Page 5 - Serpent Kingdoms

fl avors, they usually reply to direct questions with cryptic re-
marks such as, “Crawling evils never sleep.”
Serpent Kingdoms focuses primarily on the mysterious,
scaled creator race known as the sarrukh—and the three major
races its members bred and modifi ed into their present forms
from more primitive ancestors: lizardfolk, nagas, and yuan-ti.
Various other monsters and races native to Toril, including the
hroughout recorded history, the humans of asabi, ophidians, pterafolk, tren, and troglodytes, are also exam-
Faerûn have feared the Scaled Ones—those ined in some detail.
Tsentient snake and lizard races whose cultures,
magic, weapons, cities, and visible accomplishments rival those Abbreviations
of humanoids. Fireside terror tales tell of slithering death,
unblinking eyes, and fangs in the night, and a few even hint To facilitate the use of the many Forgotten Realms and D&D
at the serpentfolks’ fell plans to enslave all other races and books, Serpent Kingdoms references the races, feats, and other
breed them like cattle. Some people scoff at such “darkshadow design elements introduced in those books. Each reference is
talk,” but the wisest sages warn that these fears have a solid indicated by an abbreviation.
foundation. Some few even claim that it’s too late to be afraid
because undercover enslavement already exists in many of FF—Fiend Folio
Faerûn’s proudest cities. For—FORGOTTEN REALMS Campaign Setting
Merchants in Waterdeep and the Silver Marches readily Mon—Monsters of Faerûn
trade rumors of nagas and snake-headed humans who rule MM—Monster Manual
southern cities, and of jungles “down there” aswarm with many- MM2—Monster Manual II
headed snakes as long as barges. But in Calimshan, the Vilhon PG—Player’s Guide to Faerûn
Reach, and more southerly lands, talk of the Scaled Ones is far Rac—Races of Faerûn
more guarded. All across Faerûn, those who live closer to the Sav—Savage Species
fabled reptilian cultures tend to be far more reticent to speak of SK—Serpent Kingdoms
them aloud than those who live farther away. Und—Underdark
Although farmers and stay-at-home crafters in most of Una—Unapproachable East
Faerûn’s human-dominated realms know nothing of the Scaled
Ones beyond the tales told in taverns, many far-traveled folk are What You Need to Play
convinced that malevolent serpent beings are at work behind the
®
scenes—they’re just not quite sure where or how. Even traders To use this sourcebook, you need the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
who frequent the southerly lands are loath to speak directly of Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual,
such creatures lest they draw undue attention to themselves. plus Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn, and the FORGOT-
Though merchants are quick to warn inexperienced servants TEN REALMS Campaign Setting. Many references are also made in
®
and traveling companions about odd-smelling smoke (especially these pages to Races of Faerûn, Player’s Guide to Faerûn, Magic of
if it has a green or purple hue), strange piping sounds arising Faerûn, Monster Manual II, Expanded Psionics Handbook, Book
from cellars and sewers, and wines or sweets tainted with exotic of Vile Darkness, Savage Species, and Fiend Folio.

4

620_96566_SerpentKingdom3.indd 4 5/11/04, 11:57:33 AM