Naga
Hewn by civil war, but still driven to conquer and dominate.
"The Naga were born conquerors, and we will die conquerors, enshrined in our cities for our feats of blood, blade, and fang. Politics do not matter in the end, only action does, and the constant prattling of the Anti-Slavery Change-Skins is the same as the dogmatic Manifest Destiny of The Supremacists. No, it doesn't matter, oppose the Naga, and you will be crushed within our coils, submit, and you may yet live to experience glory.-Anonymous Naga General The Naga of the Golden Sands are known for their imperial conquest, military strong arming, and attempting to conquer the breadth of Dasht-e Zerrin through many means. With a well known and ruthless merchant empire of slavers, at least among The Supremacists, they continue on as an economic juggernaut race. Thriving in their holdings, and defending their lands with a ferocity that only true survivors could expect, their fortress cities and stronghold towns dominating the land. Worshiping their divine goddess known as The Mother Snake, they believe she eats the Sun to make way for the Moon, like a mother clears away danger to make way for her children. But beyond this, they are a mortal race like any other, they live, love, perform their duties, and practice their arts and warfare for the betterment of their race.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The anatomy of the Naga follows a clearly serpentine structure and build, with their spines and tails being immensely flexible, extending even to their human arms. Each sex possessing a unique form of venom exclusive to them that function in vastly different ways from each other. The venom is stored in sacs found in the pectoral region of their human like torsos on females, and in smaller quantities within sacs found in the males mouth.
Biological Traits
The difference between males and females is more exacerbated among Naga in comparison to species like the Aashan or Glass Elves, with females being much more muscular, lengthy, and generally stronger than their male counterparts. Beyond that, the differences are made especially prevalent in regards to each genders venom, which have vastly different effects depending on gender. The venom of male Naga infuses the victims blood with an extremely potent and powerful aphrodisiac, with powerfully addictive properties. Whereas female Naga venom is a lethal hemotoxin, which can cause the victim to bleed from every orifice and pore, ending with their bodies emaciated and dehydrated, stretched across their skeleton like dry leather. Like snakes, Naga are indeed cold blooded.
Genetics and Reproduction
Sexually speaking, males possess a dual penis that is functionally similar to a humans, and females possess a similarly human vagina. Beyond these similarities, is the unique fact that they as a species possess no libido without some form of external or psychological trigger, or the venom of Naga males. Curiously, the reproductive orifice of Female Naga is almost always covered in a specialized, flexible layer of fatty tissue and scales meant to keep debris out of the opening. Without the aphrodisiac venom of the male Naga, females possess no inherent sex drive, and don't suffer any form of 'heat' that would otherwise encourage their advances for procreation. Similarly, males possess a sheath within their bodies that stows away their genitalia unless they inject themselves with their own venom, which they are in fact not immune, nor even resistant to.
Once injected with the male venom, a catalytic response is triggered in both genders brains that can either slowly or rapidly induce in them the need to reproduce, inducing and almost feral psychological state. This response causes the potential pair to reflexively coil around each other, with the male constricting and grinding against the female to wear away the reproductive cover. This process, often taking hours, is usually finished in the same manner as one might expect from a human, with the male penetrating the female and impregnating her. Once this is complete, the Naga generally spend some manner of hours continuing the process until their sexual drive and libido is depleted. Once emptied, they uncoil, and generally collapse from acute exhaustion, often taking up to hours, and sometimes days, to wake up from their exhausted stupors.
After this, female Naga take up to ten months to gestate the leathery eggs that the species lays, resulting in their tail slowly bulking up with the gestating clutch of between three and six eggs. Once gestated, the clutch is birthed like any other serpentine reptile might, save that it has some similarities to human births in process.
Lastly, and in regards to the oddest of occurrences, is the nature by which Naga can, by near impossibly rare chance, produce offspring with Aashan, resulting in a stigmatized mutant hybrid called Medusa. These creatures possess the Naga's scaled skin, the body of an Aashan, are exclusively female, sterile, and their hair is composed entirely of small, writhing, prehensile snakes. The Medusa possessing an unnatural affinity for the elemental House of Earth, and particularly some of its most devastating magics, such as petrifying the living. Besides this hybrid, there are no other known instances of Naga reproducing with any other native race of Dasht, though they do possess the capability to breed with some species outside of Dasht, such as the Sirens of the Orient.
