Clan Goliath Scorpion

The Babylonian goliath scorpion is renowned for their suicidal defense of nests and their lethal venom. Many have adopted some part of their totem animal into their lifestyle, but none so literally as the Scorpions. The giant arthropod's venom forms an important part of rituals, earning the Clan's members equal measures of respect and disdain.

History and Origins

The Scorpion's founder, Cyrus Elam, was not typical of those of other Clans. He was a combat engineer, specializing in bridging and demolitions whose skills proved vital in the advance on Dagda. His saKhan - Jenna Scott - was equally unusual, an intelligence officer who lead to the Scorpion's specialization in information gathering. The Clan's third - and unofficial - founder was Ethan Moreau, a member of the SLDF who rejected Nicholas' call for Exodus and remained in the Pentagon. Surviving to the liberation, he underwent Thamzing and Nicholas was so impressed with his genuine contrition that he created the "Rite of Forgiveness", surkai. Moreau was allowed into the Clan, but was denied a Bloodname (and thus a place in the eugenics program) as he was not of the original 800.

As the Golden Century dawned, a flood of new warriors quickly outstripping the available machines in the Scorpion Touman. In an effort to 'weed-out' the lesser warriors, a coming-of-age ritual was created that required a new warrior to subject himself to the sting of a goliath scorpion. However, as the deaths mounted due to the venous sting, the genetic stability of the Scorpion Bloodlines became dangered, forcing a halt to this practice. However, Khan Shandra Dinour tasked the scientist caste with finding an alternative that maintained the ritual's spirit without destroying the valuable visionary effects imparted by the scorpion's sting. Two years latter, Necrosia, a derivative of the scorpion venom, was introduced. It quickly became a part of almost every cadets introduction into the warrior caste.

When the OmniMech was introduced, the poor showing of the Scorpion military in their attempts to capture the new technology, embarrassed the entire Clan. In an effort to increase the martial skills of her warriors, Khan Dinour created a series of tournaments, based on the Matrial Olympiad of the former Star League, which would become known as the Circle of Honor. This gladiatorial tradition exists to this day.

As the Golden Century progressed the members of the Clan placed increasing emphasis on glory seeking, using the Necrosia-induced "vision quests" to direct their search for relics of the past. The warriors claim the lethal cocktail allows them to see beyond the mundane world, making connections between the items of the past and events yet to happen. The Scorpions became nomads within their enclaves, and thus lack the cohesion of the other Clans. The actions of these "seekers" lead the Clan into skirmishes with other Clans, their only official contact with outsiders for much of their history. More often than not the small groups of Scorpions fell prey to their better organized and equipped neighbors, hampering their development.

However, in recent years the Khans of Clan Goliath Scorpion have recognized their weakness and have undertaken steps to regain their former glory. They have entered into negotiations with Clan Snow Raven, offering to trade their military backing in some future enterprise for equipment (mainly fighters) and Raven tactical advisors. The Ravens have been bargaining hard, but a deal looks imminent.

The success of Khan Ariel Suvorov's reforms have been amply demonstrated in recent months by the Clan's victories in the Trial of Possession on Tokasha.

Society

Goliath Scorpion Society is less disdainful of freeborns than other Clans, having been forced to rely on them to bulk out the Touman because of the fatalities that result from the use of scorpion venom in vision quests. Trueborns maintain their mystique, but within the Clan they are seen more as 'celebrities' than the pinnacle of evolution. This attitude, together with the Clan's attitude towards Bloodnames (who, like trueborns in general, are not "placed on a pedestal") is tied into the Scorpion's "living heraldry" system.

Living heraldry seeks to turn the history of the Clan and its members into works of art that outlive them. Individual warriors use the living heraldry as a sort of visible codex, announcing their abilities and the history of their bloodline. However, rather than the coats of arms of the meieval age, "living heraldry" involves collecting people, animals and objects. Together with their vision quests, the Scorpions regard the living heraldry as 'practical mysticism', allowing them to honor the past - particularly the Star League - and to reassemble it with relics.

Bondsmen are closely associated with their Bondholder, regarded as 'living trophies' and serving as squires. As with so much of Scorpion society, they form part of the "living heraldry", providing a tangible demonstration of the warrior's abilities. Members of the technician caste serve as de-facto bondsmen to the warrior they serve, remaining with an individual warrior throughout their career rather than remaining with the unit. Other Clans generally refrain from taking Goliath Scorpions as Bondsmen. Many only consider adopting Bloodnamed warriors, and as many Scorpion warriors are physically and psychologically addicted to scorpion venom, they consider them a waste of effort.

The Clans nomadic lifestyle has hampered their technological and economic development, and consequently the Scorpions are considered 'backward' by the other Clans. Furthermore, their un-Clanlike belief in putting individuals before the Clan - vision quests are considered more important than the Clan's military goals - has lead to their being shunned. However, this very absence of a rigid infrastructure and resources has spared them the raiding suffered by the other weak Clans.

The Scorpions are staunch Wardens, but as with everything else about their society their interpretation of the philosophy deviates from the norm. Like other Wardens they do not believe the Star League should be reborn through conquest, but they do believe it should be recreated - but through rediscovery of the past rather than violence. They view Spheroids as misguided, to be brought back onto the true path by education.

Military

The Goliath Scorpion Touman (such as it is) is built around mixed Trinaries. These are tailored to the needs of the unit and the situation, allowing Scorpion forces considerable flexibility to meet any opposition. However, most units are over-specialized in ground forces (historically the Scorpions have had little need for fighters), a fact the Khans recognize and are addressing. However, many of their new pilots are more versed in ground support missions than dog fighting and air superiority tasks.

Small-unit actions and night engagements typify Scorpion tactics, but as with the incorporation of aerospace assets, the Clan is expanding its repertoire of skills so as to be less predictable on the battlefield.

Unusual, units have mascot animals, reflecting the Clans fondness for pets.

Allies and Enemies

Their isolationism - and tendency to stay out of disputes - means the Scorpions have few enemies or allies. Politically they have followed the lead of Clan Wolf, regarding themselves in debt to the Clan of Kerensky for Ethan Moreau's redemption. However, this 'alliance' is somewhat one-sided, the Wolves barely acknowledging the Scorpion's existence.

The Clan's only real enemies are the Ice Hellions with whom they have clashed for many years.

Possessions

5 Worlds (all shared)

Until recently the amount of Goliath Scorpion territory had remained constant, all of it underdeveloped by Clan Standards. Their recent expansion on Tokasha, claiming part of the former Ghost Bear holdings in the face of similar moves by Clans Jade Falcon and Hell's Horses, is the first sizeable growth since the early years of the Golden Century. The move netted them many heavy industrial sites. However, it remains to be seen if they can retain possession in the face of more experienced enemies. The Clan has also taken control of the Abyssmal continent on Huntress.