Guardian Naga

Friendly aberrations are few and far between both in fantasy RPGs in general and in the currently published bestiaries for Pathfinder 2nd edition. It is, then, with great honor that we present the Guardian Naga who are as patient as they are unsightly to the more common folk.

The guardian naga is a great companion to the much later published Flumph, which I am sure we will get to in a few hundred days after chewing through the rest of 1 and all of 2.

Daunting, that.

Kindly creatures that have some monstrous elements to them are among my favorite tropes in fantasy. Dragons are often the most commonly cited, though there are many others—like the guardian naga—that may satisfy this role such as friendly were-creatures in control of their faculties or grandmotherly druids of the forest that one could mistake for a hag.

When finding a use for the guardian naga in your game, it is not only a more-than-proficient combatant, but it also has access to a plethora of spontaneous divine spells that both heal and deal damage. If for instance a guardian naga is mistaken for a creature one might attack, the guardian naga may do everything in its power to avoid killing a perceived innocent, up to and including the use of breath of life on a creature it just nearly killed.

Consider these things when utilizing the naga. A friendly, albeit ghastly, face in the center of some dilapidated ruin could serve as welcome respite to a combat-laden dungeon crawl, as well as providing opportunities for roleplay where there would otherwise be few sensible options for NPCs that could be placed within a terribly dangerous locale.

- Reece

Hook 1 (Nemanja) - Ishtara Exul

Before the Royalists seized power, Ishtara's grand temple had an entire ward dedicated to taking in pregnant women and caring for them. Unsurprisingly, the Goddess was not a popular figure with the heavily patriarchal regime, and the temple's clergy were chased away or executed.

These days, rumor has it that a trio of women operates in the catacombs below, granting aid to women hurt or ostracized by the new system. These rumors vary wildly in how easy or hard it is to acquire that aid. The reason is quite simple. 

The triumvirate, while powerful and united in their cause of helping downtrodden women, is quite the heterogeneous group; it consists of the temple's last high priestess—presumed dead—a hag who is trying to earn favours from the local population, and a guardian naga fascinated with the temple's sacred purpose. Their respective backgrounds and attitudes often change their approach as each of them favor varying tactics

Hook 2 (Max) - Blightguard

The Wandering Magus is a blight on the land. Wherever he walks, calamity follows, more often than not a direct result of his work. He appears as a senile old man in rags, his only apparent possession is a walking stick, worn smooth from centuries of continuous use.

Because of the mischief he sows, a bounty has been placed on his head. He has already been slain a number of times, which led to a simple conclusion: his real body must be hidden somewhere else.

And so it is, in an old, forgotten tower, guarded by nagas that come from an ancient and proud line who believe that the Magus is about to finally bring peace and solace to the world. With this sworn duty, they will defend him with everything they have.

Hook 3 (Reece) - Vaultkeeper

At the farthest point from any habitable land, deep within the ruins of a long-forgotten ruin, in the bowels of the Infinite Darkness that seems to swallow the world is a vault of divine purpose. The trek to this place is fraught with incredible hardships comprised of dangerous monsters, mystifying puzzles, and deadly traps. Should one survive the journey and reach the vault, they are greeted with a much-needed respite from the difficulties of their mission.

Pormandagon The Kind has guarded the Divine Vault for thousand-ten-thousand years. The vault, which is said to hold that which those who enter wish for most, is Pormandagon's charge and duty. While his judgment is swift upon those he deems of ill intent, he is more than likely reading and drinking tea at the center of the Infinite Darkness, waiting for the next brave traveler that might survive the descent.

His sight is regarded as the most discerning of any creature to ever live, as he is thrice blessed by three different gods to guard the vault from unwelcome intruders.

It is said to be a tradition to sup with Pormandagon as he prods you with questions both moral and philosophical. His queries are of course pretense; his true sight reveals both the desires and sins of mortal kind. This has never stopped him from keeping up the practice, even if it means that he must then strike down a guest he has become fond of.