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About
The Nagas are reptilian humanoids living in a religio-military feudal culture. They are at home on the land and in the sea, though they move more rapidly in the water. Viewing their time upon Ashan as fleeting and illusory, they strive for perfection in their behavior and their skills. The ideals of purity, simplicity, and harmony are reflected in their magic, their warfare, and their philosophy of life. They keep themselves apart from the other races, concentrating on personal and individual perfection rather than dreaming of power or conquest.
Sanctuary was inspired by Zen mysticism, Far Eastern martial arts, Japanese warriors in the Sengoku era, Chinese Shaolin monks, and Indian mythology.
Vital Statistics
Asssociated colours: jade green and turquoise
Symbols: The Eight-petal Lotus. A solitary ocean wave, signifying the infinite power and wisdom of Shalassa as well as the transitory nature of existence. The conch.
Worship: Shalassa, the Dragon Goddess of Water
Core philosophy: “We all come from the waters, and one day shall return to them. Learn from the waters, and strive to imitate their purity and power.”
Country / kingdom: Hashima, the Eight-petal Lotus
Capital city: Nariya, the Iridescent Pearl
Lore
"We strive for perfection in Shalassa's worship"
Hashima is a feudal nation, organized according to temples that exist wherever there are sources or expanses of water. Warriors and monks, peasants and poets, they worship Shalassa, The Dragon Goddess of Water, who grants them magical powers based on this element. Nagas live with a goal of self-perfection and purification; whatever their callling or craft they strive to live up to the highest ideals of their masters and of the legends that came before them.
Hashima is ruled by the Eternal Empress, who has held power for hundreds of years. As all Naga teachers and masters, she is subject to ritual challenge from those who feel that they are worthy. However, she has never been defeated in contest, be it with arms, poetry, calligraphy, or philosophy.
Worship
The Naga worship Shalassa, the Dragon of Water in all her forms and aspects (oceans, lakes, brooks, springs, rain, mist, snow, ice, and even blood and tears).
Social Organisation
Hashima is a feudal nation, organized in a hierarchy of temples that exist wherever there are sources or expanses of water. Temples can be small affairs with a single monk who protects a river tributary, enormous reed rafts with dozens of inhabitants that follow the currents across the seas of Ashan, or even massive underwater complexes where hundreds of Naga harvest the ocean’s bounty. Within the larger structures, society is based on the master-apprentice relationship. All Nagas swear allegiance and promise obedience to their chosen master. Duty and loyalty are expected.
The basic goal of a Naga is to achieve self-perfection; they hope to live lives of purity and simplicity, as those who do so are reborn as the spirits of the ocean who aid Shalassa in her works.
Perfection is pursued through rigorous physical training and weapons practice, prayer and meditation, and by withstanding great rigors and hardship. Whatever their calling or craft may be, Nagas strive to live up to the highest ideals of their masters and of the legends that came before them.
When a Naga feels that he has surpassed his master, he must defeat him in a formal duel. If successful, he becomes a master himself, or seeks further training and a greater level of perfection from a superior master. These duels are not necessarily fought with weapons. They could be contests of poetry, ceremony, or even cooking.
Hashima is ruled by the Eternal Empress, who has held power for hundreds of years. As all Naga teachers and masters, she is subject to ritual challenge from those who feel that they are worthy. However, she has never been defeated in contest, be it with arms, poetry, calligraphy, or philosophy.
Architecture
Undersea or on the coasts, Naga structures are built from natural materials.
While the Nagas are perfectly comfortable on the land, it is clear that their true home is the sea. Though they do not quite have the skill that the Elves show with the trees, the coral reefs and mother-of-pearl columns of Naga undersea houses are grown as much as they are constructed.
The shapes echo the forms and features of marine life and geology.
Their simple land structures also show similar decorations, and are built with the materials they know best – rocks from river or sea beds, alluvial clays, reeds, and driftwoods. If land structures last only a few years it is of no consequence to them. The Nagas believe that like the sea moves so moves everything; change is permanent, unceasing, and inevitable.
Magic
Nagas are masters of the “quiet” magic sphere of Water, which renders the body and the mind as malleable as a liquid. They place much store in wisdom and in study; for this reason their magic tends to work overtime and build gradually to a smashing crescendo.
Offensive spells may echo the effects of tidal waves or hurricanes; blessings permit the troops to attack in unstoppable waves; curses leave the enemy slowed and off balance.
Recent Events
A relatively peaceful peoples, the Naga have lived largely in isolation from the rest of Ashan. They keep themselves apart from the other races, concentrating on personal and individual perfection rather than dreaming of power or conquest. They have aided or allied with other nations in the past, but these sorts of agreements are temporary.
Recent history has been troubling; like all the other nations of Ashan they have heard the prophesies of the Blind Brothers and worry of the oncoming Demon invasion. There is turmoil beneath the calm surface of the empire, as priests and soldiers start to look to the future and wonder who should be leading them and how they might react.
Sanctuary Warfare: “Face them one by one”
Sanctuary generals are like Chess Masters, or disciples of Sun Tzu’s Art of War. They focus their efforts on a main attacking stack (referred to as the “Champion” hereafter), who potentially becomes the best “1 to 1 / duel” warrior of the game. Generally, this Champion will aim at the strongest enemy stack first, to fuel its racial ability.
Alternatively, other targets can be favored, depending on the enemy army’s mobility. The one thing to remember is that the safety and efficiency of the Champion stack must be assured at all times since the global strategy relies on it.
Approach
The Sanctuary is all about control and an iron arm. Control to ensure the enemy cannot reach one’s most vital assets or at least not too early. An iron arm to ensure that, where contact will take place, they will be the strongest.
As amphibians, the Naga are most at ease fighting on wet or watery ground; their natural forms are so well adapted to this that any enemy is at a great disadvantage. They will always try to bring the fight on this kind or terrain.
As they are largely indifferent to death, believing that they will be reborn to serve Shalassa in a higher form, Naga seldom feel the need to run from battle or save themselves. As a result, it is more likely that a Naga army will be decimated than surrender. This fearless character, tempered by wisdom and an implacable serenity, is a potent weapon. In times of trouble, there will always be a champion to move calmly towards the enemy and draw any danger to himself, giving his companions time to prepare themselves and gain tactical advantage.
In one-on-one combat, Nagas trust their iron will and martial perfection to make the difference versus any adversary, and their magic abilities to bolster and protect their champions.
Military strengths
Powerful triggered buffs and crowd control abilities, balanced units (offense / defense, no martial weakness)
Military weaknesses
Limited ranged abilities, no burst / instant effects, no healing, expensive troops