*Army Fluff Section*
Dark clouds ascend above a ruined city, wind creeps through the crumbling buildings while it speaks whispers to any who would listen. Lightning flashes above with thunder crashing soon after, four skyward reaching pillars are shown for a moment before disappearing into the dark once more. Red eyes from the black look up, lightning again illuminating the sky, nothing but clouds can be seen from below. High above however four godlike beings sit atop their pillar thrones meditating and gazing upwards at the stars above, all in separate directions.
From the heavens came a shooting star, the four hermit mage priests of Axlotol having their meditation of millennia broken stare at it. Over time they come to realize it is not one Shooting Star, but thousands, and soon dragonfly wings of star bright glory opened up to the heavens. Soon a large serpentine body unveiled itself showing bright orbs within the feathers of a tri split tail and star like scales down the length of the body. A large feathered serpent head with moons as eyes soon appeared from behind the wings. This was not Tepok they decided, this was another forgotten god, another feathered and winged serpent Old One, she of the stars and moon. The dark moon Morsleb strained a moment as if its corruption was halted, but then began corrupting moonlight all around it once more. All around them stars fell igniting the long burned out torches and braziers of the long abandoned temple city. Skaven eyes shown in the darkness below.
Below sit many spawning pools, all of which had last been used over a thousand years ago sat quiet, large fish and other animals move about the the swamp grass and cattails growing from them. Slowly something different began to take place, steam began to rise from the most central spawning pool. Fish begin jumping out of the water trying to find relief, the lucky few jumping into neighbouring spawning pools. Soon boiling with the heat of a volcano the pool turns a dark black, and then a bright red to a purple and finally to a moon silver. It was then that the first Mage Priest took his gaze off the stars and peered down, and at that moment a gargled scream let out...which was then followed by the chittering of skaven...and then silence.
All aroused from their meditation all four mage priests descend from their pillars through the storm clouds and mist, their protective barriers burning bright as the storm crashes against it. As they get closer to the ground all they see are dead skaven and serpents everywhere, though serpents there had not seen before. Attributing it to Sotek the Mage Priests evoke his name and soon after come across a single skink, his markings unique but not entirely visable, all they can make out is the black of his scales with what looks to be rays of light on his side and a tail split not twice but three times. Naming him Xolek-Zi, the slanns determine him to be a Oracle of Sotek...though his coloring and tail strange. Disappearing into the jungle the mage priests let him go, foreseeing they would see him again.
Finally the large serpent let out a call, the force of a sun exploding let out, all the mage priests staring in awe. Lunging forward more stars fell down from her wings upon those skaven left below, the stars turning into glistening serpents on the descent. Moments later Pure and Tainted Moonlight shown the shadows of The Great Horned Rat and The Giant Serpent locked in combat amongst the moons above.
One Mage Priest pulling out a thought to be lost plaque begins to read it slowly until finally muttering a single sentence...
"Metzlitlaco has come"
In time the Skaven and Lustrias foes will fear a new serpent, her wrath blinding in speed. The Old One of Axlotol, the Ancient Serpent of the Moon and Stars battles Morsleb and The Great Horned rat. Fighting to purify and remove the taint of Morsleb she wishes to bring back natural harmony to the winds of magic and to the planet
Metzlitlaco is the last of three Mighty Serpent gods and also shares the Heavens with Yuxa. Metzlitlaco is the sister of the Serpent Gods Tepok and Sotek, the bridge between Magical Prowess and Physical Strength. Often fighting the Great Horned rat in the shadows, her light never fades as it guides those who follow her.
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Spawns of Metzlitlaco - Sitlunār Kōatl: Often referred to as Moon or Star Serpents, these dragon like serpents have large celestial looking dragonfly wings. The Scales of these serpents are hard as diamond that resemble glass feathers that were hardened under immense heat. When threatened these clever creatures are able to heat up and illuminate their wings so bright that it blinds and burns all those around. If this is not enough a large horn is on the forehead able to puncture most foes with ease. For larger more dangerous threats it is said in desperate times the Moon Serpents can affect the weather, creating thick mists and creating lightning strikes.
A favored hunting tactic of the moon serpent is to dive from above its prey screeching deafening sound waves, disorienting those below. After diving down and sinking its fangs into its quarry the moon serpent coils around and crushes its victim. Fairly large they are Apex Predators, able to stalk almost anything that moves in the Lustrian Jungles and mountains.
Ancient writings point to ruins along the spine of sotek as nesting grounds for these territorial creatures. If the mating season or after laying eggs, any intruders are met with deadly consequences. Sites specifically mentioned are
The Ruined Temple of Chiquibol, The Sky Finger, Kaiax (The lost City) and Sky Watch Peaks.
Lizardmen Spawns:
Normal Spawnings: As with the many rays of light from the moon and stars above, so too are the colors and patterns of those lizardmen blessed by Metzlitlaco. The spawning of Saurus, Skink and Kroxigor usually only happens at the height of the full moon and on cloudless nights. Only in dire times do spawning’s happen outside of these conditions, sometimes with ill effect causing added savagery and more primordial behaviors. When charging into battle the many colors of the cohort disorient the enemy as they are not able to focus on a uniform enemy. With great speed the warriors of the Moon and Star Serpent wage a relentless war against the dark moon and its followers. All spawns of this Old One have Orbs at the end of their tails that shine like the moon.
Blessed Spawnings: Single Spawnings of great Leaders are distinguished by scales of obsidian black in combination with unique markings or patterns in moon silver or other colors. Prophets will often carve markings of important symbols into their own flesh while using warpaint to highlight them after they have healed.
Unique Traits: Spawned from Star and Moon light has allowed the spawnings of Metzlitlaco’s follwers Scales to shine bright as the stars above while also heating up, causing them to smolder. Older more powerful Saurus and Skinks are able to control the weather via the moon orbs on their tails that offer them innate magical affinity, though the Saurus are not able to harness the other lores of magic. Being born of the night also allows them better tracking and movement during the night time, but during the day they are sluggish and simple minded, save the eldest of their spawnings. At night the moon removes all corruption and its ill effects from her children, allowing them to stay ever vigiliant against Morsleb and her corrupted.
Unique Armor: Wearing Moonstones as braclets, large neckleces and tail adornments, as the moon stones radiate moon energy through the Saurus and Kroxigors bodies it hardens their scales and makes the warrior stronger. Priests all the way up to the Great Slann use these to heighten their magical abilities allowing them to last longer in battle or unlocking a higher level of intellect while studying plagues. Moonstones shine brightest when corruption is around, adding to the blinding light of scales.
Those spawned for greatness are adorned with Silver Armor, necklaces and other jewelry. Although gold is still highly sought after and worn. Silver represents the Moon and therefore their Old One, they are one of the few Lizardmen Temple Cities to prioritize Silver over Gold.
let's grow and have fun together this year!
