Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ripvanwormer May 10, 2005 11:35:24	The Yuan-ti of Oerth Beginnings The priesthood of Tlaloc in the city-state of Alocotla was corrupted by marilith fiends of blasphemy serving the sleeping god Merrshaulk. They desecrated the temples of the rain god with the sacrifice of a thousand infants, reconsecrating them to the serpent deity. They sent emissaries to the nearby city of Xapatlapo, corrupting the temple of Tlaloc there as well. In a profane ritual both priesthoods received the Black Broth, awakening their serpentine natures, transforming themselves and bringing the ancient race of yuan-ti back to the world for the first time in eons. From their unhallowed temples they spread their contagion, and through the forcible creation of breeders, the slaughter of dissidents, and more subtle intermarriages they slowly converted all in their territories into the blood of the Serpent. The Scaly Lords Xapatlapo is ruled nominally by a multi-headed yuan-ti anathema, the special creation of the serpent priestess known as the White Eye. As a female, she could never become a high priest, but through the Anathema she could rule from behind the scenes. A female could never be the mirror of Merrshaulk, but the anathema seems the sleeping god's very image. Alacotla is more typical by yuan-ti standards, ruled by a high priest, a male yuan-ti abomination named both Venerable Fang and the Lord of Scales. Conflicts Ultimately, the yuan-ti completed a ritual banishing the influence of Tlaloc from the Oerth. Now every prayer and sacrifice directed to the rain god empowers Merrshaulk, bringing him closer to his awakening. Chalchihuitlicue, Tlaloc's wife, is now the chief opponent of the serpent people among the divine hosts. She seeks to end her husband's banishment and shatter the yuan-ti kingdoms. It is said that Merrshaulk managed to imprison or devour the couatl god Jazirian as well, for that strange deity has not been heard from in many years. What help she used to give to her children is now being granted by an Olman god, Quetzalcoatl, who is at times Jazirian's ally. Quetzalcoatl and the couatls does their best to help fight Merrshaulk and bring the rain-god Tlaloc back to his proper place. Among the savage Suel-descended humans of the southern forests, the strongest resistance to the yuan-ti comes from the priesthood of Ranet. Ranet is an obscure and ancient Suel goddess, said by some to have been the older sister of Pyremius. Ranet was goddess of the hearth, but she knew many other secrets of flame. Pyremius, a poisoner trained, it is said, by the yugoloths, was jealous of Ranet's power. With his divine venom he weakened her and stole her powers over fire. Most assume that at that point Ranet died, but it was not to be. Weakened, deathly ill, still Ranet managed to survive. Now a deity of darkness and ash, forgotten even by her kin, she fights against all beings who use poison to meet their goals. She has found she can do the most good in helping the Suel diaspora struggle against the serpent menace. The yuan-ti, for their part, have begun to infiltrate the Scarlet Brotherhood who threaten the edges of their lands. What may come of this is yet to be seen.
#2 Torpedo May 18, 2005 14:27:39	Thanks for posting this. The Yuan-ti are my favorite D&D villains and have been since reading "Dwellers of the Forbidden City" in the early 80's. I plan using them as an important part of my upcoming Greyhawk campaign.