Sandscale Covenant

Deep within the unforgiving deserts slither the followers of the Sandscale Covenant. These reptilian humanoids, their skin like sunbaked leather and eyes like cold obsidian, are a chilling echo of a bygone era. Their society is a twisted blend of serpent worship and brutal pragmatism, where only the strongest and most cunning rise through the ranks. Woe betide those who cross their path, for the Sandscale Covenant slithers unseen, a silent threat in a land of scorching sands and merciless secrets.

Naming Traditions

Family names

1. Ssathadra
2. Vipertongue
3. Scalebane
4. Fangcoil
5. Serpenthorn
6. Slithertongue
7. Cobrashade
8. Venomstrike
9. Coilspiral
10. Adderscale

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

the Yuan-Ti have customary codes and shared values that govern their society. These codes and values are often rooted in their hierarchical structure and the pursuit of power and influence. Some common values and customs among the Yuan-Ti may include:
Hierarchy: The Yuan-Ti society is hierarchical, with individuals occupying specific roles and positions based on factors such as lineage, strength, and cunning. Respect for authority and deference to those of higher rank are essential aspects of their culture.
Ambition: Ambition and ambition are highly valued among the Yuan-Ti, and individuals are encouraged to pursue power and success through any means necessary. This may involve deception, manipulation, and even betrayal to advance one's position within the society.
Loyalty: While self-interest is paramount in Yuan-Ti culture, loyalty to one's family, clan, or faction is also highly prized. Individuals are expected to prioritize the interests of their group above their own personal desires, and betrayal or disloyalty is often met with severe consequences.
Cunning and Deception: The Yuan-Ti are known for their cunning and deceitful nature, and these traits are admired and cultivated within their society. Manipulation and subterfuge are seen as legitimate tools for achieving one's goals, and individuals who excel in these areas are often held in high regard.
Ritual and Tradition: The Yuan-Ti have various rituals and traditions that are observed to reinforce social bonds, assert dominance, or appease their gods. These rituals may include ceremonies to honor ancestors, rites of passage for young members of society, or elaborate displays of power and wealth.

Common Etiquette rules

The Yuan-ti, deeply rooted in the sands of Zluugka, adhere to a complex system of customary codes and shared values governing their interactions. Etiquette among them is marked by a careful balance of respect for hierarchy, cunning diplomacy, and veiled manipulation. A strict social hierarchy dictates deference to higher-ranking individuals, with displays of obedience and deference expected from those of lower status. Politeness is often laced with subtle threats or veiled intentions, reflecting their inherently manipulative nature. Despite this, there is a degree of admiration for those who display cunning and intelligence, as long as it serves the collective interests of their society. Thus, interactions are often shrouded in layers of intrigue, with every gesture and word calculated to advance personal agendas within the intricate web of Yuan-ti politics and power dynamics.

Common Dress code

The Yuan-ti have a dress code that reflects their serpentine nature and their cultural values. They favor clothing that accentuates their sleek and sinuous bodies, often adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of snake scales. Fabrics tend to be lightweight and flexible, allowing for ease of movement. Common colors include deep greens, earthy browns, and rich purples, mirroring the hues of the desert and jungle environments they inhabit. Accessories such as jewelry and belts are adorned with serpent motifs, symbolizing their connection to the snake god. Modesty is important in Yuan-ti culture, but they also appreciate elegance and grace in their attire, seeking to convey power and sophistication through their clothing choices.

Art & Architecture

Yuan-ti art is a chilling blend of serpentine grace and morbid fascination. Their sculptures twist and coil like serpents, often depicting their own kind in positions of power or dominance over humanoids. Murals boast vibrant, unnatural colors, showcasing scenes of sacrifice to serpent gods or yuan-ti rituals bathed in an eerie glow. Music is often unsettling, featuring atonal instruments and hypnotic rhythms that entrance the listener. Their culture revolves around reptilian hierarchy, with elaborate displays of power and cunning used to climb the social ladder. Achievements and ruthlessness are celebrated, while weakness is ruthlessly punished.

