Please bear with us while we update this page with a better introduction! In the future this will contain a better beginner's guide to RoS' systems and setting.
Welcome to Realm of Serpents!
Welcome to the Realm of Serpents (RoS), an ARPG (art roleplaying group) and RP group hybrid set in an original fantasy universe inhabited by both human and sapient dragon civilizations. RoS focuses on storytelling and character interactions foremost, with events focused on societal change and the evolving world the group is set in.
The group is run primarily on Discord, with some sections using DA for submissions, and hosts all group information on its weebly site.
The group is run primarily on Discord, with some sections using DA for submissions, and hosts all group information on its weebly site.
Before we talk about what the setting and lore of RoS is like, read over the group rules here. Join the group discord here.
In order to join the group, we require you to:
Basic things you should know when you join:
In order to join the group, we require you to:
- Have a DeviantArt account. You do not need to post on it or use it for anything other than group stuff, but we do require it for our spreadsheets and crediting you for your character’s bio/art/design, etc.
- Have a Discord account. Character approval, RP, and quests are done on discord, and we currently don’t have any alternative locations to do these interactions.
- You are welcome (and encouraged) to join our discord before making a character! You'll need to submit them for approval here anyway, and joining early means you can discuss your ideas and ask questions related to it so that you can avoid any confusion.
Basic things you should know when you join:
- You can unlock special traits for your characters and extra character slots by earning Bits and redeeming them at the Bits Store.
- Bits are earned by drawing or writing about approved character/NPCs. You can find those in this gallery.
The World of RoS
RoS has a lot of lore, and it can be very overwhelming when you’re just getting started in the group. We recommend that you take your time reading things over; we’ve got a summary of each dragon/human culture and magic type below. Pick one or two that interest you most and start there!
The main lore pages are:
There are brief blurbs on the human cultures, dragon cultures, and types of magic in RoS below, as well as links for where to read more. Once you’ve read over some of the lore, you can get started on making your first characters!
The main lore pages are:
- Dragons
- Humans
- Geography
- Magic (a guide to the various types of magic in the Realm)
- Bestiary (an overview of all the fictional critters that exist in the Realm)
- Mythology (an overview of gods/goddesses and spirituality throughout the Realm’s peoples)
There are brief blurbs on the human cultures, dragon cultures, and types of magic in RoS below, as well as links for where to read more. Once you’ve read over some of the lore, you can get started on making your first characters!
Human nations:
There are seven different human nations in RoS, each with their own unique history and culture. Read about them below!
Dutoria
Hovell
A man from Hovell. Art by J-Haskell.
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Hovell is a nation of warlords in the desert and savannah of the Realm's eastern continent, Cyr. They used to raid other countries, but after Dutoria beat them in a war a few year ago, have become far less prolific in their raiding.
They keep large, feline creatures called manticores as pets and companions, and worship multiple gods associated with different times of day. |
Ironbrook
A person from Ironbrook. Art by J-Haskell.
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Ironbrook is a high-tech nation with 1800s-1920s level advancements and a strong focus on magical studies, located in the far north of the Realm's eastern continent (Cyr). They're also incredibly sketchy and ruled by a six-hundred-year-old dictator, the Augury.
A government organization known as the Talons serves as the public and secret police in Ironbrook. |
Land of rivers
A man from the Land of Rivers. Art by J-Haskell.
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The Land of Rivers is a country located on a river delta in the Realm's western continent, Theavia, inhabited both by the riverlander humans and the moonviper dragons. They live in mixed human-dragon families and highly value pacifism. Which, seeing as they live right beside a nation of dragonslayers, Xocrium, that hasn't been going very well for them.
A new faction has emerged, the Southern League, to try to fight back and protect the nation from Xocrian raids. They have created an organization known as the Serpents to do so. |
Meros
A Merosian woman. Art by Glowing-Loudly.
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Meros is a country located on a large peninsula in the north-east of the Realm's western continent, Theavia. It is the Realm's wealthiest nation and famed for their sailing skills and strong merchant culture.
They are a federation of nine city-states, each ruled by an elected Prince or Princess, and governed by an elected queen. |
Padwell
A person from Padwell. Art by J-Haskell.
