Guardian naga

Guardian nagas were immortal beings that often protected treasure, magical secrets, items, and lore that would be destructive should they ever fall into the wrong hands.

Description
Like all nagas, guardian nagas had snake-like bodies and human-like faces. They could grow to be 20 ft (6 m) long and weighed up to 500 lb (227 kg). Their scales had a shimmer and their eyes were bright&mdash;hypnotically lit from within. Some had a golden frill that ran the length of their body. Some gave off a scent of sweet flowers.

Personality
Guardian nagas were exceptionally wise, intelligent,  and usually strictly lawful and good aligned,  but they were free-willed creatures and could be of any alignment. Less noble nagas might subjugate creatures, usually a tribe of primitive kobolds, troglodytes, or lizardfolk, to assist them in their pursuits, always believing they were superior to other creatures. They enjoyed spell research and designing strategies to thwart evil plots. They typically gave warning to intruders and only attacked if provoked. When angered, a guardian naga raised its crest.

Combat
If provoked to attack, guardian nagas had a wide range of responses to choose from. They were accomplished spell casters with access to divine magic in addition to being able to deliver poison by either spitting or biting.

Society
Nagas in general had an antagonistic relationship with yuan-ti, but if their goals aligned, guardian nagas would sometimes protect yuan-ti temples and treasure hoards.

History
Nagas were created by a humanoid race sometime in the distant past. When their creators died off or disappeared, the nagas inherited the magic and lore of their absent masters and carried on with mystical research and protection of their secrets.