Lamias

## Anatomy

From the waist up, Lamia bodies hold the same proportions as an average human. Due to their desert environment and carnivorous diets, Lamia tend to have more muscled physiques than most other races. Below the waist, Lamia have long, serpentine tails instead of legs, which by full maturity can grow up to 15 feet long. Lamia can rest their entire body weight on this tail with no discomfort as it’s made almost entirely of muscle, and can use it as a prehensile limb to grab things, or coil it underneath themselves to rest on. Lamia eyes are slitted like snakes’, and they have fangs that tend to poke over their lips. Their tails are covered in scales of a variety of colors that seem to span the rainbow from red to violet, and can vary in pattern. It is notable that they are warm-blooded, unlike feral snakes. A Lamia is considered mature at 20 years old, and can live until the age of 115 if they take care of themselves well.

## History/Culture

Originating from deep in the desert, Lamia are a race of half-humanoid, half-reptilian people who appear to have the top half of a human, their bottom half taking the form of a snake's tail. While they come from the desert, the unique forms of their bodies allowed them to spread out from their ancestral home to come into contact with other races in a variety of environments, and form relationships with them.

Given the lack of vegetation and other natural resources in their homeland however, their technological standards are quite low, and most are even now unused to things such as guns or airships. They are not savages however, and Lamia society as a whole has a general obsession with gold and gemstones, as some of the few natural resources of value in the desert. Most will adorn themselves with some form of material wealth as a sort of presentation, and those without wealth of any race will be seen as ‘not worth it’ by Lamia. This makes them very worthwhile trade partners, as a friend of Lamia is a friend of wealth, good luck getting them to part with it though.

Another notable cultural difference between Lamia and most other races is their lack of alcohol. As a carnivorous race in an environment lacking in plant life, the process of creating alcohol was a mystery to them until meeting other races. Most plant-based forms of food and drink are foreign concepts to Lamia, unless they have been existing with other races for a long time. Most if not all Lamia are lactose intolerant for similar reasons. There is one plant that grew readily in the harsh desert environment the Lamia originated from however, which they have coined the Thansa plant. While rare, the Thansa plant can be easily chewed and digested by Lamia, and for a brief period (less than a minute) after eating, will cause the Lamia to secrete paralytic venom through their saliva. This plant was often ingested before springing attacks on prey to make the hunt simpler.

While Lamia used to have their own language, one made of hissing and subverbal communication, this language has fallen out of popular use as more and more races find reason to communicate with the desert snakes. Some may have a hissing accent still, but most young Lamia speak English clearly, while elders may stubbornly cling to snaketongue.

## Religion

Lamia have a relatively small pantheon composed of six gods/goddesses, each one believed to hold power over a specific part of the year, and expressing their given domain more powerfully during those two months. The deities are as follows

### **Myrsis**

The goddess of the moon, death, and water (December-January). Myrsis is Yksus’ opposite, and his wife in Lamia mythology. All life that Yksus creates is supposed to carry gifts to Myrsis via death, which may be why they obsess so heavily over wealth. Lamia born in Myrsis’ dominion are believed to be better parents and are often tasked with raising the young of those not present to do so.

### **Eskus**

The god of the rain, luck, and scorpions (February-March). Eksus is believed to be a lover of Myrsis, and dictates when rain falls in the desert to make her happy. He also hides scorpions under the sand for Lamia to slither over and be stung, to annoy Yksus. Eskus typically is blamed for any bad luck a Lamia may encounter, and his name is a sort of swear word (Instead of “oh fuck” a Lamia may say “oh Eskus”). Lamia born under Eskus’ dominion are regarded as bad luck, and may be rejected by their homes in order to avoid bad luck.

### **Thansa**

The goddess of the hunt, cunning, and vegetation (April-May). Thansa is the goddess for which the Thansa plant is named, and is believed to direct animals towards Lamia so they may be hunted for food. Lamia born under Thansa’s dominion are believed to be better hunters, and the Thansa plant is saved for their use before anyone else’s.

### **Yksus**

The god of the sun, life, and sand (June-July). Yksus is believed to be the father of all other deities, as the sun gives life to all things. Lamia born in Yksus’ dominion are believed to be better leaders and take charge of others easily

### **Syltun**

The god of the wind, personality, and love (August-September). Syltun is believed to be an incredibly handsome and charming god, and is the reason the Lamia fall in love. He regularly annoys Yksus by having Lamia fall in love and have children outside of his plans. Lamia born under Syltun are believed to be charismatic tricksters, able to weasel and lie their way out of any responsibility.

### **Octon**

The god of the stars, knowledge, and stone (October-November). Octon is believed to have written all knowledge in the world on a series of stone tablets, and hidden them under the sand, none of which have been found. Lamia born in Octon’s dominion are believed to be great intellectuals and strategists, leading to more efficient hunts, and handle most of the money in their society due to their supposed intellect.

**NOTE:** Your Lamia may not adhere to these beliefs. As with most myths, Lamia mythology is simply a method of explaining what could not previously be explained. Your Lamia may have been born in October and be a complete dumbass, no one will stop you, but you may not be living up to your rp parents’ expectations.