Homebrew Yuan-ti (Abomination, Malison, & Pureblood) Species Details

"There are many a tall tale of yuan-ti infiltrating human cities and forming deadly covert societies that sell mystic drugs, vicious spell scrolls, and an assortment of other questionable products. Blackmailing merchants and even holding influence over monarchs in their own kingdoms! But there isn't any proof- not a smidge. I just can't believe in such myths." - Volo

"Ye should." - Elminster

Scaly Physique

Yuan-Ti are half-snake half-human hybrids, however their appearance differs depending on their subrace. Abominations look like anthropomorphic snakes, Malisons appear to share some large trait resembling a serpent, and Purebloods tend to look almost exactly like humans, except for the slitted pupils and patches of reptilian skin. Shapes, sizes, and color differ wildly across the race while on the inside they are all universally the same. Cold blooded.

Pureblood's skin color can vary but is usually tan due to living in warmer climates, while the whole races' scales can be different shades of black, red, blue, brown, green, yellow or albino. Though, outlier colors do exist like pink, orange, and cream. Most yuan-ti have a single scale pattern across their body that follows a: mottled, reticulated, speckled, striped or random pattern.

Their eyes tend to be blue, red, brown, hazel, green, or yellow but outliers exist here too. Another discernible anatomy particular to the yuan-ti is their tongue color which includes: black, blue, orange, pale, or red. Again, outliers.

Those closer in relation to a snake than a human tend to have one of these head shapes: broad and rounded, flattened, hooded, slender, or triangular.

Fallen Empires and False Worship

The yuan-ti were once humans who thrived in the earliest days of civilization and worshipped serpents as totem animals. They lauded the serpent's sinuous flexibility, its calculated poise, and its deadly strike. Their advanced philosophy taught the virtue of detachment from emotion and of clear, focused thought. Yuan-ti culture was among the richest in the mortal world. Their warriors were legendary, their empires always expanding. Yuan-ti temples stood at the centers of ancient metropolises, reaching ever higher in prayer to the gods they longed to emulate.

In time, the serpent gods heard those prayers, their sibilant voices responding from the darkness as they told the yuan-ti what they must do. The yuan-ti religion grew more fanatical in its devotion. Cults bound themselves to the worship of the serpent gods and imitated their ways, indulging in cannibalism and humanoid sacrifice. Through foul sorcery, the yuan-ti bred with snakes, utterly sacrificing their humanity to become like their gods in form, as well as in thought and emotion.

It is unknown exactly how, but eventually their once thriving and powerful civilization fell into disarray with the advent of a mysterious tragedy long forgotten. Other races likely viewed it more as a miracle. Their once mighty gods were driven away and their race slithered back into the shadows of history. Now, their kind awaits with cunning patience as they slowly amass power and dominate their enemies in secret. Continuing to revere their horrible deities in order to once again become the pinnacle of all races in the world.

Dark Hearts, Darker Minds

Yuan-ti life is dominated by ones birth right following a strict caste system set by their ancestors. This system revolves around their race's likeness to their malevolent snake gods, which equates to the power they wield over others. Abominations are at the top, Malisons follow, purebloods after that, with everyone & everything else beneath. Like dirt under their scales. (In some yuan-ti societies, however, there can be a strange kind of healthy respect between castes, especially when the yuan-ti view others as a form of resource or utility. But still, that doesn't always work out for those at the bottom in the end).

Their culture also mainly revolves around their temples, yet yuan-ti don't actually love the gods they worship. Instead, they see worship as a means to gain power. A yuan-ti believes an individual who attains enough power can one day devour and replace one of their "sacred" deities. They strive for ascension and are willing to commit the darkest atrocities to achieve it.

The leader of a yuan-ti society, which can be similar to a village, typically set in a jungle or desert landscape, are cunning and ruthless. They readily sacrifice others, starting with the lowest caste members, if potential victory justifies such losses. They have no sense of honorable combat and strike first in decisive ambush if they can. There is no set gender roles, with most yuan-ti being warriors. Almost all strangers are captured and sacrificed, when they are within a few hundred yards of a yuan-ti settlement (though there are... exceptions).

Yuan-ti Names

Yuan-Ti names are meant to strike fear, sounding chilling and exotic. Yuan-ti sur names are short and follow a primary name with a hyphen, thus are pronounced afterwards. For example, Jorvik-Sa

Male: Asmodon, Bottu, Huishik, Manu

Female: Kohali, Naginni, Sinestra, Talash

Neutral: Fulan, Vaer, Wisti, Zen

Sur: Jex, Kaa, Loq, Ov

Yuan-ti (Abomination, Malison, & Pureblood) Traits

While analyzing others, Yuan-ti can sense these innate traits within one another.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Age

Yuan-Ti Abominations can live for 200 years, Malisons for 150, and Purebloods for 100. They all mature at age 8, as their parents almost never wish to care for them for too long.

Alignment

Yuan-Ti are almost always in service to their gods. They lack emotion and see others as manipulatable tools. They are typically Neutral Evil, though some exceptions can occur.

Size

Varies depending on the subrace.

Speed

Varies depending on subrace.

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 grey.

Snakeskin

You have resistance to poison damage, and advantage on saving throws related to poison.

Serpentine Brethren

You can cast animal friendship (snakes only) at will.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, and your choice between either Draconic, or Abyssal.