Srohaxl

Home of the Varanus Lizardfolk in southern Yorn. A city of talented warriors who have long stood as the guardians against the insect hives of Grotague. They seek to live in balance with their environment and honor in their hearts, standing in stark refutation to their elder relatives in the north, the Carnifex Clans.

Deep within the heart of a sprawling jungle swamp, where the air hangs heavy with mist and the sounds of the wild echo day and night, lies Srohaxl, the fortified city of the Varanus lizardfolk. Built amidst towering mangrove trees and crisscrossed by winding waterways, this city is both a natural fortress and a hub of martial prowess. The lizardfolk of Srohaxl are a proud and tenacious people, their way of life forged in the crucible of constant conflict with the insectoid tribes that dwell in the surrounding marshlands. Srohaxl is a city unlike any other. Its structures rise organically from the swamp, blending seamlessly with the jungle's natural features. Stone ziggurats, their surfaces carved with intricate patterns of scales and reptilian eyes, serve as temples, meeting halls, and watchtowers. The lizardfolk use a combination of mudbrick, woven reeds, and enchanted stone to build their homes, which cluster around the bases of ancient trees. Walkways of tightly woven vines and wooden planks connect the city’s levels, creating a path network that spirals upwards into the jungle canopy. These elevated paths allow the lizardfolk to move swiftly and silently, avoiding the swamp’s treacherous waters below. Beneath the city, submerged tunnels and hidden chambers extend into the murky depths, providing sanctuaries, armories, and places of worship. At the city's heart lies the Hall of Fangs, a sacred site where the lizardfolk's most sacred traditions and artifacts are protected by fierce warriors and priestesses. The Hall is surrounded by statues of great lizard warriors of old and adorned with offerings of bone, feathers, and glistening swamp gems.

The lizardfolk of Srohaxl are born fighters, their scales hardened like armor and their claws and teeth formidable weapons. From a young age, they train relentlessly, mastering the art of ambush and guerilla tactics in the dense jungle. The warriors of Srohaxl are organized into scaleclans, each sworn to protect a section of the city and its surrounding territory. Every scaleclan has its own totem, representing a revered beast such as the swamp crocodile, jungle serpent, or thunder lizard. These totems inspire their fighting styles and rituals, with some warriors mimicking the ferocity of a crocodile's charge or the venomous strikes of a serpent. The skill and dedication of the warriors of Srohaxl are a necessity. The conflict between the lizardfolk and the Chitinborn is a way of life. Battles erupt frequently, ranging from small skirmishes in the shadow of the jungle canopy to full-scale assaults on hive-mounds or lizardfolk fortifications. The Chitinborn’s overwhelming numbers and hive-mind coordination make them a fearsome adversary, but the warriors of Srohaxl counter with their tenacity, ambush tactics, and intimate knowledge of the swamp.

The people of Srohaxl are as no-nonsense as they are fierce. Their culture revolves around survival and strength, with a deep reverence for the jungle and its spirits. They see themselves as the jungle's protectors, believing that the natural forces that have entrusted them with defending the swamp from invaders be they insectoids or foolish outsiders. Srohaxl is also the seat of lizardfolk lore and tradition, and no matter where lizardfolk end up, they always keep mindful of the direction back home, back to Srohaxl. The lizardfolk worship ancient jungle deities, often spirits, depicted as colossal reptilian creatures entwined with vines and glowing with primal energy. Rituals involve blood offerings, roaring chants, and dances performed atop the city’s ziggurats. Srohaxl's relationship with their elder kin to the north, the Carnifex, is a delicate and complicated one. While the two tribes share ancestral roots and certain cultural traditions, Srohaxl greatly struggles to distinguish itself from the Carnifex in philosophy and practice. The Carnifex is a relic of the past, driven by an unyielding creed of conquest, bloodshed, and zealous devotion to ancient war gods. Srohaxl, though martial in its own right, seeks to embody discipline, adaptability, and a sense of balance with their environment. Maintaining this separation in the eyes of others is vital to Srohaxl's survival and reputation.