Growth Rate & Stages
Naga don't reach peak physical maturity until around thirty years of age, but reach sexual maturity at around eighteen years of age. The life cycle of Naga begins with the egg laid in a clutch by the mother. Once hatched, Naga infants are born with an extreme aggression that benefits their infant forms, which is akin to a serrated tooth constrictor with a head more snake than human. Which is to say, that Naga infants are actually more akin to snakes at this stage of life than any other stage. Upon breaching the eggshell, these infant Naga, scent and eye blind violently attack each other, with only the strongest surviving this brutal phase of infancy. Commonly, the most dominant of the infants will constrict and swallow whole their unfortunate siblings, and while uncommon, siblings do occasionally survive, frequently through hiding the dominant siblings bouts of fratricidal hunger.
From this phase on, Naga infants steadily grow, through the process of molting their skin, reaching the equivalent of a human toddler in roughly eight months. Once at this age, they begin to develop a more human like torso, thickening and widening to eventually support the human like form. Their snouts begin to regress, and sink into their faces, becoming more and more human like, though the process is slow and can take up to twelve years before their faces look more or less human. Once they've reached age thirteen, they've developed basic although clumsy human like arms and fingers, and a more or less human torso. This is the stage wherein Naga truly begin to look like their parents, and the appearance that the other races associate with the Naga, that of a Human and Snake like hybrid.
After this slow but steady metamorphosis, they grow in a manner similar to Humans and how they bulk up with age, develop more defined musculature, and so forth. After they reach maturity, they are effectively fully grown, and will look the same up until their death beds, save for their scales and human like hair slowly whitening as they age.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Similar to humans, the Naga are omnivorous, made easier by their ability to chew like humans, thanks to their fangs that fold and retract when not in use, disappearing into oral cavities. They can eat anything that the average human could, though they do digest much slower than humans, capable of going for some number of days between meals. Similarly to humans, Naga must drink water to maintain their bodily functions, though similarly to digestion, can retain fluids for extensive periods.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Generally, the Naga possess the same sensory acuity as the average human, but unlike humans they possess the same infrared sensory organs as bestial serpents. Enabling them to detect even the barest changes in temperature, and sense the presence of other living things around them. Beyond these, they can also taste the air, though this is a sense that must be refined and exercised to come close to wild serpents.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
An emphasis on the use of 'Z' sounds in first names, and 'Ex' or 'Ix' sounds in surnames, most names possessing a heavy emphasis on the sound of the letter S. The difference in naming conventions between genders is that females tend to opt for more harsh sounds in them, like Ux, Zix, Rox, Tark, and similar. Whereas Males tend to go with names that emulate a hissing noise, or the sound of winds, like Ari, Kala, Isshi, Lus, and similar.
Common Male Names:
* Shakari
* Izzeni
* Kalassi
* Assin
* Vissix
Common Female Names:
* Sheladrux
* Callix
* Senidrux
* Mallixiss
Major Organizations
There are two major political organizations, to which almost all Naga must eventually align themselves to, lest they choose to remain unaligned, and unallied. The two factions are known as The Supremacists, an imperial march of military might seeking to conquer the world by any means necessary. And the Change-Skins, a revolutionary party seeking to throw off the practice and shackles of Supremacist Slavery, and prevent their kin's imperial march from destroying the uniqueness and individuality of each race. These two factions are neither good nor evil, each a unique school of thought directly opposed to the other, and always in conflict. Each has redeemable qualities, from The Supremacists dedication to order and law, and the Change-Skins full belief in the equality between races.
