Najara
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the character from Xena: Warrior Princess. For the town in Spain, see Nájera.
- For other uses, see Najara family.
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 Kathryn Morris as Najara |
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Najara is a fictional character on the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, she is played by Kathryn Morris. Najara is the leader of a cult encountered by Xena and Gabrielle in the 4th season episode "Crusader," in Phoenicia. Inspired by mystical voices she called the Djinn, Najara leads a group of warriors who fight evil, and in particular combat piracy and slave-trading which Najara claims are tolerated by local authorities. Xena and Gabrielle join forces with Najara at first, until Xena discovers that Najara gives the wrongdoers she captures the choice to either convert to her cult (which she calls "the light") or be executed. Najara also reserves the right to execute them if she deems their conversion insincere. Questioned by Gabrielle, she acknowledges that she may sometimes kill innocent people, but claims that all she does is send them to "the light."
Najara insists that Gabrielle stay with her since she has been initiated into the cult. Xena and Najara fight and initially Najara beats Xena, but later Xena comes back, defeats Najara and turns her over to the authorities.
In a subsequent episode Najara escapes from prison and meets Xena and Gabrielle again. This time she has become a disciple of Eli, who is also Gabrielle's guru, and a complete pacifist. She tries to persuade Gabrielle to join her, saying that life with Xena will only lead her down a path of violence. When Gabrielle tries to come to Xena's aid in a fight, Najara becomes enraged and assaults Gabrielle, leading to a new confrontation between Xena and Najara which leaves Najara comatose.
[edit] Trivia
Najara is also a Sephardic name.
