Nagah Kin Species


The following documents 45 different Kin Species from which Nagah players may choose. Even though the Crowns are divided along continental lines, the species are described by continent and not Crown. It is always possible for crossbreeding or even reassignment to other Crowns. Players will note that many species appear in more than one continent; they are repeated for referential ease. Please also realize that this is a very simplified list. There are numerous subspecies to every breed mentioned here. And there are also many other breeds not listed at all. Sometimes this was because the breed possessed no special characteristics, but players may feel free to use other breeds and develop their own minor bonuses for that species.

After each breed, various forms of the Nagah are listed. These are the forms in which the bonuses apply. Note that Balaram (Homid) is never one of those forms.


North America (Zuzeka)

Copperhead: These snakes gain a -1 difficulty to Stealth rolls in temperate environments (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Coral Snake: These are fossorial serpants, and can burrow a few feet into normal earthy ground with a Strength+Athletics roll (difficulty 7); but this does not create a tunnel that can be used by others (Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Cottonmouth: These skillful snakes, also called water moccasins, gain a +1 die on Intimidation rolls due to their frightening “grins”, as well as a +1 die on Athletics/Swimming rolls (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Rattlesnake: With their caudal rattles, these large snakes gain a -1 difficulty to Intimidation rolls (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Sidewinder: Though a breed of small rattlesnake, their unusual means of locomotion enables them to double land speed for one turn per point of Stamina once per scene (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).


South/Central America (Amaro)

Bushmaster: These are the longest vipers in the world, thus they can double striking distance – up to twice their body length (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Coral Snake: These are fossorial serpants, and can burrow a few feet into normal earthy ground with a Strength+Athletics roll (difficulty 7); but this does not create a tunnel that can be used by others (Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Fer-de-lance: These serpents have powerful jaws, and their bites inflict +1 die of damage (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Palm Viper: These snakes gain a -1 difficulty on Stealth rolls in tropical environments (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Rattlesnake: With their caudal rattles, these large snakes gain a -1 difficulty to Intimidation rolls (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Urutu: These pit vipers are honored, revered, and feared throughout South America by many different tribes; this provides the breed a -1 difficulty to Rite rolls when in their homelands (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).


Africa/Arabia (Sayidi/Yamilka)

Black Mamba: These may be the fastest terrestrial serpents, and gain +2 dice on Dexterity rolls for moving speed (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Boomslang: These are neither vipers or elapids, but colubrids that are usually harmless to larger animals – but these snakes, with fangs in the backs of their mouths, are an exception; their venom inflicts one level of damage per turn instead of all at once, and they gain +1 die on Athletics/Climbing rolls due their arboreal talents (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Bush Viper: These arboreal snakes get a -1 difficulty on Athletics/Climbing rolls (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Egyptian Cobra: These classic snakes have a legendary beef to settle with the enemies of their homeland, and gain a -1 difficulty on all attack rolls against Followers of Set (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Gaboon Viper: The gaboon viper is one of the biggest poisonous snakes in the world, and it gains a +1 die on Stamina rolls for soaking damage (Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Green Mamba: Though their venom is as potent as black mambas, green mambas are arboreal and skilled climbers, gaining a -1 difficulty on Athletics/Climbing rolls (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Horned Viper: This serpent ambushes prey by digging just below the surface of sand; they can burrow a few feet into sandy ground with a Strength+Athletics roll (difficulty 7); but this does not create a tunnel that can be used by others (Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Puff Adder: These dangerous snakes puff as well as hiss, and gain a -1 difficulty to Intimidation rolls (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Rhinoceros Viper: With the horn on their snouts, they can use the Head Butt Brawl Maneuver to inflict Str+1 damage (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki – lethal damage in Vasuki).
Rinkhal: These gain +2 Accuracy dice when spitting venom, and they can spit a full load of Nagah venom in Vasuki (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Sand Viper: These snakes are well adapted to dry desert environments; they receive a -1 difficulty to Survival rolls in the desert (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Saw-Scaled Viper: By rubbing their scales together to produce stridulation that sounds like boiling water, they gain a -1 difficulty to Intimidation rolls (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Spitting Cobra: These gain +2 Accuracy dice when spitting venom, and they can spit a full load of Nagah venom in Vasuki (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Stiletto Snake: These sleek serpents dart quickly and from any angle; they gain a -1 difficulty on all feinting combat maneuvers (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Twig Snake: These are neither vipers or elapids, but colubrids that are usually harmless to larger animals – but these snakes, with fangs in the backs of their mouths, are an exception; their venom inflicts one level of damage per turn instead of all at once, and they gain +1 die on Athletics/Climbing rolls due their arboreal talents (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).


Australia (Jurlungur)

Brown Snake: Considered the second most venomous snake in the world, victims suffer a +1 difficulty on soak rolls against their venom (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Cat Snake: These colubrids don’t possess as deadly a venom as other snakes, but Nagah appreciate their hardy ability to thrive almost anywhere; their venom inflicts one less level of aggravated damage but they gain -2 difficulty to Survival rolls (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Copperhead: These snakes gain a -1 difficulty to Stealth rolls in temperate environments (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Death Adder: Well named, the death adders also employ caudal lures – lumps on their tails that they wave to attract prey – and thus gain a -1 difficulty on Subterfuge/Diversion rolls when using physical ploys (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Red-Bellied Black Snake: One of the most commonly encountered snakes in Australia, they have adapted well to modern society and have a -1 difficulty on Survival rolls in urban environments (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Taipan: Considered the most venomous snake in the world, victims suffer a +1 difficulty on soak rolls against their venom (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Tiger Snake: Tiger snakes were named for their commonly striped scales, but more fitting is their hiss – so piercing it’s practically a shriek – and thus gain a -1 difficulty on Intimidation rolls (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).


