many find it difficult to trust others and will dismiss matters of luxury or entertainment as little more than fleeting distractions from the brutal, might-makes-right nature of the world. Nevertheless, performances of music or works of art are often a welcome distraction in the city of Nar'jess, whose inhabitants strike a careful balance between cunning and complacency. They are resourceful, quickly moved to indignation, and all too willing to hold a grudge until given an opportunity to crush whoever provokes their ire.

Those who dwell beyond the jungle have softened somewhat as they have encountered other races and cultures, and are often more open and welcoming. Many have been known to maintain the severe worldview of their Srathan kin, although they direct their energies more toward the preservation of the ilseiss against outside threats than individual power.

## Abilities

The shimmering scales of ilseiss are both a blessing and a curse, affording them some protection against physical attacks while also making them more conspicuous in most environments. The harsh conditions of their native Srathas have also imbued ilseiss with a natural resistance to poisons, although being so well-adapted to the jungle leaves them vulnerable and sluggish in colder climates.

The unique physiology of ilseiss allows them to contort in ways that would be impossible for other races, passing through narrow gaps or bending their limbs at odd angles. These unique abilities make them both feared adversaries and outcasts among other races, most notably the humans that dwell just beyond their borders.

## Society

The serpent-folk's society is sharply divided between two factions: The jungle-dwelling **Ilseiss** from whom the race takes its name and the exiled **Nsoni** who live along the borders of the Empire of Asteveil and Darnelis.

Ilseiss society remains a mystery to the wider continent, with only occasional glimpses being recorded by visitors to the Slithering City of Nar'jess. The inhabitants of the city are divided into a rigid caste system dictating their social standing, although movement between the castes is possible through exceptional achievements or failures. This leads to intense competition and rivalries amongst the serpent-folk as they strive to ascend to greater status. The most populous caste is known as the *aj'si*, beneath which are *aj'ras* and above which are the illustrious *aj'ent*. Although one's caste is purely social and has no bearing on their occupation, it does determine their level of access to the city, with aj'si living and working along the sheer spires and faces of the city center while aj'ras toil in the shadows at the foot of the cliffs. Aj'ent, for their part, bask in the sun in the upper reaches of the city and rarely descend.

Nsoni society, by contrast, is less structured. Loosely organized into a series of clans, the exiles have welcomed other races into the fold. Each clan is led by an elder, typically an ilseiss, who acts as a guide and mentor for other members of the clan and makes collective decisions on their behalf.

## History

The origins of the ilseiss are shrouded in myth and mystery. One tale passed down through the generations recounts the Egg-and-Scale Banquet, a feast held by the enigmatic Gods of the Garden on the first day of creation on the first patch of solid ground. It is there that the ilseiss were created, feasting upon the bounty they were provided and each other until the first of their kind stood tall and set out into the blossoming world.

Whatever the truth, ilseiss have existed on the continent for at least as long as elves, with the first contact between the two races occurring several centuries before the start of Pontic Count. The city of Nar'jess was established even at that point, and its inhabitants displayed no interest in the world beyond their rainforest, being much more occupied with plumbing the secrets of their homeland than any events past the treeline. They toiled in isolation for centuries, establishing the caste system and expanding the Slithering City until a religious schism in 133 PC that resulted in the Nsoni leaving Srathas in order to pursue the prophecy of The Sun Who Walks.

The Nsoni settled near the border of Darnelis, founding the settlement of Menath'vha and slowly establishing connections with the neighboring human villages and kingdoms. As favorable relationships were established and trade caravans began passing through the town, Nsoni culture began to spread in kind, eventually reaching as far as Entari. It was at this point that individuals of other races began settling in Menath'vha, eventually adapting the ilseiss conventions and traditions that the Nsoni had brought with them.

In the generations since, the Nsoni have remained a fringe group in the border regions of Entari and Darnelis, typically looked down upon or mistrusted for their foreign customs. Nevertheless, they have proven to be a welcoming and resilient group, even obtaining representation in the courts of certain human kingdoms prior to their assimilation by the Empire of Asteveil.

Recently, the Nsoni have rallied to the cause of the Heir, recognizing her as their prophesied Sun Who Walks and becoming her most fervent supporters. Menath'vha has become the seat of the Heir's growing retinue of Sunchasers, who count many ilseiss warriors, clerics, and assassins among their ranks.