Page 61 - Serpent Kingdoms

SARRUKH

Relations with were settled, the god promised to watch over them and help
them to rebuild.
Other Races Pil’it’ith, having grown old after his nearly eight hundred
years of life, begged Merrshaulk for one additional favor. In re-
The sarrukh consider themselves far better than the vermin turn for his active promotion of the god’s interests, he asked to
known as humans, who have somehow managed to become the be raised to the status of a Chosen. Merrshaulk had never taken
most powerful species in the world. They nurse a deep-seated a Chosen before because such an act required the expenditure of
hatred for the dragons and the phaerimms, and they fi nd other a great deal of divine power. Nevertheless, recognizing the benefi t
powerful creatures (such as aboleths, illithids, and beholders) to of having such a strong follower, he granted Pil’it’ith’s request.
be little more than annoyances. The Chosen of Merrshaulk led his sarrukh followers from the
god’s home and wandered the planes, looking for an ideal
Sarrukh location in which to start again. A misguided attempt
to enslave the khaastas turned the barbar-
Equipment ic, nomadic, lizards into mortal enemies
of the sarrukh, who eventually had to fl ee
The sarrukh prefer magic items to back to Faerûn. Pil’it’ith remained in charge
other equipment, though many do of the Okoth stronghold while his followers
employ personal weapons of various hid from the vengeful khaastas. The next
kinds. In general, however, servitor crisis came when Sseth (the reborn aspect
races still constitute the sarrukh’s of Merrshaulk) abruptly stopped answering
best tools and weapons. prayers during the Time of Troubles.
Pil’it’ith’s leadership was suddenly in jeop-
Sarrukh ardy after he had ruled over generations of
sarrukh. For weeks he hid the fact that he was
Encounters unable to contact Sseth, but fi nally he declared
that either Sseth was either dead or he had Illustration by Carl Frank
The following villain could oppose turned his back on his people. In either
heroes seeking to unlock the secrets of case, they needed a replacement de-
the serpent kingdoms or thwart the ity. Pil’it’ith had heard of the god
sarrukh’s plans for world conquest. Set, whom he had always (incor-
rectly) assumed was a fragment
Pil’it’ith of the World Serpent. He had
learned that Set was still grant-
The snake-bodied sarrukh named Pil’it’ith ing spells (albeit only to those who
was the last emperor of Okoth, and by dint of visited him directly) and was in con-
powerful magic, he remains alive to this day. Pil’it’ith tact with his followers. Pil’it’ith arranged a dialogue with
Pil’it’ith is an albino—in fact, he is the only the Lord of Evil and convinced the god that his people were
albino sarrukh currently alive in Faerûn. Because of the lack willing to follow him if he would grant them spells.
of pigment in his scales, he must remain in complete darkness. Pil’it’ith introduced Set to his followers, claiming that the
If exposed to direct sunlight, he takes 1d4 points of nonlethal Mulhorandi god was Sseth’s successor. The sarrukh of Okoth
damage per round. were satisfi ed with this arrangement but, as the Avatar Crisis
After the fall of Okoth, Pil’it’ith remained the leader of the drew to a close, Set revealed to Pil’it’ith that the Okothian sar-
great clans that took to the planes. While in the Outer Planes, rukh would have to help bind Sseth into eternal slumber in
he had the audacity to seek out the fragment of the World return for his favor. After they complied, Sseth began to thrash
Serpent known as Merrshaulk to ask for his guidance. When he against his bonds. In so doing, he awoke many Mhairshaulk
arrived at Merrshaulk’s home plane, the god was deep in slum- sarrukh and Serpentes yuan-ti and energized them to extend
ber, and his serpent guards refused to admit the sarrukh to his their dominion over the Scaleless Ones of Faerûn once more.
stronghold. Pil’it’ith, however, defi ed the guards and stirred the Sseth’s only conscious action thus far, however, has been to strip
god from his slumber. Pil’it’ith of his title and power as Chosen.
Merrshaulk would have destroyed most mortals for dis- Pil’it’ith has remained leader of his tribe, though his body’s
turbing him, but he recognized Pil’it’ith and granted him an clock has started up once again, bringing him ever closer to
audience. He thanked the sarrukh for overseeing the creation death. He is the only sarrukh that still remembers the great
of the serpent races of Faerûn that had come to worship him. empire his people once controlled. Despite the setbacks he has
He then commanded the albino to lead the remaining sarrukh endured, he still intends to re-establish some measure of control
to a place where they could establish a homeland. Once they over the world, and he intends to retain his position as leader.

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