Cultures: Savan Territories
Cultures: Savan Territories

  • 1.0 Major Species of the Savan Territories
  • 1.1 Nigai
  • 1.1.1 Nagai
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  • 1.2 Jingai
  • 1.2.1 Shigai
  • 1.2.2 Rokugai
  • 1.2.3 Kirigai
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  • 1.3 Chigai
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  • 2.0 Other People of the Savan Territories
  • 2.1 Savanites
  • 2.2 Outsiders
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  • 3.0 Major Locations
  • 3.1 Nagai
  • 3.2 Bromthen
  • 3.3 Xenea
  • 3.4 Kilmanjar
  • 3.5 Desolate Band
  • 3.6 Beastlands
  • 3.7 Jadai
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  • 4.0 Nagai Culture
  • 5.0 Nagai Religion
  • 5.1 The Golden Serpent
  • 5.2 The Joyous Wiggler Cult
  • 5.3 The Emperor Cult
  • 5.4 The Star
  • 5.5 Ksh'atga
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  • 6.0 Nagai Military
  • 7.0 Languages
  • 7.1 Imperial
  • 7.2 Silent Tongue
  • 7.3 Rephidim Standard
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  • 8.0 Nagai Expressions
  • 9.0 Nagai Perceptions of History
  • 10.0 Magic in the Nagai Empire
  • 11.0 Architecture
  • 12.0 Selona Rickshaws
  • 13.0 The Emperor-Potentate
  • 14.0 Slitherball
  • 15.0 Nagai Cuisine
  • 15.1 Naga Truffles
  • 15.2 Yiffles
  • 15.3 Squibbits
  • 15.4 Oghnoighs
  • 15.5 Smaller Nagas
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    1.0 Major Species of the Savan Territories

    Although the Nagai Empire has collapsed, most of the territories -- independent as they may now be -- are still greatly influenced by the culture imposed by the Nagai for millenia, and likely will be for a long time hence. It should be noted that the Nagai Empire was a culture marked by a very complex caste system, the extent of which has never been formally recorded in any medium. Classification of the “races” of the Nagai Empire was based first upon the number of limbs one has, and upon the presence or lack of mammalian features. (Namely, of the Nagai races, only the Kirigai sport mammalian features, except as odd mutations.) Past that, sub-castes tend to depend upon the relative size of one’s sub-race.

    1.1 Nigai

    The term “Nigai” means, literally, in the Imperial tongue, “People of Two”. It is assumed to mean “people with two limbs”, in the context of describing races. This term is used to encompass the sub-races of the Nagai that have two arms. However, it is a rarely-used word. In Nagai culture, a person is either a Naga, or else he or she is a Jinga (see below). This term, therefore, is considered redundant. (In fact, it would be akin to referring to humans as "primates". It may be considered an insult, depending upon the context.)

    The term is occasionally used in reference to the "sea serpents" of Bromthen, who resemble Nagas, but are very large, amphibious, and typically display odd non-snake features, such as webbed fin "ears" on each side of the head, spiny backs, and sometimes carp whiskers. These amphibians consider themselves Nagai, but there are those who have tried to reclassify them as merely "Nigai".

    1.1.1 Nagai

    Singular is “Naga”. Plural is either “Naga”, “Nagas”, or “Nagai”, though the latter is more often to refer to “the Nagai people” as a race or nation, rather than a specific group of snakes. (“Nagai”, when referring to multiple Nagas, is almost always used as “the Nagai”. If someone just says “Nagai”, it may be assumed that you are referring to the nation -- that is, the Nagai Empire - or else the city of Nagai, depending upon the context.)

    Nagas are generally uniform in shape, though varying greatly in size and coloration. The “average” Naga is snake-like in form, resembling some Earth-parallel snake species (though more exotic variations are possible), but with a humanoid upper torso with a pair of arms attached. Nagas have no legs. Some of the smallest of the Nagai are the lowly Garters, who may be only two to three feet in length, while the much larger Anacondas or Boas may be several times that length. Most Nagas, however, standing on their coils, are fairly close to human size. (Their apparent height is easily modified, depending upon how much of their body length they wind up into a supporting coil.)

    Nagas are cold-blooded reptiles, and therefore are not regularly found in colder regions. The warm regions of the Savan are most ideal for the Nagai. Certain sub-species have peculiar abilities or features appropriate to the “type” of snake they correspond to. For instance, Rattlesnake Nagai have “rattle” tails, Cobra Nagai have flaring hoods, Rock Python Nagai tend to be good climbers, and Sidewinder Nagai have a distinctive way of moving. Those corresponding to poisonous snakes /tend/ to also have venomous fangs, but this is not always a given. (There’s quite a great deal of mutation. A very common variance is that some Nagas have eyelids, while others do not.)

    On occasion, one may find “Nagas” who sport a hairy mane, or have more than two arms. The former would technically classify a Naga as a “Kiriga”, and the latter would classify the creature as a Shiga or Rokuga, simply by number of limbs. Such a creature may alternately be called a Naga in some circles, or labeled as one of the sub-species in others. His social station will do much to determine just which tendency prevails, as the Nagai have much higher status in the Empire than the “lesser races”.

    Nagas do not chew their food. They swallow it whole, often swallowing live prey. A common staple of Nagas abroad is the “yiffle”: a blue-furred creature that somewhat resembles a cross between a pig and a fox, and which exhibits disgusting habits, despite its “cute” appearance. It happens to be fairly prolific, and easy to maintain … and, as Nagai gourmets would attest, it has a distinctive wiggle that is pleasing to the palette as it goes down. How a Naga judges a culture in terms of its level of “civilization” will be greatly impacted by whether or not he can find a restaurant with yiffles on the menu.

