Naga
Naga are serpent people. A female Naga is called a Nagi. Males are referred to as Nag. Young Naga are called Nagini. As a result, they aren’t very tall. They are capable of using their tails to give them some height, but they can’t maintain such a posture for long.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
They have pointed ears, slanted eyes, an upper torso that looks human and the lower body of a large snake.
Genetics and Reproduction
In this, they are more snake-like than humanoid as they only come into season during the summer months. Like the snakes they resemble, the Nagas are egg layers. Despite the differences in their body colorings, all Naga reproduce in the same manner. They employ internal fertilization through a pair of forked hemipenes stored inverted in the tail of the male. The hemipenes are grooved in order to better get a grip on the walls of the female’s cloaca.
Once the female has conceived, she builds a nest for her eggs even though they won’t be laid for some time. Nagas are ovoviviparous, keeping the eggs inside their bodies until they are 5-7 days away from hatching. Prior to laying her eggs, the female doesn’t often travel far. Once the eggs have been laid, the female will coil her tail around the nest, refusing to leave. It is the male’s job to bring her food. In each clutch, a female will usually lay three eggs, though two and four egg clutches aren’t unheard of. All of the eggs laid are fertile. It’s rare that any of them don’t hatch.
The new hatched Nagini are far more able to function than a human baby. They can move under their own power, but can’t really see well and their hearing isn’t so good. Like all Nagas, Nagini have an excellent sense of smell and can identify both parents and siblings by scent if they are exposed to them enough in the hours just after hatching.
The Nagini stay with their parents until they reach full maturity, a process of about twenty years. Sometimes, the parents will have other clutches while the first one matures, but most wait until the first has left the nest. Since Naga live for a long time, this isn’t really a problem. A pair of Naga can have quite a few clutches over their reproductive life time.
Once the female has conceived, she builds a nest for her eggs even though they won’t be laid for some time. Nagas are ovoviviparous, keeping the eggs inside their bodies until they are 5-7 days away from hatching. Prior to laying her eggs, the female doesn’t often travel far. Once the eggs have been laid, the female will coil her tail around the nest, refusing to leave. It is the male’s job to bring her food. In each clutch, a female will usually lay three eggs, though two and four egg clutches aren’t unheard of. All of the eggs laid are fertile. It’s rare that any of them don’t hatch.
The new hatched Nagini are far more able to function than a human baby. They can move under their own power, but can’t really see well and their hearing isn’t so good. Like all Nagas, Nagini have an excellent sense of smell and can identify both parents and siblings by scent if they are exposed to them enough in the hours just after hatching.
The Nagini stay with their parents until they reach full maturity, a process of about twenty years. Sometimes, the parents will have other clutches while the first one matures, but most wait until the first has left the nest. Since Naga live for a long time, this isn’t really a problem. A pair of Naga can have quite a few clutches over their reproductive life time.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
For hair, skin tone, and eye color, however, the race tends to be largely similar. They have medium brown to black hair (though the occasional light brown/dirty blond will pop up). Eyes tend to be yellow, orange, or green.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Nagas see well in the dark. They dislike the cold as they are cold blooded. They adore the heat.
Civilization and Culture
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Culturally speaking, the Naga are fairly straightforward. They have a strict code of honor and view any breach of it as the highest offense. Duels to prove that one is telling the truth are common and taken quite seriously. It is very cowardly to refuse a challenge or to back out of one. Gender doesn’t really matter to the Naga as they focus more on one’s skills than what reproductive organs one has. Caste and skill are what matters.
Masks are very important to their culture and are used in many ceremonies and in the telling of the important stories and sagas. The Caste of Artists includes the actors and storytellers as a result. There is a group of young men and women who are give the life long task of preserving the most important of the masks, ones that have been around since before they began recording their history. They are said to have been given to the Naga by Sahalje’ran the Masked, mother of the Naga race. It is a sacred obligation to have then entrusted into your care and the responsibility is not granted lightly. The chosen ones, called andalegri, undergo intensive training in the care, preservation, storage, and use of each of the sacred masks.
