Nayala del Drago

"Nayala defies the Witch Council to help David protect the growing Yggdrasil seedling from Stella's assault -- the defining act of her character arc."
-- Adzharis chronicle, Booklet 060

Nayala del Drago, known informally as La Strega ("the Witch") and sometimes called the Dragon Witch, is a young dragon-witch from the del Drago clan on Adzharis. She is one of the saga's most fully realised female characters: a cartographer, patrol rider, weather-witch, and fierce warrior who evolves from a guardian of the Sealed Land into a key member of the Terranauts and David terGorden's inner circle. Across more than a dozen booklets, Nayala serves as the living bridge between the ancient matriarchal culture of the dragon witches and the galactic struggle to restore Driver space travel and defeat the forces of entropy.

Origins and Family

Nayala was born into the Dragon Clan (del Drago), the most prominent of the witch clans inhabiting the Sealed Land on Adzharis. Her family resides in Belgam Tower, a settlement deep within the Sealed Land's verdant, river-crossed interior (056). Her clan is led by Clan Mother Murdala, and her lineage stretches back many generations -- her great-great-great-great-grandmother Myrmica is mentioned as a revered elder (056).

The del Drago bloodline occupies a singular position in the saga. It is the same lineage that produced:

• Myriam del Drago -- David terGorden's mother, who achieved an unprecedented communion with Yggdrasil on Earth and died prophesying David's destiny (030, 031).
• La Strega del Drago -- a Driver and spiritual intermediary in Asen-Ger's lodge, who helped David connect with Yggdrasil across interstellar distances and freed him from Hypnoter control at the Great Festival (002, 003, 007).

The saga consistently positions women of the del Drago line as cosmic intermediaries -- conduits between humanity and the great psionic forces of the universe. Nayala inherits and extends this tradition.

Other notable Dragon Clan members include Vandel and Trut (male supporting members), Pethar (a young patrol flyer and Nayala's companion), and Red Sonja (leader of the patrol riders) (056, 059, 060).

Physical Description and Role

When first encountered in booklet 056, Nayala is described as a young cartographer serving on aerial patrols to protect the Sealed Land from corporate intrusion. She rides her personal dragon, Sufnor, a formidable creature capable of flight not only within Adzharis's atmosphere but through Space II itself -- an extraordinary feat that underscores the depth of the bond between dragon-witch and dragon (057).

Within the clan, Nayala occupies the role of scout, cartographer, and patrol rider -- positions that combine practical skill with PSI-powered surveillance. She is fiercely protective of her people, her homeland, and the cultural autonomy of the Sealed Land.

PSI Powers

Nayala possesses a range of formidable psionic abilities that distinguish her even in a galaxy where Drivers routinely employ PSI for space navigation:

Weather Manipulation

Nayala is specifically identified as a "weather-witch" -- a specialist in atmospheric PSI. Her weather powers manifest in several dramatic ways across the saga:

• Cushion of air: During the descent to Adzharis on Sufnor, Nayala creates a cushion of air to save herself and David terGorden from a fatal crash (059).
• Storm summoning: She summons a massive storm to help the Maryjane escape a whirlpool near the Great Abyss on Rorqual (057).
• Fire extinguishing: Within the hollow interior of Rorqual, she creates an enormous storm to extinguish a fire threatening the Tau Ulema, a World Tree and key component of the Intercosmological Anti-Entropy System (058).
• Wind generation: She generates winds powerful enough to change a ship's course (057).

Telepathy and Clairvoyance

Nayala uses her PSI abilities to confirm the location of the Great Abyss on Rorqual when Yggdrasil communicates its position to David terGorden (057). She also tracks Olgar Nordstrom across hostile territory to the harbour town of Xalihat, successfully locating and retrieving the stolen Yggdrasil seed (057).

Dragon Bonding

The intimate bond between Nayala and her dragon Sufnor goes far beyond mere riding. Sufnor is capable of flying through Space II from Adzharis to Rorqual -- a journey across dimensional boundaries that most spacecraft require sophisticated navigation to accomplish (057). This bond represents the deepest expression of the dragon-witch tradition.