Courtship Ideals
The ideal courtship between Naga would be displays of wealth, coupled with gratuitous, borderline competitive displays of their bodies, as far as Males are concerned. Within Naga society, mates are chosen based on material wealth, measured in coinage, slaves, or any other number of valuable commodities. With the males always being the instigators of courtship, culturally speaking, as females have no need to pursue males when the population disparity between genders is so high. Aside from this, there is no tried and true courtship measure or cultural norm beyond displays of value and individual attractiveness as potential mates.
Relationship Ideals
Though sexually poly amorous, Naga are exceptionally mono romantic and even those with the largest of harems always have a particular favorite that lords or ladies over the subservient members. This is a cultural norm, though the individual in charge of these groupings is not gender exclusive, female or male Naga can just as easily be in charge as the other. Ideally, though, the female Naga's primary mate is strong enough and wealthy enough to support her as she gestates and bears the sires children. Since female Naga are exceptionally vulnerable while pregnant, similar to mammals, but tend towards more feral and aggressive behaviors, intensifying through the trimesters. By the end of a pregnancy, female Naga are prone to murderously defensive behaviors, and can very easily be set off, especially so once they lay their clutch. After this, the wealth and power of the mate is even more important simply because the richer they are, the more effectively they can comfort their mates and feed their cravings.
Common Dress Code
Open bottomed skirts, vests, and other 'airy' choices of clothing to maximize their exposure to the suns rays for the sake of regulating temperature. Beyond that, there is no cultural stigma to any particular style of clothing, nor even a dress code to speak of, many Naga opting instead to eschew clothing altogether. In place of the eschewed clothing, many Naga wear jewelry of polished glass, precious metals, and other reflective materials, since these items tend to reflect more of the suns rays over their bodies and reflective scales. This open style of dress is hardly an issue, as Naga do not even experience sexual desire without the aid of Male venom, enabling most Naga to go about their business completely bare.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Without consideration of the Supremacist Slavery mindset, Naga culture is a diverse and storied set of oral traditions, grand stories, and incredible woven tapestries detailing the greatest feats of Naga history. Their culture emphasizing the value of material wealth, and the acquisition of it, less as a measure of greed, and more as a form of competitive bragging. The richest Naga are entitled to brag, and the telling of stories and feats is a celebrated thing, even more so if the storyteller can back it up. Particularly, at the start of the rainy season, Naga towns, villages, and cities celebrate the coming rain with grand parades carrying stages on the backs Kobranji, or Cobra-Camel, trains. Atop these stages, performers reenact historical accomplishments, and show off their acting prowess, celebrating the quests and odysseys of Naga past.
Beyond this, their culture focuses on military might exclusive of political party, and the accomplishments of the individual compared to the masses. Many Naga attempt to become famous by striking out on their own, in the interest of military or entrepreneurial enterprise, to make a reputation for themselves that they can bring back to their homes, elevating their families fame and worth to Naga society as a whole. Predictably this has led to the dominant drive of their culture, a deep rooted drive in every young Naga to make their name and go on all manner of quest or adventure. These adventures can vary, from simple merchant caravans returning with great wealth, to bands of Naga mercenaries establishing themselves as famous warriors.
Finally, in terms of culture, their prideful mindset and belief of themselves to be the superior race has led many male Naga down the path of the slaver, seeding this practice in their culture as a norm. This belief and practice is exacerbated by the process in which Male Naga take their slaves, which to many of the races could be considered the cruelest of practices. Due to the unique aphrodisiac nature of Male Naga venom, many slavers claim their 'merchandise' by subjecting them to bondage against their will. Over some period of time, sometimes hours, sometimes day, they will be constantly and mercilessly bitten by a particular slaver, constantly overloading their minds with the aphrodisiac venom, sending them into sometimes seizure like states of sexual rapture, leaving them bound and unable to relieve themselves. Over enough time, the slave eventually grows addicted to that particular slavers venom, conditioning them to rely on and desire it like a powerful psychoactive drug, resulting in a drug addled and addicted slavery without chains. So normalized has this practice become, that it's grown to encompass any and all Naga, even unaligned or Change-Skin Naga seeking power and control over others, and been accepted as divine right to practice. But it should be emphasized, that Male Naga derive no sexual satisfaction out of their drug addled slaves, and find the stupor of their slaves more amusing than anything, seeing their drug bound loyal property as playthings and toys.
