Page 96 - Volo's Guide to Monsters

STRUCTURED SOCIETY
The goal of every yuan-ti is to transform itself into the
ideal combination of snake and humanoid. This attitude
is reflected in yuan-ti society by a caste system, with sta- FROM CALIMSHAN AND Tt:'E LAt<E OF STEAM
tus predicated on where a particular form of yuan-ti lies OUT ALONG THE TRADE ROUTES TO CROSS THE
along the ladder of transformation. WORLD, VUAN·TI POISONS AND POTENT LIQ.UORS
The basic form of yuan-ti society is a pyramid with
ARE COVERTLV SOLD. BEWARE.' SOME OF THE
abominations at the top, malisons in the middle level,
LATTER SLOWLV ANO SUBTLY BRING IMBIBERS
and purebloods at the base. The outliers are the anath-
UNDER THE. SWAV OF THE NElC.T PUREBLOOD
emas, the most powerful yuan-ti of all, and two castes
that lie beneath all yuan-ti: broodguards and slaves. SERPENT•SPV OR VUAN·TI MALISON TO MEET
Statistics for yuan-ti anathemas, yuan-ti brooclguards, WITH THEM UNLOOl<EO•FOR.
and new kinds of yuan-ti malisons appear in chapter 3. - E LM IN STE R
Two new malison variants are presented in the "Yuan-ti •
Matison Variants: Types 4 and 5" sidebar in this chapter.
YUAN-TI ANATHEMAS
The exceedingly rare yuan-ti known as anathemas look
to wield power and influence while playing such roles,
much like abominations, but larger, with clawed hands,
some pure bloods surround themselves with luxury in
and six snake heads sprouting from where the head
their human guises and then become resentful when
should be. Each anathema is the product of a unique
they have to return home and live under the caste
ritual that alters its original abomination form, increas-
system again.
ing its size, power, and intelligence. Other yuan-ti treat
anathemas like demigods, and they naturally assume a YUAN-TIBROODGUARDS
leadership position over all others in the area. The devolved creatures known as broodguards are cre-
An anathema's aggressive presence brings about a ated by feeding humanoids a special elixir, which gives
transformation in a yuan-ti city, pushing it to become them scaly skin and a compulsion to follow orders. Be-
more warlike and expansionistic. The anathema directs cause their minds are crippled by their transformation,
the yuan-ti to wage small-scale wars on humanoids, usu- broodguards are less useful than slaves for many tasks,
ally through proxies such as cults and allied creatures, but because of their unwavering loyalty they make capa-
and uses these conflicts to gather riches and slaves until ble guardians for yuan-ti eggs.
it has enough resources to establish the yuan-ti as the Broodguards are technically slaves, but because of
rulers of a region. their loyalty and the expense of the potion that creates
them, they have slightly higher status than common
YUAN-TI ABOMINATIONS
slaves-meaning that a pureblood is more likely to give
Mostly ophidian, but with humanlike arms that can
a suicidal order to a slave than to a broodguard.
wield weapons and use tools, abominations closely
resemble the perfect form that the serpent gods envi- SLAVES
sioned. Absent the presence of an anathema, yuan-ti Every yuan-ti settlement has a number of other crea-
abominations are the leaders in most yuan-ti cities. tures under its control, including intelligent humanoids,
charmed or trained beasts, and even undead or conjured
YUAN-TI MALISONS
minions. Regardless of their nature, all are treated as
The various kinds of malisons are imperfect compared
slaves: no creature that is not a yuan-ti is fit for anything
to abominations but still a step above humankind in the
other than menial labor and subservience. Slaves that
eyes of the serpent gods. Malisons tend to be receptive fail to follow orders or lag in their duties are dispatched
to religion, seeking insight about how they can improve or turned into broodguards.
toward the serpent ideal, and many of them become
leaders in the worship of one of the serpent gods. EMOTIONLESS EVIL
YUAN-Tl PUREBLOOD During their ascension ages ago, the yuan-ti freed them-
The most numerous of the yuan-ti, pure bloods are also selves from the yoke of their human emotions. Now
the most humanlike, exhibiting only one or two snake- they view the world from a pragmatic and dispassionate
like features such as slitted pupils or patches of scales perspective. They understand emotional connections in
on the skin. a detached, intellectual way, and recognize that these
In yuan-ti cities, pure bloods are treated fairly but live feelings in others can be exploited through bribes, fa-
m an environment where their wants and needs are vors, or threats.
eclipsed by those of the malisons and abominations. As creatures devoid of emotion, yuan-ti exhibit behav-
Because purebloods can easily pass as human, their ior and use tactics that exemplify that outlook (or lack
most important function is as agents of the yuan-ti in the of one). Whether in combat or in daily life, the following
outside world. They can live incognito among humans principles guide the yuan-ti in all they do.
as diplomats, infiltrators, and spies. Because they get