Kuul'tevir

The Kuul'tevir were an ancient lizardfolk society that prospered in Gwessar before the Calamity.

Location

The Kuul'tevir originated in the K'Tawl Swamp, where the first lizardfolk were created, but spread to form numerous societies across the continent, building magnificent domains with tall spires and magical waterfalls.

By 836 PD small communities of their descendants can still be found across Tal'Dorei, particularly in hot and humid regions.

Society

Demographics

The Kuul'tevir were lizardfolk, originally filled with the magical poise and power they now lack. Some theorize that the serpentfolk from Visa Isle were related to them, but it is unclear if both societies had active contact with each other.

Culture and religion

In their beginnings, the Kuul'tevir were a rapidly advancing society that, although they never reached the level of floating cities, created domains of magical splendor comparable, it is said, to that of elven cities. The lizardfolk of this society, however, became too accustomed to such a level of grandeur, and ended up corrupting it in their desperation to maintain it, by turning to demons and evil gods.

To this day, some descendants cling to their former prestige, and aspire to conquer Tal'Dorei with the help of whatever dark forces are available to them.

History

During the Age of Arcanum, after the mages of a now forgotten flying city created the first lizardfolk with their magic, they abandoned most of them in the K'Tawl Swamp. These lizardfolk used their new intellect and hands to create tools and started advancing as a society, choosing to call themselves Kuul'tevir, noble masters of the earth and water.

These supernaturally majestic lizardfolk created beautiful homes for themselves, and for a time they prospered. However, when the Calamity arrived, they realized their way of life was threatened, so they resorted to dangerous forces, such as demon lords and Betrayer Gods, to maintain their glory. While this bought them time, the dark influences of their new benefactors caused strife and conflict among the Kuul'tevir rulers (which included, according to a semi-canonical source, a god-empress), who were eventually overthrown and replaced by petty warlocks who ended up ruining their societies. The lizardfolk themselves, as a race, were harmed by the dark magic destroying their society, since it weakened the supernatural boons they had received from the ancient mages that created them.

After many centuries there are still Kuul'tevir in Tal'Dorei, but they're now common lizardfolk, living normal lives. A few of them, obsessed with their past (and almost mythic) glory, were willing to seek allies that would grant them power and influence (such as spirit nagas and fiends), and warlocks like the ones that ruined their glorious domains can still be found among them; some even worked for the Cinder King during the Chroma Crisis between 810 and 811 PD, but their conquering dreams were crushed along with the dragons'. By 836 PD there are still many lizardfolk clinging to the memory of the Kuul'tevir.

Behind the scenes

In the original Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, lizardfolk in Exandria had their origins in the time of the Founding, and they were described as more dragon-like and warm-blooded before developing scales and colder blood, with the Kuul'tevir themselves having protective powers granted by the gods, being the "paragon of warrior-priests", and being called "noble masters of the earth and sky". In the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, however, their origins were adapted, with the lizardfolk being created in the Age of Arcanum, and the Kuul'tevir being called "noble masters of the earth and water" instead, although maintaining the same type of decline during the Calamity.

Trivia

Kuul'tevir warriors, by WizKids.

• Given that the Draconic language is commonly used by lizardfolk and it was a popular language during the Age of Arcanum, it's very likely that Kuul'tevir comes from that language.
• While not explicitly confirmed, there are still lizardfolk in Tal'Dorei calling themselves "Kuul'tevir", and Javelineer and Assassin minis from WizKids are available.
• Although some of the original sentient lizardfolk were taken by the mages that created them, it is unknown if they lived long enough to know about the Kuul'tevir.
• It is likely that Sess'inek, a reptilian demon lord of the Abyss, was among the entities that helped maintain the Kuul'tevir and their society for a time before it inevitably collapsed. In a similar way, it is possible that the Cloaked Serpent was among the evil gods that helped this culture, although this particular Betrayer God tends to favor serpentfolk, not only scaled humanoids.

References

Art: