Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Couatl

The plumed serpents, most famously found on the continent of Maztika in the Forgotten Realms, but present across the many worlds of the Dungeons and Dragons Multiverse. These lawful celestial beings can be formidable, both as very resourceful allies, or meticulous and manipulative enemies for your tabletop roleplaying games.

[@cavareenvius7886]

Couatl sound like the perfect counter for a beholder. The dreams of a Beholder shape his body and surroundings right? A Couatl could manipulate his dream in a way to make him feel weak and tiny...

[@AJPickett]

@@citycrusher9308 Agreed, an excellent idea!

[@DyrgeAfterDark]

Thus a Gazer was born?

[@thedarkmaster4747]

Perfect! 👍

[@mr.incorporeal7642]

For those wondering about the Nahuatl "tl" sound, here's an attempt at describing it: Put your tongue in a position to make a "t" sound, then make a breathy plosive like you would for a "k" or "ch" sound, and without moving the tip of your tongue from the "t" position let the air softly puff out the sides of your tongue and around the tip. Just practice a bit and it's not too tough to figure out, it also helps to find recordings of native speakers (Nahuatl is a living language that some people in Mexico still speak). The channel NativLang has a great little video about the Nahuatl language called "What Montezuma's Aztec Sounded Like - and how we know". I find it's a fun language to lift from when you need "exotic" (as loaded a term as that is) sounding stuff in games as it's a lot more distinct than the European or Chinese/Japanese stuff you often hear used for games.

[@DCdabest]

Thanks for that recommend

[@richardcharles2321]

Ah. Like "tsu," only "tl"

[@kairos5382]

Mixcoatl - cloud serpent Cihuacoatl - earth goddess Quetzalcoatl - dawn lord

[@Kholan95]

And Mixcoatl's mother, Itzpapalotl "obsidian/flint clawed butterfly/moth" was fantastic. The split serpent headed Coatlicue "serpent skirt" was his consort and he fathered Quetzalcoatl with either Chimalman, the earth goddess, or Cihuacoatl "serpent woman."

[@rubyamateurtactician4354]

Reverts to its true form when killed... Imagine swatting a fly and suddenly there's a giant feathered serpent in your room.

[@adreabrooks11]

"Clad your person in the garments of geekdom!" Sir, your rhetoric makes my day, and I appreciate it as much as the information you convey.

[@Grim-hr6fl]

Man, making a storyline that involves Couatl is more difficult than I though. Your video is literally the most comprehensive information depot on KZbin. Thank you!

[@That80sGuy1972]

In my campaigns, I often have a "New World" or "Seven Cities of Gold" chapter. In that alien world on the other side of the ocean, I have my version of the Incan, Mayan and Aztecs. I used winged serpents and the Couatl there. It was decades later that I found a Maztica expansion for such adventures. My players mainly exchanged good for "cheap gold" but when they found that boring, they got "ambitious." Good areas usually had at least one Couatl protecting it... often as a pet snake wrapped around it's "owner's" neck (whispering in his/her ear) or as a local stray. For some reason, the gods of the New World seem to interfere in the party's mischief. What a mystery.

[@samuelteare8160]

Great breakdown of this creature's information.

[@robertwilson2516]

I wasn't sure what I could do with these but now I think I'll make a quartet of Couatls that came from the elemental plains to protect Desserin Valley from the Prince's of Elemental Evil and act as dream guides to the heroes in Prince's of the Apocalypse. Maybe include a series of quest's to purify the unique relics that the evil prophets use.

[@AJPickett]

Sounds like a perfect use for them

[@Rattus138]

4:30 appreciate the shadowrun 3e artwork for the plumed serpent, it was my first RPG book

[@kairos5382]

I've been waiting for this video and I finally got it thank you AJ

[@AJPickett]

You are most welcome Kairos :)

[@jaymevosburgh3660]

I have always been surprised at how often players & DM's alike over look the Sanctuary spell. A few ov my constant players that have gamed with me for 15+ years are more open-minded when casting or creating spells now. I tend to mix low level spells when cast by a powerful magic being, such as a sanctuary spell + resistance. Or Cure Light/Moderate + Remove Poison. I just assume that they are crafty enough to create & mix magic.

[@ThetrueDrnastyflaps]

Cracking video as always. You always get my mind ticking over with tons of fun ideas on how to use a creature beyond their base natures described in the 5e source books.

[@Christopher_Pug]

I think there could be a cool player race based on the Couatl. I'll have to dig around for a homebrew somewhere.

[@LokiSilverFlame]

I have a yuan-ti pureblood born with storm sorcery. When her abilities were discovered her House was going to kill her thinking the Feathered Serpent had gifted her powers. She ended up multiclassing as a celestial warlock after meeting and aiding a couatl.

[@beardedchampion479]

Never thought I would be creating an evil Freddy Krueger/Boogeyman Coatl for my players to encounter but here we are.

