Lamia

Race: Lamia

Category: Demi-Human / Demon

Lifespan: 500–650 years

Backstory:

Lamias are a demi-human race of serpentine women who reside primarily in the hot deserts of Solvarra, the northeastern continent of Aelyndra. Classified under both demon and demi-human, Lamias live on the surface world and have built thriving communities in arid climates. Some of their villages are cloaked from outsiders using magical enchantments, protecting their people from intrusion and also preventing certain humans from leaving.

Lamia society is exclusively female, and in order to reproduce, they rely on mating with human males. While they can choose males of other races, they prefer humans due to how easy they are to seduce.

Lamias possess three known forms:

Demi-Human Form: In this form, they resemble beautiful human women with only minor snake-like features, such as reptilian eyes, longer fingernails, or a forked tongue.
Hybrid Form: This form reveals their long, muscular snake tail, which extends from their lower spine. The tail can be used for mobility, offense, defense, or even intimate interaction. This technically isn’t a separate form, but more so the ability for them to hide or reveal their tail—similar to how Dragonoids can hide their wings and tails.
True Form: Rare and usually seen only in high-ranking Lamias, this is their fully natural state—a humanoid upper half combined with an enormous snake body. High-ranking Lamias may also possess poisonous fangs, the ability to inject paralytic venom at will, and varying levels of seductive ability that can act like hypnosis.

Lamia society is deeply rooted in pleasure and seduction. Historically, ancient writings claimed that Lamias used mind control to lure men to their villages. However, modern scholars now believe this was a misinterpretation. Instead, their seductive power stems from their natural beauty and their cultural emphasis on erotic dancing, which is used in both rituals and courtship. Their alluring dances are enough to cause even the most disciplined of adventurers to lose themselves.

Lamia villages have long practiced the tradition of “Communal Husbands.” When a human male is brought to a village, he is given the choice to spend the night with a Lamia and leave the next day, stay with one Lamia as her life mate, or become the communal husband, shared among the eligible females of the village who wish to bear children.

If the male chooses to stay and become a communal husband, a mass orgy is often held in celebration. Most men choose to remain permanently, enchanted by the Lamias’ beauty, emotional warmth, and unmatched sexual skill.

Some Lamias have gained near-Succubus-like abilities, absorbing life energy through prolonged sex. If they remain with one partner for years, their sexual energy becomes more potent, enhancing their strength and extending their lifespan. This bond slowly turns romantic and emotional over time. When a Lamia falls in love, she becomes extremely loyal and tends to every need—sexual and non-sexual—of her chosen mate.

One exception is Saphira, the Queen of Lyssera in Solvarra. She gains strength after every sexual session with one of her male citizens. To ensure their return, she uses a low-level form of hypnosis, planting a lingering desire in their minds. Her bed chambers are rumored to be the most pleasurable place in all of Solvarra, with some encounters lasting up to three days.

Intimacy & Relationships:

Lamias are a highly sensual race, and physical intimacy plays a central role in both courtship and emotional bonding. They are dominant lovers who enjoy being the "top" during sex, often using their tails and coils to restrain and pleasure their partner simultaneously. The average length of mating can last 6–10 hours, with high-ranking Lamias capable of continuing for nearly a full day.

Because Lamias feed on male life energy during sex, there is a potential risk of unintentionally harming their partners. Although death from energy loss is rare, their energy absorption isn’t as strong as a Succubus and will typically just leave their partner immobile and weak for a couple of hours. Many Lamias take extra care during intercourse—especially with human mates—to avoid overindulgence.

This energy-draining effect does not affect females, which is why many Lamias engage in “for-fun” relationships with other women. These relationships are emotionally fulfilling and extremely pleasurable.

In Lamia culture, cheating is seen as worse than death, and most would rather die than betray their mate. However, this obviously changes if—for any reason—their mate no longer loves them or becomes abusive. In cases of abuse, a Lamia will instantly kill her ex-mate and eat them whole. She will then begin her life anew, looking for a new mate to give her whole body and soul to.

Lamia reproduction is strictly tied to human males. When a Lamia mates with a human, the resulting child is always a female Lamia. These daughters inherit their mother’s serpentine traits and develop the ability to shift between the same three forms upon maturity.

Lamias can become pregnant multiple times throughout their lives, though they tend to space out births over decades. The role of motherhood is deeply honored in Lamia culture. Daughters are raised with great care and, once they are of mature age, are taught the arts of seduction, alchemy, belly dancing, and defense. Villages see these offspring as the continuation of their legacy and as symbols of strength and beauty.