NPC - Svelor of the Golden Shield

Svelor of the Golden Shield

The Empire of the Winged Serpent is old; older than humankind. It has never truly fallen but the ages of its might have passed. Its wars against the Elder Things that fell from the stars, the Children of the Sea, the Iron Beasts and the Ageless Dark are legends even among the deathless rulers who slither among the great halls and chambers of its half-ruined temples and palaces. But too many of the true race have fallen, too few purebloods (called Abominations but outsiders) are born and the time of madness and breeding rarely happens among the race of snakemen who pulled themselves from the primordial swamps of eons long forgotten. Now the Empire is populated by half-breeds and near-humanoids in great number.

Svelor is the champion of his race. He bears the Golden Shield of the protector, a potent item of science and magic that warps those who would strike at him till their very strength twists them into parodies of himself, the Snakemen's Bastards (Half-breeds and the Near) who serve the bearer of the shield even against their own kindred he should choose. His Sword is also golden, a strong curving blade, enchanted to sever arms or heads at swing, but still weighing so much that no normal human could hope to swing it. His crown is his armor, enchanted, offering his body more protection than any mundane suit of plate. Svelor moves with a grace and suppleness that belie his massive size. He towers on his belly half again as high as a man. On his shoulders are the Graces of the Sun; spiked and padded on the golden metal that rested on the skin of the first emperor. They give him strength and heal his flesh so that wearing them, Svelor can never truly die.

The capital of the Empire is much further south than the recently discovered Forbidden City and many are the outposts, dwelling places and other ruins of the ancient empire that will be encountered before reaching the Palace of the Sun, Mirrador where Svelor dwells and the last vestage of the might of the Yuan Ti resides.