Talk:Naga

The Naga are a sub-race of half-serpent, half-human Hoggur. As a proud and strong people, they find inspiration in the world around them and thus set high goals for themselves – whether to achieve beneficial gain from personal pursuits or from pursuits in the name of the collective. To an outsider, this may appear to be a negative aspect that is destined to be their downfall, however this is not the case. The Naga believe empowering themselves through these pursuits only strengthens their inner resolve and in turn further solidifies their sense of honor. In the end, they become powerful allies, not only by their strength, but also by their convictions of what is right. Strength of body, strength of mind, strength of soul are mantras the serpentfolk live by.

Entering into an alliance with a Naga is no small feat as they rely on action to determine if an entity, be it individual, group, or nation, is worthy of such. Additionally, Naga prefer their affairs to be left to themselves to govern and tend to view outside interest in them with some caution. However, they are not xenophobic as they welcome visitors provided they adhere and obey by the laws and practices of their home and remain respectful. They have often allied with other races in the past through merit, and have also become deadly enemies to those that mistreat them.

In their culture, they value and honor strength of mind. Willpower to follow through the difficulties presented and reach an enlightened outcome is a trait they all have, though some are far more gifted than others. The ones that excel often become holy warriors, infusing their innate martial ability with their strength of mind to invoke the blessings of their deities.

Physiology

Naga are distinct in their make-up. Overall, they have the upper torso of a human and the lower body of a snake. From top to tip their body is covered in various sized scales and their coloration and distinct markings are as varied as the snakes of the world. Their tails are massive and muscular, lending to their gigantic appearance, despite their normal height being around six feet.

While their upper torso and head are human in appearance, their skin, eyes, and limbs tend to stray from what a human deems normal. Human shaped eyes are filled with serpentine orbs, and skin is covered in small scales. Their mouths are decidedly human, but house a thin forked tongue. This gives their manner of speech a very ‘S’ heavy quality, the consonant usually elongated and prevalent in their names and common words.

As varied as the color of their scaled skin, so is their hair. They tend to decorate their hair with copper or silver beads and bands, as well as their tails. Females more often than not braid, twist, or create interesting patterns in their mane.

One stand out feature upon their torso tends to be the number of limbs they have. Commonly, naga have even numbered limbs, up to six. While the number of limbs doesn’t denote any special privilege or better breeding, the more one has, the more honed certain skills, such as swordsmanship, can be.

All naga are large given their muscular structure. Males are bulkier than their female counterparts but rarely ever reach seven feet tall. The females rarely are slight and if they are, it usually denotes sickness or age.

Society= Naga society sees the females as the center of all things. They are the ones gifted with the ability to create and the connection to earth, therefore it is deemed natural that they are in positions of power to protect these aspects. Typically, a queen oversees all governance with a council of advisors supporting and mediating issues, negotiations, and the welfare of the people. In some societies, the wisest among them is elevated into the throne, in others the queen is elected. Hierarchy is an important structure for the Naga and they believe strongly in the order of authority.

Males are not without importance, though seldom do they ever rise into a rank of power. They usually serve in military, domestic, and labor capacities to bolster the collective.

Religion

Naga are quite religious, worshipping a pantheon of deities of male, female, and dual-gendered entities. Their temple-cities are clear indications of their spirituality, sections of their city devoted to one deity or to a mini-pantheon. Many Naga follow one primary deity while honoring the rest and many others follow two or more as their guides throughout their life. All in all, no deity is shunned or disrespected.

Habitats

As a race bound to earth, they are most at home within caves but also thrive well in jungles, forests, and coastal areas. The most common denominator in the areas in which they are found is a source of water. Be it rivers, lakes, oasis, or seas, they will live near one of these. Climates they prefer range from dry and hot to mild and humid. Yet, finding a naga in the extreme cold is almost unheard of.

Often, their coloration reflects the surrounding environment they are born into, but this is not always the hard and fast rule.

Activities and Occupations

Naga relish song and music, thus many can play an instrument or sing and dance. Their voices often have a haunted beauty to them, giving their sung tales a moving sensation when heard. Musicians and songstresses are common in their society and many use this art in ritual and combat.

They take exceptional pride in the buildings and structures they erect. Stonemasons are coveted for not only their skill but also for their creative expression through their work. Large columns and mural depictions of their history are often found throughout their temple-cities.

Lore Created by Morde 8/1/2019.