Hello everyone!
Today I will introduce you to what lies in the land of the filthy Nagas that have invaded King Shorty's Kingdom!
As usual, I'd like to remind you that Saturday's posts are extras, tought solely to provide some additional background for those who are interested.
If you only care in gameplay mechanics, check out the Steam page next week, on Wednesday to learn about the Imps!
For those of you still here, let's begin!
Who are the Nagas?
Forget everything you've ever imagined about Nagas: they are not cursed elves or dragon progeny, but fishes that, millennia ago, human mages used as test subjects for dark experiments, aiming to merge humans and snakes.
Contrary to popular belief, they are not very tall, as they are only a few inches taller than the average dwarf.
They live in the eastern lands of Silliseria, and what makes them peculiar is their obsessive dependence on water sources. Yes, it is really and extreme obsession.
If there is no river in sight, they have a nervous breakdown and become incredibly aggressive.
Building something far from water? Never!
The few cities in dry territories were, coincidentally, former colonies of the Holy Human Empire, now subjected to the Nagas’ lords, but why?
Discriminated Serpents
For centuries, Nagas have been part of the Holy Human Empire as second class citizens.
The only right they had was to work, under humiliating and degrading conditions.
They were forbidden from holding high social positions and were forced to live in ghettos full of dirty pools, lacking personal spaces.
After all, according to humans, they owed to them their very existence, so these conditions were considered generous!
However, when it was time for meat shields against the terrible vampires of the Necrarchy of the Sands or against the demons of the Living Hell of Scylla, they suddenly became “useful” citizens, or “brothers in arms", as the more empathetic called them.
They were pulled out of the ghettos by the tail, armed with the worst weapons made from rust or old iron, and sent to the battlefield.
It often happened that a Naga performed a heroic act, but it was a human who took the credit. Yet, this era of social oppression ended thanks to a miraculous event.
The Holy Lake
During the period in which the Orcs rebelled against the Holy Human Empire (a story for another blog), the Nagas initially chose to remain neutral in the conflict.
Things changed on a rainy autumn day, when a mysterious figure of pure radiant light emerged from the waters of the Holy Lake (called "the Little Sea", at the time).
It was so bright that it blinded many Nagas, but it was worth it.
In a luminous vision, it suggested to Sir Serpivo, the Chief of the Nagas' Ghetto and future First King of the Waters, to oppose the Holy Human Empire and lead his kin towards independence, exploiting the chaos of the Orc Rebellion.
And so, the human armies, unable to fight on two fronts, retreated, and the few humans who chose to stay in the realm were subjected to the Holy Lakenation of Nagaland, becoming their second class citizens in a sudden history twist!
The Cult of the Lake
Thus, from the founding of the Holy Lakenation, waters became sacred.
The Nagas' cities are naturally submerged in blessed waters, and everyone, regardless of race, who wishes to bathe in them must ask the Water King himself for permission.
If this seems an excessive gesture, it’s because you haven’t yet read about the most devout Nagas: the Knights of the Lake, members of the Drop Table, a symbol that every honorable Lake Knight carries on their helmets.
The Knights of the Lake
This devout knightly group believes that water, and by that I mean literally every drop of fresh water in the world, is nothing but the physical manifestation of the Lady of the Lake, aka one of the many names and forms of the same radiant light that suggested Sir Serpivo to rebel.
According to them, she is the only true deity of the world, and to honor her, they vow to perform epic acts, whimsically called... Wet Vows.
Whenever they make an oath, they must immerse themselves in the sacred waters of the Lake.
Whether it’s slaying a terrible giant mandrake or shaving the beard of the most mischievous dwarf in Dwarfandy, they do so only after a good swim in the Lake.
It’s not uncommon to see these knights wandering through Nagas' lands alone, from the southern Hissing Marshes to the northern Unguarded Frontier, fulfilling their vows.
According to the leaders of the Order of the Knights of the Lake, anyone who completes 101 feats will be able to find the Humid Chalice, from which they must then drink the Water of the Holy Lake to access Avalak, an island of eternal life, rain, and serenity.
The Naga Expansion
It was the Knights of the Lake who expanded the territories of the Holy Lakenation, making it the second most powerful state in Silliseria.
At the time of the Orcs Rebellion, however, in addition to Nagas, the Rebels also included Froglets, Bigsnails, and Prawnlets.
Each of these races claimed some territories as their own, but their rights to rule were shortlived.
The newborn nations they founded didn’t even have time to choose a decent flag: they were immediately attacked by the diligent Knights of the Lake, at the orders of their powerful yet modest master, the Crusader of the Mirror.
He, looking approvingly at his gleaming armor’s reflection in the Holy Waters, declared that bipedal frogs and snails with arms were a clear insult to the Sacred Shores of the Holy Lake.
The first to be conquered were the poor Froglets, who, sadly, became the main course of a revisited human culinary tradition: they were cooked and served on silver plates to the knights, with a sprig of parsley on the side for presentation, and a marsh reed sauce to enhance their flavor.
The Bigsnails had a slightly less tasty but much saltier fate. In the Hissing Marshes, the infamous Battle of the Lurking Waters was fought, where the Knights of the Lake won with the same effort required to open an open door.
The Bigsnail's troops were... slow.
So slow that some soldiers (at least 3 out of 4), when the two armies started to battle, had not even finished lining up.
The Nagas, clever and a bit cruel, who had already forgotten the days when they were confined in ghettos, sprinkled salt on the battlefield, forcing the snails to curl up (so to speak), until they became perfect targets for archers and crossbowmen.
Since then, it is said that Nagas love snail skewers.
As for the Prawnlets, they demonstrated some wisdom and fled backrunning towards the sea. Some say they reached the lands of the far North, finding their distant relatives: the Fishmen.
The Prophecy
Still, there is hope for Froglets and Bigsnails.
Small rebel groups still exist today: hooded frogs and snails armed with slobbery spears, fighting for freedom and to live without the terror of being eaten by a Naga.
The Nagas' prophecies are very clear: one day, these rebels will try, successfully, to reclaim their lands.
And then, according to legends, a Naga hero born far from the rivers (pure horror!), in the Fairyqueen Woods, will rise to oppose them.
He will marry the witch Morriganan, a lady who has seen more centuries than the immortal elves, and will find the legendary Scaliburex Sword in the Lost Sword Trees.
With it, he will lead the armies of the Knights of the Lake in the final defeat of frogs and snails... Or at least, that’s what the prophets claim, often after a dinner in the Hissing Marshes.
The Annoying Sun
One last thing, strictly related to the gameplay in "Will The King Escape?", is their hatred for the sun.
Unlike goblins, for them, it’s simply annoying.
When given the choice to take a walk in the rain or in the sun, you probably choose not to get wet for convenience, well for them, it’s the exact opposite.
However, if the situation demands it, and the offense committed by King Shorty is of the utmost importance, they put aside their hatred for the sun.
These creatures are willing to do anything to pay homage to the Holy Lake!
I hope you enjoyed this deep dive into Nagas.
Remember to wishlist the game if you're interested in playing it, and follow the Steam page for future updates!
Also, the Demo is coming up very soon!
Have a great weekend, and to those of you who read all this crazy stuff about Nagas, well...
May the waters of the Holy Lake keep you wet for a long time!
Farewell,
-Giuseppe