Serpentfolk

Serpentfolk, often confused for Lizardfolk, display a raw talent and aptitude for magic.

## Appearance

### Average weight

165 lb.

***"Nobody is wrong as often as those who often accept they are wrong."***

**— Popular saying in Serpentfolk culture.**

**Serpentfolk**, known by themselves as the **Seshen** (meaning 'the Blessed'), are a race of Coldbloods that is presumed to be extinct, or nearly-so. Noted for their inherent magical and psionic talents, they are nevertheless seen as corrupt, accursed, and degenerate by the other races of the World.

## Description

### Appearance

The physical appearance of Serpentfolk can vary widely between individuals.

#### Traits

Almost all Serpentfolk possess a combination of Human and serpentine traits. A large minority of Serpentfolk appear mostly Human, and a rare few appear mostly serpentine. However, most Serpentfolk are more "moderate" on this spectrum, displaying a more balanced combination of Human and serpentine traits.

**Common Human traits:**

* Arms and legs
* Skin
* Hair
* Facial features

**Common Serpentine traits:**

* Tail
* Scales (patches or full-body)
* Vertical Pupils
* Fangs (sometimes venomous)
* Snakes for arms/hair

#### Coloration

Much like the physical traits Serpentfolk possess, their coloring can also vary widely. Families and small populations of Serpentfolk tend to all be similarly colored, but larger populations can include a wider variety of colors.

* **Skin:** Common skin tones include the full range of Human skin tones, as well as various shades of brownish-green. Brighter greens, yellows, reds, and gray/blacks are also possible, but rare.
* **Scales:** Brown and black scales are the most common, and red, orange, yellow, green, or white scales also occur frequently. Most of these colors are typically dark or muted, though brighter variants can occur.
* **Hair:** Serpentfolk with hair typically have darker hair colors, such as black, brown, or dark green. Blonde hair is rare, and red hair almost never occurs, except in unusual circumstances.
* **Eyes:** Many eye colors are common in Serpentfolk, including brown, black, green, blue, yellow, purple, and white. These colors are independent of pupil shape, which can be round or vertical.

### Abilities

All Serpentfolk have Darkvision and are very resilient against poison. Additionally, Serpentfolk are inherently magical, giving them resistance against magical effects and the ability to cast a limited few spells without any formal training.

Some Serpentfolk also possess more, less common, abilities. These unusual abilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Venomous fangs
* Color-changing scales
* Shedding skin
* Acid Slime
* Shapechanging
* Greatly increased natural magical capabilities

### Subraces

Serpentfolk subraces are derived from the ancient caste system that the Serpentfolk once governed themselves with. Hence, these subraces divide the Serpentfolk primarily by appearance; as such, the divisions between subraces are often not clear-cut. The subraces presented here are used primarily by outsiders, named after their typical roles in a serpent-worshiping cult. Serpentfolk themselves don't use these terms, and the actual caste divisions are much more complicated.

* **Disciple**: Members of this lowest caste tend to be primarily Humanoid in appearance. Historically, they comprised the largest proportion of Serpentfolk population, though not quite a majority; in modern times, however, they have become the majority of most Serpentfolk populations. These Serpentfolk are typically weaker, both physically and magically, than their more serpentine kin.
* **Acolyte**: While not as numerous as the Disciples, these Serpentfolk are still fairly common among their race. The Acolytes typically have a more serpentine appearance than the Disciples, though they are still primarily Humanoid.
* **Zealot**: These Serpentfolk are typically regarded as the most powerful of their kind by most outsiders. The Zealots tend to appear more serpentine than Human, and are more likely to possess uncommon, powerful traits than their lesser kin. In the past, Zealots comprised a small minority of the Serpentfolk population; more recently, however, these Serpentfolk are on the verge of extinction, hunted down by outsiders and their own kind alike.
* **Harbinger**: As the rarest caste among the Serpentfolk, the birth of a Harbinger only occurred about once a century. These Serpentfolk were the most powerful and bloodthirsty of their kind, and often led the Serpentfolk to conquer wide swaths of territory at the "meager" cost of thousands of lesser Serpentfolk. To an outsider, a Harbinger would appear as an abomination of snakes, with no discernible Humanoid traits. There have been no recent opportunities to observe these Serpentfolk, however, as no Harbinger has been born since the First Age.

## History

Little is known of how this enigmatic race accounts for time and the passing of the ages. Thus, scholars heavily rely on myths and legends when attempting to study the Serpentfolk civilizations of old. These tales are old and grossly inaccurate, though no other records of this race exist. These stories tell of nothing beyond the first age, presumably due to their defeat by Logarius the Great and their newly-adopted clandestine lifestyle.

### First Age

* Great kingdoms of Serpentfolk are believed to have existed throughout the world
* Perpetual conflict with the Elder races, Elves and Dwarves
* In some stories, they even clashed with the Underdark and Dragons
* Tales that they were eventually defeated by an alliance of Elves, Dwarves, and Dragons under Logarius

### Third Age

* obscurity
* Diero de Naessens is the only scholar believed to have connections with them...

