Austropetolians (Naga)

The Austropetolians, known among themselves as the Naga, are the half-serpent people of the Austropetolian Archipelago. They descend from the human slaves of the former Ular-Pria Empire and occupy a difficult place between human and serpentine worlds.

Origins¶

The Austropetolian Isles were deeply affected by the Great Collapse. The Incident of 670 LC brought tsunamis and hurricanes that submerged the Ular-Pria and Sea Elves, destroying much of the old serpentine order.

The Naga preserve the legacy of that older world through mixed descent. They are not fully accepted by human societies, yet they are also treated as lesser by many serpentine peoples. Their identity is therefore built from survival after empire, slavery, and catastrophe.

Biology and Society¶

As half-serpent people, the Naga are visibly tied to the Ular-Pria world while retaining human ancestry. Rejection from both parent civilizations has forced many communities to become insular and defensive.

Martial ability is highly valued. This is not simply cultural pride: Naga communities often have to protect themselves from humans who distrust them and serpentine powers that look down on them.

Historical Role¶

The Austropetolians are important because they preserve the human cost of the Ular-Pria Empire. Where the old empire is remembered for serpentine power, the Naga remember enslavement, mixed descent, and the struggle to survive after the old order drowned.

See also: Ular-Pria, Sea Serpent, Sea Elf, Great Collapse, Human, and Races.