[@samwhary5498]

Your art for the couatl is fantastic. **ω**

[@Nildread]

Looks like the card art for kukulkan in smite

[@millerdiamond708]

there a bird in real life called the Couatl also Couatls are friendly creatures not evil ones dragon snakes are cool

[@sypandacat7236]

Keep it up AJ ! Love to see your great content as always!!

[@knightghaleon]

I've actually used Couatl's for Warlock Patrons. Once for a Yuan-ti that was visited by a Couatl and turned away from the night serpent. And one for a Dragonborn Cleric of the Couatl god with a blade pact warlock dip for Smites

[@Dissent1]

Coatl: KSSSSS Dragonborn and Yuan-ti: "She's a beautiful angel!"

[@draxthemsklonst]

@@Dissent1 Really though, exactly!

[@Kholan95]

You have a decent excuse as to not know how certain Nahuatl words are pronounced but so many people in the Americas also screw it up. Great video. Love Couatls.

[@AJPickett]

Has anyone ever considered spelling them Phonetically? If native english speakers can't say the word properly based on how it is written... it is written wrong. *hard stare at the French*

[@Kholan95]

@@AJPickett I have heard arguments for English spelling variation in that the spelling shows the lineage/heritage of the loanword(s) involved. With nahuatl, there has been some variation since the Spaniards started trying to Latinize the language but the more standardized version still has a lot of those latin/Spanish Caveats, but not all of them. Cihuatl is pronounced see-WALTH, where calli is pronounced call-LEE rather than the 'y' sound that two "ll's" usually make in Spanish.

[@High-LordHarza]

@@AJPickett Couatl being pronounced like it is in DnD Beyond is how it is pronounced in English. It's the anglicanized version of the word. Thor and Odin aren't originally pronounced like they are in english speaking countries either. It's all fine, as long as the point gets across.

[@uglyweirdo1389]

I've seen these summoned once by a cleric. Don't do drugs.

[@thedarkmaster4747]

XD that was epic.

[@draxthemsklonst]

Shaman: "it's not drugs, maaaan. It's entheogens, that happen to also be, technically, drugs!"

[@jgr7487]

"I leave this possibility safely in your hands" nothing is safe between the hands of the chaotic bunch that are your Acolytes!

[@Mr_Maiq_The_Liar]

Coatl can lie. I mean how could you find out they couldn’t? A coatl told you? Well so would a liar

[@purplehaze2358]

So, while in a campaign, my close friend's character discovered a ring that could not be pulled off, and made the wearer unable to talk in any other way than in song. That's decently comedic on it's own, but it was made better by the fact that my friend hates music.

[@jacopoarmini7889]

One thing I don't like of celestial and good aligned beings is their tendency to be "stereotypically" good and kind, sure, they can be dangerous, but most of the time they are a bit too sugary to be cool. In my opinion good does not mean nice, and I'd like to see more merciless and uncaring forces of good, whose goodness is limited by their cosmic nature. A "They are goodness incarnate, but are you sure you are good enough for them?" situation, so that the players will never feel safe, even when presented with benevolent beings.

[@zacharyhawley1693]

Far too many people think good is sugary and kind. But that would be wrong. Make no mistake. Evil might be edgy, sadistic and incredibly cruel. But when Good is roused you see wrath of god. Good can and absolutely will wipe cities and entire worlds that are too far gone. There's a reason why Evil has to divide, instill doubt, corrupt. If it didn't Evil would've been wiped long ago.

[@juansantos-lq2kz]

Nah. Sounds like a failure of imagination.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

There is a reason good and evil are subjective in real life. What is good to one would be vilest evil to another. A cosmic standard of good and evil forces simple cultural differences into conflicts of morality. Whole peoples are condemned because they are different from the proclaimed "truths" of the gods. I suspect this is why alignments have a complicated history in the hobby. People feel the dissonance between what was intended and what actually evolved out of them.

[@zacharyhawley1693]

@@jacobfreeman5444 well yes and no. If heavens gates opened suddenly. Or a universal standard of good was discovered it wouldn't be subjective anymore but a concrete truth.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

@@zacharyhawley1693 There is some truth to that, but even truth is subjective. The truth that must prevail for a person is the one that serves them. Of course being factually accurate is different but I digress. Even in D&D there are multiple gods, all of whom have different values and goals. Even if a singular god did come down from on high and definitively decide what is fair and foul...if what that god said did not serve humanities interests could we say that god was good? Truly, what is the difference between a powerful demon and a god if they both mean you harm? Even in D&D the difference is less clear then one may wish it to be. When whether one has been granted guardianship over an aspect of reality is the defining trait it becomes less about morality and more about raw strength. Might is right. Not a morality someone with compassion would espouse.

[@pikachufantastic]

Yay noodle dragon!

[@purplehaze2358]

I don't always use dinosaurs in my D&D games. But when I do, they have feathers.

