#serpentfolk

[efaru]

Comm for Sektoth ☀️⭐

#art #digital art #artists on tumblr #digital painting #digital illustration #illustration #dnd #dnd character #dungeons and dragons #serpentfolk

[novahedron]

Opened the old dnd character vault bc i’ll be playing for the first time in years soon! this is Beryl, a completely magicless yuan-ti rogue (he has a permanent disadvantage on arcana rolls and i love him)

#DnD #dungeons and dragons #dnd 5e #dnd character #yuan-ti #yuanti #serpentfolk #we're playing in tal'dorei actually so i guess that's what they're called #oc #original character #my art #beryl #i have so many sketches of this creature #he's terrible <3

[literalliterature]

This is @minicy 's edgy fail snake rogue and fun fact I. Love Her

[ID: A drawing of Sizwe from the shoulders up. She is an anthropomorphic snake person based on a gaboon viper, with yellow eyes with slit pupils and two small "horns" at the tip of her nose. She has a pattern of geometric shapes in shades of dark brown, yellow, and white over her body and thick, dark markings under her eye. She wears a black cloak with the hood down, and her clawed hand is visible as she holds a coin between two fingers. Her mouth is open in a grin, revealing two long fangs that curve backward. Behind her are several shining gold strings criss-crossing each other against a dark blue background with more geometric patterns. End ID.]

#serpentfolk #anthro #pf2e #pathfinder #captioned #accessible #id in alt text #minicy #snake #reptile

[dailycharacteroption]

First Mother’s Fang (Cavalier Archetype)

(art by Anatoly Prel on Artstation)

 Have you ever wanted to be a warrior snake person who rides on the back of a giant serpent the way some mammals ride equines?

Most of you probably were very confused by that question, but a few of you likely said yes. And that’s exactly what you can play as with today’s entry!

Nalinivati, daughter of the naga goddess Ravithra, was born from her mother when she was decapitated by someone she thought of as a friend (Don’t worry, she got better, but was forever changed), springing forth from the stump of her neck.

However, while she did inherit some of her mother’s patronage of naga-kind, Nalinivati was a fertility goddess, and as such, longed to create new life, which she did, in the form of the nagaji, a species born from the combination of naga and human stock, creating all sorts of snake people whose appearance can vary quite a lot.

Many outsiders assume that the nagaji in their original home of Nagajor are a servitor race to the nagas that rule it, but as has been proven time and again with revolts and demonstrations of independence, the nagaji are more akin to a partner species to those nagas that embrace civilization, the two helping each other and making up for what the other lacks.

Perhaps no truer expression of this is that when Nalinivati first created them, she selected an exceptional one among her creations to become her “Fang”, an elevated warrior servant whom she invested skill in battle but also knowledge and wordcraft, so that this being would be able to serve as her champion and emissary.

While some may claim a blood connection to the first, these so-called First Mother’s Fangs have expanded greatly from that original champion. So much so that they no longer necessarily claim to be champions of the First Mother directly, but more accurately champions of their people. The tradition has even expanded beyond the nagaji as well in some places. Wherever there is a desire to defend the people and an appreciation for giant serpents, this archetype may find root, even outside the Lost Omens setting.

 These warriors are educated on a wide variety of topics, and also learn to master at least one rare and exotic melee and ranged weapon as well, giving them a relatively unique fighting style.

They also have a serpent companion that serves as their mount. Unlike other giant constrictors, this is a particularly robust specimen of great size so that their master can ride them, and is especially speedy on land.

While they are indeed warriors, the Fangs are also civil servants. As such, they learn defensive combat and a variety of techniques that use it as the basis, but also a handful of abilities for more social occasions, particularly in regards to how their well-known and respected status affects how people in their homeland react to them and aid them.

Essentially, this archetype gets a mount that is more suited for direct combat, and a combination of defensive and debilitating martial feats alongside a handful of the social talents of a vigilante, though specifically those tied to them being upstanding members of the community that people are willing to aid. Of course, having such talents comes with some of the limitations as well, namely the fact that this archetype works best in campaigns where you don’t travel too far from a single city or nation. If that appeals to you, this is a fun way to simulate being a beloved champion of the people.

 Now obviously, a lot of mammalian cultures have an aversion to snakes for some reason, so you might not see this archetype a lot outside of the nagaji, but it’s interesting to think about cultures of other species that would utilize the archetype. Perhaps a snake deity is a part of their cultural identity and being trained as a rider of serpents is seen as a great honor?

It is important, however, to remember that this was a nagaji way first, and for them, and likely your character, it is a legacy to be upheld, even without an order to latch onto.

  The warriors of the Sacred Scale are all too aware of how many folk fear serpents and those that resemble them, including themselves. As such, one of their missions is to oppose fiends that wear a serpentine mien. As such, a group of them have been tracking a marai rakshasa for weeks, but the wily spellbinder continues to elude them. This is perhaps where the party’s diverse expertise may come in handy.

 Though not wicked, the Rougarou of the Ghost Fens are notoriously suspicious of travellers, to the point where they accost any traveller they find. Such was the case when they confronted a strange traveller riding a massive boa. The traveller insisted that they were in the sovereign lands of her people, and called them bandits, leading to a bloody fight and preparations for war on both sides.

 According to legend, the nagaji of Bia Ma Shan were the creations of the nagas. However, a strange ruin has surfaced, one with carvings that suggest that it was serpentfolk who were responsible, teaching their fledgeling servitors how to fight in their honor.

#pathfinder #archetype #cavalier #first mother's fang #nagaji #rakshasa #marai #rougarou #serpentfolk #Blood of the Beast

[bignyunai]

#yuan-ti #serpentfolk #safiir'ransha #safiir #dnd #dnd art #dnd oc #Bignyunai art #rime of the frost maiden #rotf

[enddaysengine]

Zyss Serpentfolk (Paths Beyond)

See, good things come from going in reverse order XD. Although If I started with A, I probably would have been dealing with the aapoph first, so serpentfolk either way!

Serpentfolk, or sekmin in Aklo, got a nice little glow up in 2e's second Bestiary with beautiful new art and some tweaks to their backstory to give their different variants proper names. The Zyss are the sekmin who retain the magical gifts of their imperial ancestors. Zyss are smart and nasty, possessing superior mental stats about the board, but their low reproduction rate and crippling superiority complex keeps them in check. For now.

The sekmin and their story is firmly rooted on Golarion proper, but even the baseline Zyss knows something of the Great Beyond. Both Arcana and Occultism grant them knowledge of the Astral and Shadow planes, so those are the first place I'd think about their influences. The former skill also tells them about the Elemental planes, while the latter informs them on the Ethereal, and Energy Planes. So while the Serpentfolk may not use these planes as their home bases, it does seem reasonable they’d include them in their plots. And there is also the Maelstrom, where the sekmin’s not-quite-dead god Ydersius called home. Of course, his realm of Sydrixus has been completed cut off to everyone since his beheading 11000 years ago, but that just means there something good waiting for whoever makes it in, right?

