Since their creation, the origins and existence of the Nagaraja have been obscured by lies, misunderstanding, and fear. Most vampires believe that the Nagaraja are a foul bloodline of flesh-eaters who practice primitive and abhorrent magics. The Nagaraja themselves have never had the numbers, ability, or the inclination to change the perceptions of their rumored origins and have remained mysterious and dangerous bogeymen for most of history.

Unknown to most modern vampires, the Nagaraja began as a Tradition of mages called the Chakravanti who studied death magics and embraced the Metaphysic Trinity: the concepts of dynamism, static, and entropy. They believed that these forces, when balanced, turn the Wheel of Fate and are governed by Brahma the Producer, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Purifier, traditional Hindu gods responsible for the creation, upkeep, and destruction of the world.

The origins of the Nagaraja can be traced back thousands of years to a centuries-long conflict between a group of ancient mages in the Himalayan region. Back then, a small band of  Chakravanti mages experimented with vampire blood and the energies of the Underworld. These experiments infused them with the potent energy of death itself and led to their expulsion from the Chakravanti Tradition out of fear of where their studies would lead them. Embattled and at odds with their former brethren, the outcasts fled to Egypt. It was there that they discovered a mysterious creature who promised them the answers to death that they so desperately wanted. An ancient bargain was struck; the specifics of which are long forgotten. 

Their benefactor provided them with a potent spell which promised everlasting power, but it was incomplete. To perfect the ritual, the mages sought vampire blood, hoping to amass enough power to enact the spell. They preyed upon their benefactor’s enemies, the Followers of Set, subduing them with their magics and collecting their vitae. The mages hoped that by utilizing vampire blood to complete the spell they could purify the embrace, but they were unable to avoid the karmic results of their actions. When the ritual was enacted the mages emerged as the vampiric Nagaraja, but it was to be a flawed and tortured existence, driven by an undying hunger for the flesh of the living and beset by enemies on all sides. They were horrified by their transformation. 

Having learned of their transgressions, the Followers of Set were quick to decry the upstart bloodline of flesh-eaters with knife-like teeth, and the other clans of vampires remained their enemies. Though the embrace had heightened their necromantic powers, it was not enough to enable the Nagaraja to fight a war on all fronts. To ensure their survival, they scattered in all directions, avoiding the great vampire sects and operating in secrecy. Some sought refuge in the Shadowlands, seeking to create an enclave where their enemies could not follow; however, their efforts were fraught with peril as many of the eldest Nagaraja were destroyed in a great Maelstrom during the 15th century. Other complications followed, including conflict with the various empires of wraiths and the eventual destruction of their primary base of operations.

These nights the surviving Nagaraja are without allies. Burdened by the misinformation and narratives that condemn them as bogeyman and merciless cannibals, most Nagaraja have abandoned the Shadowlands and have begun to repopulate their numbers. These nights, rumors abound that the Nagaraja are working towards an alliance with the other necromantic clans. 

Roleplaying Notes: The Nagaraja prefer candidates who have some relationship with death before the embrace. They are known to favor priests, spiritualists, morticians, exorcists, and even ghost hunters. They are also known to consider those who have had a brush with death, believing them to have caught a glimpse of the afterlife which may offer them a special insight. Very few embrace mortals who are violent criminals or murderers, as poorly chosen candidates sometimes fall victim to bad habits. The Nagaraja are very wary of their clan’s limitation and attempt to select candidates who can mitigate it accordingly.

All Nagaraja develop a metaphysical attachment to consuming flesh; however, the act itself is deeply ritualized and never a trivial undertaking. They believe that to consume a living person’s flesh is to take a portion of the being’s soul. A Nagaraja forced to consume dead or recently deceased flesh feels empty and unfulfilled, yet many embrace this way of feeding for moral or spiritual reasons.

As an independent bloodline without access to a parent clan’s merits, the Nagaraja are presented with a broader suite of merit options as well as their own unique flaws. As a reminder, you cannot purchase multiple Nagaraja specific merits of the same point cost unless otherwise stated. For example, you could purchase Lichborne and Necrosynthesis but you could not purchase both Necrosynthesis and To Catch a Killer.

Rarity: Uncommon Independent Bloodline with a cost of 2 merit points