gungan sith lord

[World Lore] The Almarisian Scaddernak Purpose The Scaddernak has long existed as an integral aspect of Orcish culture - a mighty creature to be fought, feared, fallen to, or ridden into war. The purpose of this piece is to reintroduce the Scaddernak with balanced features, and a place amongst the greater server lore. It is intended that the Scaddernak is more than an event in the beastiary for the forlorn ET to engage the orcish community. This piece seeks to incorporate opportunities to create roleplay and development between orcish/shamanistic characters, and druid/Aspectist characters. The ambiguous ‘soul’ of the creature creates potential for conflict as the scaddernak is a powerful aspect of orcish culture and yet breaches the Aspectist ideology. While this piece was written to engage a multitude of roleplay communities, it was written in mind of the strong connection to orcish culture and shamanism. It is also intended that any who seek to try tame the mighty scaddernak must align with the orcish beliefs/roleplay community. Taming a scaddernak musn't be trivial feat, as demigryphs and countless other creatures were. A scaddernak rider will be renown for their lifelong dedication to the dangerous and honourable profession. The vague history and enigmatic return further serve to offer the potential of a history developed through event roleplay, and can be a vector for conversation, faith, or conflict. I had developed a narrative regarding the return of the scaddernak, realised it is better left for event reference, discovery, or mystery. There also exists potential regarding Naztkrank, the immortal spirit of scaddernaks, and the continued existence of scaddernaks through map transitions. History Mighty War beasts, having been used by the Orcs for hundreds of years to siege cities. Many stories exist of the Scaddernak tearing their victims apart in a matter of seconds, though sightings have reported that a Scaddernack enjoys slowly tearing apart its prey. Scaddernaks are huge, dark creatures that resemble a mix of spider and scorpion with eight legs and a giant pincer. They stand at least at 20 feet, though most are even larger. They bear two claws, each larger than an orc and possess the strength to destroy forts and cities. Panashea, 2021. Long believed extinct, the scaddernak was once a beast revered by orc and feared by man. The Immortal spirit of Scaddernaks was at its height of power and influence at this time. Naztkrank - Lesser Immortal Spirit of Scaddernaks, Lesser under Freygoth Appears as a ginormous Scaddernak guarding over a multitude of smaller Scaddernaks in an endless desert. ThatDutchFellow, 2022. But, as with all things, Time usurped this fleeting rule, the scaddernak became a legend of Orcish culture… and Naztkrank a tragic memory. Physiology The orc rode forth into battle. Not upon the back of a horse, nor a wolf, nor even a rhino, like the Braduks of old did. Indeed, this orc charged forth upon the back of a mythical scorpion from days long past; a Scaddernak. Its plating was said to glimmer like the gold that so pains the undead, and it thrashed with such force that with each swing of its great pincers, swathes of undead collapsed. Boomzerang, 2021. The scaddernak is a fierce beast of the desert lands. The huge, dark arachnids resemble a chimera-esque mix of spider and scorpion, with eight sturdy legs and a large venomous pincer. The body of the mature scaddernak resembles the proportion of a rhinoceros: 3m – 4m in length, 2m – 2.5m in height [including legs], 1.5m – 1.8m in width [not including legs]. A smooth, black chitin covers the abdomen, sternum, and limbs of the scaddernaks. The durability of this chitin is akin to common plate, though is vulnerable to sustained blunt-force assault. They wield two claws as large as a buckler shield and possess the strength to tear prey limb from limb. These creatures lack swiftness or grace in their gait but surprisingly have quick reactions, keen senses and can cover close distance rapidly. The male scaddernak’s huge, thick tail curves over the back of its body, supporting balance and able to be whipped forward in a hard and swift attack. A venomous stinger on the end of its tail can inflict its prey with paralysis – the venom dispersing through the blood stream and rendering prey prime for feasting. If the tail of a scaddernak is removed –by descendant or conflict with another male- the creature is capable of surviving with significant disadvantages in balance, mobility, and hunting. Female