The Eastlands: The Year of the Serpent

Post by **TetNak** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 3:54 pm

The Year of the Serpent

Every seven years the Year of the Serpent passes like a shadow across the Eastlands. This year hardly has the same affect it did hundreds of years ago. When the Kingdom of the Slithering Serpent was large and powerful, the Year of the Serpent marked a substantial increase in the Yuan-ti's activity based on their sacrificial rights. The Yuan-ti would hunt their neighbors feverishly, sacrificing the survivors of which they were few. The days of power for the Yuan-ti kingdom have long passed. Vengeance is finally close for the Elves of 100 Tribes.

Snow is upon the ground here along the base of Mount Wayfollower, the Temple Steeped in Blood serving as a sanctuary from the bitter cold the Yuan-ti refugees have had to endure for many years. The snake-like creatures have even begun to wear heavy clothing, covering their feet, as many have died from the elements. The Kingdom of the Slithering Serpent is dying. The priests have said the Great Serpent, the Slithering Serpent, has abandoned the Kingdom. The reason the Spirit might have done so alludes everyone.

Darkness sprawls across the Plateau of the Sun, and here in the northern section beneath the mountain, the night is particularly cold. From the Longpine Woods to the east a figure passes into the opening before the great stone temple. The temple, ancient, was once used as primary sacrificial grounds for vile ogres and giants that now plague the Yuan-ti from the mountain. The temple itself is no longer what it once was. The steeped stones no longer are washed with blood, and many steps crumble from lack of care, as only the inner bowls of the temple are kept as they were in the days of yore.

The figure is cloaked in green, wearing boots and furs, something that is quiet strange for one of his kind only one hundred years ago. Now only survival is thought about, and traditions be damned, perhaps this is why the Great Serpent has abandoned his children. This figure is Xisskar, a young Yuan-ti Pureblood, his elvish features a dangerous ploy against the neighboring enemies. His eyes speak true, sparkling yellow under the moonlight.

There is blood upon the Yuan-ti's hands tonight, finding and murdering an elvish scout in the Longpine Woods, which are certainly little more than the last defensible position against the oncoming horde of the Yuan-ti's former slaves, the elves. The entrance to the cavern complex, and the Yuan-ti's home, rests along a crack in the temple's base, a crack big enough for only the smallest snake .. Xisskar must report his finding to the great Abomination, Ith-mar ..

sidewinder102 · Post by **sidewinder102** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:21 am

Xisskar approaches the entrance, a tiny crack in the ground.. It seemed almost a metaphor for his kind. Reduced to living in the holes and cracks of walls. It frustrated him even though his knowledge of the former serpent kingdom was only through tails told by the elder serpents.

Xisskar is very lithe according to human standards, but actually above average in width according to Yuan-Ti standards. His musculature is not bulky, but very well defined. He shares the sharp features of brown python, resembling a handsome elf with very radical racial traits. His eyes a bright yellow speckled with brown. Xisskar has no scales, his skin is a soft brown everywhere on his back but pales on his front everywhere except his face where he has the large tatto of a hand on the left side of his face. It reaches from his forehead to nearly touching his jawbone. The tattoo looks as if he could've spattered ink on his left hand, closed his eye, and pressed his hand against the according side of his face. Each of the fingers have little space between them, including the thumb.

Xisskar's frustration was relieved somewhat though tonight, he had slain one of the foul elven scouts and was soon to report the action to Ith-mar, his superior and Yuan-Ti abomination. With that Xisskar knelt infront of the crack and his form quickly began to change. His flesh changing to scale, his head conforming to it's true nature, his body stretching into the streamlined shape which only accompanied a tiny viper. This new shape allowing him to enter the last refuge of the once great Serpent empire ruled over by the Yuan-Ti.

Post by **TetNak** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 1:33 am

Xisskar radically changes form, turning into a small snake, and doing so moves through the cracks into the temple. The journey is a short one, as the thick walls open into a large, and rather desolated chamber. The chamber was once the slave quarters, where many pens and cages were designed to keep even the mighty ogres from escaping.

The snake continues its path, following a deep hole that has been cut into the ground. The hole opens up into the cavern complex of the underground kingdom. Beams support the massive hole's dug deep into the earth, the complex built hundreds of years ago by ogres themselves in an attempt to drive the Yuan-ti from their lands. Now the Yuan-ti use them to survive, as the winds are much warmer here, and serve as the creature's homes.

Xisskar knows the way to the Great Abomination's chambers. Ith-mar is the secular leader of the Yuan-ti, spreading the word of the Slithering Serpent through warfare and subjecation of all other races. Unfortunately the Abomination has inherited a difficult task ..

sidewinder102 · Post by **sidewinder102** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:46 am

Xisskar meets his destination, entering the last great chamber of the slithering serpent. His highest abomination, Ith-Mar, Waiting for the pureblood's report.

