Naga

Overview

Naga is an ancient semi-immortal Akaviri race with dragon/serpentine features. Exact features vary from tribe to tribe. They usually possess some shape-shifting abilities and may adopt a variety of forms with mixed human and serpentine aspects. Some tribes have males that can take the forms of giant snakes, while the females have the form of giant snakes with the head of a beautiful woman. Other tribes have hair comprising totally of small every-writhing snakes. It is said that Naga royalty can shape-shift into totally human forms, which are extremely handsome/beautiful. They are also considered to be the race that are most related to the dragons, and in fact, legend tells of Naga heroes which can take the form of dragons. According to the Yamitz Scriptures, in ancient times, Nagas and Garudas are arch enemies. It was until later that the gods intervened that they've agreed to a temporary peace.

Their attitude towards other races vary from tribe to tribe. Some tribes are more benevelent and uses their powers (especially that over water) to help humanity. There have been legends which describes marriages between Naga and human royalties. Other tribes are cruel and often attack and kill all other races on sight. The latter is often called Dark Naga, to distinguish them from the friendly Naga.

According to legends, among all the semi-immortal races (Lin), Naga is often regarded to be of the closest relation with the human. According to the Yamitz Scriptures, human was originally made by a Naga Goddess out of clay and her essence in her image (human-form).

The Naga are also considered to be one of the nine types of dragons. They worshiped the dragon-gods and other lesser deities.

Physiology

Naga are meta-thermic; i.e. they are neither "warm-blooded" or "cold-blooded". Their metabolism can vary greatly according to the form they chose to shape-shift to. In more human-like forms, their metabolism resembles that of a warm-blooded being, while in more sepentine-form, they can choose to adopt a metabolic system similar to that of a cold-blooded creature according to their level of activity. It is even said that if submerged in water, a Naga can put itself into a stasis by almost freezing its own metabolism and can awake thousands of years later if needed.

Though there are no hard and fast rules within the Naga societies, Naga are usually monogamous and mate for life. Though there are exceptions, it is rare that a Naga will take another mate if the current mate died.

As opposed to popular misconception that Naga lay eggs, Naga give birth alive usually to single child and very rarely, twins. But the child usually arrived wrapped in a silky sac, which may be mistaken for an egg. As female Naga often give birth underwater, the water-proof sac was a means to give the child some time to orientate himself or herself, before breaking it and taking its first breath (either on land or underwater). Naga infants instinctively knows how to breath underwater. One fact of interest is that Naga infants usually took the form of the mother during prenancy (a pregnant female Naga will temporarily loses her shape-shifting ability until the pregnancy is over). Another interesting fact is that in all recorded cases, no pregnant Naga was ever found in Full Serpent form. A Naga is typically fertile for around 500 years of their life and may have up to two to three children. A Naga mother will not get pregnant while she is still taking care of a child below 100 years old.

Usually after sixty to eighty years, Naga children begin to exhibit shape-shifting abilities as they enter puberty. A Naga is considered an adult when he or she reaches around 300 years old.

Naga typically lived up to more than 2000 years old. Individuals who became more powerful may lived even longer.

The Naga Forms

Nagas, similar to other semi-immortals (Lin), have limited shape-shifting capabilities. Usually, tribes or even clans will prefer one of the forms. The number of forms that one can adopt is also related to the individual's age and power. There are various commonly known forms that the Naga adopts (see naga forms)

Recent History

After the Naga betrayers became the Tsaesci, the rest of the Naga and human were hunted down and enslaved. These blood-slaves are different from the other slaves in that their main purpose is to be managed and bred like cattle to feed the Tsaesci's blood thirsts. There are other clans of Naga that disappeared entirely, believed to have retreated with their remaining Kings to some far-away undersea kingdom beyond the Tsaesci's reach, due to the latter's curse of weakness to water.

Misc

Half-Nagas are the direct offsprings or descendents of human-Naga unions.

Tsaesci were Dark Naga who had betrayed their god, the Seven-headed Dragon, which is described in Origin of the Tsaesci.

todo:

• insert some pictures

(2006-07-10, sphr)