Claw and Sting
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Claw and Sting he Underdark of Maztica is a hidden world This name developed simply due to the absence of an unknown to even the most intrepid “official” race name and was given because of a explorers. It is the demesne of the scorpionfolk's primary attack form. The name is slowly creatures known alternately as falling out of use and native Mazticans will snicker when scorpionfolk, scorpionmen, manscorpions Faerûnians use the term. Tor to others as the tlincalli. Scorpionfolk themselves have never used it and would be as dumbfounded as if a human fighter were called a “sword swinger,” or a giant simply called a “rock thrower.” From beneath the sands they came. First one, then five, then twenty! Before we knew it we were surrounded by Tlincalli the half man, half scorpion monstrosities! The Legion stood strong, but they just kept coming! I would never Scorpionfolk of the T’lincal nation almost exclusively refer have fled the battle had I not understood Helmsport must to themselves as the tlincalli. Other nations use similarly be warned! unique names, but since the tlincalli represent nearly 80% of Maztica’s scorpionfolk population, most folk who even - Alanza DaNosta acting General of the Golden Legion know of this name assume it represents all scorpionfolk. 1364 DR the Year of the Wave Only the tlincalli have ever set foot on the continent of Faerûn, so its upper world inhabitants use this name frequently. Incidentally, scorpionfolk who have been separated from their homeland for many generations The Scorpionfolk of Maztica have lost much of their heritage and culture and some The scorpionfolk is a generic name for a type of humanoid tlincalli of Maztica no longer even refer to their distant who have the upper torso of a human or other brethren as such. humanoids, and a lower body which is reminiscent of the arachnid embedded within the name. Manscorpion There are numerous subraces of the creatures in Maztica, though only the populous tlincalli are generally This is still a widely accepted name in Maztica even recognized, if not at all understood. Beyond the True (okichtlicolōtl in the Maztican tongue), but those who have World the other species are unknown, but with the come across a female tlincalli diviner knows that it is not creature's increasing activity this might not be the case for necessarily the “man” in manscorpion that strikes such very much longer. fear into their hearts. Much about the scorpionfolk way of life was learned in the years preceding the Blue Breath of Change and it has Scorpionfolk not been forgotten. Maztican elders and others are now The name most widely used today to refer to the race is aware of the various scorpionfolk deities and a variety of scorpionfolk. Above all others, it most accurately describes subraces that may be far more common than man, dwarf, the humanoids as they consider themselves. or halfling ever believed possible. From this point forward, this will be the only word used When one refers to a “manscorpion” sighting, Mazticans to refer to the species as a whole. are beginning to ask for more specific descriptions, because the race is no longer painted all under the same brush. Even the name "tlincalli,"" one that they have been Scorpionfolk Culture so commonly known by, has been proven to be a Unknown to most surface folk, scorpionfolk are a deeply misnomer. Tlincalli in fact, is the name given to the religious people. Divination and communion with their inhabitants of only a single nation! pantheon of deities dominates every bit of the social aspects of their lives as well as playing into their city What is in a Name? design, magic and even their reproductive habits. They are also an industrious folk, and the average Scorpionfolk have been called a variety of names in the scorpionfolk would be honored to work itself literally to past. Here are the origins of the most common. death. Laziness is seen as the ultimate sin; a universal Stinger belief found among all of the differing subraces. Survival is also a key motivation, but only of the colony Although they are rare in Toril’s “main” continent of as a whole. With the exception of the most powerful Faerûn, scorpionfolk have shown up in various myths and diviners, individual lives are only a secondary legends, particularly among the more primitive folk and in consideration. the mSampleore uncivilized areas. file 2 Sacrifice and Stinger Racing Huoxopica will code his most important messages and visions of the future within the created pattern. Needless Much like the surface folks above, scorpionfolk have a long to say this event, which is naively known to Faerunians as history of bloody sacrifice. They sacrifice humans and “stinger racing” is a rare one, and only occurs when the other sentient beings in much the