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Lizardkin

“The sands of time erode all aside from our scales.”

—Lizardkin

Lizardkin, or Hasksorlar in their language, are an ancient race of upright reptiles hailing from a bygone place. They have a long history in the Tykonian steppe, being nomadic pastoralists by nature. But at the hands of a great and terrible empire, they were scattered across the Tykonian peninsula in a campaign of genocide—the Zurinayet, literally the “Great Killing”. They were threatened with eradication, but by staying true to their peregrine culture, they survived. Most Lizardkin today are steadfast traditionalists, slow to accept change and rejecting anything which might threaten their way of life—but given their history, such an apprehension should be expected.

Description

Originating from a faraway place, the Lizardkin are an incredibly diverse race united by a shared history and some key characteristics. Lizardkin vary greatly in posture, shape, colour, and size—but they always resemble non-avian saurians*. Their bodies are adorned with scales that completely cover their skin, and they have a long tail that can be used much the same way as Gillian’s—being fully opposable and capable of delivering powerful blows**. All lizardkin have claws* which extend from each of their digits—sometimes expressed as a curled talon on the innermost toe or thumb.

*Lizardkin's saurian inspirations and claws are cosmetic only.**Their tail whip is equivalent to a strong kick.

A lizardkin's scales are strange, found among only a small subsect of reptiles. These scales—perhaps flowing with the mana of the world—have the obscure ability to blend in with the environment around them,* making the individual harder to spot when within ~15 ft., and almost impossible to spot from 20+ ft.—excluding individuals or creatures with a magical sense like Undead. This natural camoflauge requires constant concentration from the Lizardkin to keep up, and will falter if they are to enter combat. Similarly still, these scales possess an innate ability to change according to the lizardkins current emotional state. Should one be in a particularly disgruntled or angry moon, their scales with darken in hue, and inversely will saturate and appear brighter if they are in a expressive, jovial mood—though this is not a uniform change, as different colors will represent different emotions amongst other lizardkin. Otherwise, it represents an honesty that cannot be hidden.

*Changing colors takes 2 turns to complete, and will fade back to their natural tones within 1 turn if the lizardkin does not impart enough focus, such as when they are thrust into combat.

Life expectancy: ~70 years
Height: 5'6"—6'4" (max.) [1,68—1,93 m.]
Weight: ~120—220 lbs. [54—99 kg.]
Language: Haskentele
Demonym: Lizardkin, Hasksorlar
Kyndred:
- Tachtans

Culture

The Lizardkin are true traditionalists, keeping oral legends that stretch back hundreds of years. They are passed down from the eldest of a family to the youngest, ensuring their history survives for generations on. The most famous of these legends, the Kurlus, tells the story of their kingdom’s founding, and its subsequent destruction at the hands of the outsiders—although its details always vary widely between individual groups. Writing is mainly reserved for legal proceedings and marriage records, recorded as symbols in wooden carvings rather than papyri: when these are intended for public viewing, they are usually intricately decorated. In fact, the Lizardkin put a great deal of effort into the artistry of all forms, both physical and performative—patronage to artistic deities was widespread amongst the Lizardkin of old. However, most today worship the normal Tykonian gods.

So important are the arts to the Lizardkin that they have even been incorporated into their warfare, exemplified by their iconic War Masks, know as Leklar—typically made of wood, with metal or obsidian linings. These highly decorated masks are the highest status symbol a warrior can possess, bearing the marks of their clan, their victories, and their rank. These war masks strike fear into their enemies and inspire unwavering pride amongst their people.

The Lizardkin retain close ties to the Avians, owing to a reason that has long since been forgotten. Minor conflicts are common between them, but they can almost always be resolved over drinks or games.

History

Return to: Kynd.

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