[@AJPickett]

Well, the Raptors do, for sure.

[@purplehaze2358]

@@AJPickett Actually, feathers have been known to be possessed by every major group other than the sauropods.

[@purplehaze2358]

@@AJPickett Though I will admit, feathers likely were not on any large herbivores (such as the large ceratopsians and stegosaurids). There are also theropods with clear scale impressions (though they could have feathers in the same way elephants have fur)

[@jesklevethix2981]

I think this would make an interesting Celestial Warlock Patron I'm making a good aliened Lizardfolk and think that one of these might be perfect.. Maybe his Tribe was taken interest in by a group of them, and when the Lizardfolk learned they had been protected , they chose in the interest of continued protection for survival, to serve and learn from them.

[@BarkingMadHD]

I'm actually playing something very similar right now. I'd be happy to send you my backstory if you're interested

[@jesklevethix2981]

@@BarkingMadHD Thanks. It might help me come up with some Perspective. If you don't mind that is. Help me iron out some details hearing how someone else made it work.

[@BarkingMadHD]

@@jesklevethix2981 I won't get in too many gameplay mechanics because it's a little home brewed. I've actually got two patrons you see. I'll put it here.

[@BarkingMadHD]

Dreifus Greybane - Dragonborn Warlock Prologue Dreifus originates from the Wroclaw Clan in the northern mountain pass of Ylovni. Due to the hazardous terrain it must be traversed only by foot. The trees and foliage are sparse, only providing enough vegetation to sustain the hardiest of creatures. The Wroclaw are a incredibly rough people. They have carved out lives in the harshest of climates. In doing so, they’ve learnt to thrive through their hardships. Their territories span the entirety of the Ylovni Pass. The Wroclaw dictate laws through the means of ritual and self-sacrifice. The clan also employ martial law, because of this each and every member of society has a role to fulfil. Each and every man, woman and child have jobs to maintain the traditions of the clan. They worship a Celestial Dragon, a Cuoatl, called Grandovir. The Wroclaw believe themselves to be direct descendants of Grandovir. Little do they know that they are in fact watched over by Grandovir. It is decreed in the Wroclaw laws that no foreigners are forbidden from entering the lands. The punishment for trespassing is typically execution. All members of the Wroclaw are inscribed with an insignia or the celestial dragon on their neck. Early Years The Wroclaw had been plagued for the past 20 years before I was born. Demons were upon us. They had been a scourge to the people. A portal to the Abyssal plane had opened not too far from our clan. We had been constantly at war with them. Luckily our kind are resilient and strong, the clan held them at bay up. There were rumours of a demon lord sending it’s hoards to devour and slaughter the innocent. Dreifus was born in my clan's village in a mountainous area. He lived with my father, a sworn vanguard of the of the clan. At the age of 4, Dreifus and his father were sparring just outside the borders. A part of our fierce training regimine. They were ambushed by a cluster of demons, unfortunately for them it did not end well. Dreifus and his father had both perished. Upon his death, the Celestial Dragon, Grandovir, deemed Dreifus to young and full of potential to die. Grandovir used it's celestial power to resurrect the young Wroclaw. It was a spell like power that had linked their lives through the power of it's lifeforce. From this point on, if Dreifus am hurt, Grandovir too is hurt. Dreifus awoke an hour later, his father dead by his side. He had no clue how he was alive, except that his wounds had healed. Teenage Years Years had past and the young dragon had been forced to grow up quickly. Dreifus was now 12 years of age, not quite an adolescent. He had become quite skilled in the art of combat. Since the day of his resurrection, he had also developed powers foreign to him and his clan. Others began to grow suspicious of his growing power in the arcane arts. It was as if the young lad had untapped potential oozing out of his essence. Some however, felt that this had been a sign from their deity. The Wroclaw, including Dreifus, hadn’t known how true this was. One quiet autumnal evening, the snow had still been freshly laying. The depth of the seas of white had only risen to the measly three foot. The Wroclaw had an affinity for traversing the blankets of snow. Though they would still leave footprints, they would in fact glide across the whiteness at the same rate a typical adolescent would walk on solid dirt or grass. Dreifus and his companion had spotted a figure in the snow. They were no Dragonborn for they had struggled through the snow at a very slow rate. Dreifus was insistent on observing and engaging with the foreigner. His companion retreated to the clan to call for reinforcements. The power of the celestial had blessed him with the understating of common. He had seen from observing that the figure was in fact a wounded and a hooded human man. Humans weren’t uncommon in the area. You often found explorers looking to pass through Ylovni. Suddenly the man had collapsed. Dreifus hadn’t attempted to save the man and give him refuge out of the kindness of his heart. No. He had tasted power. He was curious. He wanted to have more. Perhaps this man would know of such power. Dreifus had foregone his principles. He would disobey the law of his people. Fortunately, he knew that there was a loophole in the code of the Wroclaw clan. Violence was forbidden within the walls of the clan. Dreifus was able to tend to the man’s wounds. However, the man would never be the same. That very evening, the Archon Drake, the Leader of the Wroclaw, deemed Dreifus unworthy to don the insignia of the clan. He had broken the laws He had sworn to uphold. He was to be shamed and Exiled. His tattoo of the celestial dragon had been burnt out. Or at least, there was an attempt. The scaly skin where his insignia was located was smouldering, however the mark had glowed a brilliant red. It was still there and would not falter. Dreifus realised that he wasn’t going to be around anymore. He would have to leave, but he wouldn’t be exiled in vain. He would make sure to take his prize. The young dragon scrambled to his feet, grabbed the man, and sneaked out of his childhood home. The man would have been killed as soon as he would have taken a step out anyway. Once they had escaped to a safe distance, Dreifus had explained to the man the situation. The man was so thankful for having his life saved twice. Dreifus had even become exiled for for his sake. Of course he was grateful. The man was revealed to be called Magnus the Exorcist. However, due to his great wounds, he could not perform his exorcisms. Instead he vowed to teach Dreifus the way of the common folk and that of the exorcist. Dreifus would once again have a purpose. He would also have his wish granted of more power. Power to avenge his Father, and to murder all of demon kind. Adult Years In his adult years, Dreifus had become an astute exorcist. The peculiar idea of a Dragonborn Exorcist gave him known far and wide. The business of exorcism wasn’t exactly common, but when something occured, people would know to turn to Dr Dre. Magnus was no longer Dreifus’ mentor. Magnus had left when he felt that the, now adult dragon, had everything he needed. He was only a burden to him. The apprentice had become the master. Now at the age of 30, he had seen his fair share of battles. Exorcising demons was his way of coping with his apparent bloodlust for dead demon kind. He had toyed with the idea of returning to the Wroclaw to purge the demon infestation. However, he still didn’t feel strong enough to eliminate the threat. The only empathy he felt his duty to the clan and the hatred toward the demons. Dreifus had been hired to cleanse a priest of demon corruption. The process was simple, he would summon the demon to the material plane through the effect of a spell. It would then in turn get imprisoned with a magic circle. A secret of the Exorcist order, it was a spell that would send the demon spawn into a pocket dimension. The demon in the priest had been thought to have followed the process. Something went wrong. Dreifus had no knowledge of this. Instead of being banished with imprisonment, the demon transferred it’s essence into Dreifus himself. The demon was in fact not a demon. It was a Arch Devil. In the attempt to take over the host, it hadn’t expected to encounter a being with celestial life force. This had imprisoned the Devil inside of Dreifus with only the ability to take over the dragon when his emotions faltered. Thus dawned a new warlock. Potential Storylines Avenge the father Challenge for the leadership of the Wroclaw Save the Wroclaw from the Portal to the Abyss Exorcism via letter Reunion with Magnus Demons escaping the Pocket Dimension Become an Arch Devil Meet Grandovir Develop a symbiotic relationship with patron Due to Couatl being able to shape shift, perhaps Grandovir is in fact Magnus and had been the one to truly drive me from my clan to gain more power and kill destroy the abyss portal. Thus inadvertently protecting my clan. Basically like Sasake from Naruto… omg haha

