Naga Dynasties

Hebi Dynasty

Years Active: 815-1420
Following the rebel queen's war against the Oxine of Serena which ended with her conquering much of the Hanayama and Himalya provinces, Lady Sethris would found the House of Hebi under the blessing of the majestic Serpents of Serena to govern her recuperating people in their newly built city of Jad'ir while the twin Boa and Viper Clans were chosen as protectors of their claimed lands. Under now-Empress Sethris' rule, the Hebi Naga would grow and prosper in the mountainous landscape, expanding their city and founding new settlements south and north of their capital. Furthermore they would begin to develop a new culture influenced by existing cultures in Serena most prominently of the Jadamida from who the practice of surnames came from. The House of Hebi would become the name of the palace from which Lady Sethris ruled - adorned with jade roof tiles and crimson wood walls, the Imperial Palace would stand the test of time as the pride and glory of the young Naga race.

At the rise of the Era of Magic the Naga would come into contact with a group of Urson living in the cold north. Equally bewildered by their existence there as they were cautious, Empress Sethris would oversee espionage missions into their whereabouts and drive negotiations with them to charm them away from their course of hostilities, promising them luxuries and hospitality in favour of their friendship. The Urson, cut away from their original Empire, soon forgoed their goals and instead saw the outposts in the Himalyan wastes as their new homes and with the help of the Naga they could live joyful lives separated from the Bjorn Empire.

The Hebi would suffer no misfortune for centuries to come, becoming a nation of great note and worth with a fortune amassing steadily within their royal vault. This fortune, alongside the resources of power and influence, made the House of Hebi a target for the greedy and selfish. None would be more infamous than Satsujin Mura, the notorious leader of a group of upstarts in Jad'ir that believed Sethris to be to blame for the banishment of their people. Satsujin Mura and his cohorts would lead a carefully planned infiltration into the House of Hebi on a moonless night and slay her in her sleep much like she had done to her King under the vast sea. Satsujin Mura would then declare the Empress dead, he marking himself as the culprit but also stating by their people's own laws that he is to be crowned the new Emperor. The day of Fair Empress Sethris' death, the 3rd of Aunos 1415, would be remembered as a day of mourning known as the Setting Moon that signifies the beginning of the end of a year just as Sethris' death signified the beginning of the end of the House of Hebi to the Naga back then.

Satsujin Mura would ultimately stand incapable of leading his people as there were many that refused to serve a king that would murder for power and glory.

Leaders
Empress Sethris, 815-1415
Emperor Satsujin Mura, 1415-1420

Oni Dynasty

Years Active: 1420-1966
Satsujin's failure as Emperor would lead to a decline in Naga society that would result in a division between the royals and the commoners, who in turn were separated into different factions of differing ideals no longer seeing one another eye to eye. In the chaos of it all a group of dark ritualists known as the Oni rose to power in the city of U'Nata, taking the governing house there down and placing themselves as the city's rulers instead. Their use of vile magics allowed them to enslave their people and amass them as one army. This army would march forth through Himalya, taking settlement by settlement until they reached the Ar'Hashi Bridge connecting Il'ari to Jad'ir. A final battle between the Oni, led by Lady Majikku Kokuja, and the Naga Royals led by Satsujin Mura took place upon the bridge for several days yet it would be the overwhelming numbers of the Oni that would come on top in the end with Majikku herself seeing to it to throw Satsujin off the bridge into the chasm beneath.

After the battle of Ar'Hashi Bridge Majikku and her Oni would take the capital by storm and rebuild the House of Hebi into a temple dedicated to their dark God, the entity known as Hebakuma. After conquering Jad'ir the Oni would make fewer attempts to retake the southern Naga settlements believing that they will fall over time. Instead they would divert their focus onto developing their city, scattering their influence so everyone knew to praise Hebakuma's power. In the years that followed, Empress Majikku Kokuja became a priestly figurehead for the temple of Hebakuma and made strides to exercise her will onto her people, turning the proud yet young Naga into a race of zealous worshipers for a dark and mysterious God. The southern settlements remained largely outside of Majikku's influence though a few of her visits did occur when she sought out ritual sacrifice.

