8.1.14 THE SERPENT CLASS

(See also: HELP SUBTERFUGE, HELP HYPNOSIS, HELP VENOM, HELP 8, HELP CLASS)

The Serpent class has roots as ancient as any other class. In the times of
legend, two members of the fourth generation of humanity, Loki and Ekanel, were
born appearing slightly serpentine, and lived in the primal forests.
Grandchildren of Anake, who killed his mother (and mother of all humanity)
Sinope, and was later slain by his father Callisto, and children of Rukal and
Lakspura, who slew their grandfather Callisto in revenge. Continuing the
tradition, Loki and Ekanel slew and consumed their two siblings, with the tacit
approval of their parents. The two mated and had numerous children, some of
which were even more serpentine than their parents. Generations later, this
strain of humanity had become so serpent-like that they were able to secrete
venoms through their developed fangs, hypnotise with their gaze, and more. Yet
more generations passed, with the serpent strain of humanity interbreeding with
other races until the Serpents, as they are called, were no longer a race but a
set of traits possessed by various individuals of all races.

Serpents are often attracted to rather shady careers though there are some
notable ones who have chosen a cause and fought for it their entire lives. They
might be found in any city or might choose to simply roam cityless.

The skills of the Serpent are wide-ranging and powerful, though often in
indirect ways. They generally fight with a whip and a dirk, or may strike with
their fangs, inflicting one of dozens of venoms upon their enemies. They create
and traverse a network of wormholes that criss-cross the continent, can
hypnotise their opponents and plant harmful suggestions in their mind, may
climb up into the treetops and traverse the forests from branch to branch,
strike at a distance with the fabled Darkbows, and more. A competent Serpent is
an extremely frustrating opponent to fight as well, for few can inhibit their
movement well enough to keep them still for very long.

The skills wielded by those of Serpent class are Subterfuge, Hypnosis, and
Venom. A fledgling in this class will possess Subterfuge and Venom, gaining
Hypnosis upon embracing class. 

(See also: HELP SUBTERFUGE, HELP HYPNOSIS, HELP VENOM, HELP 8, HELP CLASS)