Naga

A Naga Warrior

History

10,000 years ago, during the reign of Night Elf Queen Azshara, there was an elite magic-using sect known as the Highborne, who dabbled in magics that many other elves considered heretical by drawing upon the power of the Well of Eternity. When the Well of Eternity imploded, sundering the world many Highborne were trapped in the blast, however as their bodies were so infused with magic they did not die but were twisted by the powers they had released, influenced through the limited though still quite powerful will of the Old Gods, Azshara and her followers were dragged down beneath the raging sea, cursed - transformed - they took on new shapes and became the hateful serpentine Naga.

When the Naga awakened they set about building a new life for themselves on the ocean depths, within the abyssal sea trench beneath the swirling waters of the Maelstrom they built their new city, Nazjatar. Azshara herself expanded with hate and rage, becoming a massive monstrosity, reflecting the wickedness and malice that had always hidden within her core.

There in the depths of the ocean for ten thousand years the Naga plotted their revenge against the Night Elves. Most Naga are still content to wait however a small group lead by the Naga Sea Witch Lady Vashj answered a summons from Illidan Stormrage to aid him in his quest to destroy the Frozen Throne, these made new allies in the form of their Highborne kin the Blood Elves as well as enemies of the Night Elves and the Alliance, they aided him in the recovering of the Eye of Sargeras and fought with the Blood Elves to take Outland as well as at the Icecrown Glacier agagainst the Scourge. After suffering defeat at the hands of Arthas this group retreated back to Outland with Illidan. More recently Naga have begun to reappear around the coasts of the world, creating settlements of the land most noticeably in the ruins of their old cities in Azshara.

Culture

A female and a male Naga

Males and Females

Naga males and females have different features; in their transformation, males lost some of their intelligence but increased in size and strength. Their faces now appear almost draconic with little resemblence to their Elven heritage. Females kept more of their Elven features and their intelligence. Naga female faces are fair, even beautiful. However, this is offset by the multiple arms that many have, and the heads full of snakes that some have.

Naga society is female dominated, they are considered the intellectual superiors and possessing the greater magical power. Males can rise to prominence and even lead communities, but there is a limit to what they can achieve.

Naga Relations

The Naga have very few allies on the land. The ones who left with Illidan consider the Blood Elves their allies and kin, but most Alliance races have formed their opinions of the Naga based on Night Elf views and therefore will find few friends there. The Horde are dismissed as weakling savages, practitioners of Divine Magic, and the Naga will have no part with them.

The Naga have managed to enslave many Mur'gul. This aquatic race fears the Naga's magical abilities.

The Naga's main rival for dominance of the ocean are Sea Giants; these creatures hate Naga and slay them whenever the giants encounter them.

Related Species

In the depths of Blackrock Mountain, there exists a very Naga-like race of creatures. They have a similar serpentine form, though they are adapted to living amongst the heat and flame of their home, rather than the watery places the Naga inhabit.

Just as the Naga were once Night Elves transformed through the magic of the Sundering and the will of the Old Gods, these "Fire Naga" (for lack of a better term) were likely once humanoid as well - most likely Dark Iron Dwarves.

Combat

File:Naga2.jpg

A Naga Siren

Males form the bulk of the Naga armies. They deploy as infantry in close formations weilding scimitars, tridents and nets while females stand back hurling spells at the enemy. Males may have command over small numbers of troops but females will always be in overall command of any Naga force.

Noteable Nagas

• Queen Azshara
• Lady Vashj
• Lady Serpentra
• Serena Scarscale
• Lady Sarevess
• Lord Shalzaru