Page 120 - Serpent Kingdoms

REALMS

these tribes are openly contesting with each other for the throne dominated by tribes of primates, including apes, blood apes MM2 ,
of Sseth. Two of those tribes, House Eselemas and House Jennes- cloaked apes MM2 , and gambols MM2 , as well as girallons, gorillas
tas, have forged a loose alliance. In reality, however, that pact is (treat as pacifi stic apes), and monkeys. The yuan-ti rule supreme
more an acknowledgement of shared weakness against the more here, patrolling the jungles regularly and driving the most dan-
powerful Se’Sehen tribe than a sign of unity of purpose. gerous predators east into the Mhair Jungles to protect the ruins
Each tribe claims a number of overgrown steadings in the of Mhairshaulk.
depths of the jungle, from which its members dominate the Remnants of the past glory of Serpentes are everywhere,
surrounding terrain. Since the ever-encroaching jungle threat- though most such ruins are overgrown with jungle plants. Stone
ens any building left untended, most such habitations remain statues of long-dead yuan-ti abominations and crumbling walls
semi-ruined, even though gangs of slaves do their best to keep are the most common signs of past habitation, but larger ruins
them habitable. can be found as well. Ancient caches of building stones, pottery,
Until recently, the bulk of the serpentfolk in this area dis- glass, and metalwork are sometimes revealed when giant trees
played a curious apathy that left them content to hunt, exploit fall in storms. Those who dig beneath such troves may fi nd
and torture their slaves while dreaming of ancient glory. Since ancient catacombs stretching deep into the earth.
the Time of Troubles and the brief appearance of Sseth’s avatar, Lake Lemas: This small, freshwater lake forms part of
however, centuries of such somnolence have given way to a new- the border between the Black and the Mhair Jungles. Fed by
found energy. Much of that energy is directed at undermining innumerable streams and two small, unnamed rivers, it sends
the plots of rival tribes and investigating the mystery of Sseth’s its waters to the River Lemas and thereby to the Lapal Sea.
condition, but the yuan-ti of Serpentes have also begun to work Lake Lemas lies at the heart of the Eselemas tribal lands, and
in concert against their common foe—humanity. In accordance numerous overgrown holds dot its western shore. The lake itself
with the Sacred Way of Sseth, the yuan-ti have begun placing is home to a clutch of elder tojanidas, which the Eselemas clerics
their agents into positions of power so as to weaken neighboring called forth from the Elemental Plane of Water long ago to
realms from within. This strategy is in part one of necessity, defend the tribe.
since the human kingdoms currently possess far more military Lapal Sea: The Lapal Sea is actually a freshwater lake sur-
might than the yuan-ti do, but it also ties in with a prophecy. rounded by jungle—the Black Jungles to the west and the Mhair
Yuan-ti legends speak of the rebirth of Sseth in mortal form Jungles to the east. The cool breezes blowing over the water
heralding the rise of Serpentes, and no tribe wishes to move break the sun’s unforgiving heat and disperse the swarming
prematurely before the god (or his successor) returns. clouds of gnats and biting insects that hover about the area.
Like yuan-ti elsewhere, the inhabitants of Serpentes are di- The lake is fed by four rivers—two originating in a spur
vided into three primary castes: abominations, halfbloods, and of the Hazar mountain range to the north, and the other two
purebloods. The abominations rule through the halfbloods, who bubbling up in the midst of the Mhair Jungle. Water from the
in turn command the purebloods. Tainted ones and broodguards lake then fl ows gently toward the Great Sea to the south. Boats
are relatively new castes that rank below purebloods but above are almost unknown on the Lapal Sea, since the yuan-ti of the
slaves. Anathemas are considered divine minions of Sseth, so Sseradess tribe prefer to swim, and those of other tribes ride
they stand apart from the normal caste system. Holy guardians harnessed elasmosauruses MM2 . Herds of wild elasmosauruses
FF
and mageslayers (see Chapter 6) also hold unique ranks outside dominate the Lapal Sea, although ahuizotls , chuuls, and dark-
the caste system, although most are accorded the privileges of tentacles MM2 are numerous as well.
clerics and arcane spellcasters, respectively. The few surviving Lapalgulph: At the mouth of the River Lapal is a brackish
sarrukh are treated with reverence and their direct orders are bay that drains the Black and Mhair Jungles into the Great Sea.
always obeyed, but they lack the power to unite the tribes or The Jennestas tribe keeps careful watch over these waters from
truly rule them. the jungle-covered hills on the western side of the Lapalgulph,
and a Gargantuan dragon turtle (advanced to 30 HD) guards the
Major Geographical Features waters below in exchange for regular offerings from the yuan-ti.
The eastern edge of the Lapalgulph marks the beginning of a
The Serpentes Empire encompasses a wide range of geographi- vast mangrove swamp that stretches almost to Mhairhetel. This
cal features. area is the preserve of numerous solitary sword spiders.
Black Jungles: So thickly canopied that the jungle fl oor is Mhair Jungles: The Mhair Jungles lie between the Lapal Sea
cloaked in near-darkness (treat as shadowy during the day), the and the West Wall of Halruaa. This dark, tropical forest con-
Black Jungles are home to thousands of animals, plants, and in- tains all manner of plant and animal life, most of it unknown
sects. So great is the diversity here that several hundred kinds of anywhere else. Large numbers of carnivorous plants, duskwoods,
creatures may reside in each acre. Of the trees known elsewhere phandars, shadowtops, silverbarks, suth, and zalantars grow in
in Faerûn, mangroves, silverbarks, suth trees, and zalantar trees this jungle, along with a profusion of less dangerous plant life.
are most common. All kinds of predators stalk the Black Jungles, Once the center of the sarrukh empire of Mhairshaulk,
but carnivorous plants, dinosaurs, giant constrictor snakes, and the Mhair Jungles are now home to all manner of monsters.
winged vipers are most common. The southwestern reaches are Because the yuan-ti of Serpentes consider this land sacred, they

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