Slithzerikai
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Slithzerikai (abbrev. Slith) is the name of a fictional lizard race in Avernum and Exile computer role-playing game series published by Spiderweb Software.
As reptiles, the Slithzerikai are cold-blooded creatures and therefore require warmth to grow active. In cold environments, they slow down greatly. They are distantly related to dragons.They are tall and have very high strength and toughness superior to that of humans and may even equal or surpass strength and toughness of ogres.
[edit] Brief summary of their role in the storyline of the game
Note: Due to a naming conflict between the Exile and the Avernum series, the name "Exile" is used below to indicate the geographical place, and the name "Avernum" to indicate the nation. In practice, the names are interchangeable.
The greatest part of the Slithzerikai population dwells far below the subterranean caverns known as Exile, in a land unreachable for humans which they call 'Bahssikava'. The Sliths who live in Exile itself were exiled from their homeland below in much the same way as the humans dwelling there were exiled from the surface above, though for different reasons. As legend goes, the Slithzerikai of Bahssikava were a highly civilized and cultivated race (who still lived in tribal societies, nonetheless). Fighting was rare and actual wars were a totally alien concept to them. From what records tell, they were a highly religious people who valued spirituality. They were also great artisans, and skilled in the making of stone statues which also played some role in their faith.
Then, some of the tribes rebelled, under the leadership of a cruel warlord named Ssss-Thoss. These became a war-like people, cruel and bloodthirsty. It is now believed that they also turned from the true Slith deities to worship demons. After causing great unrest in their home country of Bahssikava, the Slith people sentenced them to exile. Banished to the caverns far above their country, the Sliths continued to worship the darkness for the most part, and remained a cruel race, but some repented and began looking for ways to regain the right to live with their race again (these sliths now live in Gnass and worship a Mother Goddess).
Centuries later, when the humans discovered Exile and explored it in the famous First Expedition, the Slithzerikai were one of the menaces that decimated their explorers. When the exiled humans founded their subterranean nation of Avernum and started to call themselves 'Avernites', they had great troubles defending themselves against the Sliths at first, who still were united under the grandson of Ssss-Thoss, a Slith named Ssss-Thsss. Ssss-Thsss was later slain by adventurers at the request of a Slithzerikai Goddess and Avernum's King Micah, and most of the remaining Sliths made peace with the kingdom of Avernum.
[edit] Slith culture
Sliths are excellent smiths. In Avernum 4, they can be found in several smithies across Avernum, rather that just in important cities. Sliths favor pole weapons (spears, staves, etc.) in combat, and have a special variety of two-pronged spear that strikes fear into their enemies they are extreemly skilled fighters and are masters with pole weaponry,Their superhuman strength and toughness makes them deadly and powerful fighters,Slithzerikai are also talented in the ways of magic and make great mages-But it is commonly thought they make much better warriors. In Avernum and Avernum 2, the Sliths rarely leave their city of Gnass in the Great Cave.
[edit] Sliths as characters
From Avernum 2 onwards, users can make Slith characters. A Slith character receives a penalty for gaining experience, but has a bonus to pole weapons and a resistance to fire to offset this. Spiderweb Software actually recommends a Slith character, as the default group features one. In Avernum 3, certain characters are terrified of Sliths and will attack the player's group if it contains a Slith character.
