Naga

During the War of the Ancients, the Highborne, led by Queen Azshara, called forth the forces of the Burning Legion. When the Well of Eternity imploded, some of the Highborne survived, but many went down with the land. The magic contained in the well allowed the latter beings to survive, however, and they were transformed into sea creatures known as the Naga.The inspiration for the Naga was likely the South-east Asian mythical serpent of the same name.

The remaining Highborne stayed loyal to Sargeras throughout the war, but their hard work came to naught. The other night elves, together with many unlikely allies, put up a surprising defense and managed to close the portal. This added magical stress was too great for the Well of Eternity, which imploded with disastrous consequences. As if struck by a giant hammer, the Well was driven downwards by the impact.

The impact shattered the ancient continent of Kalimdor into several landmasses, and a new ocean was born. Much of Zin-Azshari, former capital city of the night elves, was driven beneath the sea. Above the waves, a fierce magical storm now rages: the Maelstrom. Beneath the Maelstrom, the ocean has been whipped into an enormous whirlpool. Once caught in the whirlpool’s currents, most creatures have no chance of escaping.

Queen Azshara’s palace was also pulled underwater. In the process, some of the Highborne in the palace drowned, but many, including Queen Azshara were instead transformed by the queen’s magic into forms that could survive underwater. This was brought about by the Queen’s unabashed arrogance even in the face of certain doom and inability to accept her own death. Lady Vashj, a hero unit in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne was a handmaiden to Queen Azshara and was present with her queen during the occurance. Transformed into the monstrous naga, the former night elves found they were able to survive the ocean’s depths. Even so, the naga knew they had little chance of reclaiming the lands that the Highborne had once dominated. Bitterly resentful at their enforced banishment to the sea, they resolved to bide their time until they could retake their rightful place in the surface world.

As it was driven downward into the sea, the Well of Eternity continued to collapse in on itself and was finally obliterated. Its violent destruction has left behind a deep trench on the ocean floor that reaches all the way to the planet’s molten core. To this day that core remains exposed and heats the ocean’s cold waters. The magical energies that still emanate from the trench have caused monstrous mutations in all nearby living things.

The Naga generally have a humanoid torso with a snake tail in place of their legs. The males appear more serpentine. The females still look elven, but can have four or more arms, and possibly fins for hair. They are closer to the idea of earlier Naga which were a form of water deity. The only misleading attributes are their “fins” which are actually webbing, common among many reptile water dwelling species. This rightly justifies them as Naga.

The Naga now live under the Maelstrom in the great city of Nazjatar, where Queen Azshara rules. They wait for the right time to take back the land, but some were too impatient and left to join Illidan Stormrage, with whom they are currently allied. More recently, however, several tribes of the Naga have emerged from the depths to settle on the shores of Azeroth. Their presence is perhaps most noticeable in Azshara where the Spitelash tribe has taken up residence in the ruins of the ancient Highborne capital of Eldareth. Many various Naga tribes have also emerged on the western shore of Kalimdor. In Darkshore, the Stormscale Naga make their home in the Ruins of Mathystra. To the south, in Ashenvale, the Wrathtail tribe has ascended from the depths to settle on the Zoram Strand and to plumb the ancient secrets of the Blackfathom Depths. The Slitherblade Naga have made their home on the islands and in the waters of the Veiled Sea in northern Desolace. On the Isle of Dread and the Ruins of Solarsal off the coast of Feralas, the Hatecrest tribe make their home. On the Eastern continents, the Naga also appear. Naga explorers have been sighted near the Nek’mani Wellspring north of Booty Bay in Stranglethorn Vale. The Daggerspine Naga live amongst the shipwrecks in the channel separating Lordaeron from Khaz Modan as well as along the southern shore of the Hillsbrad Foothills. Naga have been known to tame the amphibious snap dragons and the mighty dragon turtles to use as mounts (snap dragons) and siege weapons (dragon turtles).

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