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Padwell is a nation that lives in tropical and non-tropical marshes of the Realm's western continent, Theavia, and highly values friends and family. They have a secondary culture of griffon riders who live in the eastern mountains. In the marshes they worship a god called the Marsh King, and in the highlands they worship a goddess called the Mountain Queen.
They were once conquered by their western neighbour, Xocrium, but fought a war of independence in the past few decades and successfully reestablished themselves as their own power. An organization known as the Redwings was established during their revolution and serves to combat attempts by Xocrium to retake them, as well as provides public service to Padwell's people. |
Xocrium
A woman from Xocrium. Art by J-Haskell.
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A nation of knights and nobility in the south of the Realm's western continent, Theavia. Xocrium is a culture with a strong focus on honour and military service, and worships a god of fire and rebirth known as the Phoenix.
A secretive order in service to the current king, known as the Division, serves to keep the peace in Xocrium and suppress and political dissent and deal with enemies to the crown. |
Dragon Nations
There are nine different types of dragons in RoS, each with their own unique history and culture. Read about them below!
Darklings
A darkling. Art by J-Haskell.
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Darklings are bat-like dragons who live in the underground caverns of the Realm's western continent, Theavia.
They recently got a new queen and while most are satisfied, not everyone in their underground kingdom is happy about that. Some individuals, known as 'Voidseers', are able to receive visions of coming events from their goddess, She Who Is Nothing, although it takes a great toll on their health. |
fireworms
A fireworm. Art by MetaphysicalMonsters.
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Fireworms are wyverns who live on a tropical, volcanic island between the two continents. They live in familial Clans and highly value minstrels, which serve as both singers and highly influential figures in their society. They really like spicy food and eat hot peppers by the mouthful.
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moonvipers
A moonviper. Art by MetaphysicalMonsters.
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The moonvipers make their home in the Land of Rivers, a country in the Realm's western continent, Theavia. They live in mixed human-dragon families and highly value pacifism. Which, seeing as they live right beside a nation of dragonslayers, Xocrium, that hasn't been going very well for them.
A new faction has emerged, the Southern League, to try to fight back and protect the nation from Xocrian raids. They have created an organization known as the Serpents to do so. |
shipwreckers
A southern shipwrecker. Art by J-Haskell.
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The shipwreckers are a species of cetacian-like dragons divided into two regions; north, in the frigid Moonglow Sea, and south, in the Whaletooth Archipelago.
Southerners are more numerous, with a sleeker build and the ability to fly, and infamous for their piracy. They have a lax government with extremely few laws, and the only group that keeps even a semblance of order in their lands are the Sirens, a secretive faction. The northerners are less numerous, living in small iceberg villages scattered throughout the sea, and generally avoid travelling beyond their hunting grounds. |
springsingers
A springsinger. Art by MetaphysicalMonsters.
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The springsingers inhabit the tropical rainforest mountains of the Realm's eastern continent, Cyr. They live in small colonies and are capable of using their songs to influence the emotions of others.
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stormheralds
A stormherald. Art by J-Haskell.
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The stormheralds make their home in the deserts and craggy mountains of the Realm's eastern continent, Cyr. They have advanced technology similar to Ironbrook's, with trains and electric lights, and are ruled by powerful scientific Societies.
Due to poor working conditions, criminal factions thrive, and crimelords hold great power and influence in their politics. Some stormheralds live more traditional, nomadic lifestyles, although most of them dwell in cities. |
sundrakes
A sundrake. Art by J-Haskell
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The sundrakes dwell in the Tyr Kingdom in the Realm's western continent, Theavia, and live under the iron-fisted rule of their King, Tigerlilly Tyr. Their upper classes are wealthy and prosper, but much of their common folk live in terrible poverty and have little money to their names.
Half of their population lives in the Deep Provinces, underground cities and towns that never see the sunlight, and are a haven for crime and discontent. |
tidekeepers
A tidekeeper. Art by J-Haskell.
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Tidekeepers are manta-ray dragons with glowing markings who live in pods. Unlike any other species of dragon, they communicate solely through telepathy and can only make whale or dolphin-like vocalizations.
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windwyrms
A windwyrm. Art by J-Haskell.
