It arguably could...though that has as much to do with my choice of words for narration as anything. When presented with the task of making a situation seem emotionless, I default to rampant intellectualism. But just because Saashala claimed to be doing 'research' doesn't mean she was particularly good at it. And that in itself may have been just a rationalization to conceal deeper misgivings and interests.
I feel like, if a yuan-ti had some kind of empathy for other beings, it would probably manifest like this...not as empathy per se, but rather an almost desperate attempt to rationalize the goals that the empathy makes attractive. I don't want to torment these slaves...because they're valuable research subjects! I want to learn more about their strange ways...because it could help us found a new and more vibrant Empire!
I suspect yuan-ti are not nearly as adept at handling cognitive dissonance as we mammals are.
That said, I could make an alternate version of this character as an Enchanter wizard...and then she'd be perfectly smart enough to make that talk stick. But the flavor of the warlock is just very YUAN TI. You're telepathic! And get weird and disturbing spells! And can change your appearance at will! And later on, you can enslave people -with your mind-.
To preserve that flavor, I was obligated to go warlock.
I feel like, if a yuan-ti had some kind of empathy for other beings, it would probably manifest like this...not as empathy per se, but rather an almost desperate attempt to rationalize the goals that the empathy makes attractive. I don't want to torment these slaves...because they're valuable research subjects! I want to learn more about their strange ways...because it could help us found a new and more vibrant Empire!
I suspect yuan-ti are not nearly as adept at handling cognitive dissonance as we mammals are.
That said, I could make an alternate version of this character as an Enchanter wizard...and then she'd be perfectly smart enough to make that talk stick. But the flavor of the warlock is just very YUAN TI. You're telepathic! And get weird and disturbing spells! And can change your appearance at will! And later on, you can enslave people -with your mind-.
To preserve that flavor, I was obligated to go warlock.