Saurian {Lizardfolk}

Description

Saurians, also known as Lizardfolk, or the Ak'Tar in Draconic (their mother tongue), are a race of tall, reptilian humanoids. They vary in appearance more than any other race in the known world, with differences in build, posture, height, color, scale pattern and density depending on their heritage and native region. Their variation in height is exacerbated even more by the fact that they never stop growing, and their elders can be twice as large as other Lizardfolk. Despite their differences they all share a common ancestry, which goes back to their creation. They were the result of one of the Elder Titan's attempts to create a warrior race to serve him by combining the essences of humans and draconic creatures. After several failed attempts that resulted in unstable variants that suffered from rampant mutation, it finally succeeded in creating a stable lifeform. But as it turned out, they did not share its evil and destructive nature at all and quickly turned against it. They saw the Titan as a threat to their own survival and turned to the Gods for aid. Alessar in particular came to their aid and they sealed the Titan away, freeing themselves.

Biology

They are a species well-made for survival, and they can have a variety of unique features depending on the biome they live in. Extendable tongues, independently moving eyes, prehensile tails, neck dewlap, elongated necks, armored crests, sharp spines, dorsal fins, adhesive pads on their hands and feet, and elongated snouts are just a few of these possible features. They are also cold-blooded creatures, which means they rely on external means to stay warm. Fire and magic are among the two most common, and priests or magi capable of generating warmth are well-respected among them. If they get too cold, they will get stiffer, losing dexterity and mobility. If they continue to freeze, they will slip into a deep sleep and either wake when properly warmed or die.
Their cold-blooded metabolism is also a lot more efficient than a warm-blooded one in warmer climates. They would burn calories moving around, but do not do so passively, meaning they can sustain themselves on minimal amounts of food for long periods of time if they do not exert themselves. For this reason, the idea of hurrying just does not work with them. They do not try too hard to catch prey, as they can simply wait until the next one passes by. Nothing is an emergency to them and this makes them appear as lazy. For example, Lizardfolk bandits do not go around pillaging, but simply wait in one spot for someone to pass by even if it takes weeks or months. Warriors in Sabara do not storm the walls of cities they besiege, but simply wait and starve them out. Ship crews can stay out at sea for extended periods of time, only rarely needing to stop in port to resupply. These are just a few examples of how their cold-blooded nature significantly changes their mindset and approach to things.
As they grow, Lizardfolk must shed their scales. If they wait too long, their scales harden further, granting them extra protection. However, it also restricts their movement, limiting their mobility. If they continue to refuse to shed their scales, the unshed scales will cause increasingly harmful problems.
They are carnivorous and entirely pragmatic when it comes to their survival, but they are not as barbaric or inconsiderate in their consumption and acquisition of food as some would have you believe. Those who live within society, such as the Lizardfolk in the Khuagawa Tetrarchy, are well aware of the sensibilities of the other species around them. They are also natural-born hunters, with skills in trapping, tracking and even stealth.
Males and females are difficult to distinguish from each other, with the only difference being that females are slightly more slender and shorter, but still taller than say a human. Males are also typically more vibrant in color, to attract potential mates. This does however make them stand out in the environment as well, so they are forced into more aggressive forms of hunting. They also carry distinctly amphibian traits. They are foremost air breathers, but are capable of filtering oxygen from water thanks to small gill pouches in their mouths.
They are often considered poor parents by other species, as they have a tendency to abandon their eggs shortly after laying them even. This means every individual has to grow up and climb up their way within the tribe by their own merit. They do support every child within their tribe or society however, but all equally, regardless of blood relation. No matter if you are the chief's son or without parents, you have the same opportunities and support.

In Middenland

Within Middenland, Lizardfolk are mostly found in the swampy areas around the Duchy of Redden. They are mostly isolationist, like most villages in the area, but they do trade the spoils of their hunts with the nearby humans and even act as guides for them at times. They care little for religious matters and are penultimate survivalists, for which they are well adapted with their murky black skin tones.

In Sabara

The Khuagawa Tetrarchy has the largest population of Lizardfolk, particularly in the Southern Dominion of Minubi. They tend towards light yellow to golden brown colors and are often more crocodilian in appearance. With their powerful build and vicious tendencies, they often end up in military positions, patrolling the deserts to smoke out the numerous bandits.
They are often mistaken for being lazy by humans, as they never seem to be in a rush. Because they can sunbathe to warm themselves during the day in the desert, they consume very little energy and thus need little in the way of food and water as long as they don't busy themselves too much. They have many different sayings that all amount to the same idea of 'Don't bother to rush yourself if you can solve it with less effort later'.
The majority of the Sabaran Lizardfolk worship Alessar or P'Subek as they call him, the God of Strength, Dominion and the Sun. Their practical mindset aligns well with his ideals of the strong ruling. This does not mean the strongest warrior per se, but rather those who show strength in their willingness to take decisive action. They often resolve conflicts amongst themselves with the Test of Strength, a competition of tough physical labor.

In the Lu'Qua Tropics

Within the Living Jungles of the Lu'qua Tropics lives a small group of Lizardfolk tribes called the Last Watchers. They have been largely isolated from the outside after the natural disaster that befell the region and also destroyed the kingdom of the Urchae. They are a lighter green with darker stripes along their sides to help camouflage themselves well within the jungles. They are a highly xenophobic and self-sufficient hunter society.

Lifespan

Up to 80 years approximately.

Average Height

Roughly 1.8-2.1 meters on average.

Average Weight

They are slightly heavier than humans, averaging a weigh of 90 to 120 kg.