Arisaeman Naga (ah-ree-say-man nah-guh)

Born of the primordial demon Libidina, the Arisaeman Naga, also known as the Lesser Naga, are one of the four infernal races, and close relatives of the Cannan Naga, also known as the Greater Naga. These naga, while closely tied to Libidina, do not have quite the same force of power as the Cannan Naga; they grow to a significanly smaller size, have hair and fully human upper bodies, and have higher, more humanoid voices. Their infernal instinct is centered around pride, particularly gift-giving and bringing pride to the ones they love. The Arisaeman Naga consist of the following types of naga:

Copperhead
Cottonmouth
Ball Python
Hognose
King Cobra
Rattlesnake

Each variety of naga was created at a specific temple; Siccus, the largest of the surviving temples, is the capital of Arisaema, and the birthplace of the King Cobra family. The Sansevierias, only surviving family of the King Cobra line, rule over all Arisaeman Naga.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Arisaeman naga appear entirely human from the waist up. From the waist below, their bodies are nearly identical to that of a serpent, yet lacking most of the internal organs of snakes. Their tails only serve the purposes of locomotion and housing the reproductive organs of a naga, which are located, in Arisaeman naga, in the hip area. Their tails are prehensile, to a degree, and extremely flexible. Arisaeman grow up to eight feet in height, and up to forty feet in length. All naga, whether Arisaeman or Cannan, have retractable fangs, a forked tongue, a glottis, and a jaw that can extend further than that of a "normal" mortal or infernal. Hognose naga are the exception to this; their fangs are permanently extended, yet small, and grooved to allow their mild venom to flow from their glands down their teeth when needed. Venomous naga have vemon glands; certain naga also have heat pits. All naga, no matter their "parent" serpent variety, or, in other words, the snake that they resemble, have slit pupils, as all naga, Arisaeman and Cannan alike, were originally primarily nocturnal. Hybrid Naga vary in their appearances and inner anatomy; however, the majority of the time, they resemble Arisaeman naga in both. Their voices, scale patterning, and size, however are extremely variable, particularly due to the Cannan Nagas' demonic instinct/curse.

Conservation Status

Protected. Following naga hunts at the hands of the Dolus military, and a treaty signed between the governments of Dolus, Arisaema, and Canna, all naga of Arisaeman descent are protected, by law, from being hunted, kidnapped, killed, and/or eaten by any party of Dolus allegiance.

Geographic Distribution