[@jesklevethix2981]

@@BarkingMadHD Wow, that is a lot, I have only more of a skeletal frame for my Character. Name: Isisvir Nasir He is a Lizardfolk who's tribe hail's from the Jungles. They inhabited an old temple that had long since been abandoned by it's creators and the surrounding lands. The Tribe was watched over by a family of Couati who had lived there. My Idea was that my Patron was both Teacher and Guardian. (Not sure why I wasn't cared for by my parents..) But the tribe would know about and respect their Celestial warlocks due to them having been told that someday one of their people who had mastered the power of the Couati. My Patron would have Recently sent me out into the greater world to learn about it. I've been trying to keep the idea that he's still very focused on Survival, and someone emotionally void, yet He wants to prove himself worthy to his Tribe's guardians. (So after a fight I'd have him hesitate at leaving the bodies.. but end up leaving them cause he knows that it would only cause later problems. As well as not telling a Known Lie for fear the Couati would stop teaching me. (one video on them I watched said that Couati wouldn't ie outright but deflect or omit details.) I know that's not much to go on but it's a starting point.

[@Daimon-X]

Interesting creatures, it's good that they are not typical & stereotypical beasts of destruction

[@archam777]

I thought Jazerian was still alive in the electrum Heaven on Mt. Celestia???

[@ShurikenSean]

would love to see a lore video on Changelings, seen yours and others lore of doppelgangers but cant seem to find lore on changelings

[@ToaTitanus]

Thank you AJ!!

[@Sekhubara]

I live in New Mexico USA. I am familiar somewhat with Nahuatl (Aztec) language. Couatl is pronounced "koe-AH-ł", the ł sound being made by placing the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth then hissing.

