L'Sstan-Ti

Description

The L'Sstan-Ti are almost as strange in appearance as a thri-kreen. Ranging from 6 to 8 feet tall when they are reared up to average height, L'Sstan-Ti are interesting, to say the least. They posses the well-muscled and beautiful upper torsos of humans, but from the waist down, their bodies are that of enormous, varyingly colored snakes. The upper body posses a faint outline of the patterning found on the snakelike body, and the eyes are like that of a snake. The ears are round, and L'Sstan-Ti have little or no facial hair. Several L'Sstan-Ti clans have rattles on their tails.

Combat

The natural attack of a L'Sstan-Ti is a potent constricting attack, doing 1-10 points of damage. When hit, enemies must make a strength check each round or remain in the deadly coils. While an enemy is trapped in a L'Sstan-Ti tail, he may attack using a small weapon such as a dagger, gaining a +4 to hit, and the L'Sstan-Ti gains no dexterity bonus to A.C.. L'Sstan-Ti can make other attacks while constricting. L'Sstan-Ti have no poison of their own, but have a natural immunity to snake poisons, and a +3 to save against all others. Due to the deathly silent movement of these creatures, even in heavy brush, opponents receive a -1 to all surprise rolls. L'Sstan-Ti have very strong infravision, reaching up to 90 feet. They also have a very strong affinity for snakes, and are almost always found with one (+3 to reaction roll). Also, they have a natural A.C. of 5 on their lower bodies. Their lower snake bodies allow them to move with blinding speed (18). Because of their reptilian nature, L'Sstan-Ti are sluggish during periods of extreme heat of 100 degrees or above, suffering a -1 to all attack rolls. Needless to say, they prefer to remain active during the night. Also, they cannot see well in bright lights, deducting a further -1 to hit. Because of their strange fascination with stone the L'Sstan-Ti are able to harden their skin once per week as the 4th level wizard spell.

Habitat/Society

The L'Sstan-Ti live in large clans, consisting of several families. For a race with such a fearsome appearance, this race is extremely wise and patient with other races who do not understand their customs, and are always willing to try to settle differences without personal combat.

Some of the clans are nomadic, always looking for a new place to live, while others are content to stay in one home all their lives. The social status is conveyed by the patterns on the body, which stand out strongly to other members of this race. The patterns also convey the tribe the L'Sstan-Ti came from. The highest ranking L'Sstan-Ti is the chief of the clan. This is usually a powerful warrior. The males are usually warriors and protectors, while females pursue the arts of magic, both wizardly and clerical.

However, these roles can be switched. When a L'Sstan-Ti dies, if it was a powerful warrior, the others of its tribe carry out an ancient ritual. This is a long and tedious process, only used on the chief and the best of warriors. The others are given an honorable burial, given back to the land that formed them. When the ritual is complete, the L'Sstan-Ti is turned to stone. It is then animated as a golem, to forever protect the tribe. Flesh to stone does not work on L'Sstan-Ti bodies, and the ritual can only be carried out by L'Sstan-Ti.

The most important people of the tribe, the ones who keep it alive, are the druids and clerics. When the most powerful of these die, they are given a special honor. The elders of the tribe perform great magics, more powerful than any others seen on Athas, except perhaps the sorcerer kings'. They sing to the elements, all joined, asking them to take these noble spirits back to the land. When the song is through, the spirit of the land arises and takes the dead body into itself. When this happens, the consciousness of the dead one enters it, and they become one.

Though the tribe life is fulfilling spiritually, some L'Sstan-Ti believe it is lacking something. They believe the L'Sstan-Ti should be recognized as one of the great races of Athas, to rise with all the rest. With these ends in mind, the L'Sstan-Ti have taken to adventuring.

Ecology

The L'Sstan-Ti are an offspring of the Yuan-Ti. The L'Sstan-Ti loathe the evil Yuan-Ti and the feeling is mutual. The L'Sstan-Ti see the Yuan-Ti as the most evil race on all of Athas, their assumptions are about right. On the other side the Yuan-Ti se L'Sstan-Ti as traitors to their people and either race will attack the other in any meeting and will attack the hated race in preference to any other foe.

The L'Sstan-Ti are a one of the new races found on Athas. The noble race was created from the foul race of Yuan-Ti. A group of Yuan-Ti half-breeds were ordered to go to the Pristine Tower by their "god" to find the secrets of the tower. During their trip the group was attacked by a group of Lirrs near the tower and when wounded the towers magic had their way with them. The tower changed the disposition of all the Yuan-Ti that survived the battle. Eventhough only fifty Yuan-Ti survived the attack and magical transformation the group was able to survive and has prospered somewhat in the harsh world. The current leader of the largest L'Sstan-Ti tribe is a powerful preserver named L'Sstan.