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--- lore:races:lizards [2023/08/01 13:44] – [Desert Sandtails] centralia
+++ lore:races:lizards [2024/12/16 16:48] (current) – [Draconics] quiddlesticks
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 ====== Lizards ======
+As their names imply, the Lizards of [[:settings|Jaern and Cahyali]] are reptilian folk. They have scaly, hairless bodies, forked tongues, tails, and snouts instead of noses. Most are cold-blooded, and their ears are just small holes in the sides of their heads, which may or may not be covered by other ornaments on their heads. Male and female lizards are very similar in most respects - it is almost impossible to tell at a glance - and lizards usually have one unified gender expression within a culture, despite any minute physiological differences. Many lizards lay eggs, but there are some tribes which do not((Fun biology fact: As in real life, lizardfolk have temperature-dependent sex determination. The temperature at which eggs incubate, or the temperature at which live-born children live out their earliest days, will determine if a child develops as male or female.)).
-===== Semi-Aquatic Lizards =====
+The language of lizards, **Sel’ict,** is spoken with a lisp, and the letters are often slurred due to the shape of their tongues. During the years of separation, they developed two distinct dialects of Sel’ict. The most common is spoken on land and is easily spoken and understood by the other races. The other is only spoken under-water (mainly by Semi-Aquatics), and is difficult to understand by non-aquatic races without the aid of magic or enhanced hearing. The traditional Sel'ict language does not have a written script, but is usually represented phonetically in the Paroli alphabet for other races.
-Sei-Aquatic lizards stand six to seven feet tall, with scaly, hairless bodies and long tails. Their tongues are forked, and they have a snout rather than a nose. Their ears are just small holes in the sides of their heads, often covered by a flap of skin, and their eyes are larger than those of most humans.
-Male and female lizards are very similar in most respects, and Semi-Aquatics usually have one unified gender expression, despite any minute physiological differences. They are cold blooded, and have gills that allow them to live beneath the sea indefinitely, but also have lungs that allow them to breathe air normally. However, their bodies are not fully adapted for life outside water, and will lose moisture faster than other races.
+{{lore:lizards_zoekogut.jpg}}
+== A lineup of some average lizards. By Zoe Kogut. ==
-==== History ====
+===== Semi-Aquatic Lizards =====
-Semi-Aquatics lived in relative isolation deep beneath the ocean’s waves. Evolved from the denizens of the deep, lizards are native to Jaern. When Jaern’s original sun went nova, catapulting the planet on its intergalactic journey, most of the Semi-Aquatics died when temperatures dropped, but many were able to magically preserve themselves, frozen in the depths of the oceans.
+  * Lifespan: 80-100 years
+  * Jaernian Populations: Worldwide
+  * Cahyalian Populations: Worldwide, small groups
+Semi-Aquatic lizards stand six to seven feet tall, adapted for an amphibious life with both gills and lungs. Their hands and feet are webbed, and their tails are flat to assist with swimming. However, they tend to dry out quickly during extended periods on land, and so rarely venture too far from coastal areas. Semi-Aquatics' heads often resemble those of iguanas, with a square and blocky shape, as well as smallish fins on their heads. Some Semi-Aquatics are more slender, with larger fins.
-==== Lifestyle ====
+Isolated beneath the waves and self-sufficient, there are many Semi-Aquatic cities in Jaern's oceans, rarely visited by adventurers. These cities are built from stone, lit by special bioluminescent plants and jars of plankton. Often found decorating them are ornaments of cultivated coral - the tending and pruning of corals is comparable to bonsai among Semi-Aquatic culture. Many Jaernian semi-aquatics use the term **Ocusum** to refer to their own race.
-Couples usually pair up in monogamous, lifelong bonds when they reach adulthood. Female Semi-Aquatics undergo one menstrual cycle around the same time each year, with a limited window when they are fertile. Unlike most reptiles, the young gestate within the body for five months, and are then born live.
+As the most populous lizard species on Jaern, Semi-Aquatics are one of the planet's natives, along with [[lore:races:onivero|Onivero]]. They arose naturally as one of the planet's first and only sapient underwater species, although their civilization was barely reaching the Stone Age when Jaern was catapulted out of its system. Most froze to death when the planet was thrown into space, but a few survived in the ice and are the progenitors of all today's modern Semi-Aquatics. Ocusum are not native to Cahyali, and most who now live there are descended from Jaernians who immigrated onto the plane when connections were first established.
-The young are cared for and brought up by their parents for the first few years of their lives. On their fourth birthday they are brought to a local **Creche**, where they spend most of their childhood with other lizards their age.