[@AJPickett]

I find that extremely tricky to do without making a daffy duck sound :(

[@Sekhubara]

@@AJPickett 😆

[@tails183]

I had two couatls have their egg stolen by two rakshasas and had them chasing the thieves as a random encounter. My group finally encountered them only to have the couatls fail almost every roll and not show off how awesome they are.

[@Mr_Maiq_The_Liar]

If the pronunciation of coatl comes from the Aztec god quetzalcoatl, the way it’s pronounced by D&D beyond is correct

[@willturnbull4796]

Is this one of the only things that could sneak up on an intellect devourer?

[@AJPickett]

Unknown.

[@ZarHakkar]

I dunno, my D&D players feel like they certainly could.

[@Ryan-gw3yv]

Time for hell wyrms?

[@BB3DG69]

I'm so happy I came across these videos as much of the creatures I will be using in my campaign including this one!!! Thank you so much. I would also love to learn more about the Xorn, and the following from Volo's guide: Firenewts, Grungs, Ki-Rin, Tlincalli, and the Vegepygmies because all of them besides the Ki-Rin can easily play a role as a sub race in their respective lands. If any of these were ever covered in the future I'd be so happy, but all the work you've put into already has given me plenty of inspiration to work with. :) Sub and like!

[@AJPickett]

I am getting to them :)

[@robertwilson2516]

@BB3DG69 Their is a Ki-Rin video you have to check AJ's previous videos and that one is a personal favorite of mine. ;)

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

I'm pretty sure AJ has done both the xorn and the ki-rin. I could be wrong, but you should search it.

[@kthereturned2874]

I really seems like the summon valefor from final fantasy 10 was somewhat inspired by couatl. Slightly more drake or bird like but feathered neck and back legs, colorful body. Overall just gives off the vibe of benevolent creature.

[@ironkeepgaming1936]

I will put it in a Aztec temple where a tribe of Yuan Ti worship it as their god

[@raylordofkhalah28]

Coatl are almost always LG while yuan-ti are almost always CE so I dont suggest that unless their alignmemts are different in your world's specific lore

[@skrog907]

AJ do the quaggoth next please that'd be real snazzy

[@AmigoRoberto]

He's going alphabetically for the pieces of the monster manual he hasn't covered yet. So it might be a few weeks (monthish) before we get to Q. :p

[@AJPickett]

@@AmigoRoberto Correct!

[@XXTheGoldStephanoXX]

I have a warlock that was raise by a couatl, who later became his patron

[@florenmage]

Hakkar the soul flayer is my favorite representation of this creature from the Warcraft universe another good example from the same setting is seethe the arrakoa god who was killed by another god and who's tainted spirit still haunts their lands and has a cult of crazy evil bird people following him

[@AJPickett]

In my time playing WoW, I killed ALL of the Arrakoa about 1000 times each.. they probably have a lullaby the sing to misbehaving fledgelings about the terrible shadow priest who stalked them night and day for months...

[@florenmage]

AJ Pickett they also probably have a similar lullaby about a tiny but ferocious gnome warrior that will show gnome mercy because I killed a shit load of them to farm all that dust to summon that world boss that has a tiny percent drop rate on a toy lol but seriously their civilization is really interesting they feel believable and real almost even though it's a fantasy game

[@AJPickett]

@@florenmage I just wanted my first flying mount.

[@florenmage]

AJ Pickett lol

[@paulrudd1483]

My all time favourite D&D creature, yes guys, Lets strap in

[@christianrivera1708]

I'm here because I saw Kukulkhan from Smite...noice

[@purplehaze2358]

0:17 I did not remember anything of what you said during the time you showed that image because I was focused on the doggo.

[@joelaurora16]

I was recently informed the the countless god Jazirian is related to Ahriman who is hiding under gaze of Asmodeus in Hell. Ahriman (LE) is a wingless serpent resembles Dender the night serpent (NE). Although their alignment are differ, they both want to destroy the world. Since Couatl can control dreams and Dendar manifests nightmares, it seems like Dendar is another rouse of Ahriman/Asmodeus

[@purplehaze2358]

This comment is just D&D in it's very essence. Extremely confusing story? Check! Things that only a D&D fan could understand? Check! (No, seriously, show this comment with no context to someone who doesn't do the D&D thing, and they will be extremely confused.)

[@AJPickett]

Interesting!

[@zacharyhawley1693]

Next to hound archons these things have killed my PCs the most hahaha.

[@devinm.6149]

Are your PCs evil, get into a lot of misunderstandings, or what?

[@AmigoRoberto]

How evil are your players?? Poor bastards have archons coming after then

[@zacharyhawley1693]

@@AmigoRoberto I RP evil quite well. The better question is if your pc isn't being hounded by the forces of good. You aren't trying hard enough. I've played everything from jilted lover out to destroy the world. To sauron was a poser. The challenge of an evil pc is quite rewarding.

