The Lizardfolk of Quezachult

In ancient times there was a lizardfolk civilisation in the Jungles of Azzteekel on the continent of Quezachult. They built the vast and beautiful city of Irthos. Learned in mathematics, astronomy, and architecture. They mapped their lands, and the heavens, and built towering pyramids to store their troves of learning and seek enlightenment through study. This knowledge is all but forgotten, the civilisation and city lost to time. In the mysterious calamity that befell the wise Lizardmen of Azzteekel their knowledge was lost and destroyed. Their city ruined and their books and implements of knowledge were burned. What stands in its place, among the ruined buildings, much taken back by the jungle itself, is a tribe of lizardmen driven by greed and slaughter and blood sacrifice. They worship the goddess Semuanya. Her focus is on the survival of the lizardfolk species though strength and the shunning of higher thought. She demands from her followers a form of unthinking service, sacrifice, and survival by primal savagery. A strength they need as they are frequently under attack from the dangerous denizens of the jungle, as well as a tribe of demonic lizardfolk out of the Black Pits, worshipers of the Demon Snake, Sessineck.

Artizak was a young lizardman when he discovered a lost temple deep within a valley in the northern parts of the jungle. Here he found a temple still standing unlike the others he had seen all his life in wrack and ruin. Once he was of age he found himself travelling there to see if the rumours were true. In the summit room of the temple he found a small trove of books that had somehow survived the calamity. Only one could he understand, the Holy Book of Kecuala, the magic of the book allowing him to read its pages despite having never been taught to read or write. It described him as a kind and just god who prizes free thought and shrewd wisdom. From this book he learned that his people had been enlightened once, the ruins he grew up in were once a city of great strength and wisdom. His people were once clever and just and capable of more than they currently showed.

He knew his tribe, as they are now, would not accept this news easily so he apprenticed to the spiritual leader of his tribe, a wizened old cleric by the name of Verthica. This way he hoped to gain trust and favour and teach the tribe what he had learned of their lost history. Initially he shared his secrets with a few trusted associates. Years pass as Artizak collects a small number of followers, educating them in what he has learned of history from the books. Teaching them that intelligence should not be shunned but praised and utilised.

Eventually, Verthica passes and Artizak takes her place as the tribe's spiritual leader, sitting on the right hand of Korth Silverscale, the Chieftain. His first duty is to prepare and serve the funeral feast for his mentor, in which they harvest and eat the body of the one being honoured, that their spirit and strength be passed into the tribe. As per tradition, the leader will receive and eat the heart, and others of the tribe receive other organs as per their station in the tribe. The brain is to be burnt to symbolise the rejection of the intellect. In an act of sheer defiance, Artzak instead consumed the brain in view of the tribe, a grave sacrilege. Escaping just barely with his life, he makes it to a safe haven of his followers. They encourage him to flee the continent entirely and return only when he has the knowledge and strength to take control of the tribes and lead them to the enlightenment they know they deserve. They smuggle him out of the jungle to a small fishing boat and he sets sail for parts unknown. Eventually winding up in the Ridings.