Naga

 

Species Name: Naga, Neak, Nak, Nag

Nāga is the Sanskrit and Pāli word for a deity or class of entity or being, taking the form of a very great snake specifically the King Cobra, found in Hinduism and Buddhism. In the great epic Mahabharata, the depiction of Nagas tends toward the negative, and they are portrayed as the deserving victims of the snake sacrifice and of predation by the eagle-king Garuda. At the same time, nagas are important players in many of the events narrated in the epic, frequently no more evil nor deceitful than the other protagonists, and sometimes on the side of good. The epic frequently characterizes Nagas as having a mixture of human and serpent-like traits. 

They are a result of experimentation in Atlantis back in 89,510 BC. After Atlantis fell they fled to various countries. In India they made a home deep inside the Kanchanjenga mountains and became objects of great reverence where it was believed that they bring fertility and prosperity to their venerators. In Tibet the Naga moved into lakes and underground streams and were thought to guard treasure. In Laos they were believed by locals to live in the Laotian stretch of the Mekong river and estuaries.

Type: Humanoid Snake

Physical Traits: Nagas appear as large snake like creatures with humanoid heads. They often range widely in colouring and scale patterns, but are all usually about the same size. Most will stand at a height about equal to or just above that of a regular human, but because of the length of their trailing tails they can raise themselves up by a few feet, to intimidate foes, or simply get a better view.

Height: 4-6 ft

Weight: 80-150 lbs

Abilities: Nagas can alter their bodies at will to become fully human or fully snake. In Naga form their tail may be used prehensiley to lift their own body weight, to wrap around victims and crush them or as a powerful bludgeoning weapon. The tail's strength is equal to the Naga's STR +2.

Mobility: Legs or coils

Sensory Organs: Visual

Communication: Vocal

Reproduction: Sexual

INT: 3D6, WIS: 3D6, STR: 3D6, DEX: 4D6, CON: 3D6, CHA: 3D6, MR: 3D6, HPs: CON +D8

Orbit/Climate: See Earth

Feeding Habits: Omnivore

Lifespan: 90 years

Technology: 2

Culture: Standard. Diversified mix of kind and evil people.

Government: Tribal

Population: 130,000


 

Creating a Naga character

Step 1: Attributes
Roll attributes as normal but DEX is 4D6. Mana = INT + WIS x3. Mana is recovered at a rate of 10 per hour if remain active (but not using magic) and 20 per hour if asleep. Mana can however be permanently traded for HPs at a rate of 1 for 1. Hit points = CON +8, +8 per level.
Step 2: Skills

Choose skills in the normal manner according to the character's class.
Step 3: Abilities

Nagas gain all the following free;

Naga Body - All Naga can morph between human, Naga and snake form (not unlike a Were). It requires one action to shift between each form. In each form they have 2 fangs which do D6 piercing damage.

In Naga form their tail may be used prehensiley to lift their own body weight, to wrap around victims and crush them or as a powerful bludgeoning weapon. The tail's strength is equal to the Naga's STR +2.

Additionally Nagas start with 35 Points to spend on any of the following abilities. As they earns more experience they may buy or rebuy more abilities.
Ability Cost Notes
Enhanced Taste 5 Can identify the specific ingredients of anything that have previously eaten, drunk or sample tasted. This includes chemicals, animals, plants, toxins and poisons.
Hypnotise 5 The character can hypnotise victims. He can implant an idea into a victim’s head (eg, I’m your friend, you’re sleepy, etc) but only outside of combat. He can also block a specific memory in another for 1 week per WIS, can save at start and once per week. All powers require eye contact and speech. 
Increased Thac0 10 +1 Thac0 with melee weapons at levels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19.
Natural Chameleon 5 Using this ability the Naga can blend into and render himself nearly invisible in wooded areas, fields of tall grass, clumps of bushes, lake, marsh, mountainous or subterranean terrain. When hiding he can conceal himself from attackers and eavesdrop on his enemies. He can hide near a well travelled road and secretly observe passersby, or conceal himself near an enemy campsite waiting for an opportune moment to steal their supplies. 

He may also move with a minimum of sound, almost as if he's walking on air. Even creatures with the sharpest ears are no more likely to detect his presence than they are to hear a feather drop. The ability works equally well in icy mountains, heavily wooded forests, or any other type of wilderness terrain. This goes well beyond the stealth skill raising it to a supernatural level and preventing any non magical detection.

Natural Mana 10 +10 Mana at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.
Nightvision 5 See in darkness up to 30 metres.
Poison Bite 5 The character's blood is a lethal poison which can kill a human size lifeform in 30 minutes, –1 minute per level. One minute is the minimum it can drop to. The poison can be administered into a victim via the character's fangs.
Snake Empathy 5 Nagas can establish telepathic communication with any normal or giant snake within line of sight if he does nothing else in the round. The animal must have a minimum INT of 1. This has the following benefits:
He can communicate to the creature that he desires its friendship. If the offer is sincere (and the animal will be able to sense if it isn't), the creature can be calmed and will not attack or flee unless it is attacked.

Further he can then recruit this animal as an ally. Once he does so he permanently psionically links with the animal turning it into a familiar. At any point he may see through the familiar's eyes, smell through its nose, hear with its ears, taste with its mouth or link with any of its other senses (including supernatural ones). The two are always in constant telepathic contact.

True Sight 10 The character can see the true image of any person or object regardless of any form of concealment, disguise, illusion or invisibility. This also includes the ability to detect whether it is magical, and whether it is harmful or helpful.
Will 5 This ability gives the character +1 per 5 WIS to save vs any Possession, Mind Control, Paralysis, Sleep and Charm based attacks. 
Step 5: Classes
Any but Shaman is the favoured mage class.

 

Earth Races