[@zacharyhawley1693]

@@devinm.6149 hahaha. I do evil campaigns. Incidentally. No purposeful murder hobos. If the players want to explore darker themes. I'm fully accommodating.

[@AmigoRoberto]

Hmm.. I'll have to talk with my "experienced" players about trying evil campaigns again. Our one shot dissolved into chaos and backstabbing so fast. And as an aside jilted lover out to destroy the world butters my biscuit.

[@coreymerrill3257]

The movie Total Recall has a variation of the name.with them "Kuato" the mutant twin and leader of the mars resistance.

[@mechanicobra]

Great content as always. I also found an interesting bit of lore that I’d like to ask your opinion on concerning Jazirian. The is a bit of lore I found on the forgotten realms wiki as well as mentioned in a recent video by another d&d lore KZbinr that suggested Jazirian was not only alive but also the twin diety to Asmodeus before his fall. Have you heard of this before? And what are your thoughts on it?

[@AJPickett]

Yes, that is lore from 4th edition and generally retconned now. Though Mr Rexx and I have both made vids about it :)

[@mechanicobra]

@@AJPickett Thank you very much for the reply. I didn't know it was from fourth edition. I went back to rewatch your video on Asmodeus and the Nine Hells before asking because I remembered you'd mentioned Asmodues having a counterpart before but couldn't remember if you'd said who. So Asmodeus' origin remains the same more or less, with just his twin and potentially his true name being retconned right?

[@AJPickett]

Far as I know. There is mention that for a time, Asmodeus was the angel assigned to guard the prison of Tharisdun (a posting that he abandoned).

[@nathanielchance9751]

Came here for this comment

[@zmishiymishi5349]

My beloved couatles evil!? Sounds like a quest to me

[@chriscalvin5083]

Great video AJ

[@fishinatube9028]

I had my players fight an evil couatl. I used it's shapeshifting offensively, grappling a player, turning into a hellhound, and fire breathing them.

[@mikegould6590]

Coatl, my favourite celestial and source of Aasimar progeny. Thanks, AJ

[@davidllamas2192]

You are pronouncing it right. It's derived from the god Quetzalcoatl. The fearhered snake. He dwelled the las as a man. He made a lot of good deeds, then he left promising to return. That's why the aztec's emperor Moctezuma the second was si confused when europeans came around. They fitted the fisic description of the god. In the Mayan tradición he is know as Kukulkan.

[@tehfuqizg0inon588]

All the parallels that can be drawn from monster lore to actual legends or myths or deities that past cultures worshipped

[@seanwarren9357]

A quick search shows no result for Ghaunadan species and Ghaunadaur. There isn't a lot of content anywhere that I've found over the years, but I don't have a perfect library to search, internet not withstanding. There is or was an adventure in the MMO Neverwinter nights fairly early on which showcased a priest of Ghaunadaur if I'm not mistaken, though I don't believe he was a sentient slime himself. Anyway, I'm not a patron as of yet, and I don't expect anything, but I suspect you could do an amazing job covering the subject. Cheers, m8!

[@AJPickett]

forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Ghaunadaur a greater deity and the god of abominations. Originally, Ghaunadaur was a member of the drow pantheon but following the War of the Spider Queen he left the pantheon to break off on his own

[@seanwarren9357]

@@AJPickett I'll have to reserve this for some other links I found as well. 👍

[@linguisticallyoversight8685]

Halfway through burying the Rogue he woke up

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

Wait a second, Couatl been to azeroth?! SAY WAAAAAAAAT?

[@AJPickett]

Yeah, they are there.

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

Oh, well in the video this gentleman said Couatl have been to Azeroth, the setting of world of warcraft. And I was very curious about this, as it would imply a link between the DnD universe and world of warcraft's universe. So I was like. "Say what?!" Because I like warcraft and play it a lot.

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

Indeed. I thought it was interesting, though I am wondering if the Couatl being to azeroth is actually cannon.

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

@@bonefetcherbrimley7740 Are you aware of how cheaty multiverses can be in story telling? It makes everything canon, officially

[@mikemccoy5092]

I liked the advanced art for it

[@michaelkelligan7931]

Great choice m8,top notch aj 😀

[@ernestlam5632]

World Serpent vs Io

[@DyrgeAfterDark]

Saaruhk aka the scaley-kind Creator race. For those not in the know.

[@cypher4783]

So put simply it is a reaper drone

[@flyingdaggermonkey]

@AJ Would you please show where you got all this artwork, I’m looking to show some of them to my tattoo artist,

[@AJPickett]

Honestly, just google search, keywords D&D and Couatl

[@chaddickerson1887]

Well done, sir!

[@jgr7487]

I already leave a comment here for one of your future videos: how do Harpies reproduce? do they breed within their species or they need a humanoid?

