Goa'uld

Revision as of 07:25, 26 October 2014

Goa'uld are a serpentine parasitical species that feature in Stargate: SG-1.

The Goa'uld evolved on a swampy planet where they left the primordial pools to infest the bipedal reptilian Unas which served as their hosts. They eventually deciphered remnants of Ancient technology and formed a mighty empire, however, the small number of hosts meant the race were dying until their discovery of Humans on planet Earth. They took over the planet and lorded themselves as gods from various myths after which they spread Human tribes throughout the stars to serve as their followers, slaves and hosts.

History

Origin

The Goa'uld were a species of water dwelling organisms that were believed by archaeologists to had been native to the planet designated P3X-888 where they co-existed with the native Unas. All symbiotes were believed to had originated on this world where they were believed to had been predatory animals but not parasitical. A theory was held that the Goa'uld evolved for millions of years in the prehistoric oceans of P3X-888 before taking on hosts. These early symbiotes even lacked trace amounts of Naquadah and it was believed that this element entered into their makeup later in their evolution. (Episode: The First Ones)

According to a Jaffa, many worlds containing a Stargate had been terraformed by the Goa'uld many centuries ago. (Episode: The First Commandment)

In their early history, the parasitic species managed to spread their rule through space and claimed the planet Dakara which had been the home of the Ancients. (Episode: Reckoning, Part 2)

At some point, the Goa'uld created the first Jaffa on the planet Dakara which became the site of the first prim'tah ritual that forever bonded the Human offshoot race to their masters. This enshrined the world in Jaffa beliefs as a sacred world where the Goa'uld first gave their servants their strength and longevity. As a result, for thousands of years Dakara was seen as a sacred world for the Jaffa who saw it as the cradle of their existence. (Episode: Reckoning, Part 1)

Stargate

In 1996, the Tau'ri of Earth managed to uncover the Stargate and began to study it where they activated it allowing them to journey to Abydos. The team dispatched consisted of Colonel Jack O'Neill and Dr. Daniel Jackson who had arrived on the world when the Supreme System Lord Ra had arrived to collect his tribute. Ra would capture the Tau'ri with Colonel O'Neill deciding to detonate a nuclear warhead that he had been given in case he had encountered a threat. After learning of Earth, Ra had the device enriched with Naquadah thus enhancing its destructive potential where he intended to send it back to the Tau'ri homeworld. However, Dr. Daniel Jackson would inform the native Abydonians about the truth behid Ra where they rebelled against him forcing him to flee. Both Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson managed to use a ring transporter to transport the bomb to Ra's orbiting vessel where it detonated before Ra could defuse it. (Movie: Stargate)

Fallen Gods

The fall of the Goa'uld came when the Replicators arrived in the Milky Way and initiated an all-out attack against the parasitic aliens. (Episode: Reckoning, Part 1)

Background

Symbiote and Host

The snake shaped parasite that is the Goa'uld requires a host body to inhabit in order to affect the environment around it. Typically, among the Goa'uld, this is done invasively taking control over the host body and surpressing the mind. As such, its typical among the Goa'uld to state that "Nothing of the host remains." as part of the process. However, strong minds can resist the parasite for brief moments requiring more concentration from the Goa'uld within to maintain its control over the body.

The symbiont typically enters the body of a host either through the mouth or burrowing through the neck. Once inside the body, they attach themselves to the spinal column and begin their control over the body. Young larval Goa'uld can only accomplish this briefly as they have not matured to the point that would allow them complete control over the body. As part of their maturation cycle, a Goa'uld can 'shed' its skin leaving an empty husk behind which can confuse enemies that attempt to surgically remove the Goa'uld.

Early prehistoric Goa'uld were believed to be predatory animals that remained in this existence for millions of years before adopting a parastic existence. The early primordial queens were noted for their enlarged pectoral musculature and dorsal structure. (Episode: The First Ones)

One of the conditions required for a larval symbiote to be maintained outside the host was a small electrical current that mimicked that generated by the body. Even if the conditions of the pouch were replicated the Goa'uld larva would still slowly die without this one final element. (Episode: Bane)

Genetic Memory

One of the unique traits among the Goa'uld is their genetic memory which allows them access to the accumulated knowledge of their race from the Queen that spawned them. As such, the moment a Goa'uld is born, they possess the memories of their predecessors. This includes the memories of the acts made by their ancestors and parents.

Naquadah Sense

Though not explained, the Goa'uld during their journey across the stars developed Naquadah within their blood. This has provided the Goa'uld several advantages one of which is that it serves as a 'genetic key' that allows them the usage of their technology which only responds to the Naquadah in the users blood. A symbiont is capable of implanting this ability in a host should the Goa'uld itself die.

Another noted advantage of the Naquadah present in a Goa'ulds body is that it allows them to actually sense the location of a Stargate.

Primordial symbiotes from their original homeworld lacked even trace amounts of Naquadah within their makeup with the substance later becoming part of their biology later in their evolution. (Episode: The First Ones)

Culture and Society

Worship

Politics

Rules

Tactics

Technology

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