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The windwyrms make their home in the far northern mountains of the Realm's eastern continent, Cyr. They have an extremely strict class system that favours their nobility and military above all else and are hostile to any and all outsiders. Birds and other avian creatures are viewed as sacred and not to be harmed or eaten, even if already dead.
Their society is essentially 'Toxic Masculinity the Musical' and dragons are valued on how they display their dominance and physical strength. They are ruled by a powerful monarch known as the Tempest, believed to be a living god, and their power is exercised by a ruthless and secretive order known as the Hawks (link to full information TBA). |
An overview of magic:
There are currently five different types of magic in RoS' setting; read about them below!
Runes
An example of a rune; this one refers to “north”.
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Runes are a bit like ‘magical coding’. You use specific combinations to get specific effects, like invisibility or a flaming weapon. Alongside Alchemy, it’s the most common sort of magic in the Realm, and practiced most often by Ironbrook and the Stormheralds.
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alchemy
A potion bottle. Art by J-Haskell.
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Alchemy is all about brewing potions - basically magical cooking! There are a wide number of potions that do everything from grant temporary fire resistance to allow trans people to transition through magical means. Alongside Runes, it’s the most common sort of magic in the Realm.
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familiars
A familiar shaped like a stylized sun. Art by J-Haskell. See full-sized image here.
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Familiars are ancient magical creatures of mysterious origins that can bond with humans to unlock elemental abilities. They are sentient and have minds of their own, but resemble living statues more than flesh and blood animals.
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harvest magic
Harvest Magic is all about helping plants grow strong and healthy. A Mage does small sacrifices to bless crops, increase its resistance to flood and drought, and heal any illnesses or blights the plants have picked up. Like Necromancy, it requires death to fuel it, but it is far more limited in scope.
necromancy
Harvest Magic and Necromancy are two sides of the same coin, and in reality, the only thing stopping a Harvest Mage from becoming a Necromancer is morality and the law.
Necromancy is considered dark and vile because it relies upon human/dragon sacrifice and many deaths. Most Harvest Mages have the potential to do Necromancy, but it’s considered extremely taboo, so very few go down this path. Necromancers are far more powerful; they can raise the dead, increase the magical prowess of Runes, restore youth, and many other things… with the right sacrifice, of course.
Necromancy is only legal in Ironbrook, Hovell, Stormherald territory, and in a limited manner, Dutoria.
Necromancy is considered dark and vile because it relies upon human/dragon sacrifice and many deaths. Most Harvest Mages have the potential to do Necromancy, but it’s considered extremely taboo, so very few go down this path. Necromancers are far more powerful; they can raise the dead, increase the magical prowess of Runes, restore youth, and many other things… with the right sacrifice, of course.
Necromancy is only legal in Ironbrook, Hovell, Stormherald territory, and in a limited manner, Dutoria.
magical mutations
An example of a character with a magical mutation (illusory fire scars). Art by J-Haskell.
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In the Realm, magical energies can have strange and unusual affects on both humans, dragons, and other animals. It can cause them to develop strange features, such as permanent illusions, extra eyes, wings and feathers, among a variety of other things.
Some examples of named mutations with history tied to them are:
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Making a Character
Please submit characters for review & approval in the #character-approval channel in RoS' discord server. During this phase of RoS' development, we're only taking 'Collector's Mode' characters, but don't worry - they can be transferred to Story Mode once it's set up! (If you don't know what the difference is, don't worry about it for now. Story Mode is still being developed.)
To get started on creating characters, I'd recommend checking out the following links:
To get started on creating characters, I'd recommend checking out the following links:
- Group Rules
- RoS Store
- Collector's Mode
- Official Bases
- Lore Website (you are here now)
Character Creation FAQ
What are "Character Slots" and how do I make my first character?
Character slots are basically the permission to create a character in RoS - when you join you automatically get three of these to use. They represent a default character - either a human without any mutations, or a standard dragon of one species (or with distant blood from another). If you'd like to create something with extra traits or magic, you need to earn those traits from the Bits Store.
Can I add traits from the Bits Store to my first character?
Absolutely! If you purchase one or more of these items, you can apply it to your first character.