[@AmigoRoberto]

Holy crap I never thought of that. I suppose you're thinking either asexual reproduction or a surrogate father species?

[@jgr7487]

@@AmigoRoberto pretty much that! either it's an Asexual species which members look female or it needs a male from a different species for the eggs to be fertilized

[@AJPickett]

Dragon Magazine #115 Ecology article "There was no physical difference between male and female harpies. The males possessed breasts just like the females did, leading to the misconception that male harpies did not exist."

[@AmigoRoberto]

Thank you Professor. :) I was one of those individuals who gave this misconception credence

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

I'm exploring the same idea with trolls in my game right now (not sure, but never saw or heard of a female troll). I'm making them deformed hag babies 😂😂👹

[@devinm.6149]

I've been pronouncing it coo-tul or coat-ul. It varies.

[@Giganfan2k1]

Who would win; A pack of murder hobos or one twisty rainbo boi?

[@knightghaleon]

Depends on how bad the murder hobos want those rainbow feathers for spiffy outfits

[@fishinatube9028]

An idea: if the characters are fighting a couatl for some reason and one of the PCs has some kind of mysterious backstory where the truth would be demoralizing for them, the couatl could tell them the truth during combat. Instant demoralization (kind of like the reveal of Rei's backstory in Star Wars episode 8, forgot the name)

[@chuckles486gaming8]

Oh so talking to one of these creatures will be like talking to an aes sedai they won't lie but the truth might not be what you think you heard

[@eridan7326]

I like to add a Coatl as a hidden npc for my campaigns, its ability to act like an animal companion, but is able to aid the party from a wild tpk. Kind of intrigues the players interest when their pet Crow has healing abilities and can read their minds.

[@fishinatube9028]

I once ran a mini campaign where there was an evil couatl guarding an artifact that could open a portal to the abyss, and for reasons he would soon be released from his duties and he would open a portal to the abyss on the material plane. The characters hat to track down and kill him in the feywild. Very interesting fight.

[@victorvaldez8869]

This sounds very much like In Nomine's version of Seraphim. They appear pretty much like Couatl in the Celestial realm in that game, except they have a total of 6 eyes, & six wings. In that setting almost every almost every demon or angel has a "Vessel" on Earth who are serving there, in order to interact with moral Society so usually they are "shape shifted" to look like a person. They literally can't lie without a fundamental betrayal to their nature which pushes them closer to Falling, however evasion or refusal are still options. As a benefit for not telling lies as they are Attuned to Truth, they can tell if someone is being deceptive or if they roll well enough tell if the target only THINKS they are telling the truth. The greatest winged serpent in that setting is Michael. As truth telling winged serpents they seem pretty much like the Couatl. In that setting a Fallen winged serpent is called a Balseaph, and they only THEIR version of the truth believing in whatever they say so fervently that they can FORCE others to believe it. The greatest of which used to be the Archangel of Light ... he's a gentleman of wealth & taste.

[@Magicwillnz]

In Nomine had fantastic lore. I wish D&D angels and demons were as deep as that game's.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

Sounds like they probably used the actual biblical description of angels. The Seraphim were in fact described as serpentine. And only the absolutely lowest angels were somewhat human looking, for the expressed purpose of conversing with humans. The rest are some level of eldrich abomination.

[@shawnhowe7311]

Pelt of Beauty

[@ernestlam5632]

If a couatl impregnated a human would the offspring be a half-dragon or an aasimar ?

[@AJPickett]

Aasimar.

[@ernestlam5632]

I knew that was the anwser but sometimes you still want to ask the question.

[@AJPickett]

That's what I'm here for :)

[@draxthemsklonst]

What about a Tyrannosaurus + Coatl?

[@quincykunz3481]

Aawesomesaurus is the technical term, I believe.

[@shakostarsun]

Its a rip of Quetzacotl the Aztec god.

[@AJPickett]

Yes.

[@isaacixtupe8983]

The "t" is silent. Quetzalcoatl is the full name of the Mayan/Aztec god.

[@AJPickett]

Why does it have a T in it?

[@enriquegarcia2790]

Actually the Mayan name is very different and changes in each of the hundreds of dialects. In Yucateca it's Ku'Kul'Kan in my people's dialect it's Ku'Ku'Matz.

[@enriquegarcia2790]

@@AJPickett you can choose to say the t if you want to. It doesn't matter.

[@andrewphillips4681]

@@AJPickett why does pterodactyl have a p

[@frostdragonking5336]

Btw AJ. Are you a Couatl?

[@AJPickett]

Nope.

[@walterlingram]

exactly what a couatl would say.

[@mikemccoy5092]

I know u are a fan of 5th edition but 3rd edition for life lol keep up the good work

[@kevinescobar237]

i've been trying to come up with an idea for a divine soul/cleric yuan ti that worships Couatls. any ideas on what they'd be like?