same manner as the scorpionfolk anticipate a dire threat. priests of Zaltec are known to do on the surface world. Hearts are cut out with great proficiency by clerics of Divination their eleven deities (actually, nine and two demon lords), and the typical offering is accomplished with masterful In addition to the infrequent stinger races, upper worlders precision. have observed other seemingly random behaviors from Scorpionfolk sacrifice their own kind far less frequently, scorpionfolk. This is because the scorpionfolk believe that but do so in a bizarre ritual which they claim affords them their gods are always attempting to communicate with a great divination and direct line of communication to their them and every member of their society considers itself patron deity Huoxopica. When such a communion is able to read into at least some of these messages. desired, two to twenty volunteers burst from the This will cause scorpionfolk to act in a manner that often Underdark and run in seemingly random directions. They seems irrational and chaotic. Sometimes they attack move at full speed stopping only to fight if attacked or random strangers without provocation or oddly enough, prevented from continuing their run. will even occasionally assist one. To the scorpionfolk, this Eventually, the scorpionfolk will die of exhaustion, behavior is decidedly lawful. Every move has a purpose particularly since this event most often occurs in the wilds and goal, even if the observer cannot understand exactly of the Sands of Itzcala – directly above the Underdark city what they are. of T’linSamplecal. What observers may not realize is that deep in The tlincalli and their il k feel nfileo need or want to explain the temples of T’lincal, scorpionfolk diviners scry both the their behaviors to those who are at best food. path taken and the location of each death. 3 Their complex lives can seem almost human in many The Nature of the Scorpionfolk City ways. They trade, raise families, eat, kill, and work Scorpionfolk hive cities are bustling centers of constant incessantly. Many tlincalli also live in communities outside motion and endless toil, much like the duergar cities of of the main city, and these families must brave the Faerûn; though perhaps even more fatalistic. Sedentary dangerous Maztican Underdark alone. scorpionfolk are either sacrificed or banished from their The tlincalli’s pantheon calls for many sacrifices, yet homeland with no opportunity to return. there has always been a sense that sacrifice was for the City design does not always follow the most practical good of the nation as a whole. Their deities provided for arrangements of buildings and common areas, but instead them all that is necessary for the city to prosper and the forms a grand mosaic that the diviners use to assist their tlincalli diviners rarely sacrifice out of sheer malice. The rituals. Sacrifices are almost always carried out in the gods are always hungry, but in return for the bounty of centermost region of any layout. blood, great wisdom is imparted on their diviners in the patterns of death itself. Households combine features of natural caves and scorpion dens with some basic humanoid amenities. Stairs For ages, this has been the status quo for the tlincalli almost never exist and ceilings are four to five feet higher race. It is a strength that has gone mostly unchallenged, to accommodate their greater size. until now. Obox-ob the obyrith demon lord has always been one piece of the complex zodiac of scorpionfolk The Theocracy divinity, but as recently as 1345 DR he has renewed his interest tenfold. Diviners are considered the spiritual leaders of the hive Why exactly the deposed Abyssal prince has developed cities, and although the more martial types are respected, such an interest remains a mystery, but what is known is they will always defer to the will of the theocracy. Unlike that the tlincalli have changed since that year over a other races (like the drow), there is no jealously in the century past. Somehow, Obox-ob has managed to keep his status quo. Among the diviners themselves, rank is intentions secret from even the great divinations of completely based on merit. Huoxopica. The titles of the most influential scorpionfolk in a city are The age of stability enjoyed by the tlincalli is certainly in Lord Diviner (the most powerful diviner in the whole danger. Many among the tlincalli fear that with the unrest settlement), War Chief (typically the cleverest martial among the pantheon, Obox-ob’s subtle influence, the minded scorpionfolk who makes most of the wartime coming of the Golden Legion, the Spellplague and decisions, but is still considered beneath the diviners) and subsequent Sundering that change is inevitable. the Nest Keeper (responsible for protecting the well-being of eggs and broodlings).