Is there a minimum/maximum length requirement for character histories?
Nope, not really! However much you want to write and however much you need to get the point across and tell about your characters defining experiences is fine. And you can always add more in the future if needed. We like to have at least a few sentences about their childhood, early years, etc. If your character holds an opinion that's very opposite to the cultures they were raised in, try to address why in the history.
For example, a windwyrm that is extremely hostile towards the Tempest despite being raised in the kingdom and being exposed to propaganda that supports their divine status from a young age. There are plenty of reasons why someone might learn to dislike them or the aristocracy - your character just needs one.
For example, a windwyrm that is extremely hostile towards the Tempest despite being raised in the kingdom and being exposed to propaganda that supports their divine status from a young age. There are plenty of reasons why someone might learn to dislike them or the aristocracy - your character just needs one.
Can I write my character's history in point form?
Yeah! That's not ideal, of course, but if that's how you prefer to work or if you're not in the mood for writing it out in a different way, feel free to use point form. You can always come back in the future and turn it into full sentences.
I have a question about lore/character creation! Where does it go?
Our discord server's #questions channel is the best place to go if you've got any questions on lore or about character concepts. We do have a (partially completed) log of previously asked questions here as well.
Character Requirements
- Characters must have some form of a visual reference. The minimum requirements for this is a coloured fullbody; this can be drawn traditionally or digitally, or you may use one of the official bases.
- Please include this as a stash file or image attachment so we can download it.
- You may commission reference art from other artists, but please get their permission for it to be uploaded here.
- You can create a full reference sheet for your character if you want, or update it with a larger image in the future, of course!
- Make sure that you either scan/take a decent photo of your traditional art, please!
- You must fill a Bio Template and include it with your reply. Either have it as a sta.sh or a google docs file.
- Make sure that you don't have anything included in your character's information that is directly contrary to RoS' lore!
- For example; mentioning the presence cars outside of Ironbrook, or the existence of magical people capable of shapeshifting.
- To avoid this, read over their dragon species/human nation's lore carefully. If you have any questions, please make use of the channel in our discord server; our admins are always happy to talk about lore and discuss your ideas with you!
- Make sure that you have any items from the RoS Store that you need already purchased.
- Once your character has been approved, it will be uploaded to the Lady-of-the-Spire account for safekeeping.
- Make sure your character isn't all-powerful! It's fine for them to have special abilities, like those you can purchase from the Store, or have skills, but keep them to things that are a) consistent to RoS' lore and b) try to leave them with room to grow.
Character Bio Template Breakdown
Click the button below for a full breakdown of every section of the bio template!
Examples for filled-out templates:
Examples for filled-out templates:
- Human: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iXYwJlrTh6XH7z3UUzQg2SK-DbFUa0W0WWGjHb-FCQU/edit?usp=sharing
- Dragon: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11y1lHnJ5AyFCs939Bpjx4uqP-oaG9y0LK3y3bxaQ3EI/edit?usp=sharing
- Familiar: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aN43E72wowqbjhfdg3umlLxVTaOq_W4i_eFKstxvi0s/edit?usp=sharing
Character Submission Form
Use this form in the discord server to submit a character for review & approval:
**Character name**:
**Species**
**Link to art**:
**Link to bio**:
**Relevant store items**: (list anything you've bought that the character's using)
Example:
Character name: Terho Ahuiliztli
Species: Human (Padwellan)
Link to art: https://sta.sh/025yiyf8rox6
Link to bio: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pIuFt-Pxz0Fe4D1I6rJ8vKEX1d1b8DN5w9r7YsR2MX0/edit?usp=sharing
Relevant store items: x1 Unusual Colouration (partial heterochromia)
**Character name**:
**Species**
**Link to art**:
**Link to bio**:
**Relevant store items**: (list anything you've bought that the character's using)
Example:
Character name: Terho Ahuiliztli
Species: Human (Padwellan)
Link to art: https://sta.sh/025yiyf8rox6
Link to bio: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pIuFt-Pxz0Fe4D1I6rJ8vKEX1d1b8DN5w9r7YsR2MX0/edit?usp=sharing
Relevant store items: x1 Unusual Colouration (partial heterochromia)