# Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz) **Name:** Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz for short, pronounced "SAS") **Race:** [[Serpari]] Abomination **Age:** ~20 years old **Class:** Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) **Origin:** The Pit Temples, Karudasos (The Dark Lands) **Alignment:** Neutral Good (formerly Lawful Evil) **Status:** Heretic and traitor to [[Serpari]] society --- ## Appearance **Serpentine Form:** - Humanoid torso with scaled, muscular build - Dark green and black scales with bronze undertones - Powerful serpentine tail instead of legs (~12-15 feet total length) - Golden-amber serpentine eyes with vertical pupils - **Broken Fangs:** Ceremonially snapped at the root, with a jagged scar across the mouth - Can coil upright to approximate 6 feet "standing" height The broken fangs are impossible to miss—a permanent reminder that causes pain every time Sasz swallows. --- ## Backstory ### The Pit Temples (20 Years of Evil) Born in the Pit Temples of Karudasos—a [[Serpari]] society built on hierarchy, predation, and serpentine superiority. Connected from birth to a **hive-mind** that suppressed individual thought and reinforced that other races were prey. For twenty years, Sasz climbed the hierarchy through murder and consumption. They hunted, enslaved, and killed—believing completely it was natural order. Every atrocity was justified by the collective consciousness. ### The Awakening During a ritual, **shadow sorcery** erupted from within Sasz, **shattering their connection to the hive-mind**. For the first time, Sasz heard their own thoughts. Every kill, every cruelty replayed—but now with independent consciousness capable of guilt and empathy. The "prey" were people. The "natural order" was lies. They had been a slave to programming. **But there was more horror to come:** Sasz realized they were being prepared to become **the Anathema**—a six-headed abomination with no individuality left, focused only on manipulation, destruction, and furthering the Pit's goals. Whatever semblance of self they had just discovered would be completely erased. It was a fate worse than death. ### Breaking the Fangs Fleeing the Pit Temples, Sasz used their own claws to **snap off their venomous fangs** and carved a scar across their mouth. This wasn't just symbolic. **The Pit needed Sasz's venom for the anathema ritual.** By destroying their fangs, Sasz made themselves useless for the transformation: _"Good luck trying to make me the anathema when you needed my venom to make this ritual."_ The broken fangs cause constant pain as penance—and as insurance against recapture. --- ## Joining the Party ### Session 40: The Observation Traveling through the Pits of the Hells, Sasz spotted the party from invisibility. Watched them all morning—saw orcs, outcasts, "monsters" caring for each other. When Orcantigthma challenged [[Tarnik]] and the paladin questioned his faith but kept fighting, Sasz realized: if an orc could question a god and still be worthy, perhaps a [[Serpari]] could find redemption too. After the divine champion left, Sasz revealed themselves and offered to guide the party south. When questioned about the Pit Temples: _"This one hopes you never find out if this one is still accountable to anyone."_ When [[Volza Redhand|Volza]] returned and challenged Sasz's presence, [[Tarnik]] and [[Grumthar]] chose trust: _"Sasz knows this region. We need local understanding."_ **Why Join?** Sasz is cunning and a self-preservationist by nature. They need: - **A shield:** The Pit Temples are hunting them to complete the anathema ritual. The party provides protection. - **A new hierarchy:** Cut off from the collective, Sasz needs a structure to fit into. The party offers that. - **Proof of worth:** To demonstrate they can be useful—valuable enough to protect. - **Redemption:** Fellow outcasts choosing to be different than their origins. If anyone can understand being born cursed and choosing differently, it's them. Sasz is honest about this: _"I am useful. I can help you, but I also need you to help me. I'm going to basically be using you guys as a shield, but also I need to come up with kind of a new hierarchy structure that I can involve myself into."_ --- ## Key Moments with the Party **First Watch with [[Grumthar]] (Session 41):** Meaningful conversation where [[Grumthar]] shared orc culture and Sasz revealed [[Serpari]] beliefs about "lesser races." First real connection since leaving the Pit. Sasz spotted the dracolich [[Skathex - The Undying|Skathex]] flying overhead. **The Scar (Session 41-42):** Sasz recognized the volcanic region from Pit Temple maps, helped navigate dangerous terrain, and worked with [[Cub]] to analyze [[EMBROCIEA - Master of Necromancy, The Grave-Eyed Whisper|Embrociea]]'s ritual magic. **Arrival in [[Polaria City|Polaria]] (Session 43):** - Overwhelmed by so many people in one peaceful place—mouth watering, instincts screaming, but controlled themselves - Used Disguise Self and Charm Person to gather intel from locals - Only ate meat at Thrak's, cast Poison Spray into drink, requested raw meat next time - Watched [[Cub]] become "drunk" on greenery while Sasz saw only potential hunting grounds --- ## Personality **Third-Person Speech:** Often says "this one" instead of "I"—remnant of hive-mind suppressing individual identity. Slowly changing. **Brutally Honest:** Lying reminds them of their old life. Answers questions