+===== Desert Sandtails =====
+  * Lifespan: 100-120 years
+  * Jaernian Populations: [[settings:jaern:kratal|Kratal]], [[settings:jaern:ageron|Ageron]] (Kroan Desert)
+  * Cahyalian Populations: [[settings:cahyali:dahabu|Dahabu]], [[settings:cahyali:splint|Splint]]
+Desert Sandtail lizards make their homes in the vast arid deserts of Cahyali, and are not native to Jaern. They are shorter than other lizards - standing a mere 4-5 feet tall - and their scales are warm-colored, usually shades ranging from tan to brown to black and even red on occasion. Their most distinguishing features are their large tails, which give them their name. Desert Sandtails' tails are huge, strong, and covered in venomous barbs. They live a little longer than other native lizard species - up to 120 years.
-Semi-Aquatics are good ship builders. They are also good cartographers, at least for coastlines. The lack of fire underwater led to an independence from metal forging and casting technologies. However, many Semi-Aquatic communities will operate underwater mines for surface settlements in exchange for access to the finished products of Smithing. Deep underwater, some insular Semi-Aquatic communities use geothermal vents and underwater volcanoes to forge ore, specifically a soft, malleable metal called **Pho’dite**, a phosphorescent element used for lighting underwater. Do to its cultural importance, Semi-Aquatics generally refuse to trade this ore, and keep its veins and refining practices hidden from other races.
+Adapted to the heat and sand, Sandtails need to bask in the sun to maintain homeostasis. They make their homes in vast tunnel systems beneath the dunes, reinforced by packed mud brick and sandstone. Here, they avoid the freezing desert nights and find respite from the baking heat. It is rare for a Sandtail settlement to ever be fully exposed, but in the rare times they have been seen, the complexity of tunnels, buildings, and rooms is a staggering sight.
-Semi-Aquatics utilize ships and submersibles for their long range voyages, but when travelling on land, will try to follow rivers and other bodies of water. Brave explorers will venture into arid parts of the land in "land ships" which usually feature rooms that contain pools, as well as filtration and replenishing technologies.
+It is thought that Sandtails evolved from a population of non-sentient reptiles who, over thousands of years, developed sentience. Some scholars believe they were Cahyali's first true sapient lizardfolk. They hunt in small packs by burrowing under the sands and using their tremor sense to detect prey. Since they rely primarily on tremor sense to hunt, their eyesight has degraded somewhat. Desert Sandtails have a very materialistic culture, which they share with their Semi-Aquatic cousins, and barter in goods such as sculpture, dyed fabrics, pottery, glass, and paintings.
-Semi-Aquatic submersible ships often have three sets of sails: mainsails on the "deck", and two sets of "fin" sails that jut out the bottom port and starboard sides, in order to traverse in three dimensions beneath the surface of the water. Precise calculations to control buoyancy are necessary to engineer and pilot these ships.
+===== Kleemudor Purebloods =====
+  * Lifespan: 100-120 years
+  * Jaernian Populations: [[settings:jaern:therhine|Rhine Archipelago]], [[settings:jaern:frosland|Frosland]]
+  * Cahyalian Populations: [[settings:cahyali:pthora|Pthora]]
+Kleemudor Purebloods are an exception to most other lizards, as they are an alien species entirely. They live on the frozen planet of Kleemudor (a planet in Jaern's star system), which is covered with week-long blizzards and a highly reflective surface which causes temperatures to remain below freezing, even at the equator.
-Semi-Aquatic cities are found underwater in seas and lakes. Their buildings are made of stone, and
+Two types of Kleemudor lizards live on this planet: the arrogant, haughty and xenophobic "Purebloods", and the Icestalkers, who have lost their sentience and are now threatening predators hunting on the icefields. Purebloods distinguish themselves by their psionic ability, and pushed out those who would eventually become the Icestalkers from their haven city-caverns dug into the ice. Little did they know, this decision would doom them, as the Icestalkers are now one of Kleemudor's greatest threats...
-are very sturdy to withstand tidal forces and currents. Light sources are usually magical in origin. Large illuminated cities exist deep under the sea, but reaching these locales is incredibly difficult for non-aquatic races.
-Furniture is typically made of stone or coral. Chairs are backless, to accommodate their tails. Designing furniture and interior dividers by carefully growing and training corals has been raised to a high art form by Semi-Aquatics.
+Kleemudor Purebloods have scales ranging from light blue to snow-white, with gray and black patterning here and there. They have sharp spines on their heads, backs, and tails. Purebloods and Icestalkers both have six legs (keep in mind the Purebloods' four arms have no additional effect mechanically). Most Purebloods have innate psionic ability; compared to other races' 10%, Kleemudor lizards have an 80% chance to be capable of psionics. They are tall and lanky, averaging about seven feet tall, and live to around 200 years old.