As Xisskar slowly approached the Abomination, pride accompanying him with each step. He looked about the chamber, taking in it's great view before he bestowed the knowledge of his own successes upon the greater abomination.

Post by **TetNak** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:03 am

Ancient totems of the great Kingdom of the Slithering Serpent adorns the many chambers and caverns Xisskar passes to reach the great underground chamber of the Abomination. There are indeed no resistance to his path, as not one guard or other Yuan-ti can be seen, but perhaps that is a purposeful thing, or perhaps it is because of the lack of his race that continue to survive.

Ith-Mar is in fact the last known Abomination of his race, the powerful and most like the Slithering Serpent itself. The large chamber opens up into a wide expanse, and Xisskar knows it is punishable by death to enter to Abomination's chambers disguised as a simple viper, as there are many that move about, and such an intrustion is considered a plot to assasinate the Abomination.

There are several Yuan-ti here, as three Pureblood females make up the Abomination's harem. They lounge about on ancient furniture that was once some of the most beautiful in the Eastlands, but now have decayed after centuries of use and the stale underground air. The Abomination himself is seated upon his coils, his eyes closed in rest. Xisskar almost does not notice as two Half-Bloods bar his way immediately. "What bussssinessss do you have with our Lord?"

sidewinder102 · Post by **sidewinder102** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:20 am

Xisskar admires the harem somewhat, finding himself jealous of his superior's seat in power. He would've loved to take that position, to drive the Yuan-Ti to the offense, to reclaim what has been lost. But such is the desire of every Yuan-Ti, power. Then Xisskar is approached.

Xisskar straightens his stance and replies to his superiors. "I am Xisskar, scout of the slithering snake. I have come to report the location and execution of an elven scout by my own actions." Xisskar says, stretching the "s" sounds as would be expected in a Yuan-Ti accent.

Post by **TetNak** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:32 pm

"Let him passss!" calls the voice of the Abomination, now fully aware of the Pureblood's presence. Ith-Mar waves a hand toward Xisskar, "Come, speak of what has occurred." The Pureblood women now draw themselves awake, but they do not speak, simply retaining their lounging position as they look upon on of their own greeting the Abomination.

In the corner 'stands' a Half-Blood Yuan-ti. This creature is much like the Abomination that he has only a tail, and no legs, which few Half-Bloods do. He seems to be 'hiding' in the corner, but does not make any move to conceal himself.

Post by **Vardaen** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:40 pm

Standing the corner is a massive Halfblood Yuan-ti atop his coiled lower body. His torso and up are much like that of the cursed humans and elves, but his lower half is alarge coiled tail of white and green scales. Sitting on his coiled lower body the guardian has his hands folded over the pomel stone of his great scimitar, the point resting on the floor of the chamber infront of him. His green and white scales race in twisting patterns from his tail up his body and back to end around his neck and temples where his snow white hair is drawn back in a top knot for battle. Angular features mark his face, and unlike his Pureblood kin, there is no mistaking him for elf or human. He wears a tight set of studded leather armor made from the skin of defeated foes, and a small amulet dangles from his neck marking him as the first born of the White Scale Brood. His forked tongue slips out of his lipless mouth smelling the new arrival scent.

sidewinder102 · Post by **sidewinder102** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:55 pm

Xisskar passes the Halfbloods as their guard folds and he is allowed to speak to the great abomination, kneeling upon arrival. Xisskar then opens his thin lipped mouth and reports. "I have come to report the sswift elimination of an elven sscout while on duty, an arrow ssplitting it'ss ribss." Xisskar then goes on to explain the location, type of elf identified and other details which may concern the abomination. After reporting Xisskar stands and waits for a reaction from Ith-Mar. All the while he pays little attention to the halfblood in the corner, beyond a quick glance.

Post by **TetNak** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:14 pm

"Mosst dissturbing ..." the Abomination says. "The foresst has yet to be invessted with elven sscum ..." Ith-mar waves a hand toward the Halfblood, "Ssari'th ..." The Abomination moves much as the Halfblood in the corner, but is gifted by his incredible strength, and without the need for an elvish guise.

"The prayerss our priesstss pray have gone unasswered for too long."" Ith-Mar's forked tongue lashes out, "You musst go into the Longpine and find if their are more of thesse sslavess ... they could be ready to mount an attack." That simple truth is quite terrifying, though none show it, as the Kingdom of the Slithering Serpent would have a difficult time defending itself from the many elves that could invade. "Go now ... do not come back until you have found the truth! Both of you."

Fellowship of the Dice