    In the caste system, the Nagai are predominant, but there are different levels for different Nagas. The lowly (and small) Garters are so low in caste amongst the Nagai that they are sometimes treated as inferiors even to certain Jingai. Those of higher station are often of physical stature, though there are occasional exceptions in cases of extraordinary ability on the part of normally inferior sub-types.

    It should be noted that there are exceptions to this rule. In the Bromthen Territory, and in other coastal areas, there can be found a number of "sea serpent" Nagas, which can grow to enormous size. However, their aquatic natures and their overly large girth translate into preventing them from getting involved in the mainstream of Nagai culture. Nagai City is too dry for them, and they're too large to get around. Plus, their features (webbed fingers, finned "ears" on their heads, etc.) prompt some to question whether they're really Nagai at all.

    1.2 Jingai

    Jingai, in Imperial, means “People Who Are Not”. Implied is that what they are not is Nagai. This term is used to refer to all the reptilian and pseudo-reptilian races found in the former Nagai Empire.

    1.2.1 Shigai

    Singular is “Shiga”. Literally, “People of Four”.

    Shigas vary greatly in appearance, the unifying factors being that they are reptilian and have four limbs. Those four limbs may be any combination of arms, legs or sometimes even wings. Some may correspond to Earth-type lizard species, but there are plenty of bizarre variations. Not all Shigai are genetically compatible with each other --- a complete study of the complexities of the “sub-races” of the Nagai Empire would be too exhaustive to explore in depth, except to say that “Shigai” is not truly a race name.

    [OOC: In other words, it falls under “suspension of disbelief” and “GM hand-waving”.]

    Shigas have somewhat less variation in size than the Nagai, tending more toward approximately human-sized height ranges (though tending toward the shorter end of the scale).

    1.2.2 Rokugai

    Singular is “Rokuga”. Literally, “People of Six”.

    Rokugai vary as greatly as the Shigai in appearance, and tend to be human-sized or larger. Their common factor is that they all have six limbs, in any combination of arms, legs and sometimes even wings. They also stereotypically are more muscular than Shigas and the average Naga, and their station tends to be even lower in the Nagai caste system, working as brute laborers and soldiers -- unless they have wings, in which case they may have slightly more prestigious employment opportunities available to them. Many commonly found types found in the service of the splinter territories of the former Nagai Empire are four-armed brutes, or “centauroid” four-legged workers. On average, they also tend to be less intelligent than the other Imperial races. As with all Imperial races, however, there are exceptions to the “rule”.

    1.2.3 Kirigai

    Singular is “Kiriga”. Literally, “Strange People”.

    Imperial lore holds that, long ago, there either were no Kirigai, or else they were occasional odd mutations of the other species. However, given that they are not genetically compatible with the other Imperial races, it is quite possible that they may simply represent a group of quasi-reptilian races that happened to be on Sinai and ended up throwing their lot in with the Nagai Empire, at some distant point in history. They most commonly have a humanoid build, with four limbs, and mammalian features -- such as manes, tufted tails, and the like. There are, however, some winged Kirigas who might have a total of six limbs, and a mutated Naga who sports a mohawk might be labeled as a Kiriga as well.

    Kirigai are rarer than the other types, and much more socially mobile -- for better or for worse. They tend to be found more in “middle-class” areas of society, rather than the topmost or lowermost strata. They are found in largest concentration on the island territory of Jadai, which serves as a sort of "stepping stone" between Lamu and Nagai. The Kirigas here have features that make them appear to be humanoid versions of oriental dragons and ki'rin.

    1.3 Chigai

    Literally, “People of One”. Rumors tell of, on occasion, a Naga being born mutated, with only a single arm … but such is Nagai culture that they have no problem whatsoever with quietly snuffing out the life of such a mutant before it has had much of a chance to begin. In Nagai legend, the Chigai are malevolent spirits, equivalent to demons, resembling wicked-looking Nagas that sport only a single taloned arm sticking out from the middle of the chest. Despite their mythical status, they still usually get mention in any complete listing of the Nagai racial listings.

    Perhaps coincidental, but probably not, “Chigas” are also small, annoying, biting insects found in the Savan.

    2.0 Other People of the Savan Territories

    In the Nagai Empire, mammals were considered to be an under-class at best. Now, attitudes are still stacked against mammals in most of the splinter territories left after the fall of the Nagai Empire, though this is no longer unilateral.

    2.1 Savanites

    The Savanites have long been the slaves of the Nagai ... and, as the Nagas did trade with the rest of Sinai, so also spread the practice of using Savanites as slaves. Nagai culture has long held that Savanites are less than sapient, with many oft-quoted medical studies concluding that they are merely “clever animals” who happen to sport humanoid form. They’re basically seen as monkeys (or something close) would be seen on Earth. Their lack of ability to speak is seen as a proof of their lack of sapience ... and having spotted fur (particularly if one is a feline) has a certain onus to it that tends to get one labeled as “stupid” or “primitive”, even if not a Savanite.

    Very recent developments have put the status of the Savanites in question, as a prominent hero of the Empire, the Archaeologist Bassai of Nijushiho Institute, was granted a boon by the Emperor-Potentate. He had requested that Savanites be treated as equals with the Jingai. This has resulted in many conflicts, as the majority of the Nagai see Savanites as unworthy of such status, and even Jingai see the Savanites as inferiors -- belonging further down on the pecking order.

    Eventually, this escalated to such a point that war broke out between Rephidim and the Nagai Empire, over the supposed plan of the Nagai to drop a captured "Boomer" on the City of Hands. (In retrospect, it's dubious that they could have done so, unless Fetiss Sky Island just happened to pass directly over the City. The City of Hands was located in a Forbidden Zone, so flying over in an airship and dropping the bomb wouldn't have worked.)

