APPEARANCE

 

Serpentine are a subspecies of hollowbeast native to the desert. They have slender bodies with long necks and a triangular head shape. Their horns can grow to impressive sizes but have a hollow interior to release body heat. Fur on the body is short and the mane around their neck is lightweight and airy. Serpentine have a mohawk that begins at the forehead and ends above the neck mane that is similar to that of a zebra. This hair can be grown out into different styles but their hairline is restricted to the natural pattern. Each Serpentine has at least 3 stripes on the base of their tail and commonly have additional stripes up their lower back. Feathers are considered a desirable trait in the species and longer feathers are viewed as attractive to potential partners. 

Clothing of this subspecies is both practical and a way to flaunt their social status. Commoners wear small pieces of flowing, loose clothing with colorful patterns and embroideries. Higher society members enjoy showing off their jewelry, layered clothing and elaborate hair. Since these citizens are not forced to spend the majority of their time outdoors working or peddling merchandise, they can wear more clothing without overheating during their limited outings. Serpentine love to make a statement, especially when that statement is wealth. The highest members of society - the Royal Family - reach for the most elaborate possible statement pieces and lavish jewelry. 

High temperatures of their environment greatly influence their garb and so it is not uncommon to see serpentine travelling nude. In their culture, nudity is not inherently sexual, but practical for extremely hot and dry periods.

Pelts are usually multicolored with colorful markings over a neutral base like beige or pale yellow. Serpentine with darker colors over the majority of their fur are extremely rare in their native environment - but if they settle in colder climates their fur will often phase to darker colors over time. 

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SOCIAL

 

The serpentine are generally a peaceful subspecies. They have strong familial bonds, value connections with others and enjoy festivities. Family structures can range in size as their relationships are equally as monogamous as polyamarous among mated serpentine.  In larger families, one or two members will normally care for all offspring of the family while others have a working role. Building a family is emphasized in their society and so one member leaving the nest to migrate to another city or region is a significant event for them. 

These hollowbeasts are extroverted and love to celebrate. They will hold festivals regularly and smaller events for milestones reached in family units for instances like completed training or birthdays. During large events there are multiple dance troupes and live musicians throughout the event as these are both huge values of their culture. This species thinks highly of self expression and the arts. 

Chalk and paint are used to create designs on their bodies and some use eye make up daily to enhance their features. Serpentine may seem affluent or vain to other subspecies who encounter them - which is sometimes true.

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COMBAT 

 

Hand-to-hand combat is avoided as much as possible. Long range weapons are their preference with bows being standard. This may vary from settlement to settlement and there have been individual cases of cities making use of crossbows, spears, javelin, throwing knives and catapults. Pyromancy is the most common magic trait in the species and they use this combined with desert elements to their advantage. Catapults can be used to hurl extremely hot sand on enemies or heated desert rocks. 

Serpentine have a tolerance to the toxins of local desert flora and derive a paralytic agent from cacti native to their region. This same chemical can be processed to create a powerful hallucinogenic used in ritualistic and recreational use by the Serpentine and it is extremely rare - but not impossible - for other subspecies that come in contact with it to begin having vivid hallucinations. 

The location of their settlements is a defensive advantage used to starve enemies before engaging in melee combat.

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DIET

Serpentine are omnivorous and eat many of the native plants to their region. Certain types of succulents and cacti have toxins that are poisonous to other subspecies that the serpentine have evolved to be unaffected by. 

 

HOLLOWING 

 

Hollowing is a taboo subject for the Serpentine. They have an immense ingrained fear of death and do not coexist with the Undead. Their Death Rituals are discreet, concise and short. As such, it is extremely rare to see them in undead settlements. Those who do go hollow are usually victims of combat who did not receive their death ritual and are forced to wander as far as possible from their homeland. Hollowing is viewed like a contagious disease which leads to mortals voluntarily taking up hunting and banishing them a rare occurrence. Serpentine who have gone hollow but do not migrate to an Undead Settlement frequently join bandit groups to have a sense of family unit again.

 

RULING

Coming soon 

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