The Serpents
This page provides information on the Land of Rivers faction known as the Serpents.
IntroductionThe Serpents are an organization that originated in Attero and only recently spread into other parts of the Land of Rivers, following the success at the battle of Fallingstar in the winter of 503. They are a counterespionage group meant to combat the Division, sometimes the Talons, and to protect the Land of Rivers’ borders from hostile incursions and raids by Xocrian knights and soldiers.
Some also capture and bring dragonslayers and Division members to larger Land of Rivers cities to stand trial for their actions, although only those who were more prolific are given more serious consequences. The Serpents sometimes offer ‘deals’ with captured Division members and dragonslayers that aren’t ‘too far gone’ if they give some information in return and agree not to come back into the LoR again, although those who abuse this mercy and return again may not be given the same kindness twice. Those whose crimes are deemed unforgivable are imprisoned in Maiestas, in an Adeodatus-era fortress’ cells, although not treated cruelly. They also go on scouting missions and collect information on Xocrian arms, tactics, moments, and other useful intelligence that will assist in protecting the Land of Rivers. |
The Serpents are just over a decade older than Padwell’s Redwings, although only recently expanded their influence beyond the city of Attero. They were founded in 448 A.E.D by two siblings from Meros, Rylee Theo Iversen and Kam Myeong Iversen.
Theo and Myeong arrived in the city a few decades before starting the Serpents. The two insisted that they were from Meros, although those who met them personally have said that the pair had very noticeable Brookian accents. Whatever the truth of their origins, they were appalled by the lack of security in the city, and started up a small ‘neighbourhood watch’ group to do patrols and check for any illegal substances being smuggled into the port. At first, the citizenry of Attero was somewhat hostile to them but warmed up to them after they stopped a few robberies.
Myeong was highly skilled at fighting and incapacitating without killing, whereas her brother, Theo, was lighter on his feet and better at… quietly and permanently dealing with threats, although he only did so to Division agents on assassination missions or strange, bird-masked individuals that came creeping around. They passed on their skills to their fellows and eventually established the Serpents more officially in 448 A.E.D.
They became quite established by the mid 450s and attempted to spread their influence to other Land of Rivers cities, but were treated with hostility outside of Attero despite their best efforts. The Perigee especially wanted little to do with them. During Padwell’s rebellion, they worked with the growing organization known as the Redwings, collaborating with their agents and sharing information.
In 504 A.E.D, the battle of Fallingstar was won and things changed. With the establishment of the Southern League, the Serpents were finally given a chance to spread, and have been recruiting and training new members in the months following to prepare for the trials to come in keeping the League’s promise to protect the Land of Rivers from Xocrian knights and Division members.
The Redwings of Padwell have been assisting by lending some of their members, helping with supplies and training, as well as sharing intelligence once more.
Theo and Myeong arrived in the city a few decades before starting the Serpents. The two insisted that they were from Meros, although those who met them personally have said that the pair had very noticeable Brookian accents. Whatever the truth of their origins, they were appalled by the lack of security in the city, and started up a small ‘neighbourhood watch’ group to do patrols and check for any illegal substances being smuggled into the port. At first, the citizenry of Attero was somewhat hostile to them but warmed up to them after they stopped a few robberies.
Myeong was highly skilled at fighting and incapacitating without killing, whereas her brother, Theo, was lighter on his feet and better at… quietly and permanently dealing with threats, although he only did so to Division agents on assassination missions or strange, bird-masked individuals that came creeping around. They passed on their skills to their fellows and eventually established the Serpents more officially in 448 A.E.D.
They became quite established by the mid 450s and attempted to spread their influence to other Land of Rivers cities, but were treated with hostility outside of Attero despite their best efforts. The Perigee especially wanted little to do with them. During Padwell’s rebellion, they worked with the growing organization known as the Redwings, collaborating with their agents and sharing information.
In 504 A.E.D, the battle of Fallingstar was won and things changed. With the establishment of the Southern League, the Serpents were finally given a chance to spread, and have been recruiting and training new members in the months following to prepare for the trials to come in keeping the League’s promise to protect the Land of Rivers from Xocrian knights and Division members.
The Redwings of Padwell have been assisting by lending some of their members, helping with supplies and training, as well as sharing intelligence once more.
Joining the Serpents is fairly easy, at least at the current time. They’re eager to grow their ranks and prepare to guard against the coming summer dragon hunts. One simply needs to walk up to an existing (public) member and ask to join; they’ll refer you to the local Serpents ‘office’ and the staff there will do a quick assessment of the individual’s history and abilities. Provided they possess at least some useful skill or at the very least a willingness to learn, they’ll be accepted as a Shell and started on proper Serpents training.
Those who joined before the Battle of Fallingstar had to go through a more rigorous set of exams and training before joining, but as they’ve expanded so suddenly from Attero to the entire southern half of the Land of Rivers, they’re greatly in need of new recruits and far less picky about who they accept. (Although they will check against their records to ensure that said new members are not Division or known dragonslayers. In the case of either, they’ll be interrogated and possibly allowed to remain if they appear genuine in their intentions to aid the Southern League.)
