Nagaside

Nagaside is a fictional construct used in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to denote an alignment, region, or organization associated with naga—the serpentine beings prominent in South and Southeast Asian mythologies. The term blends naga with side, implying a political or philosophical leaning. In some settings, nagaside describes a coastal or riverine domain ruled or protected by naga elites, often characterized by serpentine art, water-centric laws, and mediating councils.

Narratives featuring nagaside explore themes of guardianship, wisdom, venom and antidote lore, shapeshifting, and diplomacy between humans and supernatural serpents; conflicts may arise over territory, sacred springs, or contested knowledge. In worldbuilding, nagaside can function as a cultural corridor, a ceremonial tradition, or a governing body within a broader fantasy polity.

In role-playing games and literature, nagaside is used as a faction name, a cultural heritage, or a path of study—e.g., a Nagaside Concord or House of the Nagaside—with variations across settings. The concept allows authors to integrate serpentine symbolism with ecological, political, or spiritual motifs common to mythic traditions.

Related concepts include nagas, serpent cults, water deities, and mythic guardians; the exact role of nagaside varies by author and universe, and there is no single canonical definition.