The serpentine yuan-ti are known for being cold, calculating, and entirely full of themselves. They're most often found in positions of authority in the lands of other species; usually as diplomats, advisors, or spies, though many can be found leading businesses that ruthlessly undercut their competitors. Their disdain for the "lesser" (other) species around them can make it difficult to work or live alongside the yuan-ti. Nothing annoys the snake-folk more than a lazy, aimless simani or tabaxi.
Slithering Snakes
When standing as upright as possible on their large, powerful tails, an average yuan-ti can reach an imposing 7 feet tall. Their arms seem small and weak in comparison to the rest of their bodies, as the strength needed for movement without legs has made their cores strong and dense with muscle. Yuan-Ti heads come in a variety of shapes: some are wide and flat with large eyes, others have hoods that hang off the sides of their face, and some have angular ridges of hard scales. The coloration of their scales is just as varied, with bright greens, yellows, and reds on some, and browns and blacks on others. Often colors mix in patterns and blotches on their backs and tops of their heads, giving each yuan-ti an almost entirely unique appearance.
Death and Rebirth
Yuan-Ti belief is based around cycles. As snakes shed their skins each year, they too believe that the world goes through phases of decay and death, before shedding the old world and becoming reborn. Yuan-ti see it as their divine mandate to help the world reach its next cycle. How radically these beliefs are held to varies. In the past, extremist yuan-ti have used targeted poisonings, assassination, and coups to eliminate what they see as vestiges of the old world that need to be removed for the new one to take its place.
Cold Blooded and Cold Hearted
Yuan-ti psychology tends to match the cold-blooded reptillian nature of their bodies. They view the world from a pragmatic and dispassionate perspective. Warm-blooded races are full of useless emotion and can't think logically, and other cold-blooded races are simply too weak-minded to be useful. They understand emotional connections in a detached, intellectual way, and recognize that these feelings in others can be exploited through bribes, favors, or threats. This mindset informs their efforts to conquer land, subjugate others they perceive as lesser, and dispose of whatever stands in their way.
Yuan-ti society is stratified in a caste system. The lowest are the hatchlings, born one of dozens from a batch of eggs and assigned a duty by the state at birth. Many young yuan-ti are sent into service as assassins, informants, or spies, with the promise of improved positioning in the caste after their work has been fulfilled. In truth, the lower classes are seen as expendable by the upper rungs of yuan-ti society, and are easily replaced if and when their mission ends in death.
You can use the yuan-ti personality table to determine a personality quirk or to inspire a mannerism for your character.
| d6 |
Personality Trait |
| 1 |
I feel twinges of emotions, and it shames me that I am imperfect in this way. |
| 2 |
I see omens in every event and action. The ancestors continue to advise us. |
| 3 |
An enemy destroyed something of value to me, and I will find where it lives and kill the offender. |
| 4 |
I frequently overindulge in food and wine, and I am impaired and lethargic for days afterward. |
| 5 |
Everything I choose to do is determined by whether it will make me smarter and stronger. |
| 6 |
If I could get away with it, I would gladly kill and eat a superior Yuan-Ti |
Yuan-Ti Names
Yuan-ti names have meanings that have been passed down through the generations, although spellings and inflections have changed over time.
Some yuan-ti add more sibilants to their birth names to create an exaggerated hissing sound, based on one’s personal preference. An adopted name of this sort is recognized as a variant of the birth name, rather than a unique name unto itself. A yuan-ti might refer to themselves by their birth name, by their adopted name, or by a name they borrow from the local populace.
Yuan-Ti Names: Asutali, Eztali, Hessatal, Issahu, Meztli, Otleh, Shalkashlah, Ssimalli, Teoshi, Zihu.
Yuan-Ti Traits
Your yuan-ti character has the following species traits:
Ability Score Increase
Your Widsom score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Age
Yuan-Ti live longer lives than most species, and mature very quickly.
Alignment
Yuan-Ti trend towards evil or neutral alignments.
Size
Your size is medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision
You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Legless
You cannot use any items, artifacts, or magical items with the word "boots" in the name, or that are equipped on feet. Any action another species would perform specifically using feet, you are unable to do.
Snake Bite
You jaws are natural weapons and can be used when unarmed. If you hit a target, deal 1d4+ your Strength modifier piercing damage.
Innate Spellcasting
You know the Poison Spray cantrip. Starting at 3rd level, you can also cast Suggestion with this trait. Once you cast it, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. Your spellcasting ability for these spells is your choice of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.
Poison Immunity
You are immune to poison and cannot become poisoned.
Language
You speak Common and Slissh.
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