Page 29 - Serpent Kingdoms

NAGAS

followers, Shekinester allows some nagas to access divine powers sense of individuality. An evil naga mastermind attended
through arcane spellcasting. See Deities of the Scaled Ones in by a cult of worshipers perceives itself as effectively alone,
the Appendix for more information on specifi c deities. with the lesser races acting as tools or physical extensions
of its will. Likewise, a good-aligned naga teacher attended
Other Deities by a band of disciples also perceives itself as alone, with the
lesser races serving as empty containers in which to store
Venerated by Nagas its wisdom. Such narcissistic racial perceptions give rise to
a complete intolerance for disloyalty—after all, a creature
The following deities also have signifi cant naga followings.
should be able to direct its own limbs without fearing
argument or betrayal.
BANE, THE BLACK LORD
Although Bane is part of the Faerûnian pantheon venerated
primarily by humans, many banelar nagas are also drawn to Naga Equipment
the tyranny of the Black Lord. According to legend, Bane once
Nagas use little in the way of mundane equipment. A few have
taught his human followers the rediscovered ritual for transform-
armor specially designed for their sinuous bodies, but most shun
ing water nagas into banelar nagas, thus ensuring himself a loyal
it because it inhibits their movement. Weapons are useless to
following within this minor naga subrace. Many banelar nagas
nagas, since they have no manipulative appendages.
that had strayed to the faiths of Cyric and Iyachtu Xvim during
Bane’s absence from the pantheon have since returned to the Black Naga Encounters
Lord’s fold, swelling the ranks of his followers once again.
Banelar nagas that ally with priests of Bane are considered
Player characters can encounter individual nagas almost any-
mid-level priests in the church hierarchy, with all the at-
where, often supported by cults or small groups of followers.
tendant privileges and duties stemming from such a ranking.
Both human cities and remote locations can hide naga lairs,
Further information about the Black Lord can be found in
though good-aligned nagas often make the locations of their
Faiths and Pantheons.
lairs public so that they can direct the activities of their
followers openly.
CYRIC, THE DARK SUN
During the fourteen years that Bane was dead, a large number of
banelar nagas forged alliances with the church of Cyric in order Ready-to-Use
to further their own evil ends. Since Bane’s return, however, Villains and Allies
most of them have gone back to their traditional faith. The
remaining Cyricist banelar nagas tend to be of neutral evil or Nagas often pursue prestige classes of various kinds, particularly
chaotic evil alignment, and they are actively hunted by followers those that enhance their spellcasting ability. The naga characters
of the Black Lord. Further information about the Dark Sun can presented below can be woven into adventures or encountered
be found in Faiths and Pantheons. individually.
Relations with MAHARISHI, SEER OF PROCALITH
Maharishi lairs amidst the ruins of Procalith at the western end
Other Races of the Dolphingulf, in the shadow of the Delphin Mountains.
Known as the Seer of Procalith, the wise guardian naga has
Nagas are extremely conscious of their status among the various made the study of the sarrukh and the yuan-ti its life’s work,
sentient and magic-wielding races of Faerûn. They view most focusing especially on their history and magic. Thus, the naga
other creatures as beneath them and in need of leadership, has become known far and wide as a skilled diviner and sage
education, or complete domination. This belief leads many of all things serpentine. Adventurers of all stripes seek out
dark and spirit nagas to establish small cults of servitors who Maharishi before delving into the Black and Mhair Jungles,
worship them as divine entities, and many guardian and irides- knowing that the information it can provide may mean the dif-
cent nagas to become teachers and guides for those who would ference between life and death in the heartlands of the yuan-ti.
benefi t from their insight and wisdom. Conversely, many nagas Those who survive such treks often pay the mysterious oracle a
willingly serve beings with potent, internal magic that exceeds second visit upon their return to fi nd out which of the artifacts
their own mastery of the Art, including dragons, phaerimms, they have recovered are valuable and which bear fell curses of
sarrukh, sharn, and certain yuan-ti. the yuan-ti.
Nagas have far less diffi culty leading large numbers of Maharishi’s actual lair has never been found. Those who seek
lesser creatures than they do interacting with others of their the naga simply camp out for a night in the ruined city, putting
own kind, since subservient creatures do not challenge their to papyrus a summary of their questions or laying out the items

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