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Guardian nagas were immortal beings that often protected treasure, magical secrets, items, and lore that would be destructive should they ever fall into the wrong hands.[2][3][6][9]

Description[]

Like all nagas, guardian nagas had snake-like bodies and human-like faces.[2][6][7] They could grow to be 20 feet (6.1 meters) in length and weighed up to 500 lb (230,000 g).[7]

Their scales were of a greenish-gold hue, with a silvery triangular pattern along the back, and tended to shimmer. Their eyes were bright—hypnotically lit from within.[8] Some had a golden frill that ran the length of their body.[3] Some gave off a scent of sweet flowers.[3]

Personality[]

Guardian nagas were exceptionally wise, intelligent,[2][7][6] and usually strictly lawful and good aligned,[6][7] but they were free-willed creatures and could be of any alignment.[2]

Less noble members of their kind might subjugate creatures, usually a tribe of primitive kobolds, troglodytes, or lizardfolk, to assist them in their pursuits,[2] always believing they were superior to other creatures.[9] They enjoyed spell research and designing strategies to thwart evil plots.[9] They typically gave warning to intruders and only attacked if provoked.[3][9] When angered, a guardian naga raised its crest.[3]

Combat[]

If provoked to attack, guardian nagas had a wide range of responses to choose from. They were accomplished spell casters with access to divine magic in addition to being able to deliver poison by either spitting or biting.[1][2][3][8]

History[]

Nagas were created by a humanoid race sometime in the distant past. When their creators died off or disappeared, the nagas inherited the magic and lore of their absent masters and carried on with mystical research and protection of their secrets.[9]

Society[]

Nagas in general had an antagonistic relationship with yuan-ti,[9] but if their goals aligned, guardian nagas would sometimes protect yuan-ti temples and treasure hoards.[2]

Homelands[]

These creatures known to inhabit regions temperate with a temperate climate and were often found living in plains.[3] Some were known to be found within sacred places.[6]

Relationships[]

They were considered favored monsters of, thus sometimes acting as divine servants of, the demihuman deities Berronar Truesilver, Cyrrollalee, Gaerdal Ironhand, Gorm Gulthyn, Moradin, and Yondalla.[10]

Some were known to serve as guardians for lawful good creatures, watching over their treasure or something evil.[6]

Notable Guardian Nagas[]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Connections[]

Major Subspecies
Dark nagaGuardian nagaIridescent nagaSpirit nagaWater naga
Minor Subspecies
Banelar nagaBone nagaBright nagaHa-nagaNagahydra
Related Creatures
Nagatha


References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 234. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 194. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 192. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  4. James Wyatt (October 2001). Oriental Adventures (3rd edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 145. ISBN 0-7869-2015-7.
  5. Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 266. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 72. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 191. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 73. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 233. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  10. Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. pp. 10–15. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
  11. Stormfront Studios (2001). Designed by Mark Buchignani, Ken Eklund, Sarah W. Stocker. Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor. Ubisoft Entertainment.
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