Page 44 - Serpent Kingdoms

LIZARDS

respect as the natives. The newcomers are usually the last to eat Upon reaching maturity, the remaining lizard king offspring
and the fi rst to be sent to defend their settlements from intrud- are gathered in a Ceremony of Choosing and judged by the cur-
ers. The only exception is a lizardfolk warrior who has proven rent tribal ruler. The one deemed strongest and most fi t to rule
his valor on the fi eld of battle or performed deeds that saved is named heir; the rest are sacrifi ced in Sess’innek’s name and
members of the tribe. Such newcomers are accorded a degree of consumed by the tribe. The only exception is a lizard king that
respect, albeit grudgingly. opts to become a cleric of Sess’innek rather than a tribal leader
before it reaches maturity. Despite the fact that such an option
RELATIONSHIPS could potentially save the lives of countless lizard kings, it
Lizard kings mate with is a choice rarely made because of these creatures’ violent
standard lizardfolk. The and arrogant tendencies.
offspring of such unions
are usually evenly split Lizard King
between lizard kings and
standard lizardfolk. Characters
Lizard kings may
Since most lizard kings are in control
have several mates
of a tribe of lizardfolk, they
whose company
are not usually suitable
they enjoy, but
as player characters.
such creatures
However, young liz-
are still perceived as
ard kings that
lesser beings.
have not yet
Illustration by Wayne England Lizard kings hatch and later be re-educated
undergone the
LIFE CYCLE
Ceremony of
Choosing may
from eggs in the same
fall in battle,
manner as ordinary
become prisoners,
lizard folk. Liz-
ard king eggs
and set free in the
are usually kept
separated, how-
rare cases, a
ever, since infant world. In such
lizard king
lizard kings tend to eat
might actual-
their siblings—especially
ly travel with
those that turn out to
others of dif-
be normal lizardfolk.
ferent races.
Most lizard king
Another con-
offspring begin vying
sideration is the
for the position of rec-
unusual dietary needs
ognized heir at an
of a lizard king. Just
early age. Young
because he is emancipated from his
lizard k i n g s
tribe does not mean that his hunger
charge into com-
for human fl esh simply vanishes—he
bat as soon as they
must still consume an intelligent hu-
are able to do so, often
manoid creature once per week or take
with reckless abandon,
1 point of Constitution damage. This
and many are slain by
compulsion is an effect of the control
their enemies. Those
that Sess’innek has over the lizard kings,
that survive continue to
and it cannot be negated without the use of
engage in combat whenever
limited wish, wish, or miracle.
possible in an effort to prove
their mettle, knowing that only
the strongest of their number will
ultimately survive.
The lizard king’s feast
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