scaddernaks notably do not possess the notoriously deadly tail and stinger, instead burdened with the egg sack where the tail would be found on the male. The of scaddernak’s six eyes spread in sets of two from the forefront of its body to sternum, with another pair of lateral eyes that ultimately enables view of ahead, aside, and overhead. This area is scarce in chitin for females, often covered with thick, hairy spines. The scaddernak bleeds so dark its blood is often thought black. It can bite with venomous pincers, though often only affecting local area- causing blisters and a grotesque blackening of the skin. Significant injury and exposure can render the prey’s afflicted area entirely numb, their muscles permanently inept. - Maximum size of: [4m] in length x [2.5m] in height (inc. limbs) x [1.8m] in width. - The stinger can inflict temporary paralysis up to eight narrative hours. - In moderate cases, the venom will leave local bite area black and blistered. A significant, extended bite will leave affected limbs permanently inept. Characteristics & Behaviour What ensued was that of a chaotic slaughter, combat between Scaddernak and Orcish rivals. The clashing of swords and the sighing of arrows drowned the air. The horde had been defeated, many of them drowning in their blood, or simply left as delicacies to the Scaddernak. Pond, 2018 The scaddernak is an apex predator of the desert and jungle, rivalled by few other beasts. While not unheard of, it is rare for the scaddernak to prey on common fauna compared to the highly nutritious and appetising flesh of jabbernack and bokolo. The arid vermillion and the jungle dwelling virescent bokolo are favourites, though virescent bokolo are often far faster and can flee in the trees beyond the Scaddernak’s reach. Thought to be an instinct of their affinity for vermillion bokolo, scaddernaks are notably enraged by and aggressive toward red colours and patterns- particularly when in motion. The majority of scaddernak are non-social, solitary animals that interact only at birth, courtship, or in cases of cannibalism. Male Scaddernaks are highly aggressive creatures that will roam the desert and jungle engaging with any threat, meal, or unfortunate creature in close proximity. Males are highly territorial and competitive, almost never tolerating another male. Descendants and sentient creatures are often perceived as threats or meals. They rarely survive an encounter with the scaddernak. Female Scaddernaks are almost equally fierce predators, though somewhat less threatening without a tail and stinger. Due to this, females will also often hunt more mundane fauna. The scaddernak's essence -a term to encapsulate the vague junction of mind and soul- is unlike the common, balanced creature; a curio of the contemporary Scaddernak. Though its soul is not entirely unnatural, beings with the capacity to do so may sense a disturbance. The scaddernak does have a place within Aspects’ Balance. This is also a consequence of a non-native apex predator being (mysteriously) introduced. Attuned Descendants capable of communing may perceive aggressive, harsh or perturbed ‘emotion’. The purging abilities of an attuned blight healer are capable of harming the scaddernak, and eventually rendering the beast catatonic. These characteristics of Scaddernaks are often unknown unless discovered. - Attuned beings may discover the scaddernak’s tainted nature. - A scaddernak will not cooperate with an attuned entity. - Scaddernaks are aggressive and will attack on sight unless a sufficient distance away. Geography & Habitat One of the mightiest beasts in the known world, the Scaddernak is a fearsome creature that has earned its place in the Orcish psyche as symbolic of themselves: resilient, strong, and relentless in its fury. Catarrh/Hellfiaz, 2016 Scaddernaks roam in solitude, dominating both the jungle and desertlands. The dense jungle can impede mobility, though is home to a variety of alluring prey, whereas the large oceans of sand provide more traversable terrain yet scarcer food. The scaddernak is highly averse to the colder regions and cannot survive sustained periods in the bitter cold. Reproduction At first it was just felt as lethargy among the Scaddernaks hatchlings. Then that lethargy became an inability to move altogether. As the sun rose each day, the hatchling’s health fell further. Their screeching cries of pain pierced the desert’s hot air, filling those who heard it not with the normal dread and terror felt when a Scaddernak was known to be