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As mysterious and secretive as common snakes, the Slizzar are the rarest race in Aloria; only a few thousand still exist in the entire world. Slizzar were once abundant in the Essa Empire and before, though war and racial cleansing seriously diminished their numbers. Slizzar are distrusted, yet alluring to most other races due to their inherent shape-shifting abilities. Slizzar continue to do what they do best nowadays: worming their way into the trust of individuals in power, and then using that to better themselves. They can often be seen as courtesans and advisers, but are also successful assassins or spies. Few can be found in the open, though all of them travel back to Ssasrakand every year during the solar eclipse day.
| Slizzar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Race | |
| Pronunciation | Sliiz-ahr |
| Classification | Naylar. |
| Common Nicknames | Snake People, Shapeshifters, Puppeteers. |
| Languages | Zasta, and whatever language they pick up in the societies they emulate. |
| Naming Customs | Slizzar do not name their children. Adult Slizzar pick up names based on the society in which they're trying to integrate. |
| Racial Traits | |
| Maximum Age | 80 years. |
Physical Characteristics
The form of a Slizzar is something that is never truly settled, and can shift from time to time. Their race is the only race on Aloria which has limited shape-shifting abilities, meaning they shift between two or more physical forms to suit their situation. When in their natural form, Slizzar have no legs, but a snake-like tail extending from their waist on which they support themselves. They move about with a slithering motion. In their natural form, Slizzar are physically weak with their upper body but have great strength in their lower body, able to strangle smaller individuals with their tail alone. Their skin is covered in dark gray scales, with various lighter patches on their softer areas. Slizzar lack a belly button, nor do females have mammalian breasts. The head of a "natural form" Slizzar consists of an elongated face without a nose, and with a massive, hinged mouth that can open both vertically along the lips, as well as horizontally along the chin. Slizzar don’t need to open their mouth to be audible while speaking. In fact, while their forked tongue might habitually flick out from time to time, it's rare to see them with an open mouth. The forked tongue serves as their sense of smell, meaning they can pick up fine smells and scents in about a twenty feet radius around them. They can use this to determine an individual's race, gender, and whether there's exposed blood. Underwater, their smell and capability to speak become nullified, but Slizzar can stay underwater without breathing for up to sixteen hours in shallow water and two hours in deeper water. Slizzar heads have hard skull extensions stretching from their cheekbones and forehead to cover parts of their "hair." While they don’t actually have hair, in its place is a bundle of tentacles which have limited movement capabilities. These are usually bound up like dreadlocks. Female and male Slizzar cannot be told apart in their natural form, with the exception of their markings. Females have various dark purple skin markings on their face and cheekbone extensions, while the males are colored dark red. Slizzar have eyes identical to Orcs, though their irises differ in color between red, orange and cyan.
Shape-shifting
When shape-shifting, the Slizzar not only takes on what's referred to as their Shifted Shape, but the face of this shifted shape also changes to better coax whatever they intend to emulate. The Shifted Shape is a shape the Slizzar assumes to "blend in" with the surroundings or the people around them. The biggest change occurs when their tail splits into thirds, reforming into two tall, thin legs, and one thinner tail. Their newer, smaller tail is still used for balance, or as a third leg when the need arises. The skin remains the same, but the texture becomes smoother and silkier to the touch. The upper body of females becomes elegant and in some cases even emulates the bosoms of other races. For males, their upper body becomes more masculine, yet still retains an elegant shape and form. The head changes depending on the need. For example, if a Slizzar adapts to a Human, their face becomes more Human-like, gains a small nose, and loses its hinged jaw line. If a Slizzar adapts to Allar, their face becomes more lizard-like, with an extended snout, and so forth. The physical act of shifting shape is extremely taxing and takes time for a Slizzar. They may be incapacitated for an entire day, resting to get used to their different shape and regaining the energy they lost for this process. In most cases, a Slizzar cannot attempt a shape shift more than once a week. The shifted shape has always been useful for the Slizzar to be more enticing to whatever race they are attempting to impress, as they can effectively emulate their appearance. However, most, if not all, Slizzar feel like their natural form is superior to their Shifted Shape. When shapeshifting to suit a certain race, the only thing that really changes is their bone structure and muscle density on their upper body (aside from the usual lower body changes). This means that if a Slizzar were to shift to an Orc friendly form, their facial bone structure would change (and the skin would fit to suit), while retaining the hair and the cheekbone growths. Additionally their upper body physiology will also change a bit to emulate the bulkyness of an Orc, but their actual strength does not increase by that much, most changes are visual in nature.
Mental Characteristics
Slizzar are known to be excellent advisers, tacticians, and spies. They are able to analyse a situation objectively without emotional attachments, and calculate the best outcome. This makes them an incredible calculative race, prone to extreme selfishness and competitiveness. Slizzar will often compete with one another for the position of Shadow Ruler when they are trying to infiltrate a position of power. Slizzar are inherently solitary, avoiding contact with other Slizzar until the Solar Eclipse day when they reproduce and meet for religious festivals. This mental psyche is mostly bred by their religion, which advocates self-betterment at the expense of others. Slizzar are, without exception, highly intelligent, and able to predict or otherwise influence the actions of other races with great accuracy, due to their natural ability to seduce and convince others. Slizzar also have a high inclination toward Hex Magic that allows them an easier time learning and mastering it.