A third way to join is to be ‘lent’ from the Redwings to the Serpents; anyone who volunteers provided they have a decent amount of experience and their superiors are confident that they would be helpful, can be sent north to the Land of Rivers. They would join as a Vinesnake and serve with a branch of the Serpents that match their skillset, acting as a comrade and advisor. This is largely considered a temporary measure rather than a permanent exchange of agents.
Those who joined before the Battle of Fallingstar had to go through a more rigorous set of exams and training before joining, but as they’ve expanded so suddenly from Attero to the entire southern half of the Land of Rivers, they’re greatly in need of new recruits and far less picky about who they accept. (Although they will check against their records to ensure that said new members are not Division or known dragonslayers. In the case of either, they’ll be interrogated and possibly allowed to remain if they appear genuine in their intentions to aid the Southern League.)
A third way to join is to be ‘lent’ from the Redwings to the Serpents; anyone who volunteers provided they have a decent amount of experience and their superiors are confident that they would be helpful, can be sent north to the Land of Rivers. They would join as a Vinesnake and serve with a branch of the Serpents that match their skillset, acting as a comrade and advisor. This is largely considered a temporary measure rather than a permanent exchange of agents.
There are nine different branches of the Serpents; seven distinct roles with their own functions and duties, one for trainees, and a final one for Redwings lent to the Southern League by Padwell’s government to help them get onto their feet.
Role |
Description |
Uniform |
---|---|---|
Shells
|
Serpents-in-training; those with insufficient skills or discipline to be moved on into a different role. Most of the Serpents ranks are recent recruits from after the battle of Fallingstar in January 504, transferred into the organization from the many border militias, vigilantes, and village guards.
Those in the Shells typically receive an assessment to determine if they’re already ready for more active duty (the extent of which varies depending on how skilled they are; some may be transferred into a semi-active role under the mentorship of Serpents from Attero or Redwing volunteers). If they’re found wanting, they’ll be given the rank of a Shell, and given combat training and specialized training for what role they’d like to take on when they become a full member. Right now, training is being done very quickly; as soon as someone is deemed not to be a liability in the field, they’re moved into an active position to continue learning under the guidance of a mentor. |
Shells wear a seashell embroidered onto blue-and-white clothing to signify their status. They’ll usually wear at least partial equipment and uniform of the role within the Serpents that they’re working towards joining.
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Snakes
|
Although being a Snake is a desk job, they’re an essential part of the Serpents and work entirely out of Attero. Only the most trusted individuals are accepted into their ranks, and they deal in information, reading reports from the Serpents (especially the Vipers) to build a more accurate picture of Xocrian tactics and leadership so that those in the field can be as informed as possible. They root out bad sources of information by comparing them with other, existing records. They also deal with managing supplies, recruiting, and paperwork. Essentially, the Snakes are the (often unappreciated) backbone of the organization.
They also arrange for trials for those captured on Land of Rivers territory and often have a strong knowledge of the code of law in the Land of Rivers. Essentially; the snakes are accountants, librarians, statisticians, lawyers, judges and other similar roles. Snakes dress in civilian clothing; whatever they feel is suitable to wear, although trending towards more formal dress. |
Snakes dress in civilian clothing; whatever they feel is suitable to wear, although trending towards more formal dress.
Every member of the Snakes receives alchemically-enhanced tattoos that, when viewed under a runic blacklight, contain a message decided on long ago by the Serpents’ founders. No one, outside of the Snakes themselves and those who mind the doors, know exactly what it says. |
Eels
|
The original branch of the Serpents; they served as law enforcement and ‘customs’ at the docks in Attero, and has spread to fill that role in other Southern League cities following the battle of Fallingstar.
They act as city security, marketplace and dock guards, and handle cases of smuggling, etc. They’re trained in combat but not actively soldiers; although of course, they will protect the city they’re stationed at if a raid reaches them. |
Eels wear light armour over blue-and-white clothing, just like most of the Serpents.
They’ll usually carry weapons, handcuffs, and other supplies depending on what they expect based on where they’re located; if in a city that’s a hotspot for summer raids, they’ll have heavier weaponry and equipment. |
Kraits
|
The Kraits are Serpents members specifically trained in fighting on (and under) the waves. Their main duty is to repel Xocrian ships from entering the Serpent delta or raiding coastal towns like Vincit, Maiestas, and Attero. They usually give one warning to the approaching vessel before trying more aggressively to send them sailing away.
Primarily made up of moonvipers (who can hold their breath for up to an hour), aquatic dragons, and humans with a sailing background or mutations that make them uniquely suited to the role. |
Kraits wear white-and-blue gear (the colours of the Southern League) and usually have false serpents embroidered on their armour. They use spears, air-activated potions, fireworks, and other equipment.
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Basilisks
|
The heavy-duty fighters of the Serpents, front-line soldiers trained to face Xocrian knights, dragonslayers, and Division members head-on. Basilisks are recruited from existing, experienced members of the old border militias, Serpents from Attero, Padwell’s army, those with notable skill as a soldier, and the Redwings.