## Society

### Government

At the peak of their power, the Serpentfolk organized themselves into a strict caste system, governed by their religious cults. The highest caste was comprised of the most snake-like of the Serpentfolk, the Zealots, who were religious leaders, generals, and dictators. Meanwhile, in the lowest caste, the Disciples worked as foot soldiers and laborers. Below all of these, the Serpentfolk possessed large quantities of slaves, who were not considered to belong to a caste.

Social mobility was almost unheard of for the Serpentfolk, as an individual's appearance and bloodline determined which caste they belonged in. At one point in history, the Serpentfolk possessed a variety of profane rituals that "improved" an individual's blood. However, many of these rituals were lost.

Following their decline, the Serpentfolk essentially abolished the caste system, since most of the Zealots had been killed in wars and uprisings. Over time, the Serpentfolk's strong self-centeredness and drive for survival led to the development of an egalitarian meritocracy, where all Serpentfolk are treated as equals under the law. This government maintains order by threat of extreme punishment, though punishments cannot be administered without due process. Politicians have to consider the interests of the populace as well as their own, as unpopular and overly selfish politicians are often assassinated. The Serpentfolk still own some slaves, though they are treated just as cruelly as they were in the caste system.

### Dynasties

The power of blood and bloodlines is considered to be amongst the highest in the culture of the Serpentfolk. In the caste system, a Serpentfolk's social standing was determined solely by its blood; specifically, the highest places were reserved for those with the most serpentine blood. Breeding "down" a caste was seen as diluting an individual's blood, and thus never occurred except in the rarest of circumstances.

This emphasis on bloodlines still survives to a small extent in the Serpentfolk's current society. Though the more snake-like Serpentfolk are officially equal to the rest, they often are treated more deferentially out of tradition.

### Homelands

To the south of Erideon is the mighty continent of Vantion, in whose deepest swamps are believed to have originated the accursed Serpentfolk...

### Interracial Relations

Serpentfolk are universally feared and hated throughout the World, and likewise treat all other races as inferior to themselves. Outsiders are often killed or enslaved by the Serpentfolk, and have no protection under Serpentfolk law. In particular, the Serpentfolk have been warring with the Lizardfolk and Skinks for all of recorded history, as they share the same territory in the swamps of Vantion.

### Lizardfolk

The Lizardfolk's war with the Serpentfolk has been ongoing for all of recorded history. Due to this conflict, the Lizardfolk are partially responsible for the extinction of the Serpentfolk Zealots and the reform of Serpentfolk society. However, many thousands of Lizardfolk have been enslaved by the Serpentfolk over the years.

Despite their long-running rivalry and warring, Serpentfolk are often conflated for Lizardfolk by outsiders.

### Skinks

As an ally of the Lizardfolk, the Skinks have also been at war with the Serpentfolk for ages. Due to their small size, the Serpentfolk see little use in enslaving Skinks, and prefer to kill and eat them instead.

## Culture

The culture of the Serpentfolk has undergone a series of dramatic changes since the peak of the Serpentfolk's power.

### Religion

Serpentfolk almost entirely spurn the gods. Rather, early Serpentfolk organized cults around great mythic snakes. These cults prized snake-like qualities, so the most snake-like Serpentfolk were given a place in the caste system. Followers of these cults believed the great snakes would give them power in exchange for souls. In an attempt to gather as much power as they could, the Serpentfolk, led by their cults, conquered, enslaved, and sacrificed as many other peoples as they could find.

As the Serpentfolk civilization declined in the Second Age, it became increasingly difficult for members of the snake cults to procure souls for sacrifice. In a final attempt to gather enough power to save themselves, the highest-ranking Serpentfolk turned to sacrificing their own kind. This practice, however, was short-lived; many of these high-ranking cultists were captured and slain by their enemies after sacrificing entire armies to the great snakes. The few leaders that survived were eventually betrayed and assassinated by their own followers, desperate to protect their lives.

Now, the Serpentfolk have almost abandoned their old snake cults. A few individuals still worship on their own, though the rites have greatly diverged from the original rituals. While sacrifices are occasionally held, sacrificing another Serpentfolk is illegal and punishable by death.

### Art

Serpentfolk care little for aesthetics or art. As a result, Serpentfolk weapons and tools are created for efficiency and durability rather than beauty. However, collectors still prize Serpentfolk artifacts for their rarity.

Despite their apathy for art, many important Serpentfolk buildings, such as their temples, are decorated with incredibly detailed carvings. These carvings were intended to be a perfect record of history, though powerful Serpentfolk often manipulated scenes to portray themselves more favorably. During their decline, as the Serpentfolk retreated deeper into their swamps, these carvings fell into disrepair; much of the history they contained was destroyed by invaders or weathered away by time.

### Architecture

Much like their tools, the Serpentfolk built their buildings with a focus on utility rather than appearances. However, the most important structures often reflected their society; thus, the Serpentfolk often built massive ziggurats, as a representation of their caste system.

### Magic

Main article: Magic
Serpentfolk show a natural aptitude towards the magical arts...

## Notable Serpentfolk

* **Asutali**, Draconic vessel and inheritor of the legacy of Avaryx, legendary lieutenant of Logarius the Great. One of the Usual Suspects, a powerful Wizard and spellcaster.