List of Xena: Warrior Princess Characters - Najara

Najara

Najara is the leader of a cult encountered by Xena and Gabrielle in the fourth season episode "Crusader", in Phoenicia. Inspired by mystical voices she calls 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 wrong-doers 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 because she has been initiated into the cult. Xena and Najara fight and initially Najara beats Xena when her back is turned, 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 tells them 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. She is portrayed by Kathryn Morris.