-Semi-Aquatics commonly farm fish and grow vegetation. A few in a community choose to live above water, also enjoy growing crops. Traditionally, they do not raise any land animals.
+Purebloods reached Cahyali first, a small population landing in the wastes of [[settings:cahyali:pthora|Pthora]] as the result of a failed psionic experiment. Several centuries later, a more successful experiment let them reach Jaern, and they stuck around out of interest in Jaern's psions and their pursuits.
-Medical technology is no more advanced than that of other races. Their medicine comes from kelp and other sea plants. Semi-Aquatics generally live to an age between 80 and 104.
+===== Draconics =====
+  * Lifespan: Up to 300 years
+  * Jaernian Populations: Worldwide, small groups
+  * Cahyalian Populations: [[settings:cahyali:ruefang|Ruefang]], [[settings:cahyali:raikougan|Raikougan]]
+Lizards of Draconic lineage resemble [[lore:creatures:greatbeasts:dragons|dragons]] standing upright, with strong, large scales, spines down their backs, and horns that resemble glittering gems of all different colors. Their heads are dragonlike, with sharper teeth than other lizards. Some Draconics instead resemble lung dragons, with a ruffle of fur where others have spines, branched horns, and long whiskers on their snouts. They average about six feet tall.
-==== Culture ====
+Scholars debate if Draconic lizards truly are related to dragons. The consensus seems to be that some Draconics truly are dragons' distant descendants, while others are normal lizardfolk who have been fully suffused with dragon magic. Their myths all mention ancient dragons who gave a gift of some form to the Draconics, granting them their gem-like horns and elemental powers.
-The language of Semi-Aquatic lizards, **Sel’ict** is spoken with a lisp, and the letters are often slurred due to the shape of their tongues. During the years of separation, they developed two distinct dialects of Sel’ict. The most common is spoken on land and is easily spoken and understood by the other races. The other is only spoken under-water, and is difficult to understand by non-aquatic races without the aid of magic or enhanced hearing. The traditional Sel'ict language does not have a written component, but is usually represented phonetically in the Paroli alphabet for other races.
-Semi-Aquatic artistry lies in the designs of their sea craft. Their culture celebrates the use of all one's skills in an artful manner, adding flare to such routine tasks as farming, food preparation, and interior design.
+This race was entirely unknown to Jaern until the 2540s, when a [[settings:jaern:kratal|Kratalian]] mining expedition broke into one of their grand subterranean cities. Ever since, Jaernian Draconics have been more than eager to explore the outside world. Cahyalian Draconics, on the other hand, have seemingly always been around; historical records have little information on their origins, and they have been a fact of life along with the dragons since time immemorial. Most Draconics are proud and strong folk, fully aware of their grand heritage.
-There are many sports that Semi-Aquatics enjoy, usually involving swimming, diving, surfing, and racing. They enjoy racing other underwater creatures, and competing against non-aquatic races in water sports.
+===== Shell-Bearers =====
+  * Lifespan: Up to 400 years
+  * Jaernian Populations: Worldwide, small groups
+  * Cahyalian Populations: Worldwide, small groups
+Shell-Bearer lizards resemble turtles, with rounder faces than other lizards and strong shells on their backs. They stand only a little taller than Desert Sandtails, averaging five to five-and-a-half feet tall. They move slowly and steadily, and are the longest-lived of all lizards, with the oldest reaching almost 400 years old. Not many Shell-Bearers are around; they live slow and have few children, and are a minority population in all places they occupy.
-Although Semi-Aquatics are free to worship any deity, they commonly worship Neptune, the god of the seas and oceans. Osiris is also revered because of their love of nature.
+It is thought the first Shell-Bearers evolved from Semi-Aquatics thousands of years ago. They are hatched from eggs on remote islands, and very soon leave their home beaches and caves to venture out. They spend years simply learning and exploring the world around them, but prefer to avoid large settlements and instead live mostly solitary lives, before eventually returning to their home with a lifetime of experiences and stories to tell. However, some desire a bit more excitement in life and take up adventuring.
-==== Governance ====
+Many Shell-Bearers appear older than they are, due to the fact that the skin on their faces tends to wrinkle at a younger age. This has led to a popular conception of Shell-Bearers as wise grandparents, always ready to say an obscure proverb or give friendly advice.
-Semi-Aquatics are traditionally communal by nature, with no formal leaders. They gather together whenever a major issue must be settled. A vote is called, each attender being entitled to one vote. However, they find very few things important enough to vote on as a community, preferring to take appropriate actions on their own. Separate villages may sometimes hold such gatherings and select a single representative to speak for them at distant gatherings. A decision of such importance has only been made twice in recent Jaernian history.
