User:Whirlygig/Deep Covenent

Evolution
10,000 years ago, during the reign of night elf Queen Azshara, there was an elite magic-using sect known as the Highborne, who dabbled in magics that many other elves considered heretical by drawing upon the power of the Well of Eternity. When the Well of Eternity imploded at the conclusion of the War of the Ancients, sundering the world, the Highborne inhabitants of Zin-Azshari were trapped in the blast. At the last second, Azshara struck a deal with the Old Gods for her survival. Azshara and her followers were dragged down beneath the raging sea... but they did not die. Twisted by the Old Gods, invigorated by the Well's energies, they took on new shapes, new powers and became the hateful, serpentine naga.

Naga only marginally resemble the noble race they once were. Their proud Kaldorei visages are warped and twisted. The naga are part night elf, part serpent, and some have evolved bizarre oceanic mutations. In this way, the race has developed an array of genetic variations and defenses, such as ink jets, tentacles, razor fins, venomous fangs, hardened barnacle carapaces and spined fists. The Sea Witches even sport venomous serpents instead of hair. Naga serve their dark empress Azshara without question. Naga society is matriarchal, and the sexes have diverged radically, both mentally and physically, in the millennia of their estrangement. Women are dominant and often train as spellcasters, while men form the brute labor force and serve their women as physical warriors. Naga are avaricious and sadistic, and their millennia of aquatic banishment has only intensified their evil, power-hungry nature.

When the naga awakened, they set about building a new life for themselves on the ocean depths, within the abyssal sea trench beneath the swirling waters of the Maelstrom they built their new city, Nazjatar. Azshara herself expanded with hate and rage, becoming a massive monstrosity, reflecting the wickedness and malice that had always hidden within her core.

There in the depths of the ocean for ten thousand years the Naga plotted their revenge against the night elves. Most naga are still content to wait. However, a small group led by the Naga sea witch, Lady Vashj, answered a summons from Illidan Stormrage to aid him in his quest to destroy the Frozen Throne. They made new allies in the form of their Highborne kin the blood elves as well as enemies of the night elves and the Alliance. They aided Illidan in the recovery of the Eye of Sargeras, and fought alongside the blood elves to take Outland as well as at the Icecrown Glacier against the Scourge. After suffering defeat at the hands of Arthas this group retreated back to Outland with Illidan.

General Salvazius, a great leader of the Naga, has played an important part in current Naga history. For ten thousand years, he has been in regret of a choice he made long ago, and followed a woman whose ideals he came to realize were insanely dangerous. During his life as a Night Elf, he was a practitioner of Druidic magic, and maintaining secrecy as best he could, he also practiced the forbidden arts that the Highborne cherished. It was in due time that he had to make a choice. In the end, it was a choice he regretted, and one that transformed his appearance forever. Knowing that he may as well deal with what he had, Salvazius served Azshara, while in secret tried to maintain his link with nature.

Surprisingly, over the many years, Salvazius found followers: Some who were intrigued mostly by power, and others who were merely curious of other magics, and others who wished to spit in the face of the night elves with a taste of their own medicine, perhaps twisted to their needs.

Salvazius had a fair amount of followers under his wing within a few thousand years. With them, he fled to the surface, where he would fortify a city in which he and his followers could hopefully escape the hatred of all other races that he feels endangers them so. With the help of the Horde and allies in the Blood Elves, Salvazius believes there is hope. Salvazius hopes that one day, they can march on Nazjatar and take the city from Azshara and her insane followers.

See also:
 * The Origin of the races

Sexual Dimorphism
Naga males and females have different features; in their transformation, males lost some of their intelligence but increased in size and strength. Their faces now appear almost draconic with little resemblance to their Elven heritage. Females kept more of their Elven features and their intelligence. Naga female faces are fair, even beautiful. Most females have four arms, and the Sea Witches sprout black serpents from their heads.

In the Deep Covenant, the males and females have begun to start becoming equal, instead of the usually female lead Naga society.

Naga Relations
The Deep Covenant has recently joined the Horde. The Blood Elves and Forsaken see them as strong allies, and trust them completely. The Tauren and Trolls think of them as necessary allies. The Orcs distrust them completely, but Thrall sees them as needed allies against the Alliance, the Scourge, and other enemies.

Combat
The Naga have an army composed of various races. Mur'gul slaves are used as staging troops and cannon fodder, with artillery support from mighty Dragon Turtles. Naga males serve as shock troops; they deploy as infantry in close formations wielding scimitars, tridents and nets while females stand back hurling spells at the enemy. Males may have command over small numbers of troops but females will always be in overall command of any Naga force.

Inspiration
The naga, particularly the females, come from Hindu mythology.

See Myth for more information.