Work Text:
Researcher: (unintelligible name – ink bleed marks)
Experiment: find the truth behind divination and godly features attributed to the Naga
Conduct: observation from afar, tapes recording evidence, logs explaining tapes, limited to no interaction with subjects
It is my hypothesis that the Naga, as in myth, possesses holy-like powers specific to it rather than the evil attitude some societies attribute to snakes.
With controlled observation and interaction, this point will be proven by the notes and video tapes taken on the subject of this research.
(unintelligible paragraphs – water damaged)
…and since the funding has been cancelled, I have no other choice but to continue the research on my own with the money I have saved. Thankfully, the connections I made while properly funded remain easy to contact without said funding.
I will seek these connections out and …(unintelligible paragraphs – water damaged)… so then I can properly set out with my equipment to observe the subject as explained.
Naga Observation Log - 5
There still has been no sign of the naga within these woods, but the traces of movement from other creatures has become more prevalent. Either they act differently due to the relative seclusion of this part of the forest, or something has made them stir. Their trails and patterns of interaction from what I have thus observed are out of the typical scale.
These instances have been recorded, depicting the trails left behind and their peculiar nature.
Naga Observation Log - 8
Reference tape #6.
I shall continue to steadily move closer to the destination I believe the naga to have taken home in all while documenting the behavior of flora and fauna. Such information could prove crucial in proving the holy thrall the naga has on other creatures.
Naga Observation Log - 10
Reference tape #9.
The first signs of the naga were spotted today. Small crystalline pieces of what I can only assume to be the remnants of scales were discovered at the edge of the pond I traced the animal activity back to. Is this a holy place of worship? A gathering spot for all subjects? Or is it simply a lake many creatures in this proximity use?
I will need to investigate this matter more. I shall stay in this area observing the behavior of the wildlife that comes near it and, with any luck, I may even be graced by the presence of the naga itself.
[TRANSCRIPT]
Naga Observation Tape #11
Visual: 1 minute 49 seconds of footage of one deer, two rabbits, and one racoon drinking water from a river less than a meter away from one another.
Visual: The footage cuts to a different part of the forest where the foliage is briefly shown before a man’s arm is visible pointing at something in the distance. A muffled voice whispers.
Scientist: “If you look real close, you can see an opossum and her children making their way towards the lake I’ve been watching even though dusk has only begun to fall.”
Visual: Camera zooms in to where the finger had been pointing. A blurry white figure is seen slowly moving–the opossum.
Visual & Sound: cuts out with static for 30 seconds before the tape ends.
Naga Observation Log - 13
Reference tape #11.
I have observed odd behavior from the animals in this part of the forest. Normally skittish creatures are oddly comfortable in close distance to one another. I have also seen some nocturnal animals stir before the sun has set and some that are mostly active during the day stay up later in the dark.
There has been no further sighting of the Naga, so I cannot connect these instances to it’s presence…yet. It is too much of a coincidence for these odd occurrences to happen in an area with which I found evidence of the naga. Is this because of the Naga’s influence itself? Is it because of the water? Does it act like some sort of holy pacifying water thanks to the Naga’s influence? I have nothing to prove it yet, and the prowling of the occasional predator does create doubt, but I can do nothing but wait. The most vital piece of evidence is the naga itself, so I must see it and its influence before any sort of conclusion can be drawn–beneficial or not to my hypothesis.
Naga Observation Log - 17
Reference tape #13
I am finally getting closer to the naga! As seen in tape #13, I have found what appears to be a semi-fresh shed of the Naga’s old skin.
Reference tape #13 for exact scale demonstrations and specific size dimensions.
I have determined this husk to be only a piece of the skin the Naga shed based on its dimensions and texture at its odd edges. If this is true, then the naga is either extremely large or extremely long–it could very well be both.
I have discovered some more scales near the lake as well, fresher this time. I am not sure when the naga reached the lake, but it was certainly when I was not on alert. It will likely take a few days for it to return, but I won’t stray too far from the lake now. I may also have to cut back on my sleeping hours. I am not yet sure if the naga is more humanoid or snake when it comes to how nocturnal it is.
Naga Observation Log - 18
IT ALL PAID OFF!
I was unable to capture it on video as I was caught by surprise while almost dozing off, but I finally saw the naga.
It came out around dusk, when the sky was still tinged with the colors of the sunset. It was a magnificent creature and, as theorized, both large and long. Its scales were bright and almost purple in the colors of the setting sun. Its top half was not that of a humanoid snake, but of a man. I have seen naga depicted many ways across various cultures, but had this naga’s long scaly tail been hidden, one would have difficulty identifying it as anything other than human. I was not close enough to tell, but it may have also possessed scales on its human parts.
It is too dangerous to do anything other than observe for now–I do not want to ruin my chances of obtaining data now that I have finally found my subject. I shall continue to observe from a difference. I am unsure if the naga noticed my presence and if it has, it has not acknowledged it. While that would lead me to believe it has not yet discovered my presence, my original reason for coming out here makes me believe otherwise.
Naga Observation Log - 19
Reference tape #14.