Semkin legend speaks of a brave Zyss called the Warden who transformed herself into a spirit to watch over the serpentfolk who went into hibernation following Ydersius’ downfall. The Warden does watch over the crèches to this, having achieve a form of Astral immortality that left her corporeal body to rot millennia ago. Unfortunately, also left her vulnerable to the Astral’s timeless nature and she can no longer distinguish the difference between the passage of months, years, or even centuries. Due to her unintentional neglect, the arcane and occult wards protecting the hibernating serpentfolk are failing — outsiders are breaking into some crèches, while others are waking before their time. The Warden is becoming increasingly desperate and frustrated, willing to take drastic action to protect her people.

The Scaleshedder has abandoned so much that even their own name fell by the wayside. This radical Zyss advocates breaking with the past, especially religiously, to build a better future for their species. They don’t care which faith other sekmin embrace, as long as it’s not Ydersius. They shelter from the sekmin orthodoxy assassins among the apostate devils of Dis or on Basrakal’s swirling islands, but frequently travel across the planes to godly realms, encouraging all deities to proselytize to the serpentfolk.

Chant around Basrakal that something big is going down. A backdoor into Sydrixus has been discovered and now the Churning City is planning host explorers using it as their base camp. At least three different sekmin groups are competing to claim the realm for their clutches, hoping to uncover a way to increase the Zyss population among their people. The Pathfinders, Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye, and Whispering Way all have sent their own operatives too, each with their own agenda.

#Paths Beyond #pathfinder #3.5 #pf2e #Plothooks #worldbuilding #serpentfolk #Sekmin #humanoid #monsterous humanoid

[weavercobra]

The Burden of Divinity

This story follows up events that happened in one of our games. And if you're familiar with Pathfinder lore, then it probably requires a bit of explaining about some of the changes in our settings.

So first off, Maya is a snake goddess we've invented for the setting. She's the mother of Ydersius.

Speaking of Ydersius, there's been some adjustments there for a number of reasons. Evil gods in Pathfinder(And other similar settings) often suffer from a problem I like to sum up as: "Who the fuck would worship this guy?" Setting aside any personal opinions, I can't think of any deity considered evil by their followers outside of some extreme edgelord cases. In fact, the idea of an evil religion worshipped by evil idea has more often been an attempt at discrediting others. So we've been going through the pantheons with a surgeon's kit and a saw to rejigger things.

And as for Ydersius being evil, well, hard to find any information on the fan wikis of what he's done that's so evil or which of his creeds that are so bad. Really, I guess he's evil because he's the patron deity of the sekmin, aka the serpentfolk.

So let's talk sekmin. They are evil. Their wiki pages contains sentences like : "it is unknown how many races the serpentfolk exterminated for pure pleasure.", "view all non-telepathic creatures as slaves or food," "They feel no love or attachment towards other serpentfolk, even their own mates or children." I mean wow, laying it on thick here aren't we?

Now, I'm not saying the sekmin empire wasn't problematic. Empires tend to be problematic. No doubt the sekmin, even removing their inherent evil alignment, would have a sordid history. But if they aren't inherently evil, well...

Here's a line from the wiki I find relevant. "The destruction of Azlant caused by Earthfall saved the remaining serpentfolk from complete elimination."

And if the serpentfolk aren't inherently evil, then you might have to call this what it actually is.

An attempt at genocide.

Which brings us to Azlant and Aroden. And I'll be honest, our read on both of those don't paint either as good guys. Azlant had Xin banished for daring to suggest they had anything to learn from non-humans and we have no reason to doubt it was an isolated case. The fact their descendants turned into space Nazis in Starfinder seem like a natural conclusion.

And Aroden, beloved hero of humanity. The list of things he's fucked up, both before and after divinity is quite long. There's the stuff he did in Arcadia with the Veins of Creation. Stole the aeon orbs from the xulgaths because humanity would use them better, condemning the land of Vask to death by radiation. And his patronage of humanity is probably why you can't throw a rock on Golarion without it landing in a human country. So our conclusion is simple.

Aroden was a racist, imperialist douchebag who favored humanity at the cost of all other sentient beings and the universe is better off without him. And Azlant was a empire morally no better than the one it sought to eradicate from existence. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

If you managed to make your way through all that opinionated rambling, thank you and here's the story. Oh, and if you happen to notice any similarities to plot points from Paizo's Serpent's Skull campaign, then that's because I borrowed liberally from it to set up our own campaign in Saventh-Yhi.

Unconsciousness had been a mercifully numb experience. Her mind had just floated through the void, briefly unburdened by memory, by sorrow, by duty and by anger. For the first time in a long while, she was at peace, cut off from anything that could hurt her. But then reality slipped painfully into her mind, like a white-hot dagger between her ribs. Awareness of how her body ached bedevilled her, from the tip of her tail to the fork of her tongue, every muscle pulsating with an unpleasant aching. And as her pain dragged her mind kicking and screaming out of the numbing depths, thoughts started to flow in. And with them, the ceaseless memories. The memories of the invasion, seeing wounded after wounded be dragged in from the frontline, watching five of her countrymen bleed out in the time a healer could mend the wounds of one. She remembered offering words of encouragement to those going to and arriving from the battlefields, but towards the end, her sermons had sounded hollow and deceitful even to herself. And she remembered the fall, the devastation and the evacuation. Helping seal her fellow sekmin in stasis chambers, promising they would be safe, promising they wouldn't be found. All lies, of course. It was a desperate gambit and there was no certainty. She had half expected never to see the light of day again as the magic of the pod took hold, sealing her in dreamless preservation. She remembered her awakening alongside others of her kind, their confused staggering into a new, alien world, so different from the one she had left behind. She remembered the mission, to resurrect their empire now that their hated enemies had vanished from the surface of the planet. And how she had been sent out to gather information about their lost capital. It had been a harrowing journey. Everything had been so different and she had to apply all her skills and powers to pass herself off as a human scholar. She knew the future of her kind hinged on the success of her work. It had gone well, until the island. She had managed to get off the accursed rock, but her mission had depended on the kindness of a human. And they had let her go. She felt that was only the case because they didn't know the truth, but still, she had remembered it. And she had tried to warn the human's fellows, that only death would await them in the jungle and the lost city hidden therein. They had ignored her warnings. She had been anxious. And angry. For with them had travelled a being, a serpent, an avatar. An avatar of her. The one who had abandoned them in their hour of greatest need. And then they had finally met face to face. And Aethaxise had unleashed all her frustration, pain and feelings of betrayal in once venomous tirade aimed at the divine figure.

