Page 35 - Serpent Kingdoms

LIZARDS

In most cases, no social stigma is attached to the minority MERRSHAULK
subrace in an asabi community. Despite the relative equity be- The asabis of Oreme, in service to the same sarrukh liches
tween the subraces, however, stingtail settlements tend to be less that once controlled the Isstosseffi fi l Empire, still cling to the
orderly than standard asabi communities, and their leaders rule ancient traditions and worship Merrshaulk, an older aspect of
by emotions rather than reason. Stingtails are more common- Sseth. They are willing to worship the deity of their creators
ly found in highly aggressive warbands or groups intended for simply out of loyalty to that race.
front-line action, such as those that patrol the entrance to the Worshipers of Merrshaulk must perform sacrifi ces regularly.
Crypt of the Dreaming Lizards in Oreme. The lich kings would prefer to sacrifi ce asabis to fulfi ll this
requirement, since no other sacrifi ces are handy or convenient,
LIFE CYCLE but they fear losing the loyalty of their protectors through abu-
Female asabis lay eggs in protected shelters and tend them sive orders. Thus, they have worked out a compromise. While
until they hatch. The young are raised by a small group the asabis are not required to sacrifi ce themselves to
of asabis of both genders, who train them in the ways Merrshaulk, any asabi killed while defending Oreme is
of war. The composition of this group is fl uid, with considered a sacrifi ce. Should peace reign for too long,
adult asabis taking their turns at this service to the the asabis are charged with capturing other scaly
community. Once an asabi reaches maturity, it is absorbed creatures to sacrifi ce. Most often, they bring back
into the fi ghting force. troglodytes or lizardfolk from the nearby caverns
and wilderness areas.
Asabi Characters
SEMUAN-YA
Most asabi characters prefer to take The asabis that escaped the
levels of fi ghter or barbarian, though
rangers, rogues, and sorcerers are not no god until after they were freed.
uncommon. Asabis who travel with Shortly thereafter, they happened upon a
other races often become sell-swords. lizardfolk cleric of Semuanya and adopted this deity
Some standard asabis are willing as their own. The lizardfolk cleric has since left
to enter human civilizations and the asabis, but a number of the stingtails from
learn about human and humanoid the original group took cleric levels so that
Asabi fighter
cultures, and many of those who do they could provide spiritual leadership for the group.
eventually overcome their evil natures. Stingtails, These clerics are the true source of power in the community,
domineering phaerimms had Illustration by Jeremy Jarvis
however, are likely to remain evil and barbaric wherever they since this generation has had no exposure to other asabis.
serve. Members of this subrace are usually employed exclusively
as mercenaries, and they almost never transcend that function Relations with Other Races
within the groups they join.
Asabis are accustomed to serving other races, either as slaves or
Magic of the Asabis as employed mercenaries. Thus, they tend to treat all intelligent
creatures that have not been identifi ed as enemies with respect.
Asabis use very little magic and few magic items. Most Throughout Anauroch, large numbers of asabis have been
spellcasting asabis are either clerics or sorcerers. The latter are forced into slavery by groups such as the phaerimms and the be-
normally viewed as assets on the battlefi eld, although they are holders of Xun’Qoroth. Enslaved groups serve faithfully if their
otherwise distrusted by the majority of their fellows. Clerics are masters treat them well. If they are tortured, overworked, or
the spiritual leaders and healers of asabi communities, and as otherwise abused, however, they plot not only their own escape,
such, they are usually considered too valuable to risk on the but also the downfall of their masters. Many a cruel warlord
battlefi eld. Aside from the adults who tend the young, clerics are who put a group of asabis to work has been surprised by a knife
the only able-bodied members of an asabi community exempted in the back from one of his “faithful” slaves.
from war.
Asabi have developed no spells or magic items unique to Asabi Equipment
their race.
Asabis prefer steel weapons and armor over magic items of
Deities of the Asabis almost any sort. Most have the ability to forge metal, though
many tribes do not have the resources to do so and must rely on
Different asabi communities worship different deities. Most ven- plunder for such supplies.
erate fragments of the World Serpent, but Semuanya actually
has the largest number of asabi followers.

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