near, but with a great sadness and despair. They began to waste away, from the twin fiends of hunger, as they could not eat, and the affliction itself, causing them to rot in their own carapaces while they still lived. Hellfiaz, 2015 The female scaddernak will grow hatchlings in a chitinous egg sac upon its back. These may be carried with her or hidden as she forages for food. The eggs are large, dark, and covered in green viscous fluid. During pregnancy, the female will become exclusively carnivorous. Three to six eggs will be carried at once; often abandoned mother within weeks of maturity in damp, humid caves or crevices. These hatch over a short period following their desertion as the sacs rot away, though this is delayed by sustained exposure to significantly low temperature and humidity. The young Scaddernak is highly aggressive, and the likelihood of death upon hatching in Descendant captivity is very high. Should a Descendant attempt to raise the young, they will often be fatally attacked. - Significantly cold temperature/humidity will preserve scaddernak eggs with low fatality rates. Taming Even for Orcs, the ability to tame such has been nearly impossible. Their natural aggressive nature and hate for all things other than themselves makes them unsuitable mounts. Panashea, 2021 Due to the sheer difficulty of placating the scaddernak, attempting to tame the beast requires extraordinary proficiency. Traditionally, druii might invoke the Aspects’ blessings to bolster their ability to domesticate. Alas, the druii will find their influence feeble over this beast. Rather the mundane man must beseech Freygoth’s might to dominate the scaddernak. To tame the fierce scaddernak is no easy feat, and the loss of its freedom to roam wild is ever evident in domestication: The scaddernak’s rage must be subdued, lest it inevitably preys upon its tamer. This can be achieved through careful removal of the pincers and, if male, the stinger. Whilst this serves to supress venom production, in turn subduing the creature, it also safeguards the tamer/rider against inevitable accident. To be ridden, the scaddernak’s body is saddled once sufficiently placated. In order to domineer the creature, two large hooks are to be inserted beneath the chitin above its forefront legs. These serve as a rudimentary and cruel steering device. Taming is only possible through disabling the scaddernak enough that it becomes largely dependent for food. This is achieved through not only the aforementioned mutilation, but also isolating the creature for extended periods of time in the quiet and dark. This will leave the Scaddernak depressive, and the once-fierce beast submissive. The relationship between scaddernak and tamer is built on the provision of food, establishing a delicate relationship over time. Live prey is beneficial. The scaddernak can be mildly placated by the scent of burning flesh. Their claws are significantly weakened by riding tools– their strength reduced to a harsh grip, unable to crush or tear opponents as they might’ve. Though, the tamed scaddernak, while severely disabled, remains a fierce foe. It might not paralyse prey, but the tail remains capable of swift blunt-force strikes. The feat of riding a scaddernak is of extreme difficulty, requiring strength, patience, and persistent training. A rider is limited to domineering the Scaddernak and is unable to wield arms whilst riding. Skilled riders, however, may overcome this limitation by dual riding, where an armed rider may saddle the beast’s backend. - The scaddernak does not comprehend language, though when trained may be capable of responding to particular cues, such as words. - The tamed scaddernak lacks any peace or tranquillity and will often lash out; particularly towards jabbernack, bokolo, domestic animals and halflings. - Scaddernaks cannot reproduce in captivity or when tamed. - Taming, placating, and training is an immensely difficult (not outright impossible) feat without a blessing of Freygoth. [[Why can Freygoth have domain of these mysteriously tainted souls when the Aspects don’t? Your character can wonder. It is a mystery of the vast world. Maybe because of vaguely differing dogmas of ‘the natural’.]] References Gorbag had proved his worth in his short time as a Gorkil, a welcome presence on the battlefield and a steadily improving blacksmith. He was a fearsome raider, like all true Orcs are. He died a death worthy of Uruks, being maimed by a great Scaddernak, the most deadly creature of the desert. LaCabra (Soda), 2016