And Maya had smote her in response.

That was the second time she slipped in the dark expecting never to wake up. So the return of her consciousness was as surprising as it was unwelcome. Slowly, her eyes began registering the sunlight shining down on her. She hissed weakly and turned her head to avoid the direct glare of the overhead light. It took her a moment to ponder the oddity of the sunlight, before realising that the roof was missing. She groaned and tried to move, her body protesting the action. Her neck slowly bent, giving her a chance to observe what was left of her surroundings. Most of the walls and the roof had been blown clear out, even taking with it some of the adjacent outer masonry, exposing much of the inside of the structure to the outside. Her inner ear began registering the distant sounds of birds and bugs, alongside other noises of the jungle. She rolled over on her belly, splaying out her limbs to soak up the warm rays, feeling its heat sink into her body, slowly helping her wake up. Her tongue darted out of her mouth, catching nearby scents and delivering them into her mouth, letting her register them. She could smell that Krathus was nearby, though she was uncertain of his condition. Mingled with it was the smell of his companion Xantheithes. They were really close, by her estimate. She hoped they had survived. But mixed in was another scent. One she had only gotten familiar with very recently, but that none the less immediately filled her with rage. Her anger fuelled her strength, allowing her to plant the palms of her hands against the stone floor, pushing her upper body upwards, straining her neck to lift her head up and slowly turn it, while uttering a hoarse and exceedingly venomous: “You.”

The person she was speaking to looked like a giant cobra, her scales a pure, alabaster white, her eyes a vibrant purple save for the black slit in the middle. The pale serpent had been eyeing something in the distance, but upon hearing the utterance, had turned her attention to the speaker. Maya took a moment to note the sekmin's appearance, that of an emerald-scaled snake with arms and legs, before addressing her with: “So you're awake, little one. I trust that you will have learnt to behave, at least enough to have a civil conversation. Otherwise, I am more than capable of banishing you into unconsciousness again as many times as I need to make my point clear.”

Aethaxise responded with a growl, as she slowly rolled over on her back, trying to eye the other two in the demolished room.

She noted Krathus nearby. A sekmin like herself, though his scales were a combination of red and black. He was lying up against the only remaining wall in the room, one containing a detailed genealogy of the invading humans, which he had found amusingly interesting. Still protectively wrapped around him was the massive ophidian Xantheithes, a great white cobra. One that in many ways resembled Maya's current form. Not too surprising, as Xantheithes' species had been sacred to her faith, empowered over many generations by the divine waters of her temples. They were a clever species, with more than a few developing full-on sapience, Xantheithes being one of them.

Maya followed her gaze. “Your companions are both alive, little one, that I can assure you. Though painful, that attack could not have killed a fly, much less any of you.” She paused, her tongue flickering in and out. “And it seems they are waking up too.”

The prone form of Krathus stirred slightly. Reflexively, his tongue darted out of his mouth and his limbs twitched. He managed to roll the back of his head along the scales of his serpentine companion, giving him a chance to inspect the room. There was a moment of quiet, before he with a dry voice stated: “We're alive I see.”

“That you are,” the divine serpent confirmed. “And I have no intentions of killing you. All I want to do is talk.” Her voice took on a sharper edge, as she added: “However, as I informed your friend, I am more than willing to demonstrate what the wrath of a deity feels like if a polite conversation is too much to ask for.”

Krathus weakly held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I'll vastly prefer that we have a polite conversation.”

Aethaxise hissed angrily, but said nothing.

The red-and-black scaled sekmin leaned to the side to inspect his ophidian companion. With the inability to close his eyes, it would have been hard for a human to see whether Xantheithes was awake or not, but for one who shared many physical similarities like Krathus, it was easy enough to detect the tell-tale signs that the massive cobra was slowly beginning to register his surroundings. The entire length of the ophidian's body jerked slightly and with some effort, he managed to lift his massive head slightly. “You hurt?” he managed to croak, still dazed.

“No. The pain is merely superficial.” Krathus twitched slightly as he moved his tail. “But ever present. I suspect it shall pass very soon though.” He turned his gaze to observe the avatar. “So, you wanted a talk.” “In a moment, little one. My own companions will be with us shortly,” Maya said, looking to a nearby set of stairs going down. “I'll advice that you gather your strength in the meantime.”

“Oh, and what exactly would we be gathering our strength for?” Aethaxise pointedly inquired.

“Mostly sitting up. But if you prefer to lie on the floor as you do now, far be it from me to tell you to do otherwise, little one,” Maya replied. She turned away again. “And there he is.”

Yet another oversized white cobra slithered up the stairs. To one unfamiliar with dealing with serpents, he might have seemed identical to Xantheithes, but for everyone present, the exact pattern of his scales was different enough to mark him as a completely unique individual. As he slithered across the ground, the back of his hood became visible, upon which the colouration of his scales formed an insignia of a snake holding an arrow in its mouth, encircling a bow. He made his way over next to Maya and curled up in what among snakes passed for a sitting position. “I've checked up with everyone else in the building. Nothing serious for most of them. Though Random has taken some considerable damage, including massive cracks in her exoskeleton. It'll take some time to heal.”

“I gather she also managed to dish out some considerable damage,” Maya commented. “I was concerned Yaras might develop spheksophobia. But I digress. Good job, Lechaim.” She refocused on the others. “Now then, I guess saying you have a bone to pick with me would be an understatement.”

“You... You...” Aethexise managed with no small amount of venom, as she struggled to push herself off the ground. “You abandoned us. We were slaughtered by the hundreds and you were nowhere to be seen. Even when your own son died you... You weren't there. Am I supposed to be grateful because your priests ran around trying to fix things? AM I SUPPOSED...!” “AETHEXISE!” Krathus managed. “Calm... Calm down. I do not want to be blasted again and if I have to get Xantheithes to gag you, I will. I've already been punched by a deity once today, I do not care to repeat that experience.” The other sekmin growled, her claws scraping across the stone floor. Silence reigned for a while. “Where were you when we needed you?” she finally managed to ask, her voice barely a whisper.

Maya sighed. “Little one, I did everything I could. But if I had stepped in more than I had, what would the results be? You think their gods would have sat on the sideline? No. Had I stepped in, I would have ignited a divine war. It would have been a catastrophe.”

“Some would say it already was,” Xantheithes commented grumpily.

“True. It was grim,” Maya agreed. “The fact that things could be worse is, I understand, little comfort for all of you.”

“And what about your son?” Aethexise managed venomously, slowly getting up on her feet. “Even if all our suffering meant nothing, shouldn't his death have meant something?”

Krathus winced, almost prepared to eat another bolt of divine retribution from Maya.