The naga has a routine. I was able to capture some of it on tape, although it was incredibly difficult and captured over the course of a few days. It’s trips to the lake occur every 3 days where it then seems to bathe in the water for some time–is this why the animals flock to drink from it? After bathing, it returns to its clearing. Whenever it retreats into its den–the cave entrance in tape #14–I am unable to see what it does inside. On what appears to be every day after its bathing, some animals gather in the small clearing near the den or even venture inside it–I have yet to see if they emerged so I am unsure if they are treated as prey or subjects.
More footage to come.
I am beginning to believe the naga is, and has always been, completely aware of my presence.
[TRANSCRIPT]
Naga Observation Tape #15
Visual: complete black for 15 seconds with no sound.
Sound: Sudden cut of loud audio: murmurs and foliage rustling
Visual: intermittent black and static before the picture clears at 45 seconds into the video. Brief shots of the naga follow: purplish black scales, pale humanoid torso, long black hair. Its face is always just out of shot or blocked by something else.
Scientist: “I’ve finally managed to capture it! The great naga is interacting with all of its animal subjects! It is about to enter the den–hold on–this camera isn’t made for the dark, but I’ll show do my best to record it–”
Sound: audio cuts out again, faint static noises appearing.
Visual: camera footage is shaky with the occasional static blurring the picture. Images are dark–hardly visible–but in certain scenes slight glimmers on the rock wall and large reptilian scales can be seen. There are many glowing eyes in the otherwise dark picture.
Visual: image and audio both cut to complete static for 2 minutes and 13 seconds.
Naga Observation Log - 21
Reference tape #19, #20, #21.
I’VE BEEN PROVEN RIGHT! All the evidence I’ve accumulated has more than outdone my expectations for this research trip! I have more than enough evidence in my various tapes to conclude my hypothesis entirely true. The great naga indeed possesses holy powers. The only thing my hypothesis did not account for was the extent with which those powers extend!
Reference tape #21 to see the miracle the great naga performed after being attacked! Its presence alone defies all human logic of the gods, but its abilities surpass it even more! I must now question my hypothesis. Was I actually wrong? Could it be that the great naga does not possess holy powers, but is in fact holy itself?
I need to …(unintelligible words – water damaged)… and then the great Naga will …(unintelligible sentences – water damaged)… Then everyone will know what they missed out on when defunding my research but …(unintelligible paragraphs – unidentified stain)…
Naga Observation Log - 22
…(unintelligible sentences – unidentified stain & water damage)…and it was a miracle unlike any other claimed to be performed in religious theory. It was no small feat like turning water into wine or parting of the sea or defeating a beastly minotaur. Not even defying the hands of death itself could stack up to the …(unintelligible sentences – water damage)…
Man has been besotted by the words of sacrilegious prophecy, of false gods! For none have seen the very miracles the Great Naga can perform! They love their tales of bravery and holy retribution, but none have been seen outside of their mind’s eye. If they could only see the Great Naga, the …(unintelligible word – unidentified stain)… performed as its scales practically shine with holy light!
All I can do is to record the holy work of the Great Naga. I can hardly even call them miracles, for they simply are when it comes to the Great Naga. I must record it all. I must express what cannot be captured on film with my words. I must shed light on it all so humanity can even begin to comprehend the …(unintelligible words – water damage)… of …(unintelligible words – water damage)…
I will now forever serve in the light of the Great Naga Oroch…(unintelligible name – unidentified stain)
[TRANSCRIPT]
Naga Observation Tape #17
Visual: constant static on the top of the video. Camera is unsteady and angle changes constantly. Shapes are blurred by the movement, but the flashes appear to be different kinds of animals. Most notably clear are a deer, a fox, and the Naga’s long winding tail itself.
Sound: Audio is mostly rustling and thus unintelligible. Sometimes sounds from different animals can be heard, although it is so cacophonous that determining which animals they come from is near impossible. The sounds are not sounds of pain or fear, but more rumbling and guttural, with an odd note of approval as though they were a group of screeching humans calling to their god. No words can be heard from the scientist himself, although it seems he was talking or shouting along with the animals due to the distinct human tone within the mix.
Visual: Static spreads across the screen after 5 minutes and remain for the rest of the video.
Sound: Audio remains intact for the remainder of the video despite the static. The cacophony lasts until the end of the video log at 8 minutes and 23 seconds.
[TRANSCRIPT]
Naga Observation Tape #18
Visual: The entire 6 minute and 17 second video is pitch black, with odd gray static emerging shortly every few minutes.
Sound: Audio is faint for the first 2 minutes, mainly consisting of white noise and what sounds like distant whispers. Exactly at the 2 minute mark, the whispers are closer and tinges with a hiss. It sounds like someone something is speaking directly to the camera although the words are completely unintelligible as if spoken in a language unable to be associated with a single language in anyone’s records.
Scientist: speech is unintelligible, but intermittent human gasps can be heard between the whispers.
Visual: in the last second of the video, two glowing yellow eyes peek into the upper right corner of the screen. They are distinctly the eyes of a snake, a very large snake proportionate at least to the size of a human.
Transcriber’s note: One part of the odd language was potentially translated from some ancient and lost tribal version of Sanskrit. The phrase at 5 minutes and 51 seconds is something along the lines of: behold my power and regret thine betrayal, human who now watches me. I am real. I am your sacrificed god, and I will retake my throne. I see your blasphemy you who writes this, Uchiha Sas…(unintelligible name – ink smudge & unidentified stains akin to blood)…