    Eventually, the City of Hands was destroyed, and the free Savanites there scattered -- some of them living in the wilderness as they had for countless years before. When the Emperor-Potentate was assassinated, and the Empire began to break up, the new Priest-Queen of the Savanites was bold enough to claim leadership of the territory of Xenea, setting its capitol in the ruined city of Safar. Now, Xenea is a nation populated by settlements of Savanites as well as various Jingai, and they purportedly open their doors to other species as well, to live in harmony.

    2.2 Outsiders

    Other races may be found in the territory of Nagai Proper, but even if they may be honored guests, they can never be considered citizens, nor can they own property. Most non-reptilian races found in Nagai City will be indentured servants or true slaves, with the occasional guest from the outside. Imperials have a certain jingoistic attitude toward mammalian races (and, to a lesser degree, avians) and their nations. It is rumored that it may be so bad that a large Naga might even feel justified in having a cowardly Skeek for a snack.

    Elsewhere, the status of outsiders varies greatly depending upon the location. Mammals are still on the low rung of the hierarchy in Bromthen. In Kilmanjar, there is no authority to speak of, so it's almost moot. In Xenea, just about anybody is welcome. In Jadai, the Kirigai don't mind mammals at all, being only pseudo-reptiles themselves.

    3.0 Major Locations

    The Nagai Empire has now split into its component territories, many of which are too small and petty to bother drawing on any major maps of Sinai. The territory of Nagai ("Nagai Proper") claims to be the seat of the Nagai Empire, but its power is almost negligible now.

    3.1 Nagai

    The strongest hold that the Emperor-Potentate has over his domain is over the nation of Nagai, the capitol of which is Nagai City (also known as Imperial City, or simply “Nagai”). This is where the largest concentration of citizens of the Nagai Empire can be found, and most of the sites of great import to modern culture in this part of the world. It takes up most of the southern tip of the continent. Despite being so far south on the continent, it is still a very warm area -- which is just fine with reptiles, of course.

    3.2 Bromthen

    This small coastal strip on the western side of the Savan is a forested wilderness, best known for having the largest concentration of the big (and tasty) Bromthen Forest-Hog ... and its favorite prey, the Bromthen Pumpkin-Truffle. Otherwise, it is more of a “frontier” land, without much of note, other than being the source of all manner of tall tales fed by adventurers to the folks back in Nagai City.

    The "Bromthen Flood Plains" are so named because, at certain times of the year, these lowlands -- nearly at sea level -- are completely flooded for weeks on end. Cageroot trees (which look like trees with exposed roots, as if the trees are on "stilts") collect washed debris, sand and earth, forming "islands" in the shallow water, where fauna seeking refuge from the water will tend to congregate.

    Bromthen City is located in the Flood Plains, near the shore, and is populated mostly by amphibious Nagai and Jingai -- frogs, newts, and "sea serpents", mostly. The major Imperial naval port on the west side of the continent is located here as well.

    3.3 Xenea

    Of late, this has become the site of great controversy, due to the re-emergence of the City of Hands. This area is primarily jungle, broken by large canyons formed by the mighty Xenean River. Situated on the delta where the Xenean River meets the ocean is the city of Safar, the strongest holding of the Nagai Empire in this territory. Once, it was a major site for wealthy self-styled “adventurers” to be taken on tours of the outback, and guided to carefully staged sites where they would catch prey “in the wild” ... and it was also a major hub of slave trading, particularly in the dealing of wild Savanites caught in the jungle or the plains. This latter aspect of Safar has dropped -- at least from above-board dealings -- and the city is already shrinking in size as the economic impact continues to wear away at it.

    It is also the site of the City of Hands, an ancient ruin long held in Nagai lore to be built by Nagai of ages past, and located underneath a Forbidden Zone, nestled in a canyon cut by the Xenean River. However, it has become the home to a rebellious group of Savanites who claim to have their own Priest-King (or Priest-Queen), and to be independent from the Nagai Empire. That other nations have made overtures toward establishing diplomatic relationships with these upstarts has only added insult to injury, as the Empire struggles with the issue of “freeing the Savanites”.

    3.4 Kilmanjar

    This rugged, mountainous region is devoid of any major settlements of any note, located at the northern part of the Savan. The tall mountains and unpredictable weather make it almost on par with a Forbidden Zone, in that airships tend to keep a wide berth of it. Due to the rough terrain and the lack of accessibility by air, this remains wild and largely unexplored.

    3.5 Desolate Band

    This strip across the Savan from east to west is marked by deserts and rocky terrain, some areas nearly devoid of vegetation. Over the ages, the Desolate Band has expanded and decreased in size, its exact borders being ill-defined, since there is little in the way of civilization nearby. Here roam all manner of great reptiles of the non-sapient variety, and it would probably be avoided entirely, if not for its appeal to big-game hunters who want to bag the “really big and nasty ones”. There are also many petty fiefdoms and nomadic tribes laying claim to portions of the Band’s length, as any Nagai Empire presence here is negligible.

    3.6 Beast Lands

    This region is on the northern fringe of the Desolate Band, located underneath a Forbidden Zone. Quantologists have reported readings that indicate that in the very recent past, this Forbidden Zone has shrunk in size dramatically, but it still prohibits easy access to explore this region any further. It’s a dry, bleak place, vegetated mostly by groves of the twisted, stick-like warpwood trees. Purportedly, bestial creatures that resemble feral versions of various sapient Sinai races roam here, having warped bodies, and being so utterly depraved and mindless that they are even more bestial than true animals. It has also been a long-standing legend that a band of bloodthirsty pirates has had its base here ... but recent tales make claims of a hero who defeated their leader, and did something obscure and mystical to lift a “curse” on the region. Still, nobody in his or her right mind is likely to go poking around there anytime soon.

