Page 7 - Serpent Kingdoms

INTRODUCTION

The creations of the sarrukh, however, still fl ourish in many makes them an insidious threat to humanoids. To the yuan-ti,
parts of Faerûn. The most notable of these are the yuan-ti, the direct or indirect control of other beings is the Sacred Way of
nagas, and the lizardfolk, but horrifi c (and thankfully rarer) Sseth—the only proper way to deal with other races; whereas to
reptilian monsters with strange shapes and deadly powers have nagas, it is both prudent and the most favored style of behavior.
been sighted by intrepid adventurers across the continent. Many The yuan-ti developed a special terminology to indicate the
of the nagas and yuan-ti experiment on themselves and other exact status of Scaleless Ones with whom they have contact.
creatures just as the sarrukh did on them, in hopes of granting The tsaa olo are potential slaves (usually human, though this
themselves and their servitors even greater powers. term can be applied to any Scaleless One—and sometimes even
The ever-expanding humanoid infl uence on Faerûn has done to other Scaled Ones, as a term of contempt). The hasssar are
little to check the spread of the Scaled Ones, and even those creatures currently being infl uenced or conquered, and the sslin
that lack the means and desire for self-improvement persist (and are controlled servitors or slaves.
sometimes fl ourish) in remote areas. The Thunderers and other The Scaled Ones’ attempts to gain control over a humanoid
ancient, primitive kinds of Scaled Ones were hunted nearly to culture include a high degree of covert activity. Both nagas and
extinction by dragons, but a few such creatures still survive in yuan-ti dwell among humans, subtly infl uencing and enslaving
remote jungle areas and on offshore islands. them through magic, drugs, and controlled servitor creatures,
Though vast empires controlled by Scaled Ones no longer including the altered humans known as tainted ones. Rulers and
exist on the surface of Faerûn, sentient serpentfolk and scalykind other powerful individuals, such as mighty wizards, are usually
are not the rare perils that humans would like to believe they the fi rst targets in a given culture, since control of such persons
are, nor are they confi ned to tombs and ruins. Through spies and makes domination of the rest of the community simpler.
direct infl uence, the covert reach of the Scaled Ones extends to Most of the time, these techniques are used so subtly as to
surprising places—including the glittering hearts of Faerûn’s be unnoticeable. Indeed, a tired or uninquisitive humanoid visit-
wealthiest, busiest cities. ing a settlement controlled by serpent creatures may not notice
anything out of the ordinary at all. More alert travelers might
The Insidious Threat experience a feeling of being watched or notice an odd local
custom—seemingly practiced by everyone—of perfuming the
Neither the sarrukh nor their most capable creations are stupid. body with strongly scented oils. Illustration by Joel Thomas
Though they view humanoids as weak, stinking, ugly, edible cattle, Merchants who become aware of serpent infl uence either avoid
they also recognize that the Scaleless Ones are swift and intelligent, the affected places altogether or try to trade with the local citi-
breed rapidly, and can rise to nearly any challenge. Indeed, humans zens for whatever drugs, herbs, and venoms they can obtain. The
in particular are perhaps the most adaptable of all the races of serpent creatures controlling the servitor humans may offer the
Faerûn, making them dangerous but valuable slave material. desired goods eagerly in order to take control of the merchants or
Thus, though most yuan-ti and nagas in Faerûn today view expand their infl uence to areas beyond their direct control.
humans and their kin as potential food and slaves, they realize that Neither yuan-ti nor nagas are foolish enough to show their
these creatures also constitute their most dangerous foes. Energetic true forms openly in any human settlement they don’t control.
and widespread, humanoids are too numerous to be confronted Thus, when dwelling in or visiting humanoid-dominated settle-
openly, but too useful and powerful to be allowed to fl ourish freely. ments, most sentient serpent creatures remain hidden—either
Indeed, the races spawned by the sarrukh are always seeking to behind walls in countryside compounds that they control as
expand their infl uence among humanoids, usually in subtle ways. absolute rulers, or in slither-tunnels built into the walls of
settlements. Such passages almost always link up with other
The Ideal tunnels and cellars into a large network of underground routes
that are diffi cult for humanoids to traverse. Sewers, disused
In a perfect serpentfolk-controlled community, humanoids would and expanded burial catacombs, and storage cellars under hu-
eagerly serve as slaves, watching for perils that could endanger their manoid cities (particularly in the warmer parts of Faerûn) are
serpentine masters and acting swiftly on their own initiative to deal also favored dwelling places for Scaled Ones who are interested
with such threats and warn their masters of danger. Furthermore, in humans.
the controlled humanoids would willingly offer themselves as sac- The Scaled Ones are patient, ever-present, and ruthless. Their
rifi ces to the snake-god Sseth and live only to give pleasure and advance is often very slow and subtle, extending over generations
contentment to their masters. In practice, however, Scaled Ones of humans. Often, they seek to change local beliefs and attitudes
know quite well that no such “perfect” community can exist because so that service to (and even worship of) yuan-ti or nagas comes
by their very nature slaves are weak and imperfect creatures. to be seen as right, proper, and even holy—regardless of which
human deities are locally venerated. Wise Scaled Ones never
Covert Control rush to act openly. Rather, they patiently await just the right
moment to strike. When they do make their moves, they enact
The drive to dominate is characteristic of the Scaled Ones’ cul- precisely the best strategy with cold calm to achieve the maxi-
tures, and this need, more than any other facet of their society, mum possible effect.

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