Serpentes

Art by ShinZm

**Serpentes** may be the strangest of all the races of the world. More ancient than the Ancient Races, they tend to be extremely reclusive. Human villages have legends about the same individual Serpentes dating back nine hundred years, leading many to believe they are in fact immortal.

## Physical Traits

Serpentes are humanoid, with the upper torso of a humanoid, and the lower half of a snake. their humanoid halves sport four arms, arranged with a slightly smaller pair of arms under the normal sized pair, they tend to be scaled, and some have been seen with what appear to be vestigial wings on the backs of their shoulders.

Their torsos are roughly human sized, and they appear to be very human-like in their appearance, apart from the extra pair of limbs, and the reptilian vertical pupils.

### Hugs

Word of God states that, owing to their physical characteristics and unique powers of insight, Serpentes give "the best, warmest hugs of any race. But they only give them to the deserving."It is therefore particularly notable that Markus received one from Hildegarde shortly before his death at her hands. There is considerable debate between Beardy and Keni over whether Hildie or Jaculus gives better hugs.

## Ecology

Serpentes are also heavily female. Of all the known Serpentes across the southern continent, none are male. However, when asked the females do acknowledge that they exist, but that they are simply "rare these days". It is also apparent that due to the seemingly endless lifespan of the species, they are in no rush to procreate.

Serpentes are natively magical, and many have been observed wielding sorcerer like powers. It is not unusual for one to serve as a local healer, or witch, for a community. Though due to their power and collected knowledge, any community with a friendly Serpentes witch should count itself very lucky.

## Rarity

Scholars who have studied them surmise that there are perhaps less than one hundred left on the entire world. But there is no evidence that there were ever any more than that either. This leaves most in the scholarly communities with more questions than answers, and the Serpentes are keeping quiet on the subject.

## History

In ancient times, when the primordial gods walked the land, the Elder Snake Sett fought with many of the others. In doing so, he managed to consume the Grand Phoenix Attiah, and take on his radiance and mastery of rebirth and everlasting life. Later when the followers of Sett were suffering from a terrible plague, they prayed for salvation and Sett offered them an exchange. Salvation from the plague in exchange for eternal servitude instead of just worship.
When faced with annihilation or slavery, the people choose slavery and entered into a pact with their deity to serve. their uncaring lord decided to ignore the pleas of his new slaves and over time they grew restless and decided to use the teaching of their god against him, knowing his power over life came from the egg of Attiah that he ingested in the earliest days of the world.

they launched a coup and managed to overpower their god for a moment, just enough time to taste of his divine flesh. the ravenous masses tore Sett apart and ingested him, hoping to be granted the power to be free again. instead, they were doubly cursed, they received the blessings of life and became eternal, but also took upon the countenance of the deity they had grown to hate so much.

it was too much for most, and they decided it would be better to fade into obscurity and vanish from the world. while others decided to make the best of their time on the planet and assist the younger races subtly over the centuries.There were many debates, ones held with the other survivors of the coup, a group now calling themselves the Serpentes. should they carry on and be fruitful, or fade from the world? Some choose to die by their own hand in their own time, others choose to never have offspring.
## Notable Serpentes

* Lady Hildegarde - The Witch of Wittengen.
* Mara - The Keeper of the Temple of Sett.
* Lady Yasmin - The Hag of the Zhash Basin.
* Jaculus, 'YaYa,' 'Jackie' - A Player Character in *Snake Eyes* Campaign One, played by Keni.
* Nephytis - Guardian of the Valley of Sett.

## Behind the Curtain

### General

Serpentes are unnaturally sharp mentally, and due to their long lives they tend to take the long view on matters.

### Traits

#### Boundless Curiousity

A serpentes lives a very long time, however they never really lose that spark of curiousity for the world around them. All serpentes gain a misc +1 on all knowledge skill checks

#### Slithering Speed

A serpentes moves at a slightly slower gait than most races, moving at only 20'

#### Twinned Arms

A serpentes has four arms, the extra pair nestled under the primary arms and roughly 80% the size. These extra limbs allow for fine manipulation of tools that are precise, however they lack the muscles of standard arms, taking 1/2 damage bonuses on any attacks.

1. ↑ Discord Post 1 (March 17th, 2021)
2. ↑ Discord Post 2 (March 17th, 2021)
3. ↑ Discord Post 3 (March 17th, 2021)
4. ↑  "A Call to Eden" (1x50)