Atl

The Atl are a bipedal, reptilian lizard-like people native to Varden.

Appearance

As reptilians, Atl are covered in scales. They have thin, elongated limbs and a tail to help them maintain balance. Their colors heavily vary depending on their native region. For example, desert dwelling Atl tend to be shades of brown while jungle dwelling Atl tend to be green in color. On average, Atl tend to be lighter in mass than humanoid mortals despite being much taller than average.

One of their most striking features are their feathered crests which run from the tops of their head right down through their backs and onto their tails. Male Atl tend to have more predominant, more colorful crests than females. Notably, Atl bones are hollow, potentially hinting that they may share a distance common ancestor with the Hegaska.

Instead of giving live birth, Atl lay eggs - typically in clutches of five or six at a time. Atl mothers are regarded as incredibly protective of them as Atl nesting sites are considered absolutely sacred. In native Atl society, a mother is legally allowed to kill anyone that trespasses in the vicinity of their eggs regardless of whomever that trespasser may be.

Societies

• Ko'atl - Said to be the oldest of the Atl tribes, the Ko'atl are situated around the Tletl Tepetl volcano.
• Xun'atl - Jungle dwelling Atl that live in the trees.

Language

Atl dialects vary heavily based on region and to outsiders, it is considered notoriously complex and intricate. Traditional Atl language lacks an alphabet or conventional grammatical syntax. They use glyphs and other symbols to communicate ideas alongside clicks, hisses and gestures to display their crests. However, most Atl that have had regular contact with other mortals have adopted Tradespeak out of convenience. Nonetheless, the most isolated of tribes tend to insist on only speaking their own native tongue.

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