Indeed, the ophidian avatar's tail swayed dangerously and her hood flared slightly at the provocation. But she took a deep breath and continued with: “Despite what you think, the harm done to my son has been a painful memory beyond description for all these passing aeons. It would be arrogant of me to claim that my pain was greater than what was felt by any of you, but it was there. And while I wanted nothing more than to bathe them all in poisonous vapours until their meat dripped from their bones, I am subject to responsibilities far beyond your reckoning. For one thing, we deities have an agreement among us that limits our ability to directly influence the mortal world. Even this avatar, which I created to circumvent that, is pushing against what is considered acceptable. Had I interfered more than I did, and I did everything I could, I would have started a divine war with the Azlanti pantheon, which would have benefited no one, not even you. And no, little one, I do not expect that to suddenly make the attempted genocide of your people seem less severe. I am merely trying to get you to understand the position I was in and to some degree, still am.” “But the Azlanti Empire fell,” Krathus stated inquisitionally. “According to the history books, they're gone. Not that I ever believed you owed us anything, but why not aid us in the aftermath? It cannot have passed you by that we barely managed to survive.”

“Again, it comes back to divine politics. Any attempt by me to help you would be opposed by... The Last Azlanti,” Maya managed grimly. “By the time there was a world worth coming back to, he was a deity. He did not dare move on you because I would visit retribution, but the same was also true the other way around. And even after he died, there was still limits to what I could do. In fact, I've searched for an opportunity such as this for a long time.” She paused. “I think Ydersius has given you the wrong impression of the burden of divinity. You were his creation, his children. He cared only for you and was with you through thick and thin. You might have come to expect similar levels of attention from the rest of us. But my concerns go far beyond you. If I had acted out of hand, even if I had shielded you with all my divine power from retribution, others might have suffered. For example, by targeting my followers among the skittermanders.” “The... What?” Xantheithes managed to ask, utterly perplexed.

“They're not even native to this solar system,” Lechaim replied. “Cute fellows. If silly.” Aethaxise just stared.

“I have followers across the entire universe,” Maya continued. “I must always consider how my actions will affect all of them. I am not saying this to diminish your suffering. Only to enlighten you to the burden I carry. My followers number more than you could count in a lifetime and every single action I take can have consequences for them. That is the true cost of divinity. And that was why I couldn't throw everything away to help you. That is why it has taken me so long to find a way to help at all. Didn't matter what I wanted to do, because I had the responsibility to care for all who worship me. And even for the world beyond my faith, for surely a divine war could have rend the planet in two and that is at the small end of the scale. You think you know what devastation looks like, little one? I have witnessed what happens when gods and titans make war, when entire clusters of stars are vaporised by stray shots and the very fabric of time and space buckles under the blows of warring combatants. I would not wish that on anyone. Not even the Azlanti.” She went quiet, her head lowering slightly. “But I am trying to make things better and that is why I am here. I truly just wish to help.”

Everyone was quiet for a while.

“Well... I guess... Maybe I understand,” Aethexise managed, her voice hollow and drained. “But we don't need your help.” Maya shook her head. “No, little one, you do. I know what you and yours are planning, and if it would work, I would be more than happy to stay out of your way. But you are about to make a grave mistake that could very well create the type of disaster I was trying to avoid.”

“So you know of the operation we've started then,” Krathus surmised running his claws along his lower jaw in a contemplative gesture. “Fascinating. And you're saying there is some sort of flaw in this plan then?” “Indeed. But before we get to that, I know someone you ought to meet.” Maya returned her attention to Lechaim. “Is she ready?” “She is,” the other white cobra confirmed.

“Alright then.” She turned towards the stairs. “You can make your entrance now.”

Silence reigned in the ruined room, as the sounds of someone ascending the stairs was heard. A figure made their way into the light of the distantly setting sun, a human woman. Her head was framed by short-cropped brown hair, her body clad in dull coppery plates of metal that looked like they had seen their fair share of wear and tear. A torn leathery cloak enveloped her and a massive sword was sheathed on her back. Bandages were wrapped tightly around the left part of her head, obscuring one of her eyes, and her left arm hung limply in a sling.

The patient quiet in the ruined room immediately changed character, taking on a grim and cold mood.

Krathus tried to jump up with a hiss, only stopped by Xantheithes protectively curling around him, the serpent's hood flaring open.

Aethexise was not so hindered. Instead, motivated by a burst of adrenaline and unyielding rage, she leapt from the floor and galloped forward, claws outstretched and fangs unfolding in her mouth, deadly venom dripping from their tips. She leapt, ready to tear the woman's face off, only to find herself caught in mid-air by Maya's tail, which quickly wrapped around the struggling sekmin. “Let me go,” the green-scaled cleric hissed furiously. “Why is she here? WHY IS SHE HERE!? WHY ARE YOU NOT DEAD!?”

“Well, that went about as well as expected,” Lechaim muttered.

The woman, for her part, stood unfazed, though with a forlorn expression.

“I must concur,” Krathus hissed, finally untangling himself from his aide. “Don't tell me you brought her of all people back.” “Oh no, little one, this came as quite the surprise to me too,” Maya said, shifting her tail to maintain her grip on the furiously screaming Aethexise. “But I brought her here because she has something important to say.”

“So, what, we hear her out and then kill her?” Xantheithes venomously commented, bundling up behind the red-and-black scaled sekmin.

“If that would fix anything, I'd tell you to go ahead,” the woman said. “But as it is, I suspect it would make things much worse.”

“Indeed. So, are you willing to hear her out?” Maya inquired.

Krathus eyed his fellow sekmin. Aethaxise was now little more than a pair of serpentine eyes glaring murderously from atop the rim of the avatar's pale coils. “We're not getting much choice here, are we?” “No.” “So be it.” The sekmin wizard sat back down, leaning against the piled body of Xantheithes. “This is not a case of mistaken identity, right? You are Savith, the very same one who lead the campaign against our people. The one who murdered our deity.” “Guilty as charged,” she said in a tone of voice indicating that she indeed thought it something to be guilty of. “As for how I survived, I'd say barely. After my fight with Ydersius, the divine backlash left me on the brink of death. Your people found me before my fellow Azlanti did. Dragged me away from the site of battle and stuffed me in one of your stasis pods. I figure it was to interrogate me later. Or punish me. Probably both. Either way, they never came back for me. And I was never found by my comrades.” She went quiet, as she began to pace. “Once I was freed from the pod by happen-stance I began wandering this new world. That's how I ran into the Mystical Peacekeeping Society and through them, Maya.” She paused again, looking contemplative. “Well, first of all, I feel I owe you an explanation for what happened. From your perspective, our campaign must have seemed quite unfounded.” “What? No apology?” Xantheithes sourly inquired.

“Could any apology I could come up with ever truly suffice?” Savith asked. “I am sorry, but I can't imagine that means much to you.”

