Before the Anthro Apocalypse, the area would have been known as the Northern half of Mississippi, near the aptly-name Mississippi River. Once, it had belonged to an Alligator Tribe that had managed to venture North from the Southern Coastline, though for the past three decades it had been held by a Snake Tribe, which had held it to this day.
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One notable advantage held by these reptilian species was their general lack of internal temperature regulation, and even though larger and the Virus having altered their physiology were still Mesothermic versus the Endothermic Predator and Prey Species. The key point being that for a given size and level of activity, the Mesothermic Reptiles required less energy and nutrient, in turn meaning that for a given number, fewer Prey was needed to sustain them. Almost certainly one reason why they could form such communities with greater ease than their Endothermic counterparts. And on the extremely rare occasion when a Mammalian Predator lived in the same place as a Reptilian one, the latter would greatly outnumber the former.
Though they had their own unique limits. While not requiring as much to feed themselves, they were restricted in where they could permanently reside. Too far to the North and South and the temperature simply fell too low to allow them to live in the area, even with buildings and wrappings to keep out the cold. Which allowed the Mammalian Predators to make these colder reaches their own, while the reptiles kept closer to the equatorial regions.
The oceans were the domain of the Aquatic Species. Small ships attempting to cross being a prime target for the Sharks and Orcas who lived beneath its waves, larger ones having enough defence to withstand them. Flight not being an option since no species left alive was small enough to have the Lift needed to keep in the air for any appreciable time.
About the only unaffected species were insects, worms, arachnids. Those that lacked lungs and relied on spiracles to oxygenate their cells never able to grow past a given size. Fish (and other smaller aquatic species) being another unaffected group.
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The holdings of the Snake Tribe began at the outer rim, triple-fencing and watchtowers marking the perimeter of their hold. Beyond it lay some of the farmlands the Prey Species kept by them - and never there without sufficient accompaniment by their Serpentine Rulers - with the rest set within. Further in and the first dedicated buildings featured. These were simple wooden constructions mounted off the ground forming a long arc, almost - though not quite - a ring, the dwelling and canteen for the Prey Species, almost entirely horses (labour and food) and chickens (food, mainly eggs). After another ring of farmland came the next two wide arcs, the lodgings, schools, medical facilities, storehouses, and smithies of the Snakes, outwardly similar to the Preys lodgings, though the differences were pronounced inside, a greater emphasis on comfort over functionality for one.
And in its centre, the single largest building of the entire Tribe. A massive three-floor complex which housed the Tribe’s Governor, and also served as the main meeting/strategy hall for the Snake Tribe. The top floor being the private residence of Governor Attor and his wife, Jeena, with its dedicated living room, bedroom and washroom for them. Other rooms for immediate family were one floor down, with the aforementioned Meeting/Strategy rooms, as well as the Dining and Kitchen rooms occupying the lower floors. It was in this Meeting Room that Attor occupied, alongside Jeena, and Ssith, the Captain of the Guard.
Governor Attor was dressed in a long robe, mainly dark purple-black with deep red patterns interwoven through the fabric. A wide green belt patterned in the form of scales with black outlining held it shut, from waist to top of gut. Black boots that came to the top of his shins covered his feet and lower legs (had they not been covered by the robe) and a separate black headdress, patterned with silver and red markings along its edge and top, resting on his shoulders and forming a cape behind him finished his attire. The scales that could be seen (on his head) being a tan colour with brown stripes and marks.
Jeena wore a simpler dark purple robe whose hood was a part of it, held to her waist with a matching-colour belt, her footwear being open heels whose straps wrapped around and up her legs. Her scales predominantly green and lacking patterns.
Captain Ssith’s Uniform comprised of fundoshi/leather hip-guard combo with tough boots and shin guards that rose over the knee. Similar forearm guards and breastplate finished with a long crimson-red cape finished his dress off. Mainly brown scales with tan on what would have been the underside for a normal snake, had such kinds existed anymore.
Right now the three were in a meeting concerning…