The Goa'uld are a race of sentient parasitic beings that take over hosts. Several species can serve as hosts, including humans and Unas. They originated on the planet designated P3X-888. They are also extremely egomaniacal due to their genetic memory and the sarcophagus technology. Goa'uld means "God" in the Goa'uld language. Races which will not serve them are completely destroyed without compromise.
Although the majority of them are one-dimensionally genocidal, megalomaniacal, and in some cases apparently barely self-aware (living out the patterns of their behavior as they existed thousands of years ago), there were a few exceptions. Apophis at times showed an unusual amount of insight, lucidity, and tenacity for a Goa'uld, escaping from Sokar's imprisonment, and to a small extent, rebuilding his forces. Heru'ur was seen on the battlefield with his Jaffa as an active general, risking his own life alongside them rather than hiding behind them (as Ra in particular had done).
OverviewSymbioteThe Goa'uld themselves are small snake-like Symbiotes that require a host body. Once they burrowed into a body which can be accomplished by piercing the skin in the neck, the parasite begins to wrap itself around the spine. The symbiote then weaves itself around the nervous system where thin filaments are extended that go up into the brain itself.
If the Goa'uld has taken control of the host body and become one with it, it possesses the capacity of exerting a remarkable level of control over it. This allowed them the capacity to kill it at will if need be or if they are threatened by others. Standard surgical techniques were proven to be ineffective in removing the symbiote. Even advanced Humans can be susceptible to this as the symbiote can release a deadly poison that can kill the host upon removal. However, the advanced techniques of the Tok'ra allowed them to remove a symbiote from it's host.
Infant Goa'uld that had not reached maturity were not capable of fully taking over a host and only retained control of them for short periods of time which were experienced as black outs by the host. This results in a struggle being fought over the host body between the symbiote and the host itself. In its young state, a symbiote was capable of shedding a dead husk of skin that resembles its body and can make surgeons believe they removed the Goa'uld.
A special class of Goa'uld include the Queen who are responsible for producing new young larval Goa'uld for implantation into Jaffa. When encountering a new tribe of Humans or a different race, the Queen requires to first sample the code of life, known as DNA, from the species intended to be a host. This is to ensure that there is no rejection during the process between host and larva.
One of the unique factors of the Goa'uld race includes their genetic memory which provides each newborn symbiote the collective knowledge of all the Goa'uld that came before it. Another element included within their body's was Naquadah which served as a key to activating their technology and even allowed them to sense the naquadah present within a Stargate. This does not appear to be a natural aspect of their biology, however, as the early Goa'uld lacked this element within their blood chemistry.
The HostWithin a host, a Goa'uld parasite has complete control of the host. Typically entering in through the neck, the Goa'uld will attach itself to the spinal cord which allows access to the brain, leaving an entry mark at the neck. When within a host, the Goa'uld gives perfect health, increased strength, and increased intelligence. When in control of the body, the symbiote is capable of making the hosts eyes glow, and also speak in a deep, booming voice. The voice, however, is unnecessary. It may be used to differentiate between parasite and host, as the Tok'ra do, or simply be used to intimidate slaves and opponents.
Being taken as a host by a Goa'uld is often considered a terrible fate for the host, as they are suppressed and forced to witness countless horrors. The Goa'uld maintain that the host essentially dies when the Goa'uld takes control, but this has been proven false on numerous occasions. Certain strong willed hosts are capable of fighting the control of younger symbiotes that have infested them although only to a marginal extent, such as surpressing a hand movement for a few seconds.
The Goa'uld are capable of infesting a wide variety of Hosts, from Humans to Unas (which were the Goa'uld's first hosts, because they shared their homeworld with them). They can also take Asgard bodies as hosts.
SocietyOne of the most likely threats a Goa'uld lord can face is being challenged by their children.
The final wish a Goa'uld can give their First Prime was the task of avenging their death if they were betrayed or killed by a rival.
Minor Goa'uld are often forced to serve the more powerful as Underlords and can consist of former warlords that were defeated. While they can serve as lieutenants and commander for the lord in question, there was the danger of the Underlord plotting to overthrow their master.
The highest authority among the Goa'uld race included the ranks of the System Lords who fielded vast armies under their command as well as warred with one another for dominance. They make use of personal servants who are normal humans known as Lo'taur that served their every needs. On some occasions, the Lo'taur was used to serve as a spy and gain vital information from the other Lo'taur.
Subject: The Goa'uld 
Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:05 pm