Asia (Vritra)

Bamboo Viper: This brilliant, emerald green snake receives a -1 difficulty on Stealth rolls in tropical environments (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Cat Snake: These colubrids don’t possess as deadly a venom as other snakes, but Nagah appreciate their hardy ability to thrive almost anywhere; their venom inflicts one less level of aggravated damage but they gain -2 difficulty to Survival rolls (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Copperhead: These snakes gain a -1 difficulty to Stealth rolls in temperate environments (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Habu: Native to the Ryukyu Islands (such as Okinawa), they have been connected to Ebisu, the Shinto god of hard work and hard drinking, and thus their venom also causes victims to suffer exceptional dizziness, adding +1 difficulty to all actions for the scene (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Halys Pit Viper: These snakes are found across Eurasia, traveling mainly by river; they gain +2 Stamina for determining endurance when swimming (Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
King Cobra: The prize snake breed of the Nagah, these are one of the biggest venomous animals on the planet, and they gain +1 die to Intimidation and Leadership rolls (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Krait: Whether common or banded or another breed, this cannibalistic snakes gain +1 Perception regarding other Nagah (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Mamushi: This inconspicuous Japanese snake receives a -1 difficulty to Stealth rolls in temperate environments (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Mangshan Pit Viper: This Chinese snake is the only breed of viper (as opposed to elapid) known to spit venom; they gain +2 Accuracy dice when spitting venom, and they can spit a full load of Nagah venom in Vasuki (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Meadow Viper: These innocuous snakes gain a -1 difficulty to Stealth rolls in temperate environments (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Russell's Viper: Russell’s vipers are thought to have the loudest hiss of all, and gain a -1 difficulty to Intimidation rolls (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Saw-Scaled Viper: By rubbing their scales together to produce stridulation that sounds like boiling water, they gain a -1 difficulty to Intimidation rolls (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Spectacled/Monocled Cobra: These common hooded cobras are the breed snake charmers use for their rhythmic warning dance that translates to a -1 difficulty on Performance rolls (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Spitting Cobra: These gain +2 Accuracy dice when spitting venom, and they can spit a full load of Nagah venom in Vasuki (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Temple Viper: This is the breed of viper that thrives in a holy Buddhist temple, where people come to worship and entreat the snakes (and the god they represent) for aid – this gives them a -1 difficulty on Rite rolls when in their homeland (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).


Europe (Nemontana)

European Adder: This snake is one of the few reptiles that has adapted to cooler environments, found even in northern Europe – they receive a -1 difficulty to Survival rolls in cooler environments (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
European Asp: This classic serpent possesses an exceptionally painful bite: victims suffer an additional die of Wound penalties (unless they’re already Incapacitated) (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
European Nose-Horned Viper: With the horn on their snouts, they can use the Head Butt Brawl Maneuver to inflict Str+1 damage (Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki – lethal damage in Vasuki).
Halys Pit Viper: These snakes are found across Eurasia, traveling mainly by river; they gain +2 Stamina for determining endurance when swimming (Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).
Meadow Viper: These innocuous snakes gain a -1 difficulty to Stealth rolls in temperate environments (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).


The Oceans (Thalassia)

Sea Snake: There are dozens of breeds of sea snakes, which are found mainly in the warmer waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans (and their respective seas), but they all gain the same benefits and suffer the same +1 to all difficulties on land; they gain -2 difficulty to all Athletics/Swimming rolls, and can hold breath for the triple normal amount of time (Silkaram, Azhi Dahaka, Kali Dahaka, Vasuki).


Crown Regions


The Nagah book introduces the Crowns of the Nagah, akin to Tribes but far less binding. Furthermore, they're based on geographical areas. The problem is, those areas are based on modern geographical regions--which is likely deliberate per the Sesha to take advantage of human logistics and geo-political realities in their contemporaneous strategizing and planning. However, it can be sticky when it comes time to deciding what Crown your favorite weresnake represents. Regions overlap. Divisions and borders are arbitrary. I generally decide like this:

If the Nagah is from anywhere in North America or the Caribbean, including Mexico and at least some of Central America, then he is Zuzeka.

If the Nagah is from South America and up into lower Central America, she is Amaro.

If the Nagah is from anywhere in Europe or western Russia and western Turkey, the weresnake is Nemontana.

If the Nagah is from anywhere in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Near East, or the upper half of North Africa, including (perhaps especially) Egypt, she's Yamilka.

All weresnakes native to sub-Saharan Africa, meanwhile, represent the Sayidi.

Nagah from Australia, New Zealand, or Oceania, up into at least the lower parts of Indonesia (e.g., Micronesia), are part of the Jurlungur.

The classic wereserpent, and still the power-base (relatively speaking) for the entire Changing Breed, and the vastest (terrestrial) region in general, that comes from anywhere in all of South Asia or East Asia, from India to Japan, from Indonesia and up into the reaches of Siberia (few weresnakes as there may be from that area), is Vritra.

All other Nagah, who would be those who descend from sea snakes from anywhere in the oceans of the world, as well as Nagah representing the Sea Courts of the Umbra, hail from the Thalassia.

(Please note that I've invented the Amaro and Thalassia Crowns for this game.)