Vasshari

Born of a fouled human bloodline, every vasshari carries some trace of the serpent. Purebloods pass as human 80% of the time, betrayed only by slit pupils, a forked tongue, or small fangs. Halfbreeds blend human and snake parts: roll 1d6 twice on the feature table (a repeat yields nothing and is not rerolled, and unworkable results are ignored), or invent a mix. Abominations are 10 feet long and either wholly serpentine (50%) or keep just one human trait, a head or arms.

Scales run from drab green and brown to bold red and blue stripes, diamonds, and swirls. Only purebloods wear human clothing and armor. Animals notice a dry, musty scent that humans cannot. All speak their own tongue and can converse with snakes and snakelike beings; human-headed ones also speak common.

Geniuses all, they lay intricate traps, use terrain brilliantly, and favor ambush. A mixed group spends its least valuable first, purebloods, then halfbreeds, then abominations, unless a leader shuffles the order for advantage. Away from the temple they roam in bands of one to four; near it, in far greater numbers. Purebloods have 6 Hit Dice, halfbreeds 7 or 8, abominations 9. Any with hands wields weapons, preferably edged, and they use slow poisons in traps rather than on blades.

Once per day each, a human-headed vasshari can use suggestion, polymorph other, snake charm, darkness 15' radius, cause fear, sticks to snakes, and neutralize poison. Psionic summary: telepathy devotions taste link, inflict pain, phobia amplification, life detection, repugnance, aversion, attraction, post-hypnotic suggestion, invincible foes, and false sensory input; psychometabolism sciences metamorphosis and animal affinity, with devotions flesh armor, chameleon power, and chemical simulation; clairsentience devotions poison sense, danger sense, and feel sound.

Vasshari revere evil and honor every reptile. Life centers on the temple, usually hidden in remote ruins but sometimes dug beneath a human city, and its location is a jealously kept secret. Their architecture favors circles, with ramps and poles in place of stairs. Abominations govern, with a human-headed high priest above all, and rites often end in bloody sacrifice. Purebloods handle all dealings with outsiders while posing as human.

Ages past, a human cult of a reptilian elder god received its master's 'blessing': all their children were born part serpent. Mixing since then has produced purebloods (least favored), halfbreeds, and abominations (truly blessed). Strict carnivores, they eat any warm-blooded prey, birds and humans above all, but avoid overhunting any area, and large groups keep herds of flightless birds or other warm-blooded beasts.