truthfully even when unwise. **Cunning Manipulator:** Twenty years in the Pit taught Sasz to manipulate and gather information. When meeting other [[Serpari]], it's second nature to try manipulating intel out of them—reading hierarchies, identifying weaknesses, planning several moves ahead. This instinct applies to all interactions, though Sasz is trying to suppress it with the party. **Constant Struggle:** Predatory instincts don't disappear. Must actively choose not to hunt/consume/dominate. The broken fangs hurt with every swallow as a reminder. **Self-Preservationist:** [[Serpari]] are cunning survivors by nature. Sasz uses the party as protection while providing value in return—a pragmatic exchange that may evolve into genuine loyalty. **Guilt Without Wallowing:** Carries tremendous guilt but focuses on proving they can choose differently. Expects rejection, surprised by kindness. **The Internal Voice:** Echoes of the hive-mind—not real psychic connections, but psychological scars: _"Return to the Pit. These creatures are prey. You are weak."_ Must consciously reject these daily. --- ## Abilities **Sorcerer (Shadow Magic):** The shadow magic that freed Sasz from the hive-mind. Uses Disguise Self, Charm Person, Invisibility, and various offensive/defensive spells. The shadows respond to Sasz's will, a dark gift that paradoxically brought them freedom. **[[Serpari]] Traits:** Darkvision, poison immunity, magic resistance (advantage on saves vs spells), serpentine movement, thermal vision, natural weapons (claws/tail). --- ## [[Serpari]] Hierarchy & Caste System **Understanding the Castes:** Sasz comes from a rigid hierarchy where rank determines everything: 1. **Purebloods** (Lowest) - Look most human, serve as spies, merchants, diplomats in surface societies 2. **Malisons** (Middle) - Human features with snake head or snake arms, some scales 3. **Abominations** (High) - Most serpentine form (Sasz's caste), warrior caste 4. **Brood Guard** (Broken) - Failed experiments, mere grunts with no future 5. **Anathema** (Highest) - Six-headed abominations, no individuality, purely driven by the collective's goals **Sasz's Former Rank:** As an abomination, Sasz only answered to other abominations (same rank) and those being prepared for anathema. Nobody else was above them in hierarchy. **Critical Dynamic:** If the Pit Temples send hunters, there's an interesting complication: **lower-caste [[Serpari]] are still obligated to obey Sasz's orders** because they're an abomination. This could create conflicts if Sasz encounters pureblood or malison [[Serpari]]. **What Sasz Will Encounter in Polaria:** - **Mostly Purebloods** - The ones who look human enough to integrate - **Rarely Malisons** - Less common but possible - **Never other Abominations** - Too connected to Pit culture to exist openly in human society **Meeting Other [[Serpari]]:** When Sasz meets other [[Serpari]], expect manipulation on both sides—trying to figure out: Are they spies? Infiltrators? Where are they from? What faction? It's second nature from the Pit, where information gathering was survival. --- ## Party Relationships **[[Grumthar]]:** First real connection. Treats Sasz as fellow warrior, not monster. Straightforward honor and acceptance. **[[Tarnik]]:** Shared struggle with questioning indoctrination. Chose to trust Sasz despite risks. **[[Cub]]:** Casual acceptance is bewildering and comforting. Represents innocence and natural goodness. **[[Volza Redhand|Volza]]:** Initial suspicion. Both outcasts and killers. Potential for grudging respect. **Narzag:** Fellow scout. Professional respect through shared watch duties. --- ## [[Serpari]] in Solare (World Context) **Integration in South Angoria:** South Angoria is a melting pot where acceptance varies wildly: - Some completely welcome [[Serpari]] - Some completely reject them - Most common folk don't know much about them and don't see them as particularly dangerous - Similar dynamics exist for orcs, tieflings, and other "monstrous" races **[[Serpari]] Methods:** The [[Serpari]] plan to rule the world from behind the scenes: - Infiltrators positioned as merchants, governors, lords - Slowly manipulate society from positions of power - Avoid open confrontation unless absolutely necessary - Work in "cloak and dagger" fashion following their god's teachings **Why [[Anam|the Withered One]] Alliance Was Problematic:** Many [[Serpari]] infiltrators were disappointed that some factions sided with [[Anam|the Withered One]] and engaged in open warfare—it set back their subtle plans significantly. **Power Centers:** - **South Polaria** - The main powerbase for [[Serpari]] operations - **The Pit Temples** (Dark Lands) - Where Sasz came from, an off-shoot extending their reach - From South Polaria, [[Serpari]] operations extend to Elandra, Lialandra, and the human unions **Dark Truth:** Behind the scenes, [[Serpari]] are responsible for a significant percentage of missing people across the world—abducted for various purposes in South Polaria. --- ## What Sasz Seeks Not forgiveness—some sins can't be forgiven. But **proof** that choice matters more than origin. That becoming good, even if never truly good, is worth the struggle. _Can a monster who chooses to be good ever truly become good? Or will they always be a monster trying?_ Perhaps the trying itself is what matters. --- _"This one was made to consume. This one chose to protect. Every day, this one makes that choice again."_