Nishikessho Naga

The naga were an ancient race of serpent-folk that existed before the coming of humans. They are the oldest of the civilizations, at one time spanning the far west of Atliva. Before the first human settlers, the naga entered an enchanted slumber in an attempt to preserve their dying race.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Naga are large quasi-humanoids with human-like torsos and snake like lower bodies. They are typically scaly and reptilian in appearance with greenish tinted skin being the most common, though some are brown. with other shavees occasionally seen. The tail of a Naga can be anywhere from 10-20 feet long. Typically, the tails of the Constrictors are the longest, while the Greensnakes tended to be smaller. An upright Naga ranges from four to seven feet tall normally, but they can rear up even higher. Naga moved with at same general pace and endurance of a man, but their serpent form gave them an advantage that allowed them to move fast in nearly any terrain. Unfortunately, they did tend to leave a distinct trail marking their passage. Unless they are trained to accept them, horses tended to avoid Naga, presumably due to their scent being similar to snakes.

Genetics and Reproduction

All Naga begin their lives within an egg, tended by the Naga Vedic. After they hatch, first they are a Naga youth, distinguished only by their 'egg-name'. Then, once they have performed the first shedding ritual, they choose the path of their lives, take the name by which they be known. Because all eggs from a given Bloodline are kept in one cove, a Naga might never know who their parents are.

Naga Abomination

Some Naga, especially the magically talented Cobra Bloodline, have features veering even further from the 'human' norm. This appeared to be a result the closeness some eggs have to the magical pearls in their hatcheries. Typically those Naga have a much more snakelike appearance, to include such features as cobra hoods and more heavily scaled torsos. Many other Naga are noticeably unsettled by the more extreme variations. Another mutation grants some Naga the ability to breathe underwater. While normally only air breathers, some Naga are hatched with gills in their necks or torsos. In more extreme cases, the Naga mutate to the point where they can’t breathe air at all. These mutations tend to be ignored by most Naga. Once a generation, a Naga is hatched with such severe mutations that it is declared to be an 'Abomination' and is cast out to live on its own. Most abominations do not survive, but those who do, and return are often some of the greatest heroes of the Naga.

First Abominations

A Chameleon city once existed in the waters near where Korototoku now sits. The Naga city was ravaged by Oni and its name is lost even to the Akasha. The first Naga Abominations arose from this city, releasing a terrible poison into the Akasha that would lead to many later mutations, known as Dark Water Abominations. After the first Great Sleep they are left completely alone. Only one Abomination, the Aseth, has been accepted in the Akasha since the awakening.

Growth Rate & Stages

Female Nagas

At puberty, female Naga gain the ability to alter their form, taking on a typical bipedal shape, though they are still obviously not human unless they take efforts to conceal their features. This ability involves five hours of ritual meditation, followed by the shedding of their skin to reveal the new lower torso. Due to the lack of use, female Naga tails tend to be shorter than most males, and many have some minor difficulties utilizing some of the advantages the male Naga enjoy. In addition, physical skills take twice as much effort as they must learn how to do such actions with and without tails. His change have many different benefits for the individual Naga female from being able to ride horses to increasing their abilities in combat or duels

Civilization and Culture

Common Etiquette Rules

Naga morality upholds three supreme virtues: Purity, Self-Control, and Truth. These virtues include many subthemes such as courage (an aspect of purity) and patience (an aspect of self-control).

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The naga have organized their society along rigid caste lines defined in terms of one's occupation. Caste and social hierarchy have nothing to do with each other, and the only “betters” that are those of the same profession who have more seniority and/or a greater record of achievement. There are four basic castes, or professions: the warriors, the scouts, the jakla and the vedic.

Midori no Hebi “Greensnake”

• Aberration (Naga, Reptilian)
• Size: Medium
• +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: Naga are a hardy and wise people, well known for their endurance and patience. They do have difficulty, though, when dealing socially with other creatures.
• Base Speed: Base speed for a Naga is 40 ft. Naga's sinuous movements of their coils permit them to move quickly over the ground.
• Courtier: gain a +2 bonus on Diplomacy and Bluff checks. In addition, when they use Diplomacy to shift a creature’s attitude, they can do so up to three steps up rather than just two.
• Skilled: gain an additional skill rank at 1st level and one additional skill rank whenever they gain a level.
• Survivalist (Ex): All Naga gain a +2 racial bonus to Survival checks, and Survival is always a class skill for a Naga. Naga prefer to have their cities and towns located in remote jungles and rain forests or even far-off desert oasis, living in harmony their environment.
• Unaccustomed to Riding (Ex): Naga do not often deal with riding animals. As such, all Naga gain a -4 penalty to Ride checks, and can never take Ride as a class skill, even if the skill is available as a class skill.

Geographic Distribution

• Atliva

• Average Length: 10-15 feet
• Average Weight: 400-600 lbs.