    3.7 Jadai

    Jadai is considered the eastern-most part of the Savan Territories, though it is actually an island off of the mainland, off of the coast of the Nagai Territory. The capitol city, Jashin, is a port city, located directly across the waters from Nagai City.

    Jadai is located midway between the Savan Territories and Lamu, and serves as a "stepping stone" (or stopping point) for airship and naval journeys across the Sea of the Pale.

    Kirigai compose a significant part of the population on this island, though the Nagai (of course) are still the dominant species.

    4.0 Nagai Culture

    (OOC: Try to imagine some sort of strange cross between the British Empire, some pseudo-Oriental empire, with “cold reptile” touches thrown in for effect. The development of the Nagai Empire has happened with the guiding of many hands -- some by GMs, and some by more sympathetic PCs who chose to play a Nagai or Jingai character. Consider most of the “facts” stated here to be guidelines, not absolutes. There are just too many exceptions that are bound to pop up in logs sooner or later.)

    Nagai culture is one that highly values education and intelligence ... yet social status is still evidently heavily impacted by one’s physical stature and prowess. The stereotypical Naga thinks quite highly of himself and his heritage as a member of the Nagai Empire ... but quite likely will have absolutely nothing to say about his own parents or further ancestry. The Nagai Empire puts great value in archaeology and research of the unknown ... yet at the same time, such matters as “so-and-so beget so-and-so” are considered trivial.

    It is not uncommon for Nagas to simply “spawn”, give birth, and once the little ones are hatched, leave them completely on their own to fend for themselves. Newborn Nagas are generally capable of doing just that, but the vast majority of them won’t live past their first year.

    Of course, there’s a limit to the education one can get on the streets. Those who survive may eventually get picked up by one of the various Schools that dominate Nagai culture. They are likely to be tested to meet certain criteria, and the failures quietly ejected back to the streets. (It should be noted that “streets” is a figurative term here, since Naga cities are typically hard to navigate by conventional means.) Thus, one gains one’s name, education, and the closest thing to a family based on the School that one is thrown into by fate and selection. School loyalty is very strong, therefore, since that replaces family.

    On occasion, a Naga may actually be raised by his birth parent (or, more rarely, parents), but it may very well be that this is only because he managed to meet some sort of selection criteria that his many siblings didn’t pass. Being raised by one's own parents tends to happen more often with those particular Nagai who give birth to very few children, rather than a whole "nest" at once.

    These little “facts” of Nagai culture are repulsive to many of the civilized races on Sinai ... but they’re also rarely discussed, and not all that widely known outside of the Nagai Empire, either.

    The Jingai have much different factors affecting how they give birth to and raise their children, though the culture defined by the Nagai still impacts them to a great extent. Expectations for children are very high, and child employment is not only common, but even expected. “Child abuse” is a term that hasn’t even been coined in the Nagai tongue yet. Children are more or less property of the School -- and if they are raised by their parents, then the parents take the place of that theoretical School ... and quite likely any chance of the advanced degrees that might be awarded by a School and necessary for prestigious employment. Jingai children, even if they are more likely to be raised at home, are still expected to fend for themselves at a much earlier age than most sapient races, well before physical maturity.

    This helps in some ways to stabilize the status quo in current Nagai Empire culture, and the Nagai position at the “top of the heap”. Nagas simply have a much higher birth rate than most of the Jingai, and the “lesser races” wouldn’t stay around for very long if they followed the “drop your eggs and run” approach to child-bearing.

    5.0 Nagai Religion

    Religion in the Nagai Empire is organized poorly, if at all. Some believe in many gods (“The Golden Serpent” as a sun god, and “The Silver Serpent” whose coils are described by the Procession, for instance), while others worship one only ... or believe in none at all. There is no state religion, even though public ceremonies will often make some sort of mention of the Golden Serpent or some other, conveniently vaguely-defined, deity. Some Nagai may hold to religions “imported” from other cultures ... or simply come up with new ones on their own. By and large, this is all tolerated, so long as it doesn’t “interfere”.

    5.1 The Golden Serpent

    The foremost “god” in Nagai faith is the Golden Serpent, at least symbolically associated with the sun, even if Nagai scholars realize that the sun is a big flaming ball, not a glowing snake spirit. Worship of the Golden Serpent is not well organized -- The Golden Serpent is more symbol than deity, invoked at major ceremonies, and monumentalized in shrines, but it is rare that a Naga will pray to the Great Serpent, claim to have prophesies from it, or anything of that nature that might be associated with deities from many religions. Nagai religion might be best compared to Deism -- It’s accepted that some greater power must have designed such a grand race as the Nagai, and that this power must have created the Nagai in its own glorious image ... but that this power has better things to do than to meddle in the affairs of his countless and individually insignificant children.

    Furthermore, while some “sects” (if they can be called that) of the population may believe in some sort of afterlife, a large majority of the people believe that with death comes annihilation. The popular belief holds that the departed do indeed have spirits, but that they are ultimately devoured by the Golden Serpent, and annihilated. The closest one can come to immortality is to make a lasting impact upon society, and to be remembered in monuments and tributes.

    This is closely tied to the emphasis on history and archaeology in Nagai culture. If there’s a “golden rule” in play in Nagai society, it’s that any Naga scholar wants to be remembered for his accomplishments ... so while he’s alive, when he’s not busy making those accomplishments to be remembered by, the best he can do is to do his utmost to remember those who have gone before, in the way that he hopes those who survive him will return the favor in generations to come.

