Nagavirosha (nəˈɡɑviːɾoʊʃə)
Before the conquest of the Nagarajya by the armies of the Malika of Saba, the sorceress used magic to bind Vashirak, the patron Deva of Saba and the Nagarajya, much like the Clarati had during the Conquest of Ynys. The great serpent-god was bound by his name, and slumbers in confinement, deep within The Dream. This act, more than any other, eased the way for the overthrow of King Wainaba and the Nagarajya, allowing the Malika to triumph and establish the Malikate of Saba.
In the aftermath of the war, the surviving Naga found hope in a new myth. A prophecy arose among the expatriate Naga of the Sabu Islands of a chosen one known as the Nagavirosha, who was destined to free Vashirak and restore the Nagarajya. Many signs and portents are said to presage the arrival of the Nagavirosha, and those who believe the prophecy are vigilant in their search for the chosen one. Some of these signs include the ability to speak to all kinds of serpents, and the appearance of marks upon their body the echo a coiled serpent. It is further believed that the Nagavirosha must be a true mage, able to wield the same sort of power that the Malika herself employed to imprison Vashirak. While most who follow the prophecy believe that the chosen one will be of the Naga, some dedicated scholars contend that there is nothing in the words that demand this be true, and make sure to search also among the other Kikipua cultures, and even among the Zmei.
The Nagavirosha is a vision of hope for the Naga, and many have dedicated their life to facilitating the prophecy. The inventor Zaman al-Razaz has constructed a device known as the Prophecy Clock solely to predict the coming of the Nagavirosha, and Naga mystics travel the Great Ring and beyond, seeking the signs and portents of the Nagavirosha's hatching. The Malikate is also watching for these omens, and rumors state that both the Burj Alhikma and the Glass Shadows are alert to the rise of the Nagavirosha and will act to thwart the prophecy. If and when the Nagavirosha is identified, it will be the race between those who wish the Deva Vashirak to be freed, and those who will do anything to ensure his confinement.
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