The Vipyr

picture is credit of www.retromud.org

General

The Vipyr are a Race indigenous to the Liaj and Servos Jungle, but even more to Vasgothia. They are a Race of humanoid snakes and have a advanced culture, they make a living by making and selling wood carvings, stone sculptures and animal hides. Though they might seem savage to the undiscerning eye, they have a vast range of legends and religious rituals, of which some sadly include sacrifices, they used to sacrifice their own criminals or prisoners of war, now they only use animals or people sentenced to death by their or other's law. They make excellent spellcasters but also can be good at other Disciplines too.  Vipyrs physically mature around the age of 30 and can live well over 300 years. When they are Adepts and older than 150, they are called 'Respected' and when they are Circle 8 or higher and older than 200, they are called Elders.

Religion

The Vipyr in Barsaive have copied or religious system of the Passion since the Scourge, but the ones in Vasgothia still have their own believes.  They believe in a Snake God whom they call 'the Great Serpent'. During the Scourge he was supposed to have battled at the side of the other Vasgothian Passions, but he saw it was a hopeless battle and thought it best to protect his people the only way he could: by burrowing himself in the ground with great force to create an underground maze, shielded from the Horrors with it's own power and then he himself sealed the maze by resting on the only entrance and turning himself in to an Orichalcum statue. He told his people that he could this because his other children found another way of protecting themselves, they would be able to grow food underground and water was abound because his magic made it happen, they would know when the Serpent would deem it save, as he would then remove himself from the entrance. At first many scholars doubted this story, until the Vipyr showed them the tunnels AND the statue itself, it could be clearly seen that it once stood upon the entrance and had moved itself to a clearing in the forest, the place around which there new main village is centered. They also told them that the Serpent had left the statue himself and left it as a token of his power, which it is, because there's no known way to even scratch the statue. Now the Vipyrs have erected a temple for their patron Passion, called the Temple of the Snake, the Priests of this temple are usually Adepts; Wizards, Elementalists, Nethermancers or Troubadours, but some have been Beastmaster or a fighter Discipline. The Priests are respected throughout the Vipyr society, but may not become Elders or Monarchs.  

On Behavior

They Vipyr are vary similar to T'skrang in physique, but not in mentality. Where the T'skrang are spirited and have a flair for dramatics, the Vipyr are gloomy and usually quite pessimistic. They always look at things really practical and seemingly emotionless, that is until they get back in their home forest, or enter another, in the forest the seem to become a totally different Vipyr, they become optimistic and stop to smell the flowers.

On Appearance

As said the Vipyr look like T'skrang, their body is also covered with soft scales and they also have tails, although theirs are longer and can be used to constrict foes. Their eyes are just like snake eyes and they cannot blink their eyes either. They use their tongues to 'smell' and after advancing they can secrete a paralyzing or damaging poison with a successful bite.

On Society

Vipyr society is not complex, they have Elders who form a council to guide their settlements, they are lead by a Queen or King who is chosen from the Elder Council, Monarchs get their information mostly from a High Priest of the Snake who is assigned to the court. Elders are practically always Adepts of Circle 8 and higher, Monarchs are mostly of 10th Circle and higher.

Both male and female take care for the eggs after they are laid. Vipyr do not know marriage as we do, they only tend for eggs and hatchlings together for a small period of time and it isn't uncommon for a male or female to tend more than one set of eggs. When the Vipyr mature they are entitled the right to mate, before that severe punishment is the result of a mating.

GAME INFORMATION:

Eyes: red, yellow or white

Hair: none

Skin: black, green, brown, yellow, white, red, blue, etc.

Height: 6' (about 12' with tail added)

Weight: ~175 lbs (without tail, with tail ~ 250 lbs)

Hand Size: 3

Racial Modifiers:

Dex: +0

Str: +2

Tou: +1

Per: +2

Wil: +0

Cha: -2

Movement as Dex - 1

Karma:

Max: 25    Die: d6    Starting: 5    Cost: 10 lp

Racial Abilities:

Tail Attack:

-Damage: Str+2, Attack: Dex

-maybe used to constrict someone; this needs an Good Success on the Attack roll, the captive must make a Strength test against this result to free himself, or if able inflict a Wound upon the Vipyr. The Vipyr may not lift anything that weighs heavier than 60 pounds with his tail. Only skilled fighters can use weapons with their tails and with a -4 Step penalty on the attack test.

Bite Attack:

-Damage: Str, Attack: Dex or Unarmed Combat with the 'Bite' Knack; specialized by the Vipyr. (Cost: 100LP, Effect: more chance to hit with BIte attack. Minimum Rank: 7)

-After attaining 7th Circle the character may secrete a Paralyzing or Damaging Poison after a Bite Attack with a Good or better success, the Spell Defense of the poison is equal to that of the Vipyr and it's step always 10, Onset Time is immediately.

Discipline Restrictions:

Cavalryman, Swordsmaster Gallant; Bladesman only.