Varanians
A race of lizard-like humanoids, the Varanians often take to living as far away from civilized areas as possible. They despise technology, instead choosing to adhere to a more primitive lifestyle. The only 'technology' allowed is the magic used by their shamans.
Varanians often live in tribes, led by a chieftain. Shamans are both their magic experts and priests: they often worship a combination of the Niage pantheon and the Orcish gods. Warriors are also highly respected in the tribe. The Varanians practice slavery: warriors often both act as defenders, and providers for slavers if they happen upon hapless travelers. A commoner is often captured for life, but escape from a Varanian settlement should not be difficult for the average adventurer. This behavior has left them at tense odds with most of the mortal races.
They are often found near water or in marshes: several tribes make their homes in the wilderness of the Azure Shores. Though one can also expect them near lakes or other bodies of water. Varanian warriors sometimes stalk roads in marshes or near bodies of water, hunting for new slaves. It's not out of the question to see them working with bandit slave lords and the Daggerfin in this regard.
Basic Information
Anatomy
They are bipedal lizards with a human-like build, including five-fingered hands. They have webs between their fingers and toes, and their skin is covered in scales.
Growth Rate & Stages
Varanians age faster then any of the mortal races: a Varanian has come of age when they are 10 years old, are middle-aged at 30, and die around the age of 50.
Ecology and Habitats
Near bodies of water or in swamps and marshes.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Varanians often live on a diet of insects, small animals, fruits and vegetables. However, they are also not averse to murdering and eating their slaves upon disobedience or percieved disrespect or eating their slaves upon death by exhaustion.
Additional Information
Social Structure
More sedentary Varanian tribes have built temples, but the more nomadic tribes tend to have portable altars carried by their shamans and its members carry small idols. For the more nomadic tribes, a shaman is only visited for borth rites, marriage rites and last rites. In the sedentary tribes, the temple is often visited daily to listen to sermons and pray.
Facial characteristics
Depends on the tribe's location: Varanians on the Azure Shores look more like the European Green Lizard in terms of facial build, while those in the marshes might resemble a Moorish Gecko more.
Average Intelligence
Sentient and literate in Varanian and Dagarean.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
They have excellent nightvision, and are able to see many feet further then most mortal races in more dense darkness. Where Humans would be able to see about 20 to 25 feet, a Varanian can see to up to a whopping 40 feet.
Civilization and Culture
Gender Ideals
Varanian women are expected to raise the children, and female slaves are often sent to be nannies or purchase ingredients for meals from the gatherers. Varanian men are to espected work and provide for the family, and male slaves are often taken to the place in which this profession is practiced and sent to more menial tasks.
Deviating from this is usually punished in a gruesome fashion. First, the guards threaten them. Should a Varanian still aspire for more then these constrictive roles, the guards will return to drag the Varanian off, and they will beat them to within an inch of their life. On a third violation, they will execute the Varanian. Slaves often don't get the grace of a threat, instead starting off with a more violent correction.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Varanian: it sounds to the mortal races as a combination of clicking, hissing and chirping. Shamans are often the only ones able to speak Common.
Common Taboos
Most technology used by the mortal races.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
50 years
Average Physique
Slender with some musclemass: more similar to an Elven build then an Orcish one.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Depends on the tribe's location: Varanians in the marshes often have spots on their faces, forearms and tails, while those on the Azure Shores have stripes on their faces, backs and tails.
Geographic Distribution
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