Page 20 - Serpent Kingdoms

YUAN-TI

includes Beliss’ss’rae, Olome, Phelriss, Sssravvan, and T’s’tranth, is a suitable sacrifi ce, though some creatures are more pleasing
whose worshipers have clashed openly with other yuan-ti and to the god than others. Sacrifi ces rank in desirability according
occasionally raided human caravans. Other such pretend- to the list below.
ers to divinity doubtless exist but have thus far managed to • A scaled creature that submits willingly to death in Sseth’s
remain hidden. name.
• Any sort of scaled creature.
Sseth, the Slitherer Supreme • A Scaleless One with arcane spellcasting ability or a natural
spell-like power.
For most yuan-ti, there is Sseth and only Sseth. The other ser- • A Scaleless One with great personal power or achievements.
pentine deities that some vrael olo have worshiped over the years • Any other sort of Scaleless One.
have all been either masks worn by Sseth or false faces of the In any of these categories, a more formidable creature is always
fell deities venerated by Scaleless Ones. These latter beings seek more pleasing to Sseth than a small and insignifi cant one.
always to subvert yuan-ti from the truth of Sseth and lead them Thus, an ogre experienced in battle is far more worthy than a
into decadent indolence, loss of power, and ultimate betrayal and halfl ing infant.
destruction. Fervor of feeling while conducting a sacrifi ce is more im-
Sseth whispers in dreams, speaks directly through his priests, portant to the Slitherer Supreme than the total number or
and on rare occasions even appears to his faithful. More often, frequency of sacrifi ces offered. Sacrifi ces are expected whenever
however, the Slitherer Supreme leaves signs in the smoke of a worshiper needs to atone for straying from the Sacred Way,
his temples after suitable sacrifi ces of life have been made on but they are entirely optional for worshipers who have been
his altars. diligently following the wishes of Sseth, as communicated per-
Sseth guides in mysterious ways, leading his faithful toward sonally in dream-visions or by his priests. The manner in which
ever-greater power and eventual supremacy over the world. The the ritual is conducted and the attitude of the victim also have
path to dominance that he reveals, however, is invariably a wind- a bearing on the acceptability of the sacrifi ce.
ing, veiled, and subtle one rather than the destructive and brutal An ideal sacrifi cial victim is one that submits willingly to
route of conquest embraced by humanoids. death for the glory of Sseth. Few Scaleless Ones are truly happy
about dying for Sseth, but yuani-ti and other Scaled Ones often
THE SACRED WAY OF SSETH see some benefi t in giving themselves wholly to the god.
Devout worshipers of Sseth may express the god’s creed in dif- Next most prized are victims that participate willingly in
ferent ways, and indeed many fall to arguing over its specifi cs. In preparing themselves for sacrifi ce. Potential sacrifi ces are usu-
general, however, they all believe in the following tenets. ally offered all they desire of food, drink, treasure, company,
Sseth guards secrets to make his believers strong, imparting and favors. Yuan-ti frequently offer aid in slaying a hated rival
hints and aid to faithful followers subtly and sparingly. Those or righting a perceived wrong, then slyly drug their intended
who use the god’s gifts to achieve power and success are pleasing victims’ food or drink so as to render them unable to resist.
to Sseth and worthy of rewards ranging from rebirth after death In the third rank of acceptability are creatures slain in
to augmentation with increased powers, such as serpentine limbs, Sseth’s name on an altar of Sseth by a worshiper employing
stronger venom, or greater mastery of magic. either a melee weapon or her own fangs. Sacrifi cial victims slain
All secrets are known to Sseth. He yields them up sparingly by spells or bound so as to hamper resistance are less desirable.
in return for service he fi nds pleasing, such as achievements A trussed, terrifi ed, struggling victim is the least desirable
that benefi t all vrael olo, sacrifi ces made in his name or upon sacrifi ce of all. Offering up such a victim requires little effort,
his altars, and obedience to the priests of Sseth and orders from almost no risk, and not much subtlety, so it is unlikely to impress
the god himself. the god.
All yuan-ti must act in accordance with the Sacred Way The sacrifi ce is best performed by either biting away some of
of Sseth—that is, subtly. Whenever possible, vrael olo should the victim’s throat or face or biting off an extremity (usually
choose manipulation over open confrontation, the whisper over a hand). Either way, death results from blood loss, not from
the fang, and subterfuge over battle spells. Those who follow the poison or other means. The slayer should slither through the
Sacred Way of Sseth know their foes, think ahead, plan forward, victim’s blood while praying aloud to Sseth.
and slither well. Specifi c rewards for sacrifi ces are given in Chapter 2 of the
Book of Vile Darkness. Alternatively, the supplicant may receive
SACRIFICES TO SSETH cryptic replies to specifi c questions, either as hissed words in the
The Slitherer Supreme hears all prayers from his yuan-ti fol- mind or as visions. Other options for rewards include healing
lowers, but he is likely to dispense actual aid only when the (whole or partial restoration of lost hit points) while in contact
sacrifi ce of life accompanies the request. Any sort of intelligent with the sacrifi cial altar, ready-to-cast spells (placed directly in
creature (that is, one with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher) the recipient’s mind), or spontaneous, on-the-spot alterations of

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