Weresnakes

Weresnakes: Were-snakes are reptilian shapeshifters. Alphas are almost always female and it is rare to find a male alpha, but it has happened. When those rarities do hapen, they are highly prized as potential sires of children, for it helps to assure that the offspring will be alphas as well. Their origins may hail back to the ancient Minoans with their snake goddess and sensual culture. Their Leaders are called Archons, and can be either male or female though they are normally female, other female alphas are Basilissa or Basilissas if plural, while Betas are Defteros and Omegas are Diarkos and they refer to themselves as a group of Ophidians. Male Alphas are called Basilias or Basilios (pl) and the head of a family is the Matriarch. Their culture is a meritocracy with Matriarchal overtones. Children are birthed and then raised in a creche and they do not form permanent attachments or take mates the way other groups do. As snakes they mate seasonally, sometimes in groups. While the children are raised in a créche, their mothers often do take an interest in them, and bloodlines are carefully written down and tracked to prevent to much interbreeding. They are considered adult at the age of 16 and at that time are welcome to participate in 'family' gatherings and such things. As humans they treat sex casually, as just another recreation. Their ideas of sexuality and is what is acceptable have more to do with eastern and archaic thought than modern 'western' morality. Collectively a group is called a nest... Because this is a meritocracy, the Ophidian who is most able and capable of making decisions for the Nest is the Archon. The Archon may be male though it is most often female and the archon may be replaced by the will of the Nest as a whole or by age or if they choose to step down for a successor who they feel is more capable. The position is also not hereditary and when an Archon steps down, they frequently remain as an advisor for several years to the new Archon to help smooth over the shift in power and leadership. The Nest lives in a large compound outside of town and their children are home schooled in the créches. That is not to say that they do not also have houses in town or rent apartments for they often do, just that their main home is the compound