Common Taboos
Above all else, the greatest taboo is the mistreatment of Naga females, due to their markedly lower population compared to male Naga. Beyond that, few other taboos exist beyond worship of, and working in service to The Demon.
History
WIP
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The relations between species is heavily dependent upon the political party to which a Naga owes their allegiance. But generally speaking, Naga are seen as imperialistic conquerors, with a strong emphasis on their military might. Beyond that, the two Naga political parties on opposing sides of the current civil war possess startlingly opposed views that almost perfectly reflect an opposite of every belief of the opposing party. The first, oldest, and most well known party call themselves The Supremacists, a martial empire with legions of slaves filling their ranks, bolstered by an immense slaver merchant economic empire. Standing ooposed, is the infant political movement known as the Change-Skins, a young but incredibly charismatic party, that has split the Naga race down the middle in terms of party membership.
The Supremacist Naga are seen universally with equal parts awe, and hatred, as their marching legions of slave warriors stand like locusts on the battlefield. Imperial to their core, The Supremacists believe their divine mandate is to bring every lesser race under them to serve as servants and students, both. Their imperial and almost religious belief setting their hearts ablaze with nationalistic vigor, and their desire to 'educate' the lesser races, to better prepare them for a paradise of servant living under their rule. Though benevolent at its core, their belief has resulted in countless atrocities, war crimes, and underhanded military tactic towards every race on Dasht. Leaving The Supremacists antagonistically viewed by all races, but especially by the Aashan, to which both races have had a blood feud since the Time of Sealing.
On the opposing side of this viewpoint, is the revolutionary Change-Skins, who share The Supremacists desire to educate the other races, but exclusive from their Slavery focus. Working instead via peaceful and pragmatic operations, they attempt to elevate, educate, and aid the other races in the interest of co-existence. Though their intentions are benevolent, they execute their measures and operations with a cold blooded efficiency, eliminating extreme opposition with a scalpel like death blow, either to reputation, or to body, and sometimes both. Despite their opposed views, The Aashan are still as distrustful of the revolutionaries as the imperial, though the other races tend to find Change-Skins to be amicable, agreeable, and overall reliable. Giving Change-Skin Naga a far more positive appearance to the greater populace of the desert, in comparison to The Supremacists.
How others might see you-
- Your people are known for aggressive conquest, a ceaseless juggernaut rolling over the sands, but at least your kind are straightforward about it.
- Snakes always drip venom from their tongues, the only question is how fast will it kill them.
- Disgusting slaver, brutal warring race, and crueler than a Desert sandstorm.
- You're a Change-skin? Well, I suppose that means you aren't all bad, given time maybe you'll prove yourself.
- Inferior, lesser beings, not worthy of annihilation, but deserving of Naga enlightenment, they only need to learn their place.
- You might wonder how much that exotic, foreign Aashan could be worth being sold at market.
- The Change-Skin combine see slavery as abhorrent, nobody deserves to be treated like property, even those in debt.
- Fame is gained and earned, not a birthright, and it's time for you and your companions to earn yours.
- Fame and Fortune will elevate your family, and eventually, you might even be deemed nobility, best start now!
- There's so many exotic creatures and people to find, capture, and sell, why not try and acquire them all?
- Without the aid of The Supremacist's, the Change-Skin's must make their own fame, and wash away the bad blood from centuries of war, and you'll be first to do that!
- Exiled from The Supremacist's territories for freeing slaves, either of your own free will or under the direction of a Change-Skin revolutionary agent.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Genetic Descendants
Scientific Name
Serpentes Medium Sapiens
Lifespan
The Naga typically live between 120 years, to 150 years.
Average Height
On average, the human torso of Naga Male extends to about two feet long, whereas female Naga torsos extend to roughly three feet long. As for their serpentine lower halves, they average between nine and eleven feet long for males. Females average about ten to thirteen feet long.
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