Serpent Scales

Serpent Scales (SS) is a reagent used on the worlds of Serpent Isle and Pagan.

Serpent Isle
Harvested from the skins of snakes, serpent scales were specially prepared by an unknown ritual process by the ancient Ophidians of Serpent Isle. While knowledge of this method vanished with the collapse of Ophidian culture, small caches of scales could still be found amidst the ruins of the once proud civilization, and could be employed in spells of Ophidian origin.

Curiously, scales which could be used as magical agents were often found in the possession of nagas – a serpentine race who could often be found amongst remote ruins and caverns.

Pagan
On Pagan, serpent scales used in magical incantations had to be corrupted by the corrosive venom of the serpent in question, and were used in thaumaturgical spells as a catalyst for inciting the destruction of bonds. Mythran would sell the Avatar this regent freely, although no evidence of serpents was encountered during the hero's exile on this dark world.

Lore




Trivia

 * Snakes feature in numerous occult and spiritual traditions throughout the world, and it is not improbable that many cultures have used snakeskin or scales for ritual purposes. In the modern magical practices of African diaspora religions, such as Voodoun and  Santeria, snake skin is used in curses and hexes, and sometimes in the creation of  hoodoo such as  goofer dust.