The O'phion
- CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR...Books One, Two, and Three
Personality Trope
Snake people have had a rough go of it in fiction. There is the seminal mini-series V from 1983. The shocking reveal where evil snake-woman-in-human-bodysuit Diana devours a live guinea pig whole traumatised entire generation of TV viewers. And, of course, reptilian humanoids are a central part of most modern world-domination conspiracy theories.
There’s a reason we have a deep seated dislike of the idea of snake people, and snakes in general. Fear of them – ophidiophobia – is the most common human fear. There’s evidence to show that’s evolutionary-relevant. We fear them because many of them are poisonous. And even the ones that aren’t look scary. Nothing good crawls on its stomach. Just look at babies!
What's Your Poison?
When it came time to create an “evil” species for The Mythic, I was faced with a decision. Choose a familiar classic such as snake-people or go with something unexpected – sloth people or panda-people perhaps.
I chose the obvious. I was in the early stages of world-building and I wanted the audience to see things both familiar and surprising, but with the emphasis on the former. It was also a fun way to prove the conspiracy theorists right. There have been snake people walking among us the whole time!
Fangs For the Inspiration
Mythologically, Ophion is a lesser-known Greek god. I could have gone with a variety of serpent gods from different cultures but the word “Ophion” looked and sounded right. It was also far easier to spell than Quetzalcoatl!
In terms of appearance, I had a very specific inspiration in mind – the cobra-demon from Buffy The Vampire Slayer –Season 5, Episode 8. Yes, that specific. There was something about a human-sized snake-with-arms that stuck in my head. But there is a dash of Sensor of the Legion of Super-Heroes in there too. Sensor is also a person-sized snake but she sports mechanical arms for a time then is evolved into a hybrid snake-human.
While the O’phions are hybrid beings, unlike Henry our minotaur, they are apparently not a result of a mixing of the races. In fact, it is Elapidae, Empress of the O’phion who first uses the pejorative çur when she lies about her village being overrun by Writhen’s forces. She decries Henry as disrespecting a “pure blood” like her, but she is actually in a relationship with Writhen, a human being. With her it’s do as I say, not as I do apparently.
Cold-Hearted Snakes
From what we’ve seen, it is a rigidly matriarchal race. The male O’phion have not been shown to speak and are completely subservient to their Empress, even cannibalising a wounded comrade at her behest. As befits a hierarchical structure, the men are all a drab pale green but the women are carmine-red, inspired by another very specific fictional reptilian.
We don’t yet from whence the O’phion hail, though when Amber encounters another O’phion female in Zerzuza the snake-woman says she understood she was the only one in the city, so it’s unlikely they’re from Phoenice.
One thing we do know is that they are fond of slavery. In Book One Henry mentions that he was kept as a slave by the O’phion and in The Mythic and the Horses of Doom one tries to sell a Snuff to Amber. Sensor’s race are shown to use the mammals on their home planet as subordinates, so the O’phion’s love of servitude originates both there and the fact that slave-lover is shorthand for “baddie”. In Book Three, Big Bear threatens to sell captured foes to the O’phion, mentioning that they pay well. So while they might be evil, they’re generous!
O’phions have chosen to not partake in the all-of-Aedean Parliament of Lies. The reason why hasn’t been made clear however, they did decide to give their entire race a distinguishment via the apostrophe in their name. Since the formal system of distinguishments is governed by the Lies so that is either a sign of the O’phions’ moxie or disrespect – possibly both.
Bonus Round
O’phions were almost the guards in Sweet City but although they referenced horror well, once I came up with the idea for the Gingerbread Guard they became superfluous. This was a shame in one way as I’d used that opportunity to tell a little more of the O’phion backstory. I love to recycle discarded characters, scenes, and plot-lines so keep your eyes open. There could be snake-people hiding right in front of you… No, seriously, keep your eyes open. They’re everywhere!