    5.2 The Joyous Wiggler Cult

    One offshoot of this belief in annihilation by the Golden Serpent is that those who live more memorable and/or moral lives are more pleasing to the Golden Serpent when swallowed ... represented by a quasi-spiritual instance known as the “Joyous Wiggle”, as one’s spirit wriggles and writhes on its way down the annihilating gullet of the Golden Serpent.

    Some smaller Nagas -- generally of the Garter variety -- have taken this a step farther, believing that they can honor great Nagas in the living world by practicing a bizarre art of learning how to wriggle more pleasingly while going down the gullet of a larger snake. This, of course, is an art that one is not likely to be an experienced veteran of. The existence of this cult is only rumored, but if it is true, it gives credence to tales of larger Nagas having smaller ones for lunch, even though such things are outlawed. (Of course, given the large population of Garters, especially in the cities, no one is likely to notice the absence of a few.)

    5.3 The Emperor Cult

    Some subjects of the Emperor-Potentate deified him, and held him to be immortal. This belief, of course, was strongly shaken when he was assassinated. Still, news doesn't always travel all that quickly or reliably in the Nagai Empire, and there may still be pockets out there where villagers still think that the same Emperor-Potentate is on the throne, and they may occasionally whisper a prayer to him for good fortune.

    This practice may find its origins in the fact that the Emperor-Potentate surrounds himself with many wizards -- especially Scryers of the Sphere of Light. Some say the Emperor-Potentate himself, as long-lived as he was, may have picked up some magic himself during his lifetime. In any case, perhaps it is that the common Naga might think that there is a chance, however slight, that the Emperor-Potentate might be watching him at that moment, and that it couldn’t hurt to offer up a small request that might be granted by the benevolent influence of one of the Emperor-Potentate’s many mages. (Given the size of the population of the Nagai Empire at the time, however, it was probably more likely that one would be struck by lightning or win a lottery.)

    5.4 The Star

    This religion apparently is a mish-mash of beliefs brought in by wild Savanites, mixed with influences from the Rephidim Temple. The Star is some sort of benevolent creative force -- or deity -- either worshipped in a monotheistic faith, or as the “main god” in a wider pantheon of deities. It is most commonly practiced amongst Savanites, but some of the servant Jingai have picked up their beliefs as well ... and even a few Nagai may have been influenced by Star worship as well. Still, the higher up the social strata one goes, the more likely that such Star worship is likely to be mixed with more popular notions about the Golden Serpent, making it little more than the same thing, but by another name.

    With the arrival of the Silent Ones from Abaddon, there have come new interpretations of the Star faith, some sects carrying with them "holy books" with canonized writings. (Actually, all of the Silent Ones sects of Abaddon rely on a central "holy book", but some add various books of interpretation to the collection of venerated tomes, and some sects hold that only the priesthood should read and interpret the holy writings for the People.)

    5.5 Ksh'atga

    Amongst the academians of the former Empire, the existence of spirits is considered fact, not in a superstitious sense, but in a sense more accorded with documented phenomena and forces, like thunderstorms and the effects of gravity.

    Those who study spirits, both inherent in the dead and manifested naturally in the form of elementals, are known as Ksh'atga. Ksh'atga fulfill several roles in Nagai society. They prepare deceased Nagai citizens for their trip down the Great Serpent's gullet, and also take part in more minor rituals for those given less status within the Empire, such as slaves, and Jingai. They investigate potentially suspicious deaths of citizens -- or others when their services are requested -- travelling to recover corpses if necessary, for the sake of Imperial beauracracy. They are called upon to deal with situations or difficulties of a paranormal nature, where their Spirit Magic training can be of use. And after the rituals and red tape are over with, they perform sanitation duties, disposing of empty husks in a tidy manner.

    While they are reasonably well-respected for the services they provide, Ksh'atga are also somewhat suspiciously regarded, sometimes considered harbingers of ill omens by more superstitious Nagai, and particularly other races. (Chances are, Ksh'atga are creepy enough to bother even those who have no idea what the Ksh'atga are.)

    6.0 Nagai Military

    The military forces of the old Nagai Empire have been split up amongst the splinter territories that have now claimed their independence. Bromthen, Nagai Proper and Jadai all have sufficient navies to protect themselves and to guard cargo vessels traversing the waters. Of these, Bromthen has the largest navy, followed by Jadai. Nagai Proper has the largest base, but the ongoing war with Rephidim has meant that its harbors are frequent targets of reprisal attacks. The other territories have not much to speak of by way of naval forces.

    Nagai and Bromthen each have sizeable land forces as well, Nagai Proper still having the more impressive force. Xenea has its own forces amongst the Savanites, but nothing truly up to par with the military of the old Nagai Empire. Jadai has its own warrior classes, but they haven't a true army to speak of.

    Insofar as air fleets, the various territories have a few ships each to their names, Nagai Proper still retaining the most airships despite heavy losses. Together, if all the ships were unified in a single fleet, it might perhaps present a challenge to the other major powers, but it has long since been knocked out of its position, and might possibly forage for fourth place amongst the major powers. Even Gallis or Chronotopia could challenge such a fleet.

    For a long time, the Nagai Empire could rely on a large number of mages at the College Esoterica of Nagai City that, while members of the Mages' Guild, still had a strong loyalty to the Nagai people and the Emperor-Potentate, as instilled in them since youth. Due to the ravages of war, and a tendency on all sides to seek out and destroy mages as primary threats, this resource has dwindled greatly, and can no longer be counted upon as a major asset.