Leaders
Empress Majikku Kokuja, 1420-1966

Kurabu Dynasty

Years Active: 1966-2294
Seeking to rebel against the corrupt house of Oni, the people of the southern town of Kurabu banded the other settlements together to lead a coup against Empress Majikku. They would be led by Lady Kurai Redi, leader of Kurabu, and Master Unmei, an old and wise Blademaster who had once served under the Viper Clan in the past. Unmei believed a direct confrontation would only result in their brutal demise so he trained eight expert Blademasters to infiltrate the Oni, remove key figures in Majikku's house and study their every move in secret. While that happened, Lady Redi assembled the southern province into a singular force simply titled the Kurabu Resistance which would become obvious to Majikku not long after yet in her hubris and infinite pride she saw only amusement in what she perceived a futile attempt at fighting her will.

In their time within Jad'ir, Unmei's Samurai discovered the source of the Oni's power - corrupt obelisks which had been erected throughout the city. These obelisks served as shrines of worship for Hebakuma's followers who, through ritual sacrifice and zealous faith gained unnatural and outlandish powers that twisted their bodies into monstrous forms. They would take note of the High Priests that led each sermon under the shrines and how through him the Oni that praised Hebakuma were made stronger.

During their preparations into liberating their capital, Kurai Redi was contacted with one of the Urson to the north - Lord Baise Mao Xiong the White Storm. Rejecting his pride, he came to the liberation leader as a desperate but honourable man seeking aid for his brethren as his people were suffering from the Oni just as much as they were. Lady Redi acknowledged his plight and promised him that his fight was hers as well, asking only that he lead his people, who were left, to stand their ground with the Kurabu when the hour for their attack was at hand. Baise Mao agreed and sent everyone he could across the Nun-Bada Expanse to join the war effort with quality crafted armour and warriors with fiery spirits.

Once Kurai Redi had amassed her army and Unmei judged the time was right, his warriors were notified of it and were told to retreat out of the city. Yet they never returned - in a moment perceived as betrayal at first, the Samurai remained in the city to dispatch of the High Priests and destroy the obelisks with the explosives they had found from a forgotten storage house. They detonated the charges in sync with one another, blowing each monument into dust at the same time to cause chaos within the city and buy the rebellion ample time to march forward and take Majikku's scattered forces head-on. The overly prideful Empress would not accept defeat and joined her inner circle together to fight against the army, their godly powers strong enough to make the Empress a formidable threat even against a force of forty Naga warriors. A more detailed overview of the battle against the Oni can be read in a traditional Naga folkstory known as "Mao No Harai".

After the battle in Jad'ir, Lady Kurai would establish the House of Kurabu as the governing power of the capital and announced the beginning of a new Dynasty, a new age for their people. The rest of the Oni who remained in the northern provinces would soon scatter and flee, their influence lessening to a point of obscurity. Baise Mao Xiong and his people were aided with restoring their old homes and reestablish themselves as a free people. Kurai Redi would be crowned Empress of the Kurabu Naga and Master Unmei would become the brief leader of both the Viper and Boa Clans as they entered a state of restoration. In the eight Samurai of Unmei, only one would stand to survive - young Waka of the Steel Wind. Honoured by her venerable master, Waka was given the duty of leadership for the Sensh Inju, a new shadowy group specialized in infiltration and espionage as well as exercising the will of whatever Empress sits atop the royal throne.

Empress Kurai Redi would serve as the honoured empress of the Naga for over 300 years, yet latter years being remembered fondly by modern historians. She would step down from the throne in the year 2294 following her own drop in health that made it difficult to govern her people as a faithful monarch. Her consort, leader of the Viper Clan and long-time friend Moya Kuro would be granted the honours of sitting upon the throne, a duty which he would take with undying joy.

Leaders
Empress Kurai Redi, 1966-2294

Supedo Dynasty

Years Active: 2294-2557
After beloved empress Kurai Redi deemed herself unfit to rule her own people anymore, a successor was required to step up in her place. At first this succession was placed upon young Kirinoko Kuro, child of Kurai Redi and Moya Kuro, leader of the Viper Clan, student of Master Unmei and long-time lover of the empress. However, at the age of 100 she was considered too young and inexperienced to bare the weight of the crown. In her stead her father, Master Moya Kuro, sacrificed his role as leader of the Viper Clan to rise to the Jade Throne and appoint his daughter as a crowned princess who would have to study under him until she is considered ready. The House of Kurabu would be replaced with the House of Supedo named after Supedo Hills, a region in Hanayama that has served as an ancestral burial ground for all races of Serena.