The serpent didn't respond, instead just lowering his head as he kept observing her.

“So as I was saying, Azlanti seers predicted that enemies of our people were gathering to unleash a devastating weapon upon us. Our leaders determined that those enemies had to be your people. I was asked to lead the campaign. And I did. Because I was convinced I was protecting my people from a grave threat by doing so.” She shook her head. “I've had many centuries now to contemplate how foolish that was. Me and my squad were, well, for us the goal was strictly military. To take out any part of your empire that could be used against us. But for most of my fellow Azlanti, that translated into making sure none of you were left alive. And I claim no innocence here, because I paved the way for those that burnt your cities and butchered your people. And I let it happen, because ultimately, I valued Azlant more than anything else. That's as bad as if I had done those deeds myself. And to make things even worse, turns out the whole campaign was founded on animosity. Our leaders had picked you as the target, not because there was any actual evidence of you preparing to attack us, but because our nations had had... Issues getting along.”

Maya heard a murmuring from her coils. She shifted them slightly, allowing Aethexise to get her entire head out. “It was the aboleths, yes? I've read all about it,” she hissed venomously. “They uplifted you and then decided to cast you down again.”

“Can't say I blame them,” Savith admitted. “But yes, that was the case.”

“So why are you here?” Krathus pointedly asked. “Think you can somehow make up for your actions?” “No. I can't imagine what I would have to do to accomplish that,” the Azlanti general replied. “I could do good deeds from now until the end of time and I don't think it would make up for the blood I have on my hands. But that is not going to stop me from doing the right thing. And the right thing to do is helping you people not unleash a disaster upon yourself.” “Really? The Azlanti general wouldn't want to see the sekmin self-destruct,” Aethaxise commented. “Why do I find that hard to believe? Even if what you said is true, which I doubt.” “As I said, I've had a lot of time to think.”

“What do you mean by that?” Xantheithes inquired.

“The stasis pod was flawed. It stilled my body, but not my mind. I've had the passing of many centuries to think and I've come to realise that, as different as we are, a lot of the things I looked down upon the Sekmin Empire for were the same sins that the Azlanti committed,” Savith explained. “Azlant is never coming back. And that's for the best. But your kind has a chance and your current plan risks snuffing that out.” “Enough with the vagueness,” Krathus demanded. “What is it you claim to know?”

Savith sighed. “Alright. Sorry. You're planning to resurrect Ydersius by reconnecting his skull with his body, which you lot managed to preserve in one of your hidden vaults. But it's not going to work. At least, not in the way you think it will. The thing is, you have his body and you might find his head, but what you don't realise is that a piece is still missing. His soul. The Ydersius you'd resurrect would be a divine being without thought, without memory, a soulless wild husk. Barely a wild beast, but with the power of a god. Such a being could wreck a horrendous amount of havoc.” “That's nonsense,” Aethexise hissed. “His soul is still among us. My connection may have faded, but I can still call upon his power.” “As could Tovkuc and he was a recent initiate,” Krathus added.

“The charau-ka?” Maya added, her hood vibrating slightly. “Yes, you sure taught him well. Between the attempted human sacrifices and generally unpleasant demeanour.”

Aethexise harrumphed indignantly.

“To get back to the subject,” the human added, trying to disarm the brewing conflict. “You are right, but his soul did not lock itself away in his skull or his body. It instead fled into a nearby vessel, one that was not dying. It...” She paused and sighed. She grabbed the bandages around her head and began unwrapping them. As the bandages gave way, stunned silence filled the ruined room. Underneath, her hairline had receded and much of her skin had changed into brown scales, her left eye a softy glowing orange orb, the pupil slightly misshapen. Taking the opportunity to continue, she unwrapped her arm, revealing more scales and that her nails had twisted into semi-sharp claws. “The nearest vessel,” she stated with finality. “Was me.”

Krathus looked like he was trying to say something, but he only succeeded in moving his jaws.

Maya looked to Aethaxise and slowly let the stunned sekmin loose. The green-scaled cleric slowly stumbled over towards the human, seeing in her alterations fragments of her deity. Carefully, almost as if she was afraid to break a pleasant dream, she reached out and laid a hand on Savith's scaled arm. Immediately, she retracted the appendage, as if she had gotten an electric shock. She stared, first at Savith, then her hand.

“Well?” Xantheithes asked. “You have the closest connection to him. Is it true?” “I... Yes. I could sense him,” Aethaxise said slowly, utterly befuddled. “But... How?” “As I said, I was closest. I am not chosen or favoured by Ydersius if that's what you're worrying about,” Savith said. “It's sheer coincidence. But we've had the passing of millennia to get to know each other. And Ydersius would very much like you to not resurrect his body without his soul present. So I need you to contact your fellows and tell them the news.” “Well, that is amazing,” Krathus said. “Ehm, slight problem. We can't.” “You can't? Of course you can't, that would be way too easy,” Lechaim sighed. “So what is it?”

“We have no way of contacting our leader in the depths of Ilmurea,” the red-and-black scaled wizard explained. “We were to set up an outpost and gather local resources and subjects in order to dissuade intruders into Ilmurea. But for safety's sake, we have no way to contact them, to minimize risks of them being tracked if, say, we were to be killed.” “And even if we were to get into contact with them, what do you think they'll believe? Your ridiculously improbably story, or that you're there to finish the job and has managed to brainwash us?” Aethexise asked. “Or, what, you gonna let every single priest we've got feel you up to confirm our Lord of Coiling Poison's presence?”

“I would have preferred that over having to storm your sacred sanctuary. Again,” Savith sighed exasperated. “Sicva must be blessing my journey, because you're making it sound like I'll have to storm in there and jam Ydersius' soul back into him myself and that every single one of your people will throw themselves at me to stop me. Again.” “That is an accurate summary of this stupidity,” Xantheithes commented. “Of course, you're also forgetting that you have no way to actually getting to Ilmurea. And even if you got there, you alone would not be enough.” “That is true, little one,” Maya agreed. “However, I am sure we can gather allies to help us, with a little luck. And as for a way down, we'll just have to keep an eye out for opportunities.” “Great. Seems like it's gonna be war all over again,” Savith noted in a tired voice, as she sat down on a piece of the wall. “I came here to help, not to fight you.” “Sadly, you Azlanti managed to impart on us the importance of not trusting humans,” Aethexise noted. “So, what now?”

“We need a plan. First, we must canvas the city. No doubt the Azlanti made many changes during their occupation,” Krathus noted, looking back to the wall with the genealogy.

“You do that, little ones. For now, I have someone else I'll need to talk with,” Maya said, as she moved towards the stairs, Lechaim following her. “I trust that I can leave you be without you all attempting to kill each other.” Aethaxise emitted an annoyed low hiss, as the two serpents slithered downstairs.