They’re trained to travel quickly across great distances in response to the firework signals that the border patrols and scouts of the Southern League use to call for assistance. May also be assigned as guards in cities or in the Maiestas prison. |
Basilisks wear armour and carry weapons no matter what. They typically have basilisk motifs on their armour/clothing/jewelry or even tattooed onto their skin/scales, with blue and white fabric and tints to their equipment.
There aren’t many rules for what they can’t and can wear, so long as they’re distinguishable as Basilisks, it’s practical, and they don’t look like Xocrian soldiers or knights. |
Fangs
|
The Fangs are one of the smallest and most secretive of the Serpents’ ranks; their main duties are as assassins and get sent into encampments of enemy knights and soldiers to pick off their leaders and any key targets without causing a stir.
Fangs will also be called on to sneak into enemy camps to steal/destroy supplies and sabotage them. |
The Fangs’ ‘uniform’ is rather subtle; a memory-stone earring in the shape of a serpent winding through their ear. They usually dress in light armour or none at all; stealth is typically a priority.
|
Caduceus
|
The medical wing of the Serpents, serving in towns and cities at the border as well as working in the front lines with members of the Southern League’s army and other groupings of the Serpents. Their job is to keep their fellows alive and in good shape, and that can vary from providing medical attention to acting as a therapist and ensuring that soldiers and other Serpents have good mental health.
They are given at least basic training in self-defence so that they can protect themselves and their patients if they get caught in a dangerous situation. |
Depends on where they serve; in safer cities and towns wear everyday clothing marked with a caduceus in a highly visible spot. They wear blue-and-white, just like most of the Serpents.
Those working at the border wear light to heavy armour, depending on what they need and their preference, usually carry weapons, as well as being marked with a caduceus. |
Vipers
|
Vipers operate under a similar, if not greater, level of secrecy to the Fangs. Their job is to act as spies, infiltrating Xocrian camps, patrols, and cities to gather information on their movements, leadership, tactics, etc. They send their reports back to the secretive headquarters of the Serpents in Attero, where the Snakes deal with processing and understanding the greater whole of all the whisperings that the Vipers dig up.
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Vipers have no distinguishing markers that they wear, as it would be counterproductive for their missions; instead, they carry the same earring as the Fangs do, just tucked into a pocket.
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Vinesnakes
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Redwing agents lent to the Serpents to bolster their numbers as they begin to establish themselves in the Land of Rivers. They are to serve as advisors and share their training with their fellows, and often assist with helping the Shells get used to their new role.
Some examples for what branch each rank of the Redwings might work well with are as follows:
|
Wear their Redwing gear, with extra supplies provided by their superiors in the Serpents as needed. Usually wear at least one piece of clothing with the Southern League's colours (blue and white) on it.
|
Rank |
Count |
Duties |
---|---|---|
Overseer
|
One overall. Has a hand-picked group of Snakes and other Serpents members that serve as their personal staff.
|
The Overseer of the Serpents is the leader of the entire organization and works out of Attero to guide and direct the group’s actions. They directly oversee the Commander of each branch of the Serpents.
Their rank signifier is three full moons in silver. |
Commander
|
One per branch of the Serpents.
|
Every branch of the Serpents has a Commander. They help the Overseer with their duties as well as directly commanding their entire section of the organization.
Their rank signifier is two full moons in silver. |
Lieutenant
|
One to three per branch of the Serpents.
|
High-ranking officers in the Serpents who oversee multiple towns/cities/outposts. Their main job being ensuring communication flows smoothly, supplies end up where they need to be, issuing commands, handling reports from the Heads under their supervision, as well as various over administrative duties.
Their rank signifier is two full moons in silver. |
Head
|
One from each branch per town/city/outpost.
|
Oversee the Captains and the squads from their branch of the Serpents in a town/city/outpost. They issue commands and send reports to their Lieutenant, as well as ensure the safety and productivity of those who serve under them.
Their rank signifier is a silver crescent. |
Captain
|
One per squad of the Serpents.
|
Captains are put in direct command of a squad of five to thirteen other agents. They report to the Head of the nearest town/city/outpost to the area they are assigned and complete the missions they are given, as well as generally fulfilling the duties of their branch of the Serpents. They are responsible for the wellbeing and productivity of those immediately below them.
There aren’t many rules for what they can’t and can wear, so long as they’re distinguishable as Basilisks, it’s practical, and they don’t look like Xocrian soldiers or knights. |
Junior Captain
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One to three per squad of the Serpents.
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Jr. Captains assist their Captain in running their squad and ensuring that things run smoothly. If the Captain is killed, injured, or otherwise incapacitated, the Jr. Captain with the most seniority will take over in their stead.
Their rank signifier is two black crescents. Wear their squad emblem as well. |
Squad member
|
Four to ten on average per squad in the Serpents, not counting their Captain and Junior Captain.
|
Regular squad members. They follow the orders of their Captain and Jr. Captains, as well as the Head in the nearest town/city/outpost. Most Serpents are this rank.
Their rank signifier is a single black crescent. Wear their squad emblem as well |