Collective PSI Amplification

The Dragon Clan can pool their psionic energy to boost the powers of allies. During the Battle of Adzharis, Nayala and the Dragon Clan provide a collective PSI boost to the Terranauts fighting Queen Stella by Starlight's forces, a contribution that proves decisive in the battle's outcome (060).

Communion with Yggdrasil

As a member of the del Drago bloodline, Nayala shares her family's unique attunement to the World Trees. In booklet 076, Nayala and Narda attempt to contact Yggdrasil during Chan de Nouille's effort to revive the tree in Greenland, and their consciousnesses become trapped within the tree's interior -- a harrowing experience that demonstrates both the power and the danger of the del Drago communion with cosmic forces (076).

The Adzharis Arc (Booklets 056--060)

Discovery and First Mission (056)

Nayala's story begins when she learns that Barnum Seafood Inc. is planning to abolish the energy Barrier protecting the Sealed Land and exploit the territory for tourism and resource extraction. She joins a patrol to investigate. When Asen-Ger, Narda, and their guide Nell Ohara are captured by her clan, Nayala is present as Asen-Ger reveals his true identity: he is the son of a Dragon Rider and has come seeking help to find David terGorden, the son of Myriam del Drago, who is trapped on Rorqual.

The clan agrees to help on the condition that Narda joins them and becomes a Dragon Rider. After a ritual, Narda, Asen-Ger, and Nayala depart together -- the beginning of Nayala's transformation from a local defender of the Sealed Land into a participant in galactic events.

Voyage to Rorqual (057)

Nayala travels through Space II from Adzharis to Rorqual on Sufnor -- an astounding journey that establishes her as one of the saga's most capable PSI operatives. On Rorqual, she immediately proves her worth:

• She uses her clairvoyance to confirm the location of the Great Abyss.
• She sets off alone on Sufnor to pursue Olgar Nordstrom, the Shadow agent who stole Yggdrasil's seed, tracking him across hostile territory to Xalihat and retrieving the seed.
• She rejoins the Terranauts and uses her weather-witch powers to summon a storm that allows the Maryjane to break free from a massive whirlpool near the Great Abyss.

The Heart of Rorqual (058)

Within Rorqual's hollow interior, Nayala explores alongside Thorna and Bo Nilsson, investigating the disc-shaped spacecraft of the Coleoptera, a beetle-like species. The trio gets lost inside the alien ship but eventually escapes and rejoins the other Terranauts. When a fire breaks out threatening the Tau Ulema and the entire anti-entropy system, Nayala creates a massive storm to extinguish it -- an act that directly contributes to David terGorden's successful negotiation with the World Tree for the Terranauts' safe passage to Adzharis.

The Trial of Yggdrasil (059)

When the TASCA arrives at Adzharis carrying David and the seed for a new Yggdrasil, the Witch Council -- represented by the Nobody -- initially refuses to welcome them. The Nobody proposes a trial: David must plant the seed alone, naked, and without weapons, tools, or PSI abilities.

Nayala accompanies David on the descent to Adzharis aboard Sufnor. Her contributions are critical:

• She uses her weather-witch abilities to create a cushion of air, saving them from a fatal crash landing.
• When the Spider Clan captures them both and intends to sacrifice them to the moon Chrama, Nayala recharges her powers and escapes with David, freeing Sufnor in the process.
• She directs David to a region in the north, untouched by the Spider Clan, where he can safely plant the seed.

The Nobody sacrifices herself to empower the witches of the Dragon Clan for the coming conflict. The moon Chrama "devours the sun," ushering in a new epoch on Adzharis.

Defiance and the Battle of Adzharis (060)

Booklet 060 contains the defining moment of Nayala's character arc.

While David tends the growing Yggdrasil seedling in the north, Queen Stella by Starlight -- the blind military commander of Adzharis, driven mad by Chrama's radiation and loyal to the banished Max von Valdec -- launches an assault to destroy it. Thorna, a Terranaut with no PSI abilities, is psionically interrogated by Stella and reveals David's location.