    7.0 Languages

    There are three primary languages in standard usage in the Nagai Empire:

    7.1 Imperial

    The official language of the old Nagai Empire is the Imperial tongue. Being the language of a snake-like race and its servants, it tends to sound like so much “hissing” to other races, for the most part. However, on Sinai, an Imperial accent is often associated with higher education and intelligence -- since most of those Nagai who travel abroad will be those who happen to have that higher education, after all.

    (OOC: This might be sort of like our world’s associations with a “proper” British accent in some circles. But there’s bound to be an Imperial equivalent of a “cockney” accent, too, amongst the lower-class.)

    Even though the Nagai Empire is no more, the splinter territories still make use of it as a common tongue.

    7.2 Silent Tongue

    Deafness is a not uncommon mutation amongst Nagas born on the surface of Sinai, although deaf Nagas are far less likely to be traveling abroad, and hence seem to be far more rare in such places as Rephidim. Due to this, and the long history of ownership of Savanites as slaves, many Nagai have Silent Tongue as a second language. Although some people claim that this silent language was invented by the Savanites (and it would be hard for the Nagai to claim that they somehow taught this to the Silent Ones), Nagai history books hold that Silent Tongue was invented by the Nagai, and taught to the brutish, feral Savanites they found in the wild.

    7.3 Rephidim Standard

    Of course, as with any large civilization with contact with the outside world, Rephidim Standard is in as wide of use as Silent Tongue. Nagas tend to speak it with a hiss on the “s”, however, though some can, with practice, blunt this accent significantly.

    8.0 Nagai Expressions

    Most Nagas who bother to learn Rephidim Standard (or any other foreign tongue) tend to also learn to use euphemisms and turns of phrases from the studied language as well, rather than trying to translate Nagai phrases and run the risk that the poor, unstudied listener may not catch the meaning.

    [OOC: There isn't much in the way of "distinctive Nagai phrases" that have been established in logs.]

    Nagai physical expressions vary greatly, particularly since physical form varies so much as well. The forked tongue of a Naga is often expressive. While the flicking of a Naga's tongue is usually meant to sample scents on the air, it sometimes can be used to signify amusement or annoyance. (Nagai and Jingai are far better at telling the difference than non-reptilian species.) Some Nagas are capable of actually smiling (though it's more of a grin or smirk, since Nagai haven't the teeth for a toothy grin). A more common expression of amusement is a rapid head-bob which signifies laughter. (This is shared by several of the lizard-like Shigai as well.) More worldly Nagai have learned to "laugh" in a more audible manner that suggests that of other species.

    9.0 Nagai Perceptions of History

    According to Nagai historians, the Nagai did everything that was noteworthy before anyone else did, or else they had some sort of influence upon the inventors that would allow them to make a claim on any invention of note. If the historians are to be believed, the Nagai are the First Ones … or at least the descendants of the First Ones. In the face of any evidence of population of the planet from the stars, the Nagai belief would be that their ancestors were here on Sinai since the beginning, but that at some point, they developed the means to reach the stars, went out to explore other worlds, then came back. As to why the Nagai would not possess such technology today, well, perhaps there was a good reason not to bother with it anymore. It could simply be that there just wasn't much worthwhile to discover out in space.

    Less outrageous claims would still put the Nagai Empire down as being a very ancient establishment … but possibly not any more so than the other major powers of Rephidim and Babel. The best archaeological evidence would suggest a Nagai presence in the Savan as far back as the Expedition era (over six thousand years ago). The oldest evidence (images on stone tablets) of the use of Savanites as slaves by the Nagai would be somewhere roughly around the year 2000 RTR (Rephidim Temple Reckoning -- after the Expedition, based on the time the Temple has placed on the arrival of the presumably mythical Ark to Sinai), which would be well over four thousand years ago. All depictions of Nagai culture suggest that the hierarchy of the Nagai over the Jingai has been a long-standing one, for as long as there have been Nagas bothering to make some sort of historical record.

    As much effort as the Nagai put into archaeology, and as many contributions as they have made to the field on Sinai, they are not above interpreting their finds in creative ways, or to disregard certain findings as "irrelevant" or "possible forgeries" if they suggest anything disagreeable (by their standards) about Nagai history. Therefore, despite evidence that the ancient City of Hands may have indeed been the capitol of a nation of Savanites, for a long time the Nagai considered it to be a city constructed and ruled by their own ancestors.

    Some will still insist that any proof to the contrary is part of some elaborate hoax. And, really, thanks to the complications presented by the existence of magic on Sinai, it's always possible that some especially powerful mages could conspire together to obscure history by leaving false relics for archaeologists to find. But this would also imply that these mages were more powerful than the Emperor-Potentate's best Scryers … an assertion that would probably bring a quick change of subject in such a debate.

    10.0 Magic in the Empire

    During the time of the Nagai Empire, magic was very heavily used by those who had the resources to take advantage of it. With the collapse of the Empire, the breaking up of the territories, the loss of the College Esoterica of Nagai City, and the decline in the number of mages in general, this is no more.

    Still, Nagai tend to have an affinity toward the "cognitive" Spheres of Magic: Dream, Mind, Illusion, Light, Spirit and sometimes Shadow. They are less reliant upon the physical elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth) and upon Life and Chaos. While the College Esoterica may have moved, there is still a Guild Hall in Nagai City, and there are still many accomplished mages serving what is left of the Nagai Empire.

