 According to Nagai myth and legend, the Chiga are demonic beings, resembling the serpentine Nagai, but possessing only a single clawed hand (and even this can melt away into the body, leaving the Chiga to look like a true serpent). The Chiga are malevolent and only occasionally "mischievous" beings, possessed of various strange powers, depending upon the story, with abilities such as invisibility, limited shape-shifting (typically into the forms of non-sapient, small creatures), and "phasing" through solid objects. Also according to legend, they are nigh-invulnerable, except when attacked with weapons made from the wood of a slightly rare tree found in the southern Savan, the Thistlebark Tree. The same name also applies to a type of jungle-dwelling insect (collectively "chigai" or "chigas") to be found in the Savan, well known for attacking the unwary in swarms, capable of bringing down small prey with their bites -- or being a considerable nuisance to larger foes. Sap from the Thistlebark Tree has properties in repelling and killing these pests, leading to much speculation about their relationship to the mythical "Chigai". Alas, it is unknown whether the name for the bug or the "demon" came first.
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