In 2326 a conflict would break free between Naga and Jadami over a sudden attack upon a Naga village believed to have been built upon the Supedo Hills out of disrespect and prevent the people of Eoduun-Sup access to their ancestors. This conflict would erupt into a full-out war between the two kingdoms that would last two years. Emperor Moya Kuro would personally see to negotiating a peaceful resolution with the Jadamida by travelling to the Temple of Eoduun-San with an escort consisting of both Naga and Jadamida alike. Unfortunately he would never make it to the temple as his escort party was ambushed by a party of monsters and a sudden landslide afterwards as they traveled towards Pyeotauun leaving all but one Jadami alive. When news of what had happened reached the Priesthood of Shadow, a grim realization took over Kwin Seu-Sin, Queen of the Jadamida, after she learned of the heroics of Emperor Moya as he fought for the protection of the sole Jadami survivor. A ceasefire was announced on part of the Jadamida on the same day, the 7th of Marus, 2328, alongside the misfortunate death of Emperor who died in the name of peace between their two nations.

Having been taught by her father for over 20 years, Kirinoko Kuro would rise to the throne of the Empress on the same day of her father's funeral held in Supedo Hills on the 14th of Marus. She would be given the title of Empress of the Mist inspired by a famous painting depicting the mourning Empress over her father's grave. This painting, titled "Ozoku Noshi, the Royal Funeral", served to inspire a renaissance in the arts for the Naga as more and more they begun to focus upon the development and enrichment of their culture. This effort was spearheaded by the Empress herself who developed an interest in painting beautiful works of art of Serena landscapes. This surfacing of artistic minds in the Supedo Dynasty would cause the Naga to discover a new way to share a love with other cultural races including the Jadamida, with whom they would grow a bond as well as establishing favour trade routes for silk and jade, and the Xiong Urson.

Kirinoko's monarchy would last over four centuries during which Jad'ir and the surrounding settlements grow both in size. Many discoveries were made in the development of her people that can be felt to this day in their lifestyle and culture. With the rise of tensions all across Auria, Kirinoko would begin to worry of the future of her kingdom and begin to suffer from heartache which, though minor for the most part, would become a crushing feeling of sorrow and hopelessness when Hisana Shorai, leader of the Boa Clan and trusted friend of the Empress, made an attempt at her life in 2757. The Empress survived but was mortally wounded, leaving her in the care of her handmaidens. The famous painting titled "Eien no Itami" depicts Kirinoko Kuro in recovery at her home tended to by her handmaidens.

Grief-stricken by having witnessed her own sister committing such a heinous act, Lady Uneiko Shorai stepped down from her leadership role of the Viper Clan to serve as the Empress' personal guard until the end of days. Kirinoko, however, did not see such a service necessary but still honoured her subject's wishes. Sadly Empress Kuro's wounds would take many years to fully heal as the assassin had used dark magics akin to the Oni to dispatch her. A year would go by before Kirinoko made the decision to step down as Empress and given the duty to Uneiko, stating that it shall be her means of redeeming her family name.

Leaders
Emperor Moya Kuro, 2294-2328
Empress Kirinoko Kuro, 2328-2993

Daiya Dynasty

Years Active: 2993-3001
Rising to power at the bequest of Empress Kirinoko Kuro, Uneiko Shorai was crowned Empress on the 15th of Aestos 2993. As was accustomed by their traditions, a change in royal houses was made and the Supedo would be overruled by the Daiya, named after Uneiko's and Hisana's place of birth Daiya Village. Kirinoko Kuro would reduce herself willingly to the status of the Empress' servant and advisor of culture to remain a figurehead for her people that looked up to her while she recovered. Uneiko's reputation as a master of the art of combat was legendary, having succeeded Master Mayo Kuro himself in the Viper Clan when he stood up to be Emperor, which left many in the kingdom bewildered and worried for the future as to why such a change was necessary and so suddenly required.

Uneiko's understanding of war would prove to be useful in the decades that followed. Troubles begun to boil throughout Auria as the different ideals of nations led to ridged and coarse relationships all throughout. Already the kingdom of Luxfordia served as a face of conflict for a shared peace yet lesser known would be the smaller battles that took place between empires disagreeing on ideologies. Uneiko would make steadfast preparations in the name of the kingdom she was tasked with protecting, first and foremost establishing powerful alliances with the native races of Serena to which the Jadamida would establish a trade relation though never agreeing upon a defensive pact. Uneiko would also settle trade with the Xiong Urson to the north to supply her army with arms in exchange for resources. Lastly she looked to the Sacred Order for mutual aid though they would reject the offer in the end. Fearing for the worst, Uneiko spread the Sensh Inju thin by establishing sentries within each of the major powers of Auria to feed her with information at all angles possible, a move that would ultimately serve its purpose well.

