* Restricted: Scorpion Cultists only
Scorpion Cults are prevalent in the Underworld and across
the Southern Overworld from the Grasslands to the Gakkil-Zelg (and especially in
the Free City of Vavistor, centre of the Poison Trade).
They have a fierce rivalry with the Snake
Cults, with whom they vie for control of the Poison Trade, as well as with
the Spider Cults and with each other.
The Scorpion Cults usually come out on top in these trade wars, as the
Snake Cults are Chaotic, more fragmented and tend to get distracted by their
pleasure-seeking, whereas the generally more organised E/N Scorpion Cults are
better able to work together where it is in their interests to do so, and are
more focused on their goals. The
Spider Cults can be dangerous foes, but are more interested in their own
Mystical objectives (to do with Webs or something) and tend to see Poison
dealing as an income-producing sideline, rather than a Sacred Duty of their Cult
as do the Scorpions.
SKARZ, E/N Demigod of Scorpions, is the Patron of Scorpion
Cults. All Scorpions, especially
Giant ones, are sacred to Him, and it is said that killing them incurs His
extreme displeasure. HAERIM (in His
Aspect as THE RED SCORPION) has a particular interest in Scorpion Cults and
provides most of their Clerical power.
HALKI favours their Thieves and Assassins, and XAXIX supports their
Beastmaster Druids through His Scorpion Spirits.
Scorpion Beastmasters
have a specific Druidic Spell List, with Eucalyptus as the unique medium for
their Scorpion Cycle of Spells.
Many of them are Mystical and can enter the Blasted Desert, Dream Kingdom of
Scorpions, by Mirage Walking or via their Sacred Circles.
Cultist Binders Summon SCORPIO, Demon of Scorpions, E/N
Demon Lord and Servant of SKARZ, Who provides Scorpion Familiars and grants
Powers to Giant Scorpions and their riders.
Most Scorpion Cults breed and ride
Giant Scorpions, often
with special abilities and Powers unique to their particular Cult, but all of
them highly Poisonous.
Scorpion Cultists have an affinity with Fire, but an
aversion to Water (though they do not count as Water Vulnerable).
Their Elementalists favour
Fire Spells, as well as
Enchanter Spells.
The following are the main Scorpion Cults of the Underworld
and Southern Overworld:
The Black Scorpions are Sponsored by SKARZ
and HALKI and have their Kasbah at the
Oasis of Olives and
Eucalyptus in the Southern Deserts of the Overworld.
They operate Temples of SKARZ (as a False God) largely as fronts for
their operations as a Thieves’ and Assassins’ Guild, and are one of the
leading Poison Dealers, sourcing their supplies from the Giant Scorpions of
the volcanic waste of the Desolation of SKARZ in the North East of the
Southern Deserts of the Overworld and distributing via Iklaron and Vavistor
to Tehmor and beyond.
They also operate amongst the Goblins of the Gakkil-Zelg.
They train their Giant Scorpion Mounts to move Thievishly to hunt and
kill their enemies.
The Red Scorpions are Sponsored by SKARZ and
HAERIM and are the major Hellish Scorpion Cult.
They are a Fighter/Clerical Cult and have their own Temples of THE
RED SCORPION (an Aspect of HAERIM), which have a fierce rivalry with the
Orthodox Temples of HAERIM.
They deal in Poisons from Giant Scorpions of the various Deserts of the
Underworld and run the Scorpion-breeding programmes of Hell, which produce
some of the largest and most vicious Giant Scorpions for the Armies of Hell,
many of which Regenerate. Some
of their Giant Red Scorpions are in fact Demon Familiars.
Their High Temple in the Overworld is in Vavistor, where they have
overthrown the Orthodox Temple of HAERIM (which operates as a Secret Temple
from the shadows).
The Grey Scorpions are Sponsored by SKARZ,
XAXIX and HAERIM and have a hidden Kasbah in caves beneath the
Oasis of Whispers
in the Lazy Lands. They are an
Assassins’ Guild, Dark Druidic Beastmaster Cult (part of the Beastmasters of
Kargen) and one of the leading Poison Dealers of the Underworld, sourcing
their supplies from the Giant Scorpions of the Desert of Torpor, Grey Waste
and Great Desert of the Underworld and shipping them by secret routes across
the Deserts to Vavistor in the Overworld (in co-operation with the Bronze
Scorpions) and into Hell and across the Underworld.
They are a shadowy Cult that prefers to work its influence behind the
scenes, quietly stirring up Hatred between their foes.
A preferred method is to gain control of local Poisoners’ Guilds, so
rival dealers have to sell their wares through them.
Their Giant Scorpions are masters of camouflage.
The Bronze Scorpions are Sponsored by
SKARZ and XAXIX and have their Bronze Kasbah behind a Mirage at the
Circle of the
Bronze Scorpions in the Great Desert of the Underworld.
They are a Dark Druidic Beastmaster Cult and the most Mystical of the
Scorpion Cults, dealing in both Poisons and Dream-inducing drugs (derived
from Scorpion venom). They also
specialise (unusually for Scorpion Cults) in Antidotes.
Their Giant Scorpions (some of which are Demonic) are able to Mirage
Walk via the Otherworld of The Blasted Desert and are prized for their tough
bronze-coloured carapaces, which are used to make armour.
They co-operate with the Grey Scorpions on the Poison Trade routes
across the Great Deserts to Vavistor.
Many smaller, localised Scorpion Cults exist, but these are
often controlled by or fronts for one of the above major players.
The Grey Scorpions in particular is notorious for operating under other
names, even in apparent competition with itself.
Go to Druidic Spell List of the Scorpion Cults
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