Yuan-Lie (4e Race)
Yuan-lie[edit]
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| From Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition Monster Manual |
Loyal, fearless warriors. Born of the blood of an ancient evil race turned good.
| Racial Traits |
| Average Height: 5’6” – 6’2" |
| Average Weight: 280 – 370 lb. |
| Ability Scores: +2 Constitution, +2 Dexterity or Intelligence |
| Size: Medium |
| Speed: 7, Climb 3 squares |
| Vision: Low Light Vision |
| Languages: Common, Draconic |
| Skill Bonuses: +2 Stealth, +2 Intimidate |
| Serpentine heritage: You gain resist 5 + half level poison damage. |
| Yuan-lie Weapon Proficiency: You gain proficiency with the Scimitar. |
| Snake Bite: You can use Snake Bite as an encounter power. |
| Snake Bite | Yuan-lie Racial Power |
| You strike with the speed and strength of a snake with a bite attack, plunging your fangs into your foe’s flesh. | |
'Encounter  Poison'
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| Minor Action | Melee 1 |
| Target: One Creature | |
| Attack: Dexterity +2 Vs. Fortitude | |
| Hit: 1d6 + Constitution modifier poison damage, and the target is slowed (Save Ends) | |
| Increase to +4 bonus and 2d6 + Constitution modifier poison damage and 5 ongoing poison damage at 11th level, and to +6 bonus and 3d6 + Constitution modifier poison damage and 10 ongoing poison damage at 21st level. | |
Yuan-lie are the good descendants of a powerful race of prehistoric snake people that are also the ancestors of the Yuan-ti. There ancient empires enslaved the other humanoid races before disappearing almost overnight. The Yuan-lie were uncovered by three great hero’s who, rather then doom the ancient race, brought them back to the surface and allowed there people to join normal humanoid society.
Play an Yuan-lie if you want...
- To look like a snake.
- To be the proud heir of an ancient, fallen empire.
- To be able to climb sheer surfaces quickly
- To be a member of a race that favors the Wizard, Rogue, Fighter and Ranger classes.
Physical Qualities[edit]
Yuan-lie resemble overgrown, humanoid snakes. They are covered in reptilian scales that vary in coloration and have long tails in the place of legs. They are tall, reaching a height of just under 6” by adulthood but some may be slightly taller. Due to the tail that they use for movement, in the place of legs, they tend to be the heaviest in weight of all sentient races, mostly over 300 pounds, some even nearing 400 pounds in weight. Their hands are mostly identical to humans but with small, claw-like fingernails. A Yuan-lie’s facial features mimic those of a snake; red eyes with slit pupils, forked tongs and long sharp fangs which can administer venom with a bite. Their neck has flaps of skin attached which can be flattened to form the hood display of a cobra.
Yuan-lie grow much faster then Human and even Dragonborn children do. After hatching, they can reach the size and development of a 10 year-old human child by the age of 2 and reach adulthood by the age of 13. They can live to well over the age of 100, even as they near natural death their physical appearance barely changes and they can remain an active member of the community, making their oldest people highly experienced fighters.
Playing an Yuan-lie[edit]
Yuan-lie are as fearless as there race is ancient. When cornered they merely raise their hood display and continue to fight valiantly until the end. The Yuan-lie refuse all affiliation with there Yuan-ti counterparts, they regard being called a Yuan-ti as the highest insult and have even started fights over such happenings. Yuan-lie build their cities in many different locations, most typically deep forests infested with snakes. Most Yuan-lie keep a snake as a family pet, in fact snakes are the most popular pet in Yuan-lie culture due to their close links with the serpentine race.
Unlike the Yuan-ti, Yuan-lie do not have any members of their society who have humanoid legs and therefore, the Yuan-lie are sometimes regarded as the most beast-like of all the sentient races. They embrace this label as a way of showing their differences from the other races and as a way of keeping their race as intimidating to deal with as possible. When displeased or in a confrontation (physical or otherwise) Yuan-lie have a tendency to raise their hood display to show there anger or discomfort. Despite these tendencies and stereotypes, the Yuan-lie can be quite caring and sympathetic to the blights of the community and have been known to always help those in need, not matter what the cost.
Very few Yuan-lie revere Zehir as their deity, they recognize him as their creator but instead revere Avandra, for there people were once evil but shown the light. They see this as an act of the deity of change and stride to take their fate into their own hands, for although they were created by an evil god they have changed their former ways and believe that they can walk their own path in the world rather then do as their creator would want.
Yuan-lie Characteristics: Fearless, temperamental, loyal, perceptive, caring, reliable, helpful.
Male Names: Alvrak’esh, Cal’lesh, Haglesh, Jah’vess, Sha’dinn, Sha’mash, Sha’velk, Shar’don, Ska’moss, Ska’ra, Shav’alik, Sha’vesh, Shav’liss, Zeh’resh.
Female Names: Akar’ash, Gel’esh, Jeh’vass, Mesh’ine, She’denn, She’nesh, Sher’din, She’valek, Shev’lak, Shev’lass, Ske’mass, Ske’reh, Yeh’tan.
Yuan-lie Adventurers[edit]
Three sample Yuan-lie adventurers are described below.
She’valek is a Yuan-lie Rogue whose parents were killed during a raid on her village when she was 9 years old. She spent the rest of her childhood living on the fringe of a Dragonborn city. She used her abilities to see in the dark and to climb walls quickly to enable her to steal whatever she needed to survive. After a few years she joined an adventuring party that she met in a local tavern and used her skills in stealth and thievery for the good of both the party and herself. Despite her rough childhood and her often temperamental outbursts, she has helped more people in a rough situation then anyone else in the party.
Jah’vess is a Yuan-lie Fighter brought up in a family of warriors. He joined the town guard for a while when he came of age, but later saw the attraction of the life of an adventurer. He is often highly temperamental, even to his best friend in the group. But when someone requires a firm blade and a loyal friend, he is always their to assist no matter what the danger. He often raises his hood display during battle and hisses violently at his enemies, this often shocks onlookers who do not know his true caring nature, that he makes every effort to hide.
Shar’don is a Yuan-lie Ranger who spent his whole life in the forests of his homeland. When he came of age he quickly joined an adventuring party and started finding his own way in the world. He prays daily to Avandra out of hope that he can pave out a path for himself in the history of the world and separate himself for the monstrous members of his kin, the Yuan-ti. During battle he climbs to a high point where he can fire off arrows from his bow and cover his allies backs. He hopes for a day when all can wander the beauty of the forests in safety and peace, but until then he will keep fighting for a brighter future for the forests of the world.
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