The avatar and her companion made their way through the repurposed ruin, finding in the middle of it a massive structure like an oversized wasp-hive. Maya observed it for a moment, turning to her companion and asking: “She's in there?” “I presume as much. I tended to her wounds out here, but I wasn't going to shove her into the hive,” Lechaim replied.

“I see.” The divine cobra turned back to the hive. She noted a faint buzzing sound. “You can come out, little one. I merely wish to talk.”

From the dark depths of the hive, several crimson hexagons lit up, outlining two massive compound eyes. “Forgive me if I don't feel in the mood to entertain any more intruders.”

“My apologies. But I had little other way of talking with you,” Maya noted. “I gathered from the others you put up quite the fight. I saw the wounds you inflicted. You're skilled. And I respect skill. To keep things short and sweet, I wish to for us to cooperate.” “Cooperate?” came the doubtful, thrumming reply. “You invade my home, strike down my children and now you want to cooperate?” “Well, you made a deal with the sekmin. Surely you understand the benefit of working together?” Maya explained. “And your children are alive, if dazed. I dare say we did our best not to cause them undue harm. But I get you. You want something more from me. And I'm willing to provide. After all, this ruin must impose certain... Limits. What if I offered to help secure you a better nesting ground?”

There was a pause, followed by a clacking sound as a massive wasp crawled out of the hive, her cracked exoskeleton wrapped in gauze. “You have my attention.” “The Mystical Peacekeeping Society, the ones who I'm helping and whom you fought, could use the assistance of a powerful predator like you. And they in turn possess a lot of territory, a lot of which is unsettled and which I can guarantee you they'd be willing to hand over to you in exchange for assistance,” Maya explained. “How does that sound, Random?”

The mutated wasp queen named Random paused as she mulled it over, her wings twitching occasionally. “I can see little reason why you'd lie,” she admitted. “You'd all just have killed me when you had the chance if this was to get me out of the ruin. And I admit, it is getting kinda cramped. I could do with a bigger nest for me and my brood.” “Sounds like a yes to me,” Lechaim commented.

“Yeah. But if I find out you lied to me, the last thing you'll see before I puncture your eyes will be my stinger,” Random asserted. “So, when do we start?” “When can you start?” Maya asked.

“In a while. Some of my brood has been out hunting and I'd like to do a full head count before going anywhere.” “Good,” Maya noted, coiling up slightly. “Should give us time to go over some of the finer details.”

#story #pathfinder #tabletop #serpentfolk #deity

[monstersdownthepath]

Like many of Paizo’s sweeping decisions, I’m of two minds with the recent news about them retconning the existence of the drow in their entirety, rather than renaming them cave elf/dark elf/darklands elf/etc and distancing them from D&D’s drow ideologically. I would have much preferred an exploration of them as... well, just a subspecies of elves, like forest elves, sea elves, and mountain elves, whose government happens to be a bunch of demon-worshiping maniacs. There are numerous splits between each of the ruling drow families because each has sworn themselves to a different Demon Lord, so each has different powers, beliefs, and technologies. There’s territory to be expanded into there, I feel, especially since it opens up opportunities to have the average drow citizens be disapproving of their government’s way of doing things (what with all the torture-murder, slave taking, and fleshwarping) but be unable to really change much... because, you know, insane government composed of demon worshipers. They’re not exactly a democracy. 

However, they’re going to be replaced as dominant life in the Darklands by the Serpentfolk, which I’m also somewhat excited for, because the Serpentfolk have been woefully underutilized. They’re supposed to be humanity’s oldest enemy, the rulers of Golarion for millions of years of its early existence, but they’ve basically been non-entities since the Serpent’s Skull AP, only rarely ever showing up as one-of encounters or in the occasional module... especially when compared to the drow, which pop up constantly whenever an adventure goes even slightly underground. The thought of them being given more prominence is enticing, even if it comes at the cost of the drow being Thanos-snapped out of the universe and the serpents taking their place.

I, personally, will not be removing drow from my games (as J. Jacobs himself recommends, knowing and acknowledging how popular they are), and am eager to see what the post-retcon Darklands looks like...

#Pathfinder

[dnd-smash-pass-vs]

On the left, the Spirit Naga! 15 ft (4.6 m) long tyrannical snake people. Now with mage hand, mind control, and hold person! Once again, snakes have two clitorises and two hemipenes. Hemipenes being cloaca extensions for reproduction, hooked up to different testes so they can go again while one rests.

Superheated elemental serpentfolk that can grapple with thier tails! And soften metal with thier bare hands, so bring oven mitts or something. Many are smiths, but if you're finding one on the material plane they're probably keeping boiler rooms running.

#spirit naga #salamander d&d #dnd 5e #dnd #smash or pass #d&d #5e #d&d 5e

[helluvaoutlaw]

Striker Headcanons

A list of headcanons for my version of Striker.

- He eats a lot, but never gains weight, he remains a skinny imp noodle, and no one can understand how he does that.

-He trains regularly, physical exercise is very important to him and likes to stay fit.

- He smokes occasionally, when he wants to relax or is lost in thought (he picked up this habit from Susan).

- He enjoys drinking tequila and whiskey, and it's very rare for him to get drunk.

- He has a great bond with all animals. He inherited this special connection with nature from his paternal grandfather, Amaru, who belonged to a tribe of serpentfolk and was a shaman/hunter. Striker knows very little about his grandfather because his father saw him only a few times when he was a child. All Striker knows is that he was a snake-like demon, a desert shaman, and that he came to see him at his birth.

- He loves spicy and savory foods, but dislikes bitter, sour, or bland ones.

- He sleeps in fetal position, holding his tail.

- He learned to play guitar from his mother, June. The first song he learned is "You Are My Sunshine" (Christina Perri's version), a human song his mother heard from a sinner in the Pride Ring years before he was born.

- As a child, he was very curious and would explore the caves and the abandoned mine near his home all by himself.

- Despite his efforts to hide it, Striker is a hopeless romantic.

- As a child (and even now), his favorite book was "The Adventures of Robin Hood," a human book his father managed to pick up at the market. His father gave it to him for his seventh birthday.

- He is an only child.

- When he was young, he was extremely shy and awkward with girls, still unsure of his sexuality and desires. I headcanon him as bisexual.

- He visits his "auntie Suzy" every couple of weeks or so, and calls her occasionally. He hates Extermination Day, and every year he tries to hide from the infernal guards, who the day before patrol Pentagram City to evacuate the hell-born demons. Unfortunately, every year Striker is forcibly dragged away from Susan's house (even though it takes about twenty guards just for him). He spends the whole day and night anxiously awaiting Susan's phone call, which she promptly makes early in the morning to let him know she's okay.

- Human objects used to be rare, but now Striker can easily find books and songs from the world above almost anywhere.

