الأفاعي :: The Sect of Scales ::
The Sect of Scales is an old religion, or cult depending on who you ask, devoted to an old line of hydra that exist in the Terrin Mountains. While the Sect used to flourish down into the lands of Serendipity, it is now quieted and cloistered in a couple of temples dotting the mountain range. They maintain a low profile, appearing largely like peaceful villages around large temples built on some part of the mountain. Any outsiders or travelers visiting any of these places are likely to leave with an impression that they've just visited some odd, cloistered peoples but are usually none the wiser to what might really be going on.

     الأفاعي :: Honored Hydra ::

The Honored Hydra is just that - a creature that the Sect worships as a god among them. It's  wickedly intelligent serpent that lives in the temples of the Sect - all of which are connected through mountain tunnels. There is only ever one Honored Hydra and it speaks is an almost lyrical, soothing language of soft syllables that those in the Sect are taught. In return for their devotion, those in the Sect share a sort of 'symbiotic' relationship to snakes, and the hydra itself.

The Honored Hydra is a massive creature, looming over mortal men like a god might, with five cobra-esque heads. All can think, act, and speak independently but they are always of a singular purpose. Any brood the hydra produces are considered lesser hydra and function as guardians to the temple and people. There is a cache of eggs hidden deep in the temple so that, should the Honored Hydra ever by slain, another might be hatched and raised.

Only one is ever alive at a time. They tell their followers it is because they, as a god, can only be present in one form at a time. It is truly because Honored Hydras cannot stand the presence of their own kind, but understand the need to preserve their own species. When eggs are laid, as they reproduce asexually, they are stored in the hidden, warded, and trapped chamber should they be needed.


     الأفاعي :: Lesser Hydra ::

Lesser Hydras are easily distinguishable from the Honored Hydra they are laid from. White skin, red and black markings, the lack of a cobra hood, and only one head are the major differences. That and they are considerably smaller. Lacking the legs of a true hydra, they are more like armored, spikey snakes that, when reared up, can look a man in the eyes. Highly venomous, with long fangs and teeth in their mouths. They are taken care of by the Priests, beneath the High Priest, while they are small 'snakes' no longer than a man's forearm. While they are capable of hunting and fending for themselves, even while very small, they are usually fed and taken care of like the revered offspring of a 'god' that they are.

Intelligent and capable of the soft syllabic language of the hydra, they are taught and trained as any other soldier or guard might be and generally form some sort of friendly, close attachment to some person - be it a guard they've learned from, a priest who raised them, or a person in the village that they've met and find interesting. The Lesser Hydra see the people of the Sect as their family and are quick to defend them. All Lesser Hydra will die for the Honored Hydra.



     الأفاعي :: Sect Members ::
There is a loose system of ranks in the Sect. The highest among them is the Mother of Scales, or the Queen. She presides over the Sect as a whole, her word is law, and most fall in line beneath her. The rule is Matriarchal and inherited by her first born daughter. She's usually attended by a handful of consorts and guards, any of which might be the father, and thus favored. The Honored Hydra favors her and thus, her rule is never questioned. If she does something that displeases the hydra, her rule ( and usually family line ) ends and the hydra picks someone new.

Near enough in power to her is the High Priest. Generally male, the High Priest is someone who is born magically adept and skilled. Respected for their inborn talent and ambition regarding their self-motivated training, the High Priest deals with foreign affairs and security of the people and the Queen. He usually carries out the more aggressive, forceful acts the Honored Hydra might require and oversees the lesser hydra born, most of which will be tended to and raised by him and those handpicked by him - his priests and acolytes.

The rest of the Sect members fall into various service or military roles, as assigned or selected for them. It's rather egalitarian beneath the ranks of the priests and guards expressly around the High Priest and Queen. There is some competition between the few remaining temples to be looked upon favorably by the Queen and High Priest, but it's always subtle. Outright plotting or violent actions taken amongst one another is usually harshly punished.

The Sect functions very much like a cult, in that people are born into it, live it, and die knowing nothing else. The Honored Hydra is their living god, the priests their protectors, and the Queen their moral compass. Most will live their lives in the villages around the temples fulfilling various jobs - whatever is assigned - and live relatively peaceful, if simple, lives. Marriage is simple, with a party to celebrate the union of families, and most things are matriarchal in the villages as well. Names follow the women, men are brought into families, though it is usually a group of elders - men and women - that help decide the daily tasks of the village. It's rare for someone to want to leave, and if they do, it always seems like they are wished well and allowed to do so.

It is the High Priest's responsibility to ensure the Sect's secret remains - so such people are frequently hunted down later on by choice, loyal priests and lesser hydra.

Sect members largely appear human - in stature and build. Ranging anywhere from 5' to 6', with a faint olive cast to their skin tone. Dark hair, such as black or dark brown, and green or brown eyes is the most common though rarities and anomalies to occur and are treated with suspicion.  Such people are unlikely to be picked by the High priest or Queen to become part of the 'upper class'.


     الأفاعي :: Sect Secrets ::
Stories are told, and the Hydras remember, when the temples flourished and the Sect spread from the mountains and into the valleys below. How long ago, exactly, that's hard to say, but they've since been pushed back up into the mountains and life has been quieter. That last crippling killed the former Honored Hydra and resulted in the birth of the new one, who has only known the quiet peace of the mountains and would like it to stay that way.

Sect members consume tiny amounts of poison throughout their entire lives, usually in the water they drink, making most members quite resistant to toxins, poisons, and other ailments of the body. If they aren't resistant, they usually die young and it's seen as a 'meant to be' sort of thing.

Everyone is taught some smattering of the soft syllabic hydra tongue, but it's usually those that interact with the lesser hydra - or those picked by the Queen or High Priest - that will become fluent in it.

The High Priest's magic lends itself toward scrying, spying, and manipulation, and domination. Usually to control outsiders that might cause a problem, to calm those they might want to feed to the hydras, and a plethora of other practical applications of such magic.

The Queen of Scales shares a close relationship with the hydra, like an empathetic bond, so she knows what the Hydra might need without it needing to be said. It is assumed she speaks as though as the Hydra itself and her words are treated as such.

Sacrifice isn't rare is the Sect, though it is rare for the Sect to sacrifice its own people. Rather, strangers, wanderers, or the criminal tend to be gifts to the Honored Hydra. These are solemn gifts thought to bring knowledge to the Hydra.  This usually comes in the form of questioning before consumption.


   
     الأفاعي :: Additional Information ::
Who doesn't like snakes? If you have any questions, comments, or the like, feel free to either PM me, respond here, or hit me up on discord. If you have a character you'd like to add, or a plot you'd like to see with this group, likewise hit me up. ^_^ Should be a lot of fun.


     الأفاعي :: Character Referance List ::
SOOOON



     الأفاعي :: Thread Referance List ::
We used to be friendly - SanctifiedSavage / Imperfect_M
     الأفاعي ::The current Mother of Scales Trikistanya meets with knights of a former order the Sect used to have an alliance with. A lot of time has passed.