The Witch Council, cautious and isolationist, does not sanction intervention. Nayala defies the Witch Council's orders and flies to David's aid. This act of defiance is the watershed moment for both Nayala personally and for Adzharis as a whole. It represents the younger generation's rejection of isolationism in favour of active participation in the galactic struggle.

David, under continuous assault from Stella's forces, creates a PSI shield around the seedling but his strength wanes. The Terranauts, bolstered by a collective PSI boost from the Dragon Clan, confront Stella's forces. Patran Grevenhart is exposed as a traitor and killed. Queen Yazmin's ship is destroyed. Stella is left mentally broken.

David gives the first new Mistletoe blossom to Narda del Drago, laying the cornerstone for the Second Driver Space Age. Nayala and Narda remain on Adzharis for Narda to continue her training with the Dragon Clan -- and for Nayala to serve as mentor and guide in the dragon-witch tradition.

Beyond Adzharis: Terranaut Campaigns (Booklets 072--090)

Return to Earth (072--074)

When David terGorden returns to Adzharis via storm-sailor in 2503 to collect Mistletoe from the young Yggdrasil plantation, Nayala is among those who greet him. Together with Narda, Asen-Ger, and Mandorla, she accompanies David to Earth.

On Earth, Nayala proves herself in a new arena -- political intrigue and personal protection:

• She and Narda thwart a poisoning attempt on David, detecting the danger and intervening in time (072).
• They investigate food supply manipulations, tracing them back to Marya Briden, a scheming GeneralManag of the Terran Banking Consortium (072).
• Both are attacked during the investigation, demonstrating the physical dangers of their new role.

In booklets 073 and 074, Nayala accompanies David's group to Ultima Thule in Greenland to investigate his family's legacy. She is described as a "dragon-witch and Terranaut" (073) and part of a "psycho-collective" with Narda -- the two women functioning as a linked PSI team (074). When David and Asen-Ger are captured by robots in the Primeval Palace, Nayala and Narda sense the danger and attempt a rescue, though they are also temporarily captured (074).

War of the Castes and the Yggdrasil Crisis (076)

As Earth descends into civil war, Nayala and Narda attempt to help Chan de Nouille revive Yggdrasil in the Holy Valley of Greenland. The attempt fails catastrophically: both women's consciousnesses become trapped within Yggdrasil's interior (076). This is one of the saga's most dramatic depictions of the risks inherent in the del Drago bloodline's communion with the World Trees. They are eventually freed, but the episode underscores the price Nayala pays for her gifts.

David's Personal Guard (079)

By booklet 079, Nayala serves as a member of David terGorden's personal guard on Earth, alongside Narda and Mandorla. This role -- warrior-protector to the most important figure in the Terranaut movement -- represents the culmination of her transformation from Sealed Land cartographer to galactic operative. She is described as "a Dragon Witch of Adzharis" in this capacity (079).

Sarym and the Cosmic Spores (083)

On Sarym, as the Cosmic Spores threaten the planet and the Terranauts scramble to respond, Nayala leads a team into the brood vaults beneath Sarym to destroy the spores at their source. The team is trapped underground during the operation (083). Meanwhile, Aura Damona Mar partially awakens the Collector, and David, Narda, and Aura Damona depart aboard the organic spaceship, leaving Nayala on Sarym.

The Genessos Expedition (090)

In booklet 090, Nayala is listed as a member of the expedition departing on the JAMES COOK toward Genessos, the home world of Cantos the Genessaner. This mission, instigated by Frost on behalf of Max von Valdec, represents one of the saga's most dangerous diplomatic ventures, as the expedition seeks to locate the central worlds of the Entities and avert the threatened Final Strike against humanity.

Relationship with David terGorden

Nayala's relationship with David terGorden is one of the saga's most significant character bonds. It is rooted in shared blood -- David is the son of Myriam del Drago, making him kin to Nayala's clan. But it transcends mere family obligation.

From the moment Nayala flies David down to Adzharis on Sufnor in booklet 059, saves his life with her weather powers, escapes the Spider Clan at his side, and guides him to the valley where he plants Yggdrasil's seed, a bond of trust and mutual reliance is forged. Her defiance of the Witch Council in booklet 060 -- choosing David and the future of the galaxy over the traditions of her own people -- is the clearest expression of this loyalty.

