Page 22 - Serpent Kingdoms

YUAN-TI

Other Reptiles Ready-to-Use
To a yuan-ti, witless reptiles are kin of a sort, though they are Villains and Allies
obviously lesser creatures that must be made to see their “right-
In any FORGOTTEN REALMS campaign, adventurers worthy of
ful places” as inferiors. Thus, the yuan-ti are free to exploit,
their reputations must inevitably come to grips with yuan-ti.
tame, enslave, and use such creatures as desired. Dragonkin,
The two pureblood opponents detailed below might be encoun-
pterafolk, and the like are a measure better, but they are still
tered skulking in the sewers or cellars of a human city. More
regarded as inferiors rather than allies.
formidable sample villains appear in Chapter 8.
Most yuan-ti respect dragons for their great powers and lon-
gevity and nagas for the fell magic they control. Shapechangers
MRUTHLISSK
that have access to reptilian wereforms are obviously touched
Mruthlissk was the offspring of yuan-ti who’d been forced to
by Sseth; thus they are viewed as mysterious and holy creatures
take part in breeding experiments. His parents fl ed with the rest
that have a rightful purpose, even though they are inferior to
of their ssrath when strife erupted within their tribe (just which
yuan-ti. Lizardfolk are stupid but physically powerful and there-
tribe, Mruthlissk never knew). For generations, the ssrath moved
fore useful as allies and servants.
north, slithering from jungles to forests and moving on when-
ever they encountered other yuan-ti. Mruthlissk was hatched in
Scaleless Ones the eastern fringes of the High Forest, where strange monsters
were many. The casualties among his scaly kin rose precipitously,
Like the sarrukh that created them, yuan-ti loathe all nonscaled
and he was soon orphaned.
species, regarding them as inferior beings. Humanoids’ com-
The rest of his ssrath scattered shortly thereafter, leaving
pletely unscaled bodies are unsettling to the yuan-ti—indeed,
Mruthlissk on his own. For years he lived wild, hunting the
some abominations regard human bodies as obscene and the
fringes of the forest for food, until he reached a section of its
humanlike pureblood yuan-ti as little better. Furthermore,
western fl ank that was not far north of Secomber. There he
humans in particular have an odor that is offensive to the
began to track lone prospectors, small bands of foresters, and
yuan-ti—hence the custom of applying heavy perfume to the
other humans who frequented the forest. Night after night, he
skin in areas controlled by the serpentfolk.
lay still on the forest fl oor beyond the fi relight of encamped
Yuan-ti regard humanoid attitudes as base and strange, and
humans, listening to their talk of wealth, cut-and-thrust trade,
their overly excited mannerisms grate on the yuan-ti nerves.
and life in human cities. When his targets fell asleep, he pounced
Humans and their ilk are always “busy,” and most are com-
upon them and slew them, taking their goods for his own. But
pletely untrustworthy. The most prudent tactic is to control
the conversations he heard stuck with him, preying on his mind
them through drugs or coercion—or, more simply, eliminate
until he began to crave the chance to taste life in the world of
those that serve no useful purpose.
humans for himself.
However, many yuan-ti who dwell among humans for ex-
The threat of an early, cold winter fi nally drove Mruthlissk
tended periods of time grow to regard them as fascinating and
to hunt beyond the forest along the trade roads. There, he fol-
often surprising beasts that can provide endless entertainment.
lowed several bands of folk who were hurrying to Silverymoon
Some yuan-ti even come to admire certain humans and enjoy
ere “snowdeep.” It became his habit to don the clothes of his
particular human customs, viands, fashions, and games.
earlier victims and fall in with small groups of travelers, sizing
Yuan-ti Equipment them up as prey. One night, the cold drove him to seek fi re-
warmth with a group consisting of a few armored men and
many women bundled up and shivering in heavy furs and hide
Since the yuan-ti consider themselves the most perfect of all
cloaks. A few moments of conversation revealed that the group
beings, they use only the best equipment available—typically
was actually a troupe of dancers bound for Silverymoon, and
of at least masterwork quality. After all, the fi nest creatures
two of their men had already been lost to wolves on the jour-
deserve the fi nest tools.
ney. Mruthlissk offered himself as a replacement and spent that
Yuan-ti Encounters winter in Silverymoon, learning on the job.
When spring came, Mruthlissk accompanied the troupe
south to Waterdeep, then promptly vanished, heading for the
Player characters can encounter a yuan-ti warband on a jungle
warmer coastal cities of Amn. From there, he began to tour the
trail, or en route to a major yuan-ti temple with sacrifi ces in
human settlements of Faerûn in disguise, seeking a place where
tow. Such a band usually consists of 1d12+1 purebloods, 1d4+1
he could make his fortune and settle down. Mruthlissk loves
halfbloods, and 1d3+1 abominations. Small gangs of purebloods
dancing and views it as a perfect cover, since entertainers can
undertaking a mission in a human city often consist of as few
enter human cities at will. But he dreams of becoming a respect-
as 1d3+1 yuan-ti.
able merchant in the right port—a pillar of the community who
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