-Semi-Aquatics highly prize their works, and are very eager to barter their handicrafts, and many prefer to trade than sell for coinage. Even so, there are a few very wealthy Semi-Aquatic families that hold a large amount of wealth, first having made it through plundering sunken ships.
-===== Desert Sandtails =====
-Desert Sandtail lizards make their homes in the vast arid deserts, which are not found very often on Jaern. Instead of adapting themselves to the water, these lizards have adapted to a dry lifestyle, but suffer from a decreased ability to maintain homeostasis. Instead of needing to immerse themselves, these lizards must take time out of their day to regulate their body temperature with their environment.
-The Poor Homeostasis quirk of Desert Sandtails requires them to spend one hour each day warming their bodies. This can be done during long rests, but requires the lizard to remain idle while the temperature around them is between 70-120°F (21-49°C). If they do not do this, they suffer one damage point every 3 hours as their body functions begin to wane. These lizards live in small groups in underground caves or burrows, where the temperature is cooler, and take time each day to bask in the warm sun.
-They hunt in small packs by burrowing under the sands and using their tremor sense to detect prey. Since they rely primarily on tremor sense to hunt, their eyesight has degraded somewhat. Desert Sandtails have a very materialistic culture, which they share with their Semi-Aquatic cousins, and barter in goods such as sculpture, dyed fabrics, pottery, glass, and paintings.
-===== Kleemudor Purebloods =====
-Kleemudor Purebloods live on the frozen planet of Kleemudor, which is covered with week-long blizzards and a highly reflective surface which causes temperatures to remain below freezing, even at the equator. Adapted to the cold, the Kleemudor Purebloods make homes in large caverns dug into the ice. The thin atmosphere of Kleemudor selected out psionically inclined members of the society, who could communicate with others mentally. Unfortunately, this also inclined them towards being more susceptible to psionics. A caste system implemented in their history helped the Purebloods to achieve further psionic abilities, but diluted their natural venomous capabilities, while the “non-pure” Kleemudor lizards were expelled from society to the surface and eventually evolved into vicious predators with more powerful deadly venom and killer instincts. The Kleemudor Purebloods value reason and logic and the expanding of one’s psionic aptitude as tenets of their society. They are taught from a young age to stifle emotions and lean on logic to achieve greatness and respect. Because of this, many Kleemudor Purebloods see other races as volatile and dangerous, unpredictable and untrustworthy, and therefore have remained isolationist. Kleemudor Purebloods have an 80% chance to have access to psionics (choose two numbers to exclude on a d10 and roll).
-===== Draconics =====
-The lizards of Draconic Lineage live beneath mountains in dark caverns, kept there when the dragons sealed themselves away. Until recently, they were unaware that the dragons have returned, and operated under the assumption that humans and other races would hunt them and kill them if they revealed themselves. However, a mining expedition in Kratal stumbled across a civilization of Draconic lizards, living in an ornate citadel of stone lit by colorful braziers of Pho’dite. Lizards of differently colored scales were found, all hailing from various draconic ancestors that grant them a breath weapon and resistance to a type of damage. They grew farms of subterranean fungi along with raising large, thick skinned, blind, bull-like creatures for meat. Their legends tell of great dragons, which imbued their essesses into particular gemstones.
-===== Shell-Bearers =====
-Shell-Bearer lizards are hatched from eggs on remote islands, and very soon leave their home beaches and caves to venture out. They live for very long lives and spend years simply learning and exploring the world around them, but prefer to avoid large settlements and instead live mostly solitary lives, before eventually returning to their home with a lifetime of stories and experiences to tell their children.
+===== Leviathans: True Aquatic =====
+  * Lifespan: Unknown
+  * Jaernian Populations: Worldwide
+  * Cahyalian Populations: Unknown
+Almost nothing is known of this enigmatic and elusive race, although they are thought to be an ancient progenitor of Jaern's modern semi-aquatic lizards. Few have ever seen a Leviathan lizard, but their names come from the fact that they stand (or rather, swim) at a whopping 9 feet tall. They have scales like fish, massive tails for swimming, and vestigial back legs. Their faces are sharklike, and their necks feature prominent gills. Parts of their bodies can light up in a controlled, bioluminescent pattern: this seems to be a major part of their communication underwater.
+Leviathans live in the deepest depths of the oceans, and don't seem to be able to survive the reduced pressure and increased temperature in the ocean shallows, never mind breathe air. From what semi-aquatic liaisons report, Leviathans are just as intelligent as any other lizardfolk, although they seem to have a great desire to keep to themselves. None have ever seen one of their cities, and much of their culture is still a mystery.