    Nagai ethics concerning the use of magic differ greatly from those found in Rephidim. For instance, mages are generally allowed far greater leeway in using their magic on the general public, so long as it is not used against people of higher station. For a Naga mage to trick Jingai with illusions or to probe their minds or to resurrect their dead bodies as zombies is quite likely to stir up no real controversy, so long as it doesn't disrupt the interests of another, higher-ranking Naga. To make such abuses against someone of higher station, however, is to invite death.

    11.0 Architecture

    Nagai buildings, especially in Nagai City, tend to be almost pyramid-like in structure. The average Nagai building will look something like a pyramid (with three, four or even more sides) with the top half chopped off … and then perhaps another, smaller, version of the same structure built on top of that, leaving a narrow roadway running about the perimeter of the upper building, and a flat platform on top. Of course, it may very well be that several of these buildings are stacked upon each other, forming a sort of ziggurat, and in a large city, such as Nagai City, these buildings will be irregularly built, crowding into each other, using each other as bases, and generally resulting in a fairly chaotic layout that would frustrate any attempts to navigate by foot, hoof or wheel.

    Most of the sloped walls of these buildings are not left bare. Rather, they have outward-jutting poles protruding from them, ideal for Nagas to coil about and climb. While the stonework tends to be a dull sandy gold in color, the poles -- especially on newer or better-maintained buildings -- are painted many colors. Nagai architects take great pride in painting these poles so that, from certain angles, abstract patterns, symbols or images may be seen. Flying over Nagai City can be an interesting experience, in that the colors of the poles as viewed from different angles cause an effect that makes the city look as if it might be writhing and shifting -- a gargantuan living creature.

    This is further enhanced by the major "throughways", where Nagas crawl through the valleys between the buildings in swarms, their varied colors giving a very real impression of movement from above. A major "avenue" cutting through the Nagai City has been purposefully engineered by city planners so that it weaves through strategically-placed buildings in such a way that, from the air, it appears that a great serpent is writhing through the city, with its head at the Emperor-Potentate's palace.

    12.0 Selona Rickshaws

    A common sight in Nagai City would be the passing of selona rickshaws -- carts pulled by frantically scampering, oversized non-sapient lizards, with suction cups on the rubbery wheels, and a containment cage to keep the occupant(s) from spilling out. This is one of the faster ways of getting through Nagai City, though it is one that few non-Nagai could stomach, since the ride is exceedingly bumpy. Mere "pedestrians" (with or without feet) are expected to get out of the way on their own, or get run over. Any selona rickshaw ride is almost guaranteed to result in several persons getting run over in the process. In fact, when an honored dignitary arrives at the palace of the Emperor-Potentate, as he crosses the bridge that leads over the Moat of Vipers, past the Procession of Heroes, a long line of waiting lesser Nagas and Jingas will stand to each side, then throw themselves under the wheels of the cart as it passes. (This experience is not always fatal for those run over.)

    Selona rickshaw rides are only available to those of the upper class who can afford such luxuries, and who would therefore presumably have the right to trample upon their lessers. It is considered a sign of one's power and prestige that one can tread upon others. It is also supposedly a great honor to be tread upon by those who are especially deserving, such as a great hero, dignitary, or the ultimate honor -- the Emperor-Potentate himself!

    13.0 The Emperor-Potentate

    The Nagai Empire was ruled by a great serpent with enamelled scales, known as the Emperor-Potentate. Even after his death, his name is unknown except to perhaps his most trusted inner circle of advisors ... provided any of them are still alive. The general populace just knows him as the Emperor-Potentate, and many outlying villages may well have no idea that the Emperor-Potentate currently on the throne is not the same one that ruled a few years ago. Contrary to what one might suppose, the death of the Emperor-Potentate was not met with grand ceremony, but was fairly quiet as these things go. The succession would have been quiet, too, save for the blood-letting that the feuding governors caused as they squabbled over ascension.

    The Emperor-Potentate keeps a close circle of advisors, comprised of a collection of sages and of the overseers of his outlying holdings. Governors of his lands afar are brought in from time to time in an irregular rotation of his choosing, to join him in his court. Previously, this would be governors of the outlying territories. Now, lesser regional governors of smaller portions of Nagai Proper are granted this "honor", since governors of the independent territories of course would not answer any such summons.

    While it is considered a great honor, he also uses this as a tool to keep an eye on the doings of his servants -- No governor can quite set himself up as a despot in his territory (or so the theory goes) if he may be summoned without warning to come to the Imperial court. No excuses are allowed to refuse to come: not sickness, not war, and legend has it that not even death is an excuse. (Of course, in the case of sickness, the governor may well spend his whole time in one of the infirmaries of the palace.)

    The arrival of the Emperor-Potentate in the Imperial court is quite a sight to see, but an experience that few would wish to go through. After all, it is considered a great honor to be tread upon by the Emperor-Potentate ... and a considerable insult if one refused such an honor. In the time of the previous Emperor-Potentate, this was on rare occasions fatal, due to the sheer size of the great serpent. The present Emperor-Potentate is pretty large, too, but that isn't really such a concern ... unless for some reason a Garter should be honored in the Court. At one time, several Life Mages were on hand to administer treatment to those who were overly "honored" by the Emperor-Potentate, but now that would be considered an extravagance.

    The Audience Chamber of the Emperor-Potentate, oddly enough, is lacking any real throne, though ornamentation on the floor and the wall indicate the place at which he will be seated. Rather, his throne is comprised of a mass of his most trusted (and largest) advisors. (After all, this puts them within easy access when he needs them in the middle of an audience.)

    14.0 Slitherball

    Slitherball is a major sport celebrated in the remnants of the Nagai Empire, even after it has broken apart. It also has a following in some other quarters in Sinai as well. Given the widely varying genetics of the people of the Savan Territories as a whole, there are strict and complex rules on the composition of each slitherball team, as each typically consists of a mix of Nagas and various sub-species of the Jingai, picked to fill different roles.

