Yuan-Ti Empire

Torrid heat, arid air, cutting sandstorms, and grit threaten to swallow Ssishasz Alpha, the megalopolis and capital of the Yuan-Ti Empire in The Red Sands. Though the environment is harsh, the Yuan-Ti are an extremely interconnected people- much of the population can communicate telepathically, poverty is virtually eliminated, and the whole community raises young together. There is a large focus on having a strong sense of shared identity as all Empire citizens consider their neighbors and even strangers to be family. The Red Sands are home to several nations that are subjected to the Yuan-Ti, however all citizens of the Empire are given equal status and are referred to internally as Yuan-Ti regardless of the presence or lack-of snakelike features. At the heart of their capital city stands the Adamant, a monolith that extends into the skies, coated in ancient Yuan-Ti scriptures about the Night Serpent. Its peoples claim the Adamant serves as a reminder to Theopolis that their floating city is not the only structure to pierce the heavens and that one day, both will be Yuan-Ti. The Adamant's age is unknown, though many independent scholars believe it predates the comet that Theopolis sits over.  

"Become the architect of your own temple, your body is the foundation and your mind is the priest."

— Scriptures of The Adamant, Book of Dendar, 09:134

  Zasz is the Serpent Premier of the Empire and Anathema. As Zasz has transformed into a being of immense psionic energy, he has to live at the top of the Obelisk within a chamber of isolation called the Eye of the Desert. If he makes contact with the ground within Ssishasz Alpha, he could accidentally cause societal collapse through his innate overwhelming influence. It is said only elves and special mages are able to resist his passive energy enough to interact with him. Because of this, the leader of the Yuan-Ti is both the ruler and imprisoned servant of their people. The Yuan-Ti, and their respective client races, believe in a surprising amount of self agency considering their knack for psionic domination. Zasz communicates his will to his people via magics that engrave scriptures on the Obelisk for the Oracle and her interpreters to read. The Oracle of Anathema, or the Speaker of Zasz, is Ishiza. Having been gifted with the ability to interpret the Adamant Scriptures, she functions as the public face of the Yuan-Ti and the enforcer of Zasz's will. Ishiza has an attractive speech cadence when she chooses to speak without telepathy and she is affectionately nicknamed Ishiza of the Silver-Tongue. Yuan-Ti believe those who transform and shapeshift are blessed, not cursed, and thus have an affinity towards varying levels of snake transformation, shifters, shapechangers, changelings, simic hybrids, and doppelgangers. Mutations are a way to cultivate a better body and future prospects; mutagens are often sold here. Kresz is the Mutagen Artificer and is responsible for crafting new mutations for organic life, utilizing the Red Sand's extensive Cyanite Mines. He also collects crystal figurines. The empire worships the Night Serpent, also known as Dendar, or The Nightmare Eater. Some believe the Night Serpent consumes nightmares to end the world, while others believe she consumes nightmares to lessen the suffering of mortals. The Yuan-Ti view Theopolis as their land by birthright- in their scriptures, the throne of Theopolis was the nesting site of the Night Serpent's child on Tyras. Unlike the Theopolis, the Yuan-Ti believe that the Saint does not ascend to Godhood during the ascension ritual, but is instead fed to the dream eating Night Serpent as a sacrifice. Because of this, the empire does have an invested interest in making sure every Saint ascends. Yuan-Ti soldiers are known for their psionic links, telepathy, and individual intelligence. Yuan-Ti mage hunters are also known for being able to forcibly silence any magical effects in their vicinity, granting them significant advantages against magical users. They have been known to teach these techniques to outsiders who prove their worthiness. Mage Hunters study at the Temple of Silence, which operates near the base of the Adamant Obelisk.