Homebrew Ssarn v’Laas Species Details
The early life of Garn Dalv’ess Shcu’ul (translates as Dal (bright star) of the clan Garn (the tree of winds), progeny of Shcu’ul (maiden of the morning grass)) could be called “chaotic.” Feeling the pull of nature keenly and spending much of his time alone among the plants and animals (quite uncharacteristic of the Ssarn), the young Ssarnling developed his shamanistic powers in a mostly unsupervised - and entirely unwitting - manner. A love of the world outside the confines of his tribal village and a rabid curiosity about what might exist “out there” drove the young lizard to other villages and even to encounters with outsiders, learning their language with evident ease. He was therefore more willing than most of his tribe – and indeed of his species – to be accepting of others, though certainly not to the extent that any of them could be considered better than the Ssarn.
Culture
Males and females are not separated according to ability or rank, since there is no physical difference between them as far as capabilities in terms of activities. A female can farm, homestead, hunt, kill or defend as well as – and often better than – a male Ssarn. However, since females bear the young, the family name also derives from the female. It is only natural (a phrase one might hear often if one finds oneself in their company).
Full names are not shared outside the Ssarn. It is considered in bad taste, though there is no religious or canon reason. It is for that reason that Grendel only provides that name to others.
The family structure dissolves quickly once a Ssarnling has been weaned and fed its first taste of meat, usually only days or weeks after birth. It then joins the tribe and may be fed by any of the females until old enough to kill and feed itself, and may be taught and nurtured by the tribe as a whole according to its natural talents and the tribe’s needs.
Environment
A popular phrase used within any Ssarn tribe is “it is only natural.” Though this is a very loose translation of the actual phrase, its literal and figurative meaning within the common tongue both have significance to the Ssarn. Living so intricately within nature, they understand the fight for survival and the need for war more than most. In addition, it is important to understand the balance of nature, and that one must also preserve what is necessary without the total destruction or annihilation of another species. The idea of slavery is also anathema to the Ssarn. One fights one’s own fights – one does not enslave another. The fight is for the well-being and grandeur of the tribe. If you do not believe in the fight (or must be coerced to participate) it is better to kill the opponent than risk retaliation at some future point.
Their villages are small, comprised of stone houses and larger meeting places but would be considered primitive by most measures. They do not possess a good understanding of modern weaponry, perhaps owing to the necessity of using one tool for multiple uses (an axe makes a much better tree-chopper than a sword – and it will also split open an opponent’s head with greater efficiency!). That is not to say that the Ssarn would be ineffective given a sword, only that they do not perceive of its value within their own villages.
Religion
The Ssarn are believers in mysticism, but of a certain level-headed variant called k’Ssaat. While this is not a religion, per se, it may be classified as a codified set of beliefs in the natural order of things – or, at least, the natural order that places the Ssarn at the top of that ordered list and everyone else as either too stupid to understand their own place, or too “broken” (an imprecise word, but sufficient in this context) to accept it.
Under k’Ssaat, the natural world and its rather savage rules, again, takes precedence. Given their reliance on the resources at their disposal and the manner in which they are so intrinsically enmeshed with their environment it is not difficult to see where the Ssarn derive the k’Ssaat standards for living. Though it would be easy to simply boil it down to “survival of the fittest,” there are subtle but important differences. The distaste for slavery, for example, might be seen as counter to a religion that is otherwise intolerant of anything other than winning the battle and proving one’s strength over one’s adversaries.
K’Ssaat also teaches that the tribe is not paramount over the whole of the world (which may mean either the totality of the Ssarn themselves or the actual physical world – enforcing the idea of the sacrifice of the one for the good of the many – but certainly not another race over the Ssarn); that the young must be protected (more valued?) over the old; that the whole of the world (again, unclear whether this refers only to the world as the Ssarn understand it, i.e. their home environment, or the larger physical world, but certainly nothing beyond that).
There are few priests of the order, and fewer shaman (again, an imprecise term but sufficient ). It would take a very special set of circumstances, therefore, to discover a member of a Ssarn tribe outside his village who is also a devout of k’Ssaat.
Ssarn Names
The Ssarn family names derive from the lines of the females – or such as they are known outside the Lizardfolk (though telling a female from a male is best left to the Ssarn themselves).
Male Names: Grrndll, Ssarthass, Sessthuss, Harrgrrn, Tharrssull, Ssussharn, Issthuss, Hussuss, Ssathuss, Ssoonsuss
Female Names: Garrderll, Grissthell, Hruuss, Ssessthuus, Thuussess, Ssardruss, Ssissharrn, Gruussus
Clan Names: Garn, Stas, Ruun, Vaal, Hrus, Thal, Dass, Vruk, Shan, Ssth
Cautious, patient, open to new ideas and a bit too fair-minded (at least as far as some companions are concerned), the lizardfolk are driven by an insatiable curiosity about the world, particularly about cultures and peoples outside their own, though they often learn too quickly through one too many badly-ended encounters that others may not feel the same way about them. They may therefore look for an opening to participate in a conversation, but will be reticent to start one. They can therefore come off as rude or stand-offish, and sometimes that initial observational silence is seen as threatening because of their larger physical size and odd, uncomfortable stare – a factor to which they are usually completely blinded.
Ssarn v’Laas Traits
Your Ssarn v'Laas heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other lizardfolk.Ability Score Increase
Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
Age
The Ssarn grow and mature quickly, attaining adulthood after only six years. Due to their treacherous environment, they live to be around 40 but can attain ages as old as 80 when living in more settled environments like cities.
Alignment
Though great believers in family and clan, and the rules that bind them together, the Ssarn are also observers of the cruelty and savageness of the wilder world. They tend towards neutrality, therefore, knowing that laws only offer a method of constraint in a world of chaos and happenstance.
Size
The Ssarn are taller and more muscular than humans, standing near or slightly over 7 feet tall and averaging 270 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You can swim very quickly using your tail (40 feet) and are unhindered by rough terrain in jungles and swamps.
Wilderness Agility
Your people herald from the jungles and swamps, and call these wild environments home. As Ssarn v'Lass, you always travel (and fight) at your regular speed even when others may be encumbered by rough terrain.
Wildlife Reserve
You are proficient in and have advantage on the Animal Handling and Nature skills due to your knowledge of the natural world.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Ssarn, a language particular to your race. The language sounds musical and sibilant to most others.
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