[@AJPickett]

Couatl would be slightly uncomfortable being worshipped like that, they might direct the individual to go on a series of quests that eventually bring their devotion to the attention of an actual divine entity.

[@kevinescobar237]

@@AJPickett alrighty awesome ty for the input.

[@purplehaze2358]

While watching this video, my friend walked by and said "That guy's voice makes me question my sexuality." And yes, this is the same guy who had me running to him in primal terror just to show me a vape with the hyper beast skin from CS: Go on it.

[@AJPickett]

*shrug* what a nice thing to say.

[@andresmarrero8666]

Makes me wonder of a possibility of a person being raised by these guys and other divine serpentine creatures, and that person will lead them home.

[@meat0delislice722]

Saurial video, the dino folk like dragonbait Please !

[@tatibear2655]

Is Jazirian truly dead? I had a character concept involving worshiping him.

[@indignantlamentation6307]

I had a warlock in a game I ran that Worshiped him. Eku from the Tomb of Annihilation book impersonated Jazirian in his dreams and manipulated the party into slaying Nanny Pu'pu the Hag.

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

Gods are not truly destroyed, ever. Especially considering it was one part of a God killing another part of the same God, I would posit that something remains of Jazirian. Something that maybe is still conscious and could be revived to full deific status again. 🤔 Definitely going to be coming up in my game

[@purplehaze2358]

Despite being somewhat creative during campaigns in D&D, I am actually rather bad at coming up with ideas when writing. Often times, I just find myself ripping off events and characters from my campaigns. Do you have any advice?

[@AJPickett]

Yes, I do.

[@purplehaze2358]

@@AJPickett That advice being?

[@AriesFireDragon1]

His videos.....

[@AJPickett]

LOL, exactly.

[@AriesFireDragon1]

Well timed, the party doesn't know it yet but I'm using a coatl as a go between for a guardian naga they are unknowingly helping.

[@XXTheGoldStephanoXX]

*I' V E B E EN W A I T I N G F O R T H I S*

[@shemyazadrolfossendam8156]

How would a couatl fare against the average mind flayer?

[@AJPickett]

Pretty well, they are immune to the mind flayers most fearsome mental attacks and are most likely to beat a hasty retreat, carefully gather allies and then go in and exterminate the Illithid threat.

[@dragonturtle2703]

So is the world serpent shattered, or just composed of multiple parts which collectively make up the whole? Also, was it a shard/fragment that talked to Vecna (and do you think Ao and/or The Lady of Pain shattered it), and is that good shard truly destroyed?

[@AJPickett]

I don't know if it is even possible to destroy the world serpent, it is a very complex entity that seems to have manifested out of primal magic itself.

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

Dragon Turtle It’s my understanding(And I could be completely wrong) that the World Serpent exists fragmentally throughout the planes, kinda like a lesser version of a God’s Omnipresence.

[@zacharyhawley1693]

So do you play smite? Cause Kuku is a blast to play. :D

[@AJPickett]

Currently my games of choice are Magic the Gathering Arena, No Man's Sky and Dawn of War: Soul Crusade.

[@konradcurze394]

Ayy first. Why am I still up?

[@AJPickett]

If American Idol has taught me anything, it is that people who come second normally get better record deals.

[@dragonballtalk8527]

Final fantasy 8 had gf one of thease quzacotl look it up.xv as well

[@thatsnotgonewellatall5517]

I see kukulkan I click

[@Dimizar]

i just pronounce that as "kotal"

[@Velveteeno13]

So they're like feathered dragons?

[@AJPickett]

Despite the similar head and the scales, they are not related to dragons in any way.

[@purplehaze2358]

Feathered *amphiteres.*

[@Velveteeno13]

@@AJPickett If I'm a Warlock, can I sell my soul to it?

[@AJPickett]

@@Velveteeno13 Not to a lawful good one, but, there may be evil creatures similar to them.

[@pauljones2093]

@@Velveteeno13 There is the Warlock of the Celestial in 5e, and Couatl is a celestial so they could work as a patron for that subclass.

[@jackiesantos2121]

Well they are the Aztec version of a serpent dragon yeah that's what I think about these guys I like them

[@HumbleMemeFarmer]

Ohh, pretty.

[@Kematen2013]

i like your Videos but when you can afford it or have the time you need a better microphone! Keep it going m8!

[@AJPickett]

what is wrong with the audio?

[@nathanielchance9751]

@@AJPickett nothing I can hear

[@pascalk.37]

And i thogt this is a Smite video about kuku

[@thatsnotgonewellatall5517]

Exactly why I clickex

[@3dagalathor]

amazing, first!!

[@AJPickett]

*FANFARE* We all knew this day would come.

[@purplehaze2358]

Your content is.... *Show more*

[@purplehaze2358]

Did it work?

[@paulrudd1483]

@@purplehaze2358 Yup

[@AJPickett]

lol