Where are the Serpent Clan's serpents?

[Eric Blair]

So I just arrived at Boreas Seabed, and saw that the Turtle Clan had a few giant turtles for buildings, the Crab Clan had what looked like crabs in a shell (hermit crabs?), but the Serpent Clan had simple huts for shelter? What's going on here?

Where are the Snake-houses?

[Quintus Antonius]

It may be possible they draw their name from something other than the beast they ride.

[Andre Mitsu]

Maybe they derived it from the Leviathen, it is a giant serpent...

[Quintus Antonius]

That's true. This begs the question: Is a clan named for the creature it rides, or do they ride that creature because of their name?

[Arutima]

or, maybe they are great slayers of nagas?

[Nanashi]

Well Snakes burry under the ground, that is their home. I don't think there are any large serpents other than dragons.

[Quintus Antonius]

The thing about the clans is that they appear to have had their clan designation pre-Jade Wind, meaning that it has nothing to do with what they ride.

[Zaxares]

I might be mistaken, but I believe the Serpent clan is the Luxon clan that apparently has an affinity for the Saltspray Dragons. The current Captain of the clan apparently rose to power by going out into the Jade Sea and returning with a group of Dragons at her back. Perhaps they are the Serpents being referred to?

[Barinthus]

That's actually Elora of the Crab Clan.

According to the Historian of Clans

"Elora is the current captain of the Crab and Daeman is her champion. When she was barely in her fifth year, her village was assaulted by the Kurzicks and both of her parents were slain. Gillias, who was then the captain of the Crab Clan, was also lost in this cowardly attack. Elora's brother Artras took control of the Crab being the only survivor. After the attack, no trace of Elora was found, though her brother claimed to have searched for her. The leadership of Artras was a dark time for the Crab, he squandered the clan's resources on prurient pursuits all the while using his vile Champion Helios to defeat any who dared to challenge him. This continued for many years, until the day Elora returned, a pack of Saltspray Dragons at her back. With these dragons under her command, she defeated her brother and his champion and has wisely lead the Crab ever since. The dragons of course returned to the Jade Sea, but rumor has it that they wait for her even now, ready to return if ever she should have need of them."

[aptaleonII]

Actually, i thought the "Crab Clan" name came from their battle plan- Beastmastery using Reef Lurkers.

This may be blindingly obvious, but come to think of it, i've never been sure... are those giant creatures Hermit Crabs, or giant Snaileys?

Evidence for Hermit Crab- two of them are named ol' Clampy & Ol' Pinchy (the ones at Zos Shivros Channel to be specific); they have shells seemingly not part of their body; they are used by the Crab Clan (although i always thought the "Crab Clan" name came from their battle plan- beastmastery using Reef Lurkers)

Evidence for Snailey- They seemingly have no legs, with their entire underside being one big foot (essentially what a snailey is); when they move, they don't look like any Crabs i've ever seen! (If you want to see one moving, go into Silent Surf from the Leviathan Pits and look west over the sea. It's hilarious.)

[Quintus Antonius]

I want to prepare for the impending fight. What advice do you have?

"1. The Turtle Clan will use the elements against you. Interrupt their attacks or outfit yourself with elemental armor for protection.
2. The Crab Clan uses Spirits in battle. Rid the battlefield of Spirits before you are overpowered. Interruptions work well against Spirits.
3. Members of the Serpent Clan are attuned with the animals of this region. Defeating pets is relatively easy due to their low armor rating, but remember to protect allies fighting them directly as they'll be absorbing the brunt of the damage.
4. The Spear of Archemorus "charges up" with the deaths of your enemies. When it is time to unleash its destructive power, drop it in the vicinity of your foes to inflict maximum damage."

That's from the Boreas Seabed mission briefing. According to that, it is the Serpent, not the Crab, that uses beasts. I'm a Kurzick, so I don't spend to much time in the Jade Sea, so I may be wrong, but that is the dialouge.

Also, I've never seen a snail with claws and a chitonous beak. I doubt they are snails.

[aptaleonII]

That's from the Boreas Seabed mission briefing. According to that, it is the Serpent, not the Crab, that uses beasts. I'm a Kurzick, so I don't spend to much time in the Jade Sea, so I may be wrong, but that is the dialouge.

Also, I've never seen a snail with claws and a chitonous beak. I doubt they are snails.

Ah, yes, you're quite right. Aurora and her cronies (Serpent) are beastmasters with Reef Lurkers, whereas Daeman of the Crab is just a bowman. Seems pretty conclusive that they're hermit crabs now.

[Quintus Antonius]

I've also concluded the Jade Sea must smell to high heaven! Have you ever smelled a hermit crab cage? They stink. Imagine a 10 story tall hermit crab's smell. Ouch.

[aptaleonII]

^ Maybe all the giant hermit crabs are kept near the Aurios Mines when they're not in use and that's why noone ever attempts the mission

[Scott the Green]

So that's what that was...

On a serious note, the composition of the groups you face in Boreas Seabed tell a different story.

The Crab has Daeman (ranger with Broad Head Arrow) and Eli (sword warrior), along with 3 beastmaster rangers and a necromancer. Each of the beastmasters has a crab pet, though Daeman dosn't.

The Serpent has Aurora (Barrage/Favourable Winds ranger) and Gita (protection monk), along with a bunch of hammer warriors. I can't remember if there's another member of that group, but I suspect there's a mesmer.

The Turtle has Argo (fire elementalist, with a unique skill) and Hala (mesmer), along with more fire elementalists and assassins.

The mission shows the Serpent uses spirits (though one spirit hardly counts, really) and the Crab uses beasts, but the briefing has the Turtle bang on.

Also, in the mission lobby, Aurora always has a spirit of Favourable Winds with her.