Near the end of the Era of Wars Uneiko would gain an increasing amount of warnings from her Sensh Inju spies regarding the formation of a massive army within Luxfordia as well as rumours of the High King's plans for a great war. As it was unknown who he was planning on targeting, Empress Shorai made many attempts at communicating the information she had received with the other major leaders of the world but many of them chose rejection towards hearing her warnings. Her warnings would be justified when assassins of the Fated Blades, a guild of thieves in Luxfordia, was discovered to be behind Kirinoko's failed assassination and continued to lurk in Daiya to spy on the Naga. the Grand War was launched by Yvain Greymoore IV in the year 3000 with the siege of Livanin Desert.

Empress Uneiko Shorai would lead a valiant defense against the invading Humans in 3001, holding back their First Offensive by utilizing the united power and mantra of the Naga clans and dispatching key targets in the Luxfordian army using the Sensh Inju. Though the southern settlements were taken over days prior to finishing evacuations, thanks to the mountainous landscape of their land, much of the Yvain's grand army failed to begin any considerable siege on the capital city of Jad'ir until new machinery was brought in from Saberos. Once that happened, and with the introduction of the second offense led by Grante the Impervious, Uneiko saw her defense crumble beneath a far bigger number of Human soldiers over her Blademasters and mystics. Uneiko Shorai was slain in battle defending the Imperial Palace, the date of her death remembered as the 6th of Zarus, 3001.

With the death of the Empress and the conquest of the Humans, the Daiya Dynasty was brought to an end. When the Grand Army left but a fraction of their forces behind to hold Jad'ir and the surrounding land, an uprise of the Oni took place that attacked the Humans and took the capital for themselves once more, though their rule would last less than a year. When the capital was liberated Kirinoko Kuro and Uneiko Shorai were both found hanging from the ceiling of the Imperial Palace, ritualistic scars carved into their bodies. The discovery of not one but two Empresses having died caused a great deal of grief to the Naga.

Leaders
Empress Uneiko Shorai, 2993-3001

Shin Dynasty

Years Active: 3002-Now
The Shin were a group of noblemen and commoners that survived the initial invasion of Luxfordia by escaping via Skyship at the order of Empress Uneiko during the early days of the siege. They were honoured as "the heart and souls of the Naga people that must live on at any cost". Though distraught and leaderless at first, the Shin found a voice in young Sakura Hiroyama, a simple gardener hailing from the outskirts of Jad'ir city, who stood up and represented her homeless people in Gwynbrenon during a time when they needed it most. It would be Sakura who would make talks with the Wylderin and plead from them a place to call home during their temporary exile and in return she would offer her service and the service of her people in whatever way found most fitting. The Triskelion Council would give them a home across their land, giving the weak simple jobs in cultivating their groves while the strong and able were trained as warriors.

When the Liberation Front was being put together, Sakura and her Naga were the first to offer themselves if it meant liberating their homeland. They would show in them a shining beacon of justice that inspired many more to join the fight for liberation against a hopeless and daunting force. In Serena the Liberation Front would do quick work against a dark force of Oni that had taken over the city, although a massive and dark monster known only as Orochi almost wiped out the entire army when it emerged from the ground beneath the capital. Though grievances were had with the discovery of Empress Uneiko and Empress Kirinoko, Sakura remained steadfast in rebuilding their broken home and continued to act as leader of the Naga until a new Empress could be grown.

Following the end of the Grand War, the world entered a stage of recovery that lasts to this day. Sakura would be crowned Empress soon after, a decision made by the people she served so valiantly. Though she was unsure of the weight of the crown at first, Sakura has settled into the role of Empress and remains a bright image for the future of the Naga. Her priorities lay in giving a rebirth to the developing culture of her people while also focusing on diplomatic relations with the world and build up a standing army stronger than ever before supported by a strong emphasis on established trade networks that bring in the currency needed to fund their training.

Leaders
Empress Sakura Hiroyama, 3002-Now