Hi, 

I am making a Yaun-ti Pureblood and I want him to look like this 

Looking at art for Yuan-ti, it seems that they are not depicted with horns.  however, you do get horned snakes, so is it possible, that a Yuan-ti Pureblood could actually have horns, or is that just something that doesn't happen?

Thanks

XD

This seems like a “talk to your DM” situation. From what I know of yuan-ti, they have no horns. But if it’s purely cosmetic, a DM might allow it. I know I would.

Yeah.. Yaun-Ti are snakes, and snakes don't really have horns. The picture you shared looks a little bit more life a Tiefling to me.

By default, no, but then again... exactly what a Yuan-Ti Pureblood needs to look like isn't fully explored. It's just established that they can almost pass for human, and even their description doesn't state that they have very specific features... but rather, that they can have all or only a few of a few specific features... Serpentine Eyes, pointed teeth, scaly patches of skin, or a forked tongue. "Scaly Patches of Skin" is pretty open-ended, and I think using a horned snake as a reference point would justify having one of those patches take the form of decent-sized horns.

I'm also of the opinion that, sometimes, a character may have a unique feature that others of their race don't. This might, in fact, be what makes them unique enough to explain why they have special abilities or skills that makes them Adventurers instead of just regular citizens.

The critter in that picture couldn't pass for Human.  There seems to be a point on their chin and something that kind of wraps along the jawline, and they have stuff on their shoulders.  It must be fairly interesting getting dressed.

That said, what you want is purely cosmetic, and only a roleplaying thing.  Why not?

Sure... look at the horned desert viper... This ultimately is a DM decision, though.

Yuan-Ti Purebloods are pretty much snake restricted. While there are a great number of snakes, purebloods are pretty much entirely human with the exception of maybe snake eyes, a forked tongue, a few scales on their hands/legs, etc. There are no distinguishing features that the pureblood is related to a specific type of snake. A pureblood with such a prominent feature just doesn't physically rank as a pureblood. They would be an anethma or mallison. In a similar case, a yuan-ti born with a hood like a cobra would be ranked above as well. It all depends on how snake-like you really are. 

Also, the horns on your character look a lot more goat-like than snake-like in general. You don't have serpentine eyes, and your horns and chin look covered in iron. Calling the character snake-like is a very thin stretch, and there is no way that I would make that association outside of this. It's my guess that you wanted to physically play a Tiefling, but with different game statistics and wanted magic resistance. I would let you play the character, but wouldn't classify you as a pureblood. Ask your DM.

Honestly, taking the picture into consideration you could go with a Yuan-ti Draconic Sorcerer, choosing the black dragon as your ancestry. Black dragons are depicted with similar horns. Likewise you could go with a Fiend-lock and attribute the horns as being a side effect of gaining fiendish powers from your patron. A Beast Barbarian is said to get it's powers from primal or fey spirits, maybe the horns are a sign of that connection. Druids are often times depicted as growing antlers to showcase their connection to nature, maybe instead you got more goat or sheep-like horns instead. The same logic could be used for a Nature Cleric or Oath of Ancients Paladin. The Astral Self Monk allows one to bring forth their true from using ki, maybe your true form is more draconic-like or fiendish-like and your horns are a result of your training to bring out your true form.

At the end of the day, if the horns are simply meant to be cosmetic it doesn't seem like too much of a problem, however their are many ways you could make having horns make sense for your Yuan-ti Pureblood.

No, purebloods don't have horns. The "horns" on certain snakes aren't actually horns and they are basically just big eyebrows. Which could kind of work I guess. But the picture does not look like anything a pureblood has been described as, as people have mentioned.

Thanks for all your replies guys.  So, I asked the DM whose game I will be playing this character in and they said that I could have a Yuan-ti who looked like then, as long as I could come with a good reason as to why they looked so different.  

I asked him if I could have just been born that way, and he said no, that if a Yuan-ti Pureblood had a child that looked so different and not “pure” they would likely have killed them at birth and hid the fact that they’d even had one like that in the first place. 

That means that I can have a Yuan-ti Pureblood who looks like this, as long as I can come up with a good reason as to why and how he got those horns and things. 

I was planning on making him a GOO Warlock, so I thought, “what if I made him a Warlock of Jörmungandr, the World Serpent.”  As Jörmungandr is quite often described as a dragon - often being called “Midgårdsormen”, translated into English as “Midgard Worm.”

Translating worm or wyrm into modern English, we often get Dragon.  

So, what if I say that the character looks the way he does because he’s a Warlock of Jörmungandr, and that his connection to an incredibly powerful ancient evil, has imparted some of the features of Jörmungandr to him,  twisting his Pureblood into something monstrous, and forcing him to take on the more draconian appearance of one of Jörmungandr, aspects - Midgårdsormen.

As for why he would become a Warlock  It’s quite simple - for power.  Although he is a Pureblood, there are Pureblood, and then there are Pureblood.  Born into one of the lower ranking Pureblood families, he thirsted for power, and so he made a deal with something ancient, powerful and evil.  

Jörmungandr Gave him power, but the trade off was what he would become in exchange, and now is no longer even recognisable as a Pureblood at all, but rather something more monstrous.  

Would that make sense, or does the lore not fit?

It make sense to me.  I think the entire Yuan-ti race would hate them and want them to die, but it makes sense.

Quote from Geann >>

It make sense to me.  I think the entire Yuan-ti race would hate them and want them to die, but it makes sense.

 
Even that could work I guess.  Normally, you would have to ask the question, “why is he not using his power to gain status within Yuan-ti society?”

What you stated is the answer. Having achieved the power he craved., he has found himself an outcast. Abandoned by his family and on the run from those who wish him dead. 

That’s where we find him at the start. Abandoned, lonely, on the run, seething with anger and wanting revenge. He saraficed everything for his family, for his people, and they turned on him like he was so much trash.  Where he goes from there depends on the people he meets, the friends and allies that he makes, and how their stories influence him and his decisions.

I see his in game character development as leading towards a sort of enlightenment.  A realisation that just having power is not enough. How and when he comes to that realisation however, is dependant upon all the factors listed above. 

Awesome! I like how just trying to justify using a particular design has led to a full character backstory, motivation,  and even a potential character arc.

Yuan-Ti purebloods are the lowest ranking Yuan-Ti. If you character was born with such defined features, they would probably rejoice! The more snake features, the better in the eyes of the Yuan Ti.