In later booklets, Nayala functions as one of David's most trusted companions, operating alongside Narda, Mandorla, and Asen-Ger as part of his inner circle. She serves as his bodyguard, his scout, and his PSI amplifier. The David terGorden character profile describes her simply as a "dragon-witch ally on Adzharis" who "defies the Witch Council to save David during his trial" (David terGorden entry) -- but her role extends far beyond a single act of defiance.

Relationship with Narda del Drago

Nayala and Narda del Drago form one of the saga's most distinctive partnerships. Narda, originally a Terranaut Driver girl with exceptional telepathic abilities, was adopted into the Dragon Clan in booklet 056 as a condition for the clan's assistance. Nayala served as her mentor and guide into the dragon-witch tradition.

By booklet 074, the two are described as forming a "psycho-collective" -- a linked PSI team whose combined abilities exceed what either could achieve alone. They operate in tandem throughout the later saga:

• Thwarting the poisoning attempt on David on Earth (072)
• Investigating corporate conspiracies (072)
• Attempting to rescue David and Asen-Ger from the Primeval Palace (074)
• Attempting to commune with Yggdrasil in Greenland, where both are trapped within the tree (076)
• Serving together in David's personal guard (079)

The Nayala-Narda partnership embodies the saga's theme of bridging worlds: Narda brings Terranaut training and Driver PSI; Nayala brings dragon-witch tradition and weather magic. Together, they represent the synthesis of the two traditions.

Character Evolution

Nayala's arc across the saga traces a clear progression:

The through-line is a movement from local to galactic, from tradition to engagement, from obedience to independent moral judgement. Nayala never abandons her del Drago heritage -- she rides Sufnor, wields weather magic, and remains deeply connected to the dragon-witch tradition. But she refuses to let that heritage become a cage. Her defiance of the Witch Council in booklet 060 is the pivot point: after that moment, she belongs not just to Adzharis but to the galaxy.

Themes

Isolation versus Engagement

Nayala embodies the saga's central argument against isolationism. The Witch Council's refusal to help the Terranauts reflects a deep desire to preserve the Sealed Land by keeping the galaxy at bay. Nayala's defiance represents the counter-argument: that isolation is ultimately unsustainable, and that the dragon witches must engage with the wider galaxy to protect what they value.

The del Drago Women as Cosmic Intermediaries

Nayala belongs to a lineage of women who serve as bridges between humanity and cosmic forces. Myriam del Drago communed with Yggdrasil and bore the prophesied "son of Yggdrasil." La Strega del Drago channelled Yggdrasil's messages across space. Nayala rides dragons through Space II, summons storms, and forms psycho-collectives that amplify the powers of those around her. The del Drago women are not passive conduits -- they are active agents who shape the course of events.

Nature versus Corporate Exploitation

Nayala first appears defending the Sealed Land against Barnum Seafood Inc.'s plans to abolish the barrier and exploit the territory. This initial struggle -- nature-bound culture versus extractive corporate power -- resonates throughout her arc. Even as she moves beyond Adzharis, she remains aligned with the organic, the living, and the natural: dragon flight rather than Kaiser Force engines, weather magic rather than technological weapons.

Loyalty and Moral Choice

Nayala's defining act is not one of obedience but of disobedience. She defies her own Council -- the governing authority of her people -- because she judges that helping David is the right thing to do. This positions her as a character whose loyalty is to principles rather than institutions, and whose moral compass operates independently of tradition.

Appearances

Key Relationships

See Also

• Adzharis
• Sealed Land
• del Drago
• Dragon Clan
• Sufnor
• Belgam Tower
• Witch Council
• Nobody
• Myriam del Drago
• La Strega del Drago
• Narda del Drago
• David terGorden
• Asen-Ger
• Yggdrasil
• Mistletoe
• PSI Powers
• Rorqual
• Tau Ulema
• Chrama
• Spider Clan
• Queen Stella by Starlight
• Terranauts
• Collector
• Cosmic Spores