    The game consists of rolling a large ball across a wide playing field, with great disregard for life and limb. Player casualties and even fatalies are not uncommon, but this is not considered alarming in the least.

    The major Schools of the Nagai Empire each support at least one Slitherball team, and they are a source of considerable pride. It is generally accepted that the Schools are mostly for Nagas, but some of the Jingai may be taken in as well ... and quite blatantly in the hopes that they may turn out to be good slitherball players. (They need a fair deal more players than just what is needed for a single team, since replacements are often called for.)

    More Details on Slitherball

    15.0 Nagai Cuisine

    While the reptilian and quasi-reptilian species of the former Nagai Empire vary greatly, the Nagai themselves set the pace for most aspects of the culture, and, therefore, foods that are distinctly from the Savan are almost invariably tailored for snake tastes. While some of the Jingai are snake-like in their eating habits, many of them are quite capable of rending and chewing food, such as bugs and slabs of meat, rather than swallowing prey whole.

    15.1 Naga Truffles

    Naga truffles are a Nagai candy that is ball-shaped, in various sizes (to accommodate differently-sized consumers), fashioned to roughly resemble a Bromthen Pumpkin Truffle, although significantly smaller. Naga truffles have a sweet and textured outer coating that is meant to be pleasing to the Nagai palette, but the interior is tasteless and pasty. (After all, Nagas do not chew their food. They swallow it whole.) On special occasions, little Nagas are led to believe, the Great Pumpkin Truffle flies about and leaves Naga Truffles for all good, obedient and studious little Nagas.

    15.2 Yiffles

    While there are many creatures that Nagas swallow whole in the Savan, the most commonly found creature meant for feeding Nagas abroad would be the ubiquitous yiffle. This creature resembles a blue-furred cross between a pig and a fox, and is just the right size in its adult phase to be comfortably swallowed by "normal-sized" Nagas. (For smaller Nagas, baby yiffles will have to suffice, if available.) It is adaptable to a wide range of environments (unlike most lizards), is easily cared for, is quite prolific, and grows to maturity fairly quickly. Plus, although it is superficially "cute", by some standards, it is sufficiently annoying and has such disgusting habits that it doesn't cause too much trauma for many non-reptiles to see a yiffle meet its end down the gullet of a Naga. Furthermore, purportedly the texture of the fur and the vain wiggling the yiffle makes (when properly tied up with digestible cords and wrapped up in a garnish) is pleasing to the throat of a Naga as it goes down. (Also, by simple conditioning, its familiar shrieks are appetizing as well.)

    All yiffles are domesticated, as any decent survival instincts seem to have been bred out of them long ago. (If a yiffle gets out of its cage, it can create quite a mess as it dashes and crashes about, but yiffles will soon exhaust themselves and collapse in a whining heap.)

    15.3 Squibbits

    Squibbits are the "spam" of Nagai cuisine. They are lumpy, somewhat slug-like creatures with a thick, gummy hide, and bright green "heads". The head of a squibbit is mildly poisonous, so it is not wise to eat a squibbit whole. Rather, it is customary to rip off a portion of the squibbit's stringy body and eat that instead. For those who chew, squibbits are quite chewy, like a mass of gristle. For Nagas, the squibbit body will wiggle just enough to make it not all that unpleasant to swallow … but it's still a food of last resort. Squibbits regenerate their bodies fairly quickly, and will eat most anything that doesn't move, no matter how spoiled, storing energy in their ever-growing bodies. Therefore, squibbits are often used as rations on journeys, thrown into a pack (preferably coated so the squibbits won't eat it) and chewed on as needed. They're also sometimes used as amusements, as when you hit a hard object with a squibbit, its body spreads out to the point of translucency, temporarily sticks to the surface, then slides down as it pops back to its regular form, making a rather disgusting sound that amuses Nagai children greatly.

    15.4 Ognoighs

    Oghnoighs are close "relatives" of squibbits, similar in appearance, but tending to have a more garish coloration than the standard squibbit murky grey or brown. They are not as durable or nutritious as squibbits, hence not favored for rations, but they have a peculiar feature in that if one applies pressure to part of an oghnoigh, the hide will change color. Thus, oghnoighs are treated as Nagai "party favors", as one can poke at them repeatedly, producing many bright and changing colors.

    This property is retained for a time even after the death of the oghnoigh, and thus oghnoighs are often flattened out and treated, being made into items of cheap jewelry or toys -- or candy, as oghnoighs are mildly toxic if eaten alive, but undergo a special procedure to remove the toxicity when they are made into edible "jewelry".

    15.5 Smaller Nagas

    Many will deny it, but it is probably not unlikely that, from time to time, a large Naga, feeling hungry, and faced with an annoying smaller Naga, may simply swallow the latter down whole. If such were to happen, and especially if nobody directly witnessed it, it is unlikely that the authorities would go to much trouble to punish the perpetrator.

    An exception to this would be if the victim was highly valued by an employer, in which case the offender could possibly be assessed fines meant to cover the cost of training, and expected short-term losses to be suffered until a replacement can be found, plus the calculated cost of a meal of comparable nutritional value to the devoured Naga. (There's no such thing as a free lunch.) After this, if the School or employer were still not satisfied, the offender may sometimes be executed. (The preferred method is to feed the offender to a carnivorous thunder-lizard, in a twist of justice.)

    Most Schools or businesses with smaller employees of any value, however, would have the sense not to let them get out very much, and thus to keep them away from such possible risks. That is, of course, only if such a thing were to ever happen.

    Back to Section 7.3