History
Slizzar have always been a race attached to another throughout history. The first mention of Slizzar in modern history is during the middle of the Elven Empire. The Elves stumbled upon the Slizzar living in tribal conditions in Hadar and decided to uplift their civilization to their own, as they were intrigued by the Shape Shifting skills of this race. Shape Shifting had always been an ambition of the Elves, to transform into something better had become a dream of their strongest mages at the height of their arrogance and decadence. They hoped to unlock the secret of the Slizzar if they raised them up. Unfortunately, the Slizzar developed faster than the Elves had anticipated. Various Slizzar snuck their way into high political positions within the ranks of the Elven governors and started turning them on each other, using them as pawns in some sort of bizarre game.
In fact, the Elves had become puppets for the Slizzar to start competing with one another, as their religion had dictated. Thousands of Elves died on the battlefield in civil skirmishes between the governors until the Elven Empire pulled out its resources to focus on the Humans, who around 300 BC, were becoming more aggressive and militarily armed. After that, the Slizzar enjoyed 200 years of practical isolation from any other race, until Humans made first contact around 100 BC. Slizzar initially had amiable relations with the Humans, though not for the Human race’s betterment. They saw the Humans as yet another puppet to use in an attempt to overthrow the Elves. It can be said that the Regalian Empire has had visions of grandeur, and that the Elven Empire had its glory days, but the Slizzar are the only race who perpetually and permanently dream of global domination.
When the Cataclysm occurred, the Slizzar lost a lot of their numbers to the violent volcanic eruptions in Hadar. Their population diminished until the massive influx of Allar took place around 100 AC after the Sendrassian Civil War. The Allar were welcomed, less as friends but more so as tools for the Slizzar to use for their own good. The Allar and Slizzar seamlessly integrated with each other, the Slizzar often setting up puppet rulers among the Allar who were typically controlled by the Slizzar. The reason why the Essa Empire was always such a fractured political entity was because the Slizzar would constantly pit their puppets against each other in a bid for total control over Essa. Eventually, Empress Miko Missa was the first, last, and only Slizzar Empress that managed to control the entire Empire and halt the infighting due to her religious and magical powers. The Slizzar civilization came crashing down when the Regalians invaded Hadar with their superior military equipment. The Slizzar were first eradicated by Humans, and then suffered racial genocide at the hands of the betrayed Allar. Presently, only few thousand Slizzar remain scattered all over the world, attempting to grasp power wherever they can.
Society
Slizzar society is completely nonexistent. Slizzar have, since the Chrysant War, mostly existed by integrating into other societies and becoming part of their political machine without them even knowing. It is rare to see two Slizzar in the same place together, and even if they were, they would be constantly competing with one another to the point where they would not socialize or spend time together unless they absolutely had to.
Culture
Slizzar culture is dominated by their religion and their constant drive to world domination through intrigue and subterfuge. All other races are aware of this, but the Slizzar skillfully use the Shifted Shape, Hex Magic and their natural allure to seduce and bargain their way into a position of trust, after which they use that position to better themselves. Culturally, Slizzar have a heightened affinity for dancing, and often wear long, silky, and loose robes to accentuate their elegant bodies and movement. To Slizzar, everything they do is part of an elaborate dance or performance to woo their potential puppet into letting them into their trusted circle. Other than that, Slizzar mostly adapt to whatever culture in which they find themselves, eating the same food, speaking the same language and adopting cultural traditions to look like one of the others. The only time when Slizzar intentionally come together is during the Solar Eclipse day when all Slizzar travel to Ssassrakand to participate in the religious festival and procreate.
Religion
The Slizzar follow the Nessrassian Faith, the faith of the giant Sea Serpents. This faith has several gods associated with various snakes which represent various aspects of a Slizzar’s personality. Their religion is central in their life, for it guides their actions, and in being successful, they worship and offer tribute to their gods who they constantly aspire to become. It can be said as such that the religion is less a religion, and more a life view or life philosophy. Still, the Slizzar worship the snakes as divine beings-- and would even bow to the living ones if, and when, they surface.
Economy and Technology
Slizzar don’t formally have an economy or technology. They simply take whatever they can near them, meaning Slizzar tend to be wealthy from stealing or bartering with other races, though they don’t actually engage in any economic activity or technological advance. Slizzar inherently believe that their strength must come from their mind and conviction, as opposed to the tools they use. This is one of the reasons why the Essa Empire was so hopelessly outmatched by Regalia during the Chrysant War.
Combat and Warfare
The Slizzar don’t traditionally engage in warfare or combat. Instead, they convince others to do it for them. If a Slizzar is forced to fight, however, they have a strong tail capable of holding or strangling people (if lucky), and a mean bite in their hinged jaw. Additionally, Slizzar are excellent bowmen due to their precise eye sight and their ability to detect others within a certain radius around them. Still, Slizzar prefer to avoid combat as much as possible as they are very aware that they are physically inferior to most races.
Trivia
- There was once a Slizzar who had the ability to shift within minutes, multiple times a day without being too exhausted. The rumor goes that he used a certain form of magic to speed up the process, though the system was lost when his "host" (A local warlord) lost to another "host" (ironically controlled by another Slizzar) who had him killed because he could be seen as superior. The secret to his art was lost.
- It is rumored that one Slizzar once managed to worm their way to Emperor Justinian the First of Regalia and the Chancellor Morgan Kade. There is no physical evidence of this ever having occurred, but it would explain their erratic behavior.
- Slizzar tails that have been cut off slowly grow back over years as long as the cut occurred below knee level.