Eggs

Eggs are consumed by most cultures around the Great Ring and appear in nearly every cuisine to some degree. But among the Naga, eggs have another important role: they are an integral part of the metaphysical art of Alchemy. In this tradition, the egg carries vast symbolic meaning and often sits at the center of an alchemist's personal interpretation of the art.

The Naga, like all Kikipua, are oviparous. They lay their eggs in communal nests shared by a Bamsam, the fundamental unit of Naga society. This biological fact elevates the egg's symbolism even further than it does in non-oviparous cultures. To the Naga, the egg is the world in miniature - a mystery, a metaphor, and the very stuff of life itself. Given this, it is no surprise that many Naga alchemists consider eggs essential to the composition of their formulae.

The Three Eggs

In alchemical practice, three kinds of eggs are generally recognized: the mundane, the supernatural, and the alchemical. The first two refer to eggs that exist naturally in the world, laid by ordinary or supernatural creatures, respectively. The third is a symbolic egg, constructed by the alchemist for its metaphysical resonance. The alchemist selects the type of egg they require based on personal needs, guided by both cultural and individual symbolism associated with each specific specimen.

Mundane eggs are the most common and the most easily acquired. In theory, any egg might serve as the correct symbolic link for a particular alchemist, but certain varieties appear repeatedly in the formulae of individual practitioners. Here are some of the most common:

• Chicken Eggs: Chicken eggs are the most widely available. They represent ubiquity, simplicity, and the fundamentals of life. They are used in formulae across a wide range of magical applications, depending on the needs and nature of the alchemist.
• Gull Eggs: Gulls bridge the worlds of land and sea and are seen as resourceful and tenacious. Gull eggs are often used to incubate formulae dealing with difficult transitions, uncertain boundaries, or liminal states.
• Snake Eggs: To the Naga, snakes represent wisdom, insight, and cunning. Snake eggs are commonly used in formulae intended to enhance the mind and perception - especially by alchemists seeking personal revelations or transformative understanding.

Supernatural eggs are laid by creatures that are innately magical and may not be entirely physical. These eggs are often difficult - or outright impossible - to acquire. Alchemists who determine they require one for a formula often redirect their research toward more achievable aims. However, if one should come into possession of a supernatural egg, alchemists will pay handsomely for it.

Here are some of the better-known supernatural eggs:

• Cockatrice Eggs: Said to be laid by a rooster, cockatrice eggs symbolize the inversion of the natural order, paradox, and corruption. They are used in formulae that depend on radical transformation and the destruction of established forms.
• Phoenix Eggs: It is uncertain whether phoenixes truly lay eggs, but they appear frequently in alchemical lore as possible components. They are most often involved in formulae concerning rebirth, purification, or alchemical fire.
• Rukk Egg: The Rukk is the greatest of the wayward winds - a malevolent tornado in the shape of a massive bird. Its egg (if it exists) is a singular object, said to contain power greater than the near-godlike being that laid it. In the formulae where it is referenced, the Rukk Egg is used to impart limitless power, force, and magnitude. To date, none have successfully scaled the emerald mountain of Kafkuh to confirm whether such an egg truly exists.

Alchemical eggs are not true eggs at all—they are constructs that borrow the symbolism of eggs for metaphysical purposes. They may sometimes include components of a mundane egg—most often the eggshell—but they are treated as a distinct class of object. As with all alchemical constructs, each iteration is crafted with personal and symbolic intention, but there are some common themes that alchemists often use as starting points.

Here are some of the most well-known alchemical eggs found in the lore:

• Ashen Egg: Created using the eggshell of a chicken, burned carefully to retain its form while converting it into charcoal. The Ashen Egg is filled with symbols of death and decay - grave dirt, bone dust, and cremation ash are all common contents. It is used in necromantic formulae, especially those intended to animate the dead or commune with ancestral spirits.
• Glass Egg: A blown glass egg, which must function as a prism in most formulae that call for it. These eggs are associated with deception, illusion, and operations concerning light, reflection, and vision. They are often used in glamours or to reveal hidden truths cloaked in misleading appearances.
• Golden Egg: The Golden Egg symbolizes the World Egg, from which all creation is said to have emerged. It is typically much larger than other alchemical eggs and is among the most expensive and sacred items an alchemist may require. It is used in operations intended to unify disparate forces, initiate the final purification of the soul, or create true harmony.
  According to some alchemists, the Golden Egg is the crucible in which the legendary Chintantaka may be formed - a mythical gem said to elevate anything to its highest form, transmuting it into a perfected version of itself.

Cracking the Shell

Eggs are a central symbol in Naga alchemy. While individual applications may vary, they remain one of the most commonly used materials in the crafting of alchemical formulae. Whether mundane, supernatural, or constructed, the egg is omnipresent. Each one represents a world of possibilities - waiting for the right person, willing to peer inside and uncover its secrets.