Nagas are a semi-aquatic race in the Dreamlands that live in or near freshwater rivers, lakes, marshes, or swamps (though they do not need to stay moist to survive). Indeed, any reasonably good-sized body of water will do; Nagas have even been found at desert oases. In appearance they resemble Humans whose hips and legs have been replaced by the body and tail of a snake. The Human torso is covered with skin and possesses hair, especially on top of the head (though male Nagas have no facial hair and are frequently bald). Female Nagas have fully functional mammalian breasts. The serpent body is covered with small scales, that gradually disappear on the lowest part of the Human abdomen. Most Nagas have only two arms, but a small percentage are born with four. These are considered the elite, even if born to the lowest caste, and are treated as great leaders.

They see and hear no better than Humans, but their sense of smell is very powerful, and while not forked their tongues are long and supple and can taste the air, using something similar to a Jacobson Organ in the roof of their mouths. They can also feel sensitive vibrations through the ground. The Human torso contains oversized lungs, heart, stomach, and liver, while the serpent body contains the intestines, kidneys, and reproductive organs. Nagas have a single orifice for evacuating urine and feces, and for sex and giving birth similar to a cloaca. Male Nagas have a penis that is stored inside the body until needed. Female Nagas have a womb-like structure that contains the fertilized egg until it hatches; the infant Naga is then born alive. The female suckles it as it continues to develop, and when weaned she raises it to adulthood, when it then goes off on its own. Nagas give birth to only a single infant, or, very rarely, twins.

Nagas move using their serpent bodies, which utilize a wide variety of locomotion techniques, such as flexing their belly scales like a tank tread, using wide loops to grip and push against the ground or embedded objects, and sidewinding. Despite their bulk they can move very fast, but they are even faster swimmers. When "running" they hold their torsos just above and parallel to the ground, but when "walking" or at rest, they lift their torsos up and hold them perpendicular to the ground. Though their torsos and arms have only Human-level strength, their serpent bodies are immensely strong. They use their tails as whips and bludgeons, and if they grapple an opponent they will throw body coils around them and constrict them to death. Nagas have been known to bite, but they are not venomous.

Because they resemble serpents, other races tend to believe Nagas are carnivores, and therefore predators. They do hunt, but in that they are no different from any other race, and in fact they are omnivores; depending on where they live, plants makes up a substantial portion of their diet. Some Nagasa are even vegetarians, especially those who practice a pacifistic religion, such as certain sects of Buddhism. Nagas do not eat members of other races, so fears of Nagas hunting other people for food are groundless. Their diet is similar to that of Humans; meat is the easiest food for them to digest, but they can also digest grains, fruits, and juicy or starchy vegetables. They cannot digest vegetables high in cellulose as easily as humans, but if cooked to a soft, even mushy consistency, they can tolerate them better. Nagas will eat raw, even live, food, but they recognize that cooking makes any food easier to digest, and they are master chefs.

Nagas have Human-level intelligence, a distinct language and culture, and technology. They can engage in any craft that Humans can, though they are better at some than others. They are known to wear clothes (though they often go topless, even the females), jewelry, even armor, and they use metal tools and weapons. Because where they live is often very moist, they are masters at crafting rust-resistant steel. They can excel at any profession Humans can, but warriors, scholars, and poets are those most commonly encountered by other races. They practice equality of the sexes, so any profession will have a nearly equal mix of males and females, but curiously, outside of their home territory, female warriors and male scholars are encountered more often than their alternatives. Naga warriors of either sex are high trained, adept at wielding multiple weapons (especially four-armed warriors), and quite powerful in that they use their serpent bodies and tails as weapons. They build shelters to live in, most of which are simple and functional, but which can be elaborate and luxurious. They practice agriculture, raising small animals, garden plots, fruit trees, and small fields of corn or wheat, but they love to hunt, and their homes often have an abundance of natural plants they can harvest.

Nagas tend to be solitary, but do form life-long pair bonds, and accept young apprentices to teach them a craft or profession. They are no more aggressive or xenophobic than any other race, but they are more wary since they do not have the advantage of numbers that Humans or Leng Men have. It is not impossible to win a Naga's trust, but it can be difficult. Once given, however, a Naga's trust is equally difficult to lose. Most of these associations take the form of "friendship", in which both parties respect and aid one another, but derive no other benefit. However, it is not unheard of for Nagas to take Human lovers. The logistics can be hard to handle, in that a Naga's genitals are not located at the base of his or her torso, but just above the tail, which even on the shortest Naga is often still 12 feet down the body (the tail can be an extra 6 feet beyond that). However, a popular sex guide has a chapter on coupling with non-Human races, and it includes illustrations. It's also worth pointing out that Nagas are adept at fellatio and cunnilingus thanks to their long and sensitive tongues. Curiously, Naga's are more likely to take lovers of the same sex than the opposite, but considering the difficulties with traditional sex this may not be as surprising as it sounds. There is an element of risk, though. Nagas coil their serpent bodies around themselves when having sex, and they do the same with their Human lovers. It is not unheard of for a Naga to accidentally crush a lover to death during orgasm.

However, other more platonic associations are known. For example, Nagas can live in communities that are mostly like individuals or couples living in close proximity but maintaining isolated lives. Peddlers have been known to visit such communities, to trade jewelry and other ornaments, silk clothing and accessories, perfume, fragrant oils, toiletries such as brushes and mirrors, tobacco, wine, liqueurs, and such, for stainless-steel tools, fine handicrafts, objects d'art, and natural products such as fragrant resins, semi-precious stones, and decorative shells. Scholars and poets will visit their Naga colleagues to exchange ideas and inspiration. Female warriors are in great demand as bodyguards, for the exotic notoriety, the erotic titillation, and their physical and skillful prowess. (One legendary four-armed warrior in the service of the Prince of Dylath-Leen could loose an arrow, sling a bullet, and hurl a javelin all at the same time. Another fought with a rapier, a falchion, a parrying dagger, and a buckler shield.) Some wealthy individuals or foreign potentates have hired Nagas as chefs.