Serpent Riders

The serpent riders are a people of scattered tribes that have spread themselves across the known skies via their ability to tame and ride Sky Serpent. The riders are identifiable by their snake like featuers, such as patches of scales and distinctive eyes. The riders also have some innate elemental magic, which allows them to both control their beasts and trick the eye with illusions.
One of the oldest peoples of the Skies, the serpent riders have been interacting with almost every island since the earliest days of the new world order. Unfortunately, most of those interactions have been with the serpent rider tribes that primarily engage in raiding, piracy, and slavery, and so, the opinion of this people have been coloured by this violent history. Not all riders engage in these acts, but all riders suffer from the prejudice and fear that this history has engendered.
Part of the Askia, cousins to the Akoran, the serpent riders value personal freedom, autonomy, and the right to self-dictate. Each tribe interpenetrates this underlying idealism differently, with massive differences forming between tribes as time and physical distance separate them and their experiences.
Some serpent rider tribes favor a nomadic lifestyle, hopping from island to island, creating temporary shelters, and essentially living off of their mounts. Other tribes favor claiming smaller islands from which they can venture off into the world, often choosing secluded spots far from the eyes of the major powers of the Skies. Others embrace their innate elemental magic so that they can blend into the populations of larger islands, using illusions to appear as Sapie, so they can live more calm and stable lives.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Serpent riders resemble Sapie most closely, as well as the now extinct Precursor Race. Serpent riders have inherited several reptilian characteristics, likely due to their closeness to their favored pets the Sky Serpent. These traits include, but are not limited to; forked tongues, patches of glistening scales, reptilian eyes, webbed fingers, retractable fangs, and heightened flexibility. Some serpent riders are born with even more snake-like features, some even resembling humanoid snakes, but such extreme cases are few and far between.

Biological Traits

Serpent riders have mysterious and innate magical powers that allow them to compel serpents and weave basic illusions. Some riders dig deeper into these powers, becoming powerful sorcerers with impressive mastery of illusion and enchantment.

Genetics and Reproduction

Serpent riders reproduce sexually, but do not give birth to live young. Instead, the females of the species lay eggs that are roughly the size of an infant which hatches after a period of 30 days. The gestation period is slightly shorter than Sapie

Growth Rate & Stages

Serpent riders have similar lifespans to Sapie, living just under a century at best. However, as they grow older, their more Sapie-like features show more wear and age than their more serpent-like features.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The social structure of serpent riders is varied and diverse. Some organize themselves around single leaders, while others favor councils of powerful individuals. Others are more egalitarian, embracing a form of tribe-wide democracy. Others still embrace a hedonistic anarchism, working together only as so far it benefits the individual, and perusing their own interests. In the tribes that engage in slavery of other races, slaves rarely are given any kind of voice in the direction of the tribe. Slaves are exclusively taken from the other peoples of the Skies, as serpent riders abhor the enslaving of other serpent riders.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Serpent riders have an enhanced sense of smell, as they posses both Sapie like pronounced noses, as well as a second set of nostrils in the roof of their mouth.

Related Ethnicities

• Askia

Serpent Riders

Ability Score Increase +2 Cha, +1 Dex

Size Medium

Speed 30ft

---

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.
Innate Spellcasting: You know the poison spray cantrip. You can cast Animal Friendship an unlimited number of times with this trait, but you can target only snakes with it. Starting at 3rd level, you can also cast Invisibility with this trait. Once you cast it, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Magic Resistance: You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Poison Immunity: You are immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.

Languages. Serpent riders speak Auran almost exclusively, with a rare few learning Primordial to communicate with their slaves.