Szadek Lizardfolk

Szadek, also known as 'common lizardfolk' are the most populous species of Lizardfolk on Anor Mundus and found on Centros, Uldaar, and Midken.

## History

Szadek are a native race of Anor Mundus, but unlike species such as catfolk, vul'gra or the cyclops, the Szadek lizardfolk have never formed their own civilization, prefering to dwell on the edges of societies and where others would rarely venture; wetlands, deep woods and deserts.

## Description

Szadeks regardless of subspecies are five to six feet tall bipedal lizards covered in scales which range from sandy beige to a variety of greens.

Szadeks have four limbs, two arms and legs, which include clawed fingers and opposable thumbs. Szedeks also possess a long and thick tail which helps them keep bipedal balance.

### Lifecycle

Male Szadek are typically brighter colored than their female counterparts but possess no outside genitalia. Sex is determined by egg incubation temperatures, with males emerging from colder eggs. Szadeks eggs are typically laid in clutches of six to ten eggs, which hatch after about forty days of incubation. The hatchlings are capable of moving by themselves and will typically forage for insects, frogs or fish to eat.

As they mature, Szadek diet begin incorporating more plant matter. A Szadek is fully grown by age eleven and may live up to fifty years, although few ever reach past their second decade.

## Culture

Szadek culture is notoriously xenophobic, isolationist and tribal. Few Szadek ever leave their natal tribe for civilization and those who do often find themselves at a loss, struggling to adapt to different social moores. Even individual tribes of lizardfolks rarely cooperate with one another unless rallied by particularly charismatic shamans or mighty warlord, or if they are subjugated by a powerful outsider such as dragons or outsiders.

### Society

The life of individual Szadek is primarily hunting, gather and the constant struggle to maintain adequate heat levels. By and large, Szadeks practice only the most minimal of farming practices, typically clearing away bad plants to give space to desirable ones but typically they do not plow fields or work the land and nor do they raise animals.

Szadek hovels have no economy, everything belongs to the current leader, typically a shaman or other religious leader who reassign the fruits of the tribe's labor by social rank, with those at the bottom of the social ladder having little but scraps to contend themselves with.

Szadek technology is primarily based on bone, stone and wood. Metal tools and weapons are typically scavenged from other races or very rarely traded for. Pottery, basket weaving, hide tailoring and carving are typically done by women who maintain hovels while males are out hunting.

Szedek structures vary by locale and available material but are typically made of mud and woven branches in temperate regions. Desert based tribes will make underground burrows or crude tents of bone and hides.

### Religion & Faith

Most Szadek tribes are shamanistic in nature, worshiping elements and nature spirits, but the occasional Oracle will manifest and convert them to the worship of one primordial or another. Tribes especially cut off from contact even from others of their kind will sometime devolve into demon, idol or entity worship.

## Gameplay

### **Base Traits**

* ***Darkvision 60':** Szadeks can see in the dark up to 60 feet.*
* ***Natural Armor:** Szadek have a natural armor bonus to AC of +1.*
* ***Natural Attacks:*** *Szadek have three natural attacks, a bite dealing 1d3 points of damage and two claw attacks dealing 1d4 points of damage each.*
* ***Carrion Sense:*** *Szadek have a natural ability to sniff out carrion. This functions like the scent ability, but only for corpses and badly wounded creatures (creatures with 25% or fewer hit points).*
* ***Stabilizing Tail:*** Szadek receive a +4 racial bonus to their CMD when resisting bull rush or trip attempts while standing on the ground.

### **Subracial Traits**

In addition to their base traits, Szadek receive additional traits depending on the conditions of their egg's incubation and subsequent egg hatching.

#### **River & Wetlands**

* ***Swim:*** *River and swampland Szadek have a swim speed of 30 feet and gain the +8 racial bonus on Swim checks that a swim speed normally grant before risking drowning or suffocating*
* ***Hold Breath:*** *Members of this race can hold their breath for a number of rounds equal to four times their Constitution score*

#### **Desert**

* ***Desert Runner:*** *Desert Szadek receive a +4 racial bonus on Constitution checks and Fortitude saves to avoid fatigue and exhaustion, as well as any other ill effects from running, forced marches starvation, thirst, and hot or cold environments.*

#### **Woodland**

* ***Climber:*** *Woodland Szadek have a climb speed of 20 feet, and gain the +8 racial bonus on Climb checks that a climb speed normally grants.*