Foods & Cuisine

Yuan-ti cuisine is a reflection of their reptilian nature and often unsettling to outsiders. Here's a breakdown of their food and cuisine:
Ingredients: Emphasis on Meat: Being primarily carnivorous, yuan-ti favor meat heavily in their diet. They prefer fresh kills, often preferring them still warm or even wriggling. Snakes, lizards, rodents, and even captured humanoids fall prey to their palate. Limited Plant Life: While some yuan-ti might cultivate fungi or hardy desert plants for variety, these are not a staple. Insects as Delicacies: Certain yuan-ti sub-species consider specific insects delicacies, appreciating their crunchy texture and unique flavors.
Preparation: Raw or Lightly Cooked: Yuan-ti stomachs can handle raw meat better than most humanoids, so their dishes often involve minimal cooking. Searing or quick grilling might be used to enhance the flavor. Spices and Herbs: Certain yuan-ti cultures utilize strong, pungent spices and herbs to mask the sometimes-gamey taste of their meat. Presentation: Presentation varies depending on the sub-species and social occasion. Some might serve meat simply carved and laid on large platters, while others might arrange it in elaborate displays mimicking serpents or other reptilian figures.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Yuan-ti society revolves around reverence for the serpent gods and displays of strength. Shedding their skin symbolizes a new chapter and is often marked by public rituals. Mating is a public display of dominance, with victors earning high status within the hierarchy. Their art emphasizes serpent imagery and ritual sacrifice, while their music is designed to entrance and unnerve. Food is a display of power – the strongest get the best cuts, and meals are often competitive affairs.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

yuan-ti do have a birth rite, a brutal and transformative ceremony that marks their acceptance into yuan-ti society and severs their last ties to their humanoid past. Here's a breakdown of the ritual:
Participants:

• Hatchling: The newborn yuan-ti offspring, usually kept safe and cared for by a designated caretaker (often a low-ranking yuan-ti) until the ceremony.
• High Priest/Priestess: A powerful yuan-ti cleric devoted to the serpent gods, responsible for overseeing the ritual and ensuring its successful completion.
• Witnesses: A select group of yuan-ti, typically high-ranking members of the community or the hatchling's parents (if they are also yuan-ti).

The Ceremony:

• Offering: The ceremony begins with an offering to the serpent gods. This might involve sacrificing a live animal or presenting a rare treasure.
• Serpent Bath: The hatchling is submerged in a large vat filled with writhing, venomous snakes. This is a test of their fortitude and a symbolic cleansing of their humanoid heritage.
• Scarification: The high priest uses a sacred blade to etch intricate serpent iconography onto the hatchling's skin. This painful process is believed to imbue them with the power and cunning of serpents.
• Transformation: A potent potion or venom concoction is forced down the hatchling's throat. This excruciating ordeal triggers a physical transformation, accelerating their growth and altering their features to become more reptilian.
• The First Shed: Following the transformation, the hatchling undergoes a rapid shedding of its skin. This shed skin is considered a powerful talisman, often kept by the high priest or the hatchling's family as a reminder of their transformation.
• Trial by Combat: (Optional) In some yuan-ti cultures, the newly transformed hatchling must face a ritual combat against another hatchling or a weakened creature. This serves as a final test of their strength and ruthlessness before being fully accepted into society.

Significance:
The birth rite is a brutal but crucial step in a yuan-ti's life. It signifies their complete transformation from a vulnerable hatchling to a member of yuan-ti society. It also serves as a stark reminder of their allegiance to the serpent gods and the ruthless nature of their existence.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Yuan-ti funerary rites exist, but they are far from somber or respectful. Here's a breakdown of their practices:
Purpose:

• Appease Serpent Gods: The primary function of a Yuan-ti funeral is to appease the serpent gods and ensure the deceased's safe passage to the afterlife within their pantheon.
• Display of Power: Even in death, social hierarchy plays a role. More elaborate rituals are reserved for high-ranking Yuan-ti, showcasing their power and influence within the community.

Variations based on Status:

• Purebloods and High Castes: For Pureblood Yuan-ti (born reptilian) and high-ranking members, the ceremony might involve a ritual sacrifice of slaves or captured humanoids to appease the serpent gods. Their bodies are then placed within elaborate stone sarcophagi adorned with serpent imagery, often placed within hidden tombs or crypts.
• Lower Castes and Broodguard: For lower castes or those transformed through rituals (Broodguard), the ceremony is simpler. Their bodies might be offered as a communal meal to the community, consumed as a way to absorb their strength and memories. Alternatively, they might be left in designated burial grounds to decompose, picked clean by scavengers.

Common Elements:

• Shedding Ritual: Regardless of caste, a ritual shedding of the deceased's skin is often performed. This shed skin is then treated differently based on status. For high-ranking Yuan-ti, it might be preserved as a memento or used in magical rituals. For lower castes, it might be discarded or even consumed as part of the communal meal.
• Poison or Venom: The bodies of deceased Yuan-ti are often treated with potent poisons or venoms to expedite decomposition and prevent them from rising as mindless undead.

Overall Tone: Yuan-ti funerary practices are devoid of sentimentality. They are a brutal reflection of their reptilian nature and societal structure. The ceremony focuses on appeasing the serpent gods, showcasing power, and ensuring the deceased's swift transition to the afterlife.

