As a continuation of the updates regarding the content of the bestiary section of the Hammersong's Legacy Campaign Setting, here is the write-up for the serpentfolk, the ruling race of the Drakon Empire. These may also look familiar: the serpentfolk are a Swords & Wizardry conversion of the ophiduan from The Iconic Bestiary: Classics of Fantasy, by Ari Marmell of Lion's Den Press. The ophiduan were created as a replacement for the yuan-ti, which has been considered Product Identity by Wizards of the Coast and thus cannot be used for publishing purposes.
As an aside, I'm not entirely thrilled with the caste names, and am open to suggestions, if anyone wants to offer any thoughts on the matter.
Serpentfolk
The serpentfolk are an ancient race of serpentine humanoids, whom legend states have walked the earth since before the rise of mammals. Even now, they rule the Drakon Empire of the Western Shores. Before and during the War of All Gods, the serpentfolk mystically crossbred with humans and other humanoids, mixing their blood and abilities, the better to infiltrate and eventually destroy those that opposed their territorial expansion. Although largely humanoid in form, the serpentfolk still have the mentality of reptiles. Concepts such as mercy and compromise are unknown to them. They are utterly ruthless, and have little concept of honor. Survival and victory are their only goals, though they are fully capable of employing subtle or deceptive methods to obtain them.
Through their crossbreeding and mystical experiments, serpentfolk have evolved into three distinct types, or castes: the hominis caste (mostly humanoid), the semiferum caste (half snake/half man), and the anguineum (mostly serpentine). All serpentfolk have the following abilities, regardless of caste: they are immune to poison, have darkvision up to 60 feet, and possess the ability to speak with snakes at will.
Hominis Caste Serpentfolk
The hominis caste are bipedal humanoids with serpentine features. This caste might even pass for human, were it not for the supple scales that make up their skin. Their eyes are dark and unblinking, their features gaunt, their teeth unusually sharp. A dark shock of hair begins at a widow’s peak at their forehead, and flows down their neck and back. Many hominis caste serpentfolk can move through human and humanoid communities without arousing even the slightest suspicion. They serve the Drakon Empire as leaders of both a secular and spiritual nature, as well as act as diplomats when interacting with humanoid races.
Hominis caste serpentfolk have a magic resistance of 40%, the ability to control serpents of 3 HD or less, and alter its form to that of another humanoid of comparable size and weight. In addition, once per round, a hominis caste serpentfolk can induce ophidiaphobia, an insurmountable fear of snakes, in a single target within thirty feet, assuming that the target fails a saving throw. An affected subject will flee any serpent or snake that approaches within 20 feet for up to 3d6 rounds, or cower helplessly if they cannot flee. Finally, all hominis caste serpentfolk have the following spell-like abilities: charm monster (1/day), darkness 15 ft. radius (1/day), sleep (3/day), suggestion (3/day).
Hominis Caste Serpentfolk: AC 1 [18]; HD 7; Atk: long sword (1d8) or long bow (1d6); ST: 9; SP: alter form, control snakes, darkvision 60 ft, immune to poison, ophidiaphobia, speak with snakes, spell-like abilities; MV: 12; CL 12; XP 2,000.
Semiferum Caste Serpentfolk
The semiferum caste serpentfolk appear as a hideous, yet somehow pathetic, cross of man and snake. A vaguely humanoid torso, covered in reptilian scales, melds into an enormous serpentine tail at the waist. A gaunt humanoid face, also covered in scales, bulges in odd spots as fangs far too large for the mouth push at the thin lips from within. Sporadic tufts of hair just from the top of the head, giving the creature almost a sickly appearance. The semiferum caste serpentfolk serve as manual laborers, foot soldiers, and gladiators. In combat, they are straightforward combatants, and are used as frontline soldiers by their more powerful and intelligent brethren. The semiferum caste serpentfolk are culturally predisposed to consider themselves worthless and expendable, so they often continue to fight against odds that would send other creatures into retreat.
Semiferum caste serpentfolk have a magic resistance of 20%, and a poisonous bite that inflicts 2d4 points of damage unless the victim succeeds in a saving throw to resist its effects. In addition, all semiferum caste serpentfolk have the following spell-like abilities: charm person (1/day), darkness 15 ft. radius (1/day), and suggestion (1/day).
Semiferum Caste Serpentfolk: AC 3 [16]; HD 4; Atk: bite (1d4+poison) and long sword (1d8) or long bow (1d6); ST: 13; SP: darkvision 60 ft, immune to poison, poisonous bite, speak with snakes, spell-like abilities; MV: 12; CL 9; XP 1,100.
Anguineum Caste Serpentfolk
The anguineum caste serpentfolk look like great serpents with humanoid features. A serpentine torso boasts a pair of slender arms, each of which is abnormally long and possessed of two elbow joints. The torso splits into two long, writhing tails. A cobra-like hood flares open behind its head, which boasts an oversized face that — despite its scales and unhinged jaw — appears as much human as snake. The oldest of the serpentfolk castes, the anguineum caste are the true progenitors of the race, and the creators of the other serpentfolk. They are merciless, predatory, and despise the fact that mammals are currently the dominant civilized species. Overthrown by the hominis caste, the anguineum caste serpentfolk now occupy the roles of low-level politicians, military officers, elite soldiers, bodyguards and craftsmen.
Anguineum caste serpentfolk have a magic resistance of 50%, a poisonous bite that inflicts 2d6 points of damage unless the victim succeeds in a saving throw to resist its effects, and a blinding poisonous spit that, if the anguineum caste serpentfolk successfully hits with a ranged attack, inflicts 2d4 points of damage and blinds the target unless the victim succeeds in a saving throw to resist its effects. In addition, all anguineum caste serpentfolk have the following spell-like abilities: charm monster (3/day), darkness 15 ft. radius (3/day), sleep (at will), and suggestion (at will).
Anguineum Caste Serpentfolk: AC -2 [21]; HD 9; Atk: bite (1d6+poison) and long sword (1d8) or long bow (1d6); ST: 6; SP: darkvision 60 ft, immune to poison, ophidiaphobia, poisonous bite, speak with snakes, spell-like abilities, spit; MV: 12; CL 15; XP 2,900.
Enjoy,
Flynn
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