- When he's short on money and has no clients, he performs in pubs or saloons, singing and playing his guitar.

- His hat belonged to Cole, his mentor, who taught him everything he knows: shooting, fighting, riding, taming beasts... everything.

- He's the only known demon to have successfully tamed a Firebreed stallion. This particular breed is rare and way too dangerous to even get close to, but somehow Striker did it.

-He's still very bitter about Blitzø refusing to join him. He knows they could've been an unstoppable force.

-He has a small, red heart-shaped birthmark on his lower back, right about his left butt cheek.

#helluva outlaw #helluva boss #striker #helluva striker #helluva boss striker #striker headcanons #headcanons #Blitzø #susan

[rkdvanguard]

Commission for Discord user Lator Gator!"Sseskia is a Serpentfolk Crusader that's ventured away from his clan to a foreign land on a pilgrimage in search of an Ancient artifact to the great old one: Yig."

#Dungeons and Dragons #dnd #pathfinder #commission #snake

[cattyanon]

Guyssss I was messing around on Heroforge (basically a good way to create a DnD character) and I came up with something I'm super proud of because of how ironically funny it is:

Serpentfolk bard who plays a flute.

Like. Like a snake charmer. Cept the snake is the one playing the flute. Please tell me your honest thoughts on this character concept.

#DnD #DnD character #DnD character concept #Funny #(at least I like to think I am) #Edit: And according to the (2) reviews I am in fact funny :>

[dailycharacteroption]

Elementalist (Pathfinder 2nd Edition Archetype)

(art by Thepastart on DeviantArt; featured in the game Millions of Monsters)

 Just as there are elementalist wizards in 1st edition, it only makes sense that the tradition would continue into 2nd edition, but this version can be applied to sorcerers and druids as well, not to mention other casters that can tap into the arcane or primal traditions.

Whether they focus on one or all the elements, these spellcasters believe in an alternate form of organizing magic, viewing the spells they cast as the conjuring and manipulation of elements, rather than the confluence of a greater number of factors beyond the elements.

The result is spellcasters with unprecedented control over elemental power, but are somewhat limited when it comes to magic with no obvious elemental connection.

This archetype also represents one of those rare caster-only archetype that you technically gain the dedication feat at 2nd level, but begin gaining the benefits for it at 1st due to the fundamental shift in their magic. All of which is perfectly fine. It only makes sense that there should be some archetypes that defy the assumption of being available to all classes that 2E has.

What does bother me is that once again, the game refuses to let our elementalists play with energy types in damage. Where once air casters conjured lightning, water mages could freeze foes, and geomancers could melt foes with acid, once again 2nd edition does not adhere to the old elemental associations, leaving such elemental casters besides those focused on fire with nothing but bludgeoning an sometimes other forms of physical damage. Which is dumb. I hate it.

My disapproval of certain changes to the basic metaphysics of the setting aside, this archetype offers a different style of spellcasting to familiar classes, and we shall soon see exactly what that means.

 As mentioned before, you actually take this archetype at first level, requiring you to be a caster that would normally have access to the arcane or primal spell list, either by default or by class choice such a bloodline or patron. However, instead of either of those spell lists, you instead gain the elemental spell list, which focuses primarily on spells that have a direct or tangential connection to one of the four elements, along with a handful of utility spells. Additionally, certain classes make certain adjustments, such as sorcerers that also have the elemental bloodline gaining the ability to choose an appropriate focus spell from this archetype over their normal bloodline spells, druids of the storm order being allowed to swap out tempest surge with updraft, and wizards focusing on an element the way the normal wizards focus on schools.

Speaking of which, this archetype has a handful of new focus spells for each element. Air having the ability to create updrafts under foes as well as the ability to inhale so forcefully as to thin the atmosphere around them. Meanwhile, earth grants magic to open up rapidly closing rifts like snapping jaws, or launch powerful piercing stone projectiles. With fire, they can set areas ablaze or engulf a single foe in persistent flame. Finally, water mages can surf on a miniature wave, or crush foes between two conjured waves of water.

Finally moving past those initial changes, the basic dedication of the archetype lets them attune themselves to an element each day to become resistant to said element, letting them tailor their defenses to the elements used by their foes.

By invoking water alongside their other magic, these elementalists can soak others as they cast their spell, possibly exploiting weaknesses to water, or simply extinguishing or washing away fire or acid respectively, alongside any other useful effects of dousing a foe.

Those with familiars may gain or enhance their familiar with elemental properties, such as being nearly invisible when holding still for air, being exceptionally durable for earth, emitting light and heat with fire, or having a fluid body for water.

Of course, such elemental familiars require the caster to have a familiar in the first place, so these elementalists can gain one even if they normally would not have a feat for doing so in their class, not to mention another feat for enhancing them.

With another spell trick, they can add enough fire to a spell to set foes alight, burning them over time.

Meanwhile, another lets them surround themselves with swirling air or water after casting a spell to protect themselves.

Perhaps their most potent defense is one that allows them to absorb some of the energy from an elemental attack against them and use it to enhance their own speed briefly.

Like some monks, a few of these elementalists can manipulate the surface tension of water to stride across the surface of it in short bursts, though naturally gravity catches up with them eventually.

With an infusion of earth, they can spread rocks and scree around in the spell’s area, making maneuvering difficult.

Some of the most powerful can even catch and redirect elemental magics that fail to target them, turning them against the attacker or their allies.

Finally, some are able to enhance their magic with wind for extra guidance, allowing them to find paths around a foe’s cover.

The elementalist archetype is unique in that it completely changes the nature of your spellcasting, requiring different strategies when picking spells as a caster. The elements spell list is heavily centered around fire and raw elemental blasting (no electricity or cold though, grumble grumble), as well as buffs and battlefield control with some utility, so keep that in mind, and think about when to add the various elemental spell feats of this archetype to your spellcasting. On that note, while this archetype has specific guides for integrating with sorcerer, druid, or wizard, remember that magus, many summoners, and witches with certain patrons could take this archetype too, and you could find ways to implement the special focus spells and the like with them as well.

 There is also the matter of non-western elements, which are soon to be explored in the upcoming Pathfinder 2E hardback Rage of the Elements, which may or may not provide an update to this archetype and other options. With than in mind, how will you handle the inclusion of these new elements in your game?

Back on the subject at hand, however, consider how real-world elementalism behaves when thinking about this archetype and how it meshes with individual classes. Perhaps your character is a summoner hoping to achieve a special bond with an elemental being, for example.

  Every four years, the College of Elements, a magic school devoted to the exclusive pursuit of elementalism, holds a four day long tournament to decide which of the four elements is considered in ascendancy. This sort of thing would not be of any concern for the locals if it wasn’t for the fact that such games have a lot of collateral effects, and no matter which element wins, the victors will be insufferable.

