Page 95 - Volo's Guide to Monsters

and more of the yuan-ti adopted his worship.
an-ti godling that falls prey to the next one's ambitions.
and gather strength during the years of decline, as more
every century or so, although often it is the newest yu-
the lower ranks of the serpent gods experience a change
prevent the collapse of the empire. Sseth chose to rest
This cannibalistic pressure from mortals means that
recovery, but those actions were too little and too late to
in attaining divine form and vanquishing its benefactor.
deity. They granted him enough power to mount a brief
Sibilant Death, believing him to be an avatar of their
out, but rarely an exceptionally clever yuan-ti succeeds
of Merrshaulk's devout turned to the worship of the
the supplicants seek. The truth is never easy to ferret
world domination in return for their veneration. Many
their worshipers with pronouncements that hint at what
from the brink of defeat and back to the pinnacle of
be bled of power as Merrshaulk was, so they mollify
winged yuan-ti. He promised to lead the yuan-ti away
The serpent gods don't wish to be brought low, or to
Sseth appeared to the serpent folk in the form of a
serpent god.
In the last years before the yuan-ti empire collapsed,
yuan-ti sets out to supplant its deity and become a new
SSETH
mortality. Then, once armed with that knowledge, the
entity, beseeching it to reveal the secret of transcending
on yuan-ti malison pit masters.
of respect or fear, but because it aspires to emulate the
world. See chapter 3 of this book for more information
The worshiper of a serpent god pays homage not out
yuan-ti to their rightful place as masters of the mortal
one of the lesser serpent gods as an object of worship.
his skin, and-renewed by transformation-restore the
especially evident among the powerful yuan-ti that take
this to be a sign that he will soon fully awaken, shed
The yuan-ti's dispassionate attitude toward religion is
come easier to wake him in recent decades, and believe
SERPENT GODS
the age-old yuan-ti traditions. They sense that it has be-
more information on yuan-ti malison mind whisperers.
masters, are malison warlocks that uphold and advance
The leaders of Merrshaulk's worshipers, called pit
that follow other gods. See chapter 3 of this book for
lasts only a short time.
gives them a less than savory reputation among yuan-ti
in so doing they exude an air of self-importance that
performed in his name, and his return to consciousness
tion is possible, but requires many ritual murders to be
alternative choice to contesting viewpoints or plans, and
invocations. Rousing him for advice or direct interven-
and principles. They strive to succeed by offering an
shaulk grants spells to his clergy in response to their
ers, use their god-given magic to emulate Sseth's tactics
His most devout followers, known as mind whisper-
to abandon him. Even in his compromised state, Merr-
asleep, or if his prolonged torpor caused his worshipers
past. It is unclear if declining worship caused him to fall
Norse. Hel, Loki.
serpent folk left the surface and went into hiding in ages
Egyptian. Apep, Set.
Greek. Ares, Hecate.
the world, Merrshaulk entered a deep slumber when the
Celtic. Math Mathonwy, Morrigan.
is he entirely dormant. Mirroring the fate of yuan-ti in
the Traveler.
Though the Master of the Pit is not conscious, neither
Eberron. The Ful')'i the Keeper, the Mockery, the Shadow,
MERRSHAULK
Dragonlance. Chemosh, Sargonnas.
Greyhawk. Erythnul, luz, Tharizdun, Vecna.
yuan-ti deities for each pantheon.
-ELMIN5TER
B of the Player's Handbook. The following are suggested
COURTIE RS. AND, WORSE FOR THE REST OF US, RULERS.
pacts with deities of the pantheons presented in appendix
ANO IMMUNE TO POISON-VUAN•TI MAl(E PERFECT
In worlds other than the Forgotten Realms, yuan-ti make
Goos OF OTHER WORLDS
CALM LONG-VIEW SCHEMERS, INN~ DECEIVERS,
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