Naga

Naga
(Creature)
Uncommon Large Aberration Level Varies Alignment LG NG CG LN N CN LE NE CE Images of nagas Source: Bestiary, pg(s). 242–243 Type Aberration CR Varies Environment Varies Alignment LG NG CG LN N CN LE NE CE Images of nagas Source: Bestiary, pg(s). 211–213

Nagas, or "wormfolk" as they are derogatorily known, are a family of strange creatures found throughout Golarion. They share the same general physical shape: a long, serpentine body with a humanoid head. All are at least of average human intelligence. Known naga-kin include the water naga who predominantly dwell in warm ocean waters, the subterranean dark naga, the benevolent guardian naga, the spiritual lunar naga, the sorcerous spirit naga, and the five-headed royal naga.

History

According to myth, nagas are the children of Ravithra, the Vudran goddess of snakes. A canny matriarch, she once tried to grant her children immortality but was stopped by the god Gruhastha and the first garuda Sudachala, causing the nagas to spread in different directions and diverge into different subspecies. This also began the enmity between nagas and garudas.

Nevertheless, the nagas did become the first rulers of Vudra in the Age of Serpents, with the vishkanyas, grippli, catfolk, and humans as their servants. The humans built great palaces and temples where the nagas could live and be worshipped, and the nagas in turn created classes of human professionals that would become the foundation of the future Vudrani caste system.

Eventually, the naga empire suddenly fell. The exact reason has been lost to time: some myths blame Gruhastha and Sudachala again, others blame Desna for having put them into sleep for 444 years while their empire crumbled, while some archaeologists of the Pathfinder Society claim that the cause was just a mundane human rebellion.

After the loss of Vudra, the remaining nagas became paranoid, retreated from the new human civilisation to live in ruins, and stopped cooperating with other naga subspecies. The exception lies in Nagajor, a nation in southwestern Tian Xia, founded by the naga sorcerer Nalinivati and considered to be the sole remnant of the ancient naga empire. They have also spread across Golarion but remain most common in Nagajor, and some even view Nagajor as their ancestral homeland as if to attempt to ignore the shameful loss of Vudra. Despite the general loss of Vudra, there are still some mahajanapadas within the Impossible Kingdoms, particularly within the Crying Jungle region, that are openly ruled by nagas.

On Golarion

Nagas can be found across the Pashman region of the desert satrapy of Qadira.

References

Paizo published a major article about nagas in Siege of Stone.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.