 The Mountain’s Face orc clan deeply believe in the stories that can be told with one’s body, and wear any scars as proudly as their home of Mount Rakaan bears the scars of ancient magical combat. Some orcs, including the half-orc Gratix, study earth magic in hopes of gaining some of the mountain’s strength.

 Recently, the elemental spirit-spouse (more widely known as a summoner in contemporary circles) of the Order of the Four’s Argavetz chapter has gone missing, and the order, while secretive, is desperate to get him back. Through investigation, the party finds he and his eidolon partner have been kidnapped by a serpentfolk conspiracy, though to what end it is not yet clear.

#pathfinder 2nd edition #archetype #elementalist #orc #serpentfolk #Secrets of Magic

[bignyunai]

#safiir'ransha #safiir #dnd #dnd oc #yuan-ti #serpentfolk #rotfm #rime of the frost maiden #Bignyunai art

[frogblast-the-ventcore]

I had a character I rolled up for D20 Call of Cthulhu that I later got to play in Monster or the Week. I decided that since there was an enemy who could automatically eat 1d12 player characters per round the best stat for her was running speed, she was a former track athlete and wanted nothing to do with the otherworldly beings following her around.

Excellent. A winning strategy. My players (current and former) have, near universally, adopted a separate strategy for survival: Date and/or marry the monsters. We have two PCs who are romancing serpentfolk exclusively (one is an intersex FBI agent who terrifies Hoover by her sheer scaly presence; the other a Sicilian mafia member who is simultaneously both Just A Guy™ and John Wick). One PC (who is the to-the-nth-power grandson of Conan the Barbarian, and the child of the deerheaded Elder Goddess Yhoundeh, and her human priestess; thus being a stepson of Nyarlathotep) is married to a hunting horror and dating a giant crocodile man. One of the PCs (a former PC at this point) is in a polycule with four serpentfolk, a werewolf and a werepanther. And has dated other serpentfolk in the past and slept with a Dchichi and a Type III Deep One ("the pretty ones", that I borrowed from the Laundry Files). Said PC also permanently polymorphed into a serpentperson herself. Another temporary PC (still around as a NPC) is married to (and has a child with) the serpentfolk leader of a cult that's basically a Ponzi scheme. Yet another temporary PC (their player left) became romantically involved with Yhoundeh, Nyarlathotep and Randolph Carter (yes that one). The remaining PCs are too new to have gotten into the shenanigans yet.

#call of cthulhu

[buppypuppy]

Hi Swan..... What does oldwood project consist of ?

hiiiiii sorry i've been on mobile all day and im just not going to type out a whole shpiel about this on mobile it sucks to do that.

Oldwood is my little big worldbuilding project consisting of the general premise of "Ages and ages ago, the kingdom of men and the kingdom of beasts were barred from cohorting because the reigning god the Weeper deigned it the natural order, men hunt beasts to sustain themselves, beasts hunt men to keep wit sharp. The weeper one day ceased any indication of being there so the kingdoms ignored its dogma and united, and things prospered. one day the weeper returned and saw this and was enraged by it, and in its fury struck the lands, creating an Enormous basin filled with massive, monolithic trees that swallow the sky, and the kingdoms are exiled into the forest."

[More under here]

The weeper's blow, however, left wells of aspects of its power remaining. these wells were found and discovered and they were adapted in various ways, the six of them, being flesh, love, ink, death, color, and iron. The developments led to the rise of the six houses, the houses of the surgeon, punished love, the tragic poet, the five deaths, the colored capitols, and the iron grate. [the names were derived from the titles given to certain areas of pompeii that were being excavated, i learned them ages ago at an exhibit and it was the foundation for everything.]

now the present is many thousands of years later, life has gone on, and people have learned to live in the forest of drowned joys, society has been basically established, and while the houses are not the Governing Bodies their leaders are incredibly prominent figures and their followers are typically very sworn to them, and the houses hold significant sway.

The house of the Surgeon is led by The Surgeon, a batfolk [of which are incredibly rarely seen in the forest, electing to live within the caves within the walls and beneath the basin that the forest is in] who was the runt of its litter, and always had a dubious fascination with meat, who was one of the people who was originally a part of the very first kingdoms who were actually exiled into the forest. it discovered the well of power of flesh, gaining an utter mastery over it incredibly quickly, using that to sustain itself over the years. it is one of the very, Very few people who remain who witnessed the very beginnings of the forest.

The house of Punished Love is led by the Punisher of Love, an enormous serpentfolk [who are also very rarely seen on account of the notably cool climate in the forest] who was scorned for her birth, left abandoned in the woods. she was taken in by someone else, who did not have any preconceived notions of her birth, who loved her for who she was. after his death she eventually discovered the well of love, her circumstances granting her a quick mastery of it similarly.

The house of the Tragic Poet is led by, as you can probably guess, the Tragic Poet, a large spiderfolk [once again, rarely seen, bugs are less frequently seen in the forest for the same reason as reptilian beastfolk, however they are more common than reptiles.] i'll admit i haven't developed it as much as the others but it would always write poetry, just writing and writing and writing, full to the brim of thought and finding the page its only solace. this naturally gave it easier control over the well of ink, that power granting one the ability to turn words to power.

The other three houses are a little more abstract with the heads of the houses.

The house of the five deaths is lead by five skeletons in coffins, inanimate but still very much alive, capable of communing with one another and with anyone who steps between all of them. Their background and motives are far less well known, all that's really known is that they were five very close knit people before they met their demises upon discovering the well of death, and they gather as many bones as they can.

The house of the Colored Capitols is led by the colored capitols, which are animate statues residing under obelisks in a city in a Much different clime, a sandy, stony town in a desert, all residing within a painting. One must don a veil before entering the painting, as gazing upon the colored capitols with unveiled eyes as one who comes from elsewhere will end you trapped within the painting. The colored capitols bicker between each other a lot about the origins of the painting with which they reside in, [and like everything else,] but it's generally agreed upon the prospect that there was a painter who found the well of color, used it to paint the painting, and was subsequently consumed by their work.

The house of the iron grate is led by the iron grate, or more specifically what resides Inside it. by far the most obscured of any information regarding its origin, there is a grate within a room in the bottom of the estate which is over a hole that leads into the ground. There is a ladder in the hole. If you stand on the grate, you can hear whatever is within whisper to you, if it deigns to. You will not remember what it says, what it sounds like, or anything of the sort, only what it wills. Sometimes, people are sent into the hole beneath the grate, if it is warranted. Those people do not ever return.

feel free to ask any other questions you have i have WAY more stuff this is just sorta the fundamentals ^_^

Here is the playlist for oldwood if you would like to listen to it!!!!!

in short

#Mona Lisa‚ Mother Earth #oldwood