Naga: The Serpent King
The Lords of the Underworld
In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, snake are not pests. They are gods. The Nagas are a semi-divine race of serpent-people who inhabit Patala (the underworld) or the bottom of lakes and oceans. Their civilization is opulent. Their palaces are constructed of coral and gold, lit not by the sun, but by the bioluminescent jewels set into their hoods. They are the keepers of wisdom and the guardians of the earth's treasures.
The Shapeshifters
A Naga is fluid in form.
- The Serpent: A massive king cobra or dragon-like snake.
- The Hybrid: A human torso with a serpentine tail, sheltered by a canopy of multiple cobra hoods.
- The Human: A flawless human disguise, betrayed only by a forked tongue or cold skin.
The Lords of Weather
Nagas control the hydrological cycle. They are the masters of rain, rivers, and tides.
- Benevolence: If honored with rituals, they bring the monsoon rains that feed the rice crops.
- Malevolence: If offended (by pollution or disrespect), they withhold rain causing drought, or unleash it causing catastrophic flooding.
The Enemy
The Naga has one natural predator: The Garuda. The giant divine eagle is their eternal enemy. To survive the Garuda's attacks, Nagas learned to swallow heavy stones to weigh themselves down, making it impossible for the bird to lift them from the ocean.
The Final Warning
If you see strange lights rising from the Mekong River, it is a reminder. We build cities on the land, but the Nagas rule the water, so do not poison the river.
