The 'Amaneunsis' class are determined scholars of the serpent cults of the Yuan-ti. Travelling far into hostile and dangerous territories to study their chosen subjects - and their arcane secrets - they have returned after years of either (DM/player's choice) objective, disinterested observation from a distance; or active participation in the cults of abominations and evil gods. 

Whatever their approach, the Amaneunsis is so-named because they have spent their time collecting the discarded shed skin from tattooed Yuan-ti spellcasters and bound them into pages of a particularly grotesque book. The Amaneunsis has survived many dangerous trials to return from the lands of the Yuan-ti and so they favour defensive spells to supplement their Bard abilities. 

Former fellow bards are known to mock the Amaneunsis for being so deeply strange; in particular they are given to pronouncing the hard 'sss' when pointing out a member of this unusual bardic practice. But usually out of earshot. Because their objects of derision are after all strange - and unpredictable! 

Identify hazards

At level 3, the Amaneunsis chooses a spell from either their period of disinterested observation of the Yuan-ti cult (Wizard spell), or from their experience as a ritual participant (Warlock spell). 

Inherent risk

The Amaneunsis has acquired further pages for their spellbook, now a distressed leathery tome, or a disturbingly 'alive' codex. 

Control Measures

The Amaneunsis returns to their original college of study transformed in surprising ways. The distant observers have a collection of spells to draw on in combat. The would-be cultists carry a new burden, with former colleagues suspecting they are under the influence of a serpentine godhead.