Culture of Third Earth
The Lizards
*The Lizard species lives in marshlands in the eastern section of the swamplands next door to the kingdom of Thundera.
*Neighbors of the Lizardfolk include some amphibianfolk, like Frogmen, Toadmen, and Salamandermen, as well as a few handfuls of native Fishmen who fish in the cleaner and healthier parts of the swamp water.
*Lizard homes are usually ramshackle houses, like one might find in a third world country, and they don't have the best resources by which to keep their homes sanitary.
*Lizards are also scavengers, frequently looking for the scraps left behind by other Animals, particularly their bitter enemies, the Cats. Some of the more unhappy Lizards fight each other for the healthiest and tastiest bits of discarded food.
*The Lizards have difficulty getting along with other races, too, even though they have some grudging sympathy for the plight of the other Animals which the Cats look down on. However, they do have a bond, and even a certain camaraderie, with the amphibians, as well as their Fishmen neighbors, whom they see as their only friends in a world full of hostilities.
*Lizards believe that nature gave them, and only them, all the sweet fruits of Third Earth, and though they eat plenty of meat, Lizard hunters apologize humbly to their non-sapient prey, showing a feeling of respect to the beasts they kill.
*Since longer than they can remember, Lizards have held traditions such as the conviction that their kind is to be ruled by a god-like being greater than themselves, and many of them have spent many fruitless centuries searching for the ideal leader for their people.
*The singing voices of the Lizards sound hoarse to other races and species, but the Lizards don't care; they sing songs of praise and harmony to the unidentified maker of the universe as they make marches through the wilderness to find new homes after they might lose their old ones. The Lizards have no grudge against nature, and when they lose their homes, they are temporarily nomads.
*The majority of Lizards, as well as their amphibian neighbors, don't like technology, and can't understand how Lizards who want revenge on the Cats could possibly sacrifice their principles just to have an advantage over the arrogant felines of Thundera.
*The Lizards' water supply at the swamps is tainted by sewage waste dumped from Thundera's sewer system, making water harmful to drink, and risky to swim in.
*For this reason, the Lizards and their neighbors reluctantly use water treatment technology to make their home at least semi-habitable.
*A sizable faction of Lizards, led by a cold-blooded beast named Slithe, have allied themselves with the revived Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living, to get revenge on the Cats for their long persecution of Lizardkind. In exchange, Mumm-Ra has offered them military technology, the likes of which no other race except the Birds have seen for many a century.
*Peaceful Lizards can't understand how Slithe could have made some of their own kind work for such a monster as Mumm-Ra, and refuse to join his empire. They also refuse to accept Mumm-Ra as their "god figure," saying that the Lizards are meant to be led by someone benevolent.
*Lizards often have to resort to theft in order to feed themselves and their families, because only the Cats and the Birds control the best lands and resources, while the other Animals usually have to fight over scraps. Because of their oppressed lifestyle, Lizards don't always consider it a crime to steal, if it's done to preserve the lives of their loved ones.
*Lizards are believers in self-preservation.
*Lizard society isn't entirely oppressive and dirty, and they do enjoy playing games with each other, especially their children. Dig dug, eat the meat, and water spit are some of their favorites. And although they don't use currency, they generously trade goods and resources with each other, as well.
*Dancing is a tradition among Lizards, too, and they have several kinds which are their means of asking the universe to reveal to them their maker. The "maker" hasn't revealed him/herself to date, but the Lizards keep dancing, anyway.
*Lizards are convinced that one day, an apocalypse of sorts will take place, resulting in a new age where they will finally be in a high position among the Animals and rule like a race of kings.
*Many Lizards believe that in this new age, the Lizards will rule side-by-side with other Animal species, while Mumm-Ra's Lizards believe that Lizardkind will reign supreme over everyone else, especially the Cats.