They are well known for their handicrafts and art. They make stone carvings, sculptures, paintings, clothing, and jewelry. On occasion, they do leatherwork as well, specifically for making armor for other Naga and saddles for those Naga who choose to join the Order of the Rose. While those of other Castes are discouraged from doing so, those who are from Castes other than the Warrior ones may join the order, though they are regarded coldly by others of their race and aren’t really welcome back home.
Caste System
For as long as their recorded history extends, this very strict system has been in place and has remained unchanged. Each Caste level consists of between seven and twelve family names and a set number of permissions and duties go with each level.
1. Caste of Rulers – 7 families
2. Caste of Courtiers – 9 families
3. Caste of Warriors (Lancers) – 12 families
4. Caste of Warriors (Archers) – 12 families
5. Caste of Warriors (Staff weapons) – 12 families
6. Caste of Warriors (Defenders) – 12 families
7. Caste of Scholars – 10 families
8. Caste of Artists – 8 families
9. Caste of Merchants – 8 families
10. Caste of Constructors – 11 families
11. Caste of Farmers and Herdsmen – 12 families
12. Caste of Workers – 12 families 13. Caste of Priests – 9 families
It should be noted that while marriage is not permitted outside of one’s Caste, they do recognize that with a social structure as rigid as this one there is a heavy danger of inbreeding. As such, to keep the bloodlines pure, women are permitted to bear children with a man from another Caste, though permission must be sought through the proper channels first.
This process involves petitioning the head of your family name, the head of the Caste, and the Assembly. Only when the petition is approved can a woman seek a suitable father.
Masks are very important to their culture and are used in many ceremonies and in the telling of the important stories and sagas. The Caste of Artists includes the actors and storytellers as a result. There is a group of young men and women who are give the life long task of preserving the most important of the masks, ones that have been around since before they began recording their history. They are said to have been given to the Naga by Sahalje’ran the Masked, mother of the Naga race. It is a sacred obligation to have then entrusted into your care and the responsibility is not granted lightly. The chosen ones, called andalegri, undergo intensive training in the care, preservation, storage, and use of each of the sacred masks.
They are well known for their handicrafts and art. They make stone carvings, sculptures, paintings, clothing, and jewelry. On occasion, they do leatherwork as well, specifically for making armor for other Naga and saddles for those Naga who choose to join the Order of the Rose. While those of other Castes are discouraged from doing so, those who are from Castes other than the Warrior ones may join the order, though they are regarded coldly by others of their race and aren’t really welcome back home.
Caste System
For as long as their recorded history extends, this very strict system has been in place and has remained unchanged. Each Caste level consists of between seven and twelve family names and a set number of permissions and duties go with each level.
1. Caste of Rulers – 7 families
2. Caste of Courtiers – 9 families
3. Caste of Warriors (Lancers) – 12 families
4. Caste of Warriors (Archers) – 12 families
5. Caste of Warriors (Staff weapons) – 12 families
6. Caste of Warriors (Defenders) – 12 families
7. Caste of Scholars – 10 families
8. Caste of Artists – 8 families
9. Caste of Merchants – 8 families
10. Caste of Constructors – 11 families
11. Caste of Farmers and Herdsmen – 12 families
12. Caste of Workers – 12 families 13. Caste of Priests – 9 families
It should be noted that while marriage is not permitted outside of one’s Caste, they do recognize that with a social structure as rigid as this one there is a heavy danger of inbreeding. As such, to keep the bloodlines pure, women are permitted to bear children with a man from another Caste, though permission must be sought through the proper channels first.
This process involves petitioning the head of your family name, the head of the Caste, and the Assembly. Only when the petition is approved can a woman seek a suitable father.
Common Myths and Legends
Naga Deities
Nelar the Hidden
Kalhalla the Seer
Tehaksha Soul Eater
Turitha Green Thumb
Kain’uras the Bold
Sahalje’ran the Masked
Nelar the Hidden
Kalhalla the Seer
Tehaksha Soul Eater
Turitha Green Thumb
Kain’uras the Bold
Sahalje’ran the Masked
Lifespan
A Naga can live for a long time, as much as a thousand years. 250 years would be considered short in their eyes. At present, the oldest living member of their race is 964 years old and is a member of the Warrior Caste.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The serpent portion of a Naga’s body varies in shades of red. Their skin tone varies in shades of grey. Some have even had a greenish grey tone.
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