Common Taboos

• Disrespecting the Serpent Gods: This is the ultimate offense. Any act perceived as blasphemy against their reptilian deities – questioning their authority, failing in sacrifices, or desecrating sacred symbols – will be met with swift and brutal punishment. This could involve being devoured by sacred snakes, sacrificed in a public ritual, or undergoing a transformation into a mindless serpent creature.
• Weakness: Yuan-ti society thrives on strength and dominance. Public displays of weakness, such as showing fear or hesitation in combat, are severely frowned upon. Those who consistently exhibit weakness risk being ostracized, demoted in the hierarchy, or even becoming sacrifices themselves.
• Disobedience to Hierarchy: Yuan-ti society is strictly hierarchical, with purebloods (born reptilian) at the top and transformed yuan-ti (Broodguard) at the bottom. Disobeying a superior's orders or challenging their authority is a serious offense. The punishment can range from public humiliation to ritualistic execution, depending on the severity of the transgression.
• Cannibalism Within the Caste: While the yuan-ti do consume humanoids and lower caste yuan-ti in some rituals, cannibalism within their own caste is generally taboo. It disrupts the social order and is seen as a sign of desperation or uncontrolled savagery. However, there might be exceptions in extreme circumstances, such as during a famine or as part of a twisted power struggle.
• Mating Outside the Caste: Mating is a public display of dominance in yuan-ti society. However, mating outside of one's designated caste lines is strictly forbidden. This is seen as a dilution of the pureblood lineage and a potential threat to the established hierarchy. The punishment for such a transgression can be particularly harsh, with both parties facing execution or a fate worse than death.

These taboos ensure the smooth running of yuan-ti society, maintain the dominance of the serpent gods, and reinforce the ruthless competition that defines their way of life. Following these strictures allows yuan-ti to climb the social ladder, gain the favor of their gods, and avoid a gruesome and humiliating demise.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

In Yuan-Ti culture, beauty is often associated with traits that reflect their serpentine nature and prowess. Smooth, scale-like skin with vibrant or iridescent colors, such as emerald green, deep sapphire blue, or rich amethyst purple, is highly prized. Eyes with slit pupils resembling those of snakes are considered alluring, especially when they gleam with intelligence and cunning. Lithe and graceful movements reminiscent of serpents in motion are admired, along with a strong, muscular physique that exudes power and agility. Sharp, pointed facial features, such as high cheekbones and a prominent jawline, are considered attractive, along with long, sinuous limbs and a sleek, streamlined silhouette. Accessories adorned with motifs of snakes, such as coiling serpents or entwined reptiles, are popular among Yuan-Ti individuals, further emphasizing their connection to their reptilian heritage.

Gender Ideals

In Yuan-Ti culture, gender ideals are often rooted in the concept of power and dominance. While there may not be strict gender roles, traits associated with strength, cunning, and leadership are highly valued regardless of gender. Both males and females are expected to possess these qualities and contribute to the collective strength of the community. However, there may be subtle differences in societal expectations based on gender, with males often encouraged to demonstrate physical prowess and assertiveness, while females may be celebrated for their intelligence, strategic thinking, and ability to manipulate situations to their advantage. Ultimately, individuals are judged based on their abilities and achievements rather than their gender, with meritocracy playing a significant role in Yuan-Ti society.

Courtship Ideals

In Yuan-Ti culture, courtship is often a complex and strategic endeavor that revolves around the principles of power dynamics and alliances. Potential partners may seek to form relationships based on mutual benefit, whether political, social, or economic. Courtship rituals often involve elaborate displays of status, wealth, and influence, as individuals compete for the attention and favor of desirable mates. Gifts, favors, and displays of loyalty may be exchanged as part of the courtship process, with each party seeking to demonstrate their value and suitability as a partner. While love and affection may play a role in some relationships, practical considerations and the pursuit of power often take precedence in Yuan-Ti courtship. Additionally, alliances formed through marriage are highly strategic, serving to strengthen bonds between families and further the interests of the individuals involved.

Relationship Ideals

In Yuan-Ti culture, relationships are often viewed through the lens of power dynamics and strategic alliances. While genuine affection and love may exist between partners, relationships are primarily valued for their utility in advancing one's social standing, wealth, or influence. Marriages are often arranged for political or economic gain, with little consideration given to personal compatibility or emotional connection. Loyalty, obedience, and mutual benefit are highly prized in relationships, with partners expected to support each other's ambitions and goals. Trust is essential, but it is often based more on mutual self-interest than emotional intimacy. Infidelity or betrayal can have severe consequences, both socially and politically, as they may undermine alliances or weaken the power base of individuals involved. Overall, Yuan-Ti relationships are characterized by pragmatism, ambition, and a keen awareness of the benefits they can provide.

Encompassed species

• Yuan-Ti