Page 105 - Serpent Kingdoms

REALMS

with her lover, the pirate Cairak Redbeard, or that the pair is almost unknown, even to its nearest neighbors. The ser-
now dwells in a small tower in the Moonshaes. Their haven pentfolk do not post guards along the kingdom’s borders, or
sits in a snug harbor at Eiresse, a tiny pirate cove near the attack every humanoid that passes through their holdings, or
southwestern tip of Corwell, facing the eastern capes of the isle extract tariffs from passing caravans. No gnome-dug mines
of Flamsterd. dot the landscape, and no great cities attract visitors from
Agents of the Se’Sehen tribe have observed the High Suikh’s miles around. The region is known to be dangerous, but its
obsession and consequent decline, and the tribal elders feel that neighbors do not believe that its monstrous inhabitants are or-
the time is right to extend their infl uence into his court. In ganized in any real sense. Those who stumble across the truth
the past year alone, two highly ranked courtiers have been are rarely seen again, and those who return to human-ruled
secretly abducted and transformed into tainted ones, and both cities knowing the truth often vanish before their tales can
now have Helbareim’s ear and confi dence. But the yuan-ti will gain any credence.
have to fi ght the beholders of the Alimir Hive (outcasts from
the subterranean city of Zokir beneath the Almraiven Penin- Life and Society
sula of Calimshan) as well as the elders of House Eselemas for
infl uence over Ormpur. At least one Ormpurian noble family is The king of Najara is the dark naga Ebarnaje, a direct descen-
actually a group of beholder magesemploying magic to appear dant of the ha-naga Terpenzi (see page 31), who founded the
in human form. kingdom and served as its fi rst ruler. Ebarnaje is served by a
Serpentine Suffering: A few years ago, the Abbot of St. noble caste composed of dark nagas (known as collectively as
Uzurr learned about the horrifi c yuan-ti practice of creating the nagara), spirit nagas (relatively recent immigrants), and
tainted ones and broodguards. Ever since then, he has been con- yuan-ti. The majority of the population consists of lizardfolk,
sumed with discovering a means to reverse the process, since he muckdwellers, and ophidians.
views restoring full humanity as the only way to relieve the vic-
tims’ suffering. Although he has not yet succeeded, an Eselemaa LIZARDFOLK
mole within the order has reported that he is drawing close to The lizardfolk native to this area believe themselves to be citi-
his goal. Thus, yuan-ti purebloods working on behalf of all the zens of the independent kingdom of Kalran. In truth, however,
tribes have begun infi ltrating Uzurr to assassinate the abbot. the rulers of Kalran have been vassals of the kings of Najara for
many generations. King Amiskal (CE male lizard king fi ghter
Najara 15), the present ruler of Kalran, retains that same relationship
with Ebarnaje.
Capitol: Ss’khanaja (formerly Ss’thar’tiss’ssun) The typical lizardfolk of the northern Serpent Hills are pri-
Population: 273,820 (ophidians 52%, lizardfolk 28%, muck- marily brown, with striking green markings along the arms and
dwellers 10%, yuan-ti 7%, nagas [bone, dark, and spirit] upper chest and limbs that are more humanlike than those of
3%) other tribes. These alterations refl ect the breeding experiments
Government: Monarchy of the Najaran yuan-ti.
Religions: Semuanya (lizardfolk, muckdwellers), Sess’innek Kalran has a militaristic culture in which the strongest war-
(lizardfolk nobles and lizard king), Shekinester (spirit nagas), riors serve as chieftains (essentially nobles), and artistic pursuits
Sseth (now Set) (ophidians, yuan-ti), Ssharstrune “the Ghost are held in low esteem. The lizardfolk of Kalran trade with
Naga” (dark nagas), Varae (aspect of Sseth [now Set]) (ophid- their kin in the Marsh of Chelimber but often battle with their
ians), various dragons (ophidians, lizardfolk) serpentine neighbors. Ebarnaje secretly encourages this state of
Imports: Herd animals, human slaves, lizardfolk eggs perpetual low-grade warfare to strengthen the combat-readiness
Exports: Artwork, deinonychus eggs, weapons of both groups.
Alignment: LE, NE, CE
NAGAS
Najara, the Kingdom of Snakes, is an ancient realm of serpent- The nagas of Najara form the ruling caste of the Kingdom of
folk that encompasses the eastern reaches of the High Moor, the Snakes. The dark nagas and free-willed bone nagas are all descen-
Serpent Hills, the Forest of Wyrms, the Marsh of Chelimber, dants of Terpenzi, and each is accorded the status of a prince of
and the river valleys that meander through the area. Centuries the realm. Upon the death of the king, the most powerful living
ago, Najara was centered in the western reaches of the Forest of dark naga can claim the throne by ritual combat.
Wyrms, around the now-ruined capitol city of Ss’thar’tiss’ssun. Traditionally, approximately a dozen spirit nagas serve the
Now, however, the epicenter of this realm has shifted decidedly King of Najara. By dint of an ancient pact dating back to the
north into the Serpent Hills (once the exclusive territory of the Nejizar’s accession to the throne, each spirit naga functions as a
lizardfolk kingdom of Kalran), and the serpentfolk are strongly protector of and servitor to the royal line, answering directly to
infl uential in the surrounding lands. the reigning monarch. Some serve as guardians, others inspect
Najara is arguably the largest and most powerful king- ongoing activities in population centers, and the rest function
dom of the Western Heartlands, yet its existence as a realm as inquisitors.

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