Desert Scorpions
| Strength 6x * |
Agility 3d * |
Intellect 2x |
Willpower 4c * |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
2 (10) 0 |
* Desert Scorpions generally know either Boxing or Martial Arts, but not both. If a Desert Scorpion goes with Boxing, he or she will have a d code for both Strength and Agility, but if they go with Martial Arts, they will have an x code for Strength and a c code for Agility.
Furthermore, it's quite possible that some Desert Scorpions lack the Military skill, being severe discipline cases. Those who do will see their Willpower code reduced to d, but properly trained Desert Scorpions will retain the c code they've legitimately earned.
Origin:
Like most Cobra operatives, Desert Scorpions are normal humans, at least in a physical sense. However, they utilize numerous advanced implements, making them high tech villains, and their original incarnation had the use of giant, apparently mutated scorpion pets!
Powers:
(none)
Hindrances / Augmentations:
(none)
Equipment:
Diggers (s): useful when carving up enemies or staging an ambush, Desert Scorpions each carry two diggers while on the job. They can be used to burrow through ground of up to m.s. 13 hardness, and can also be used to inflict their Strength +2 in damage in a pinch.
Grenades (i): supplementing their machine guns and missile launcher, Desert Scorpions carry grenades strapped onto their stillsuits. They can toss these explosives within their normal range, which then detonate to inflict intensity 10 fragmentary damage to their target area.
Helmet (s): ostensibly part of their stillsuits, this headgear provides Desert Scorpions physical protection the rest of their ensemble lacks. Namely, they provide intensity 8, or +2, protection against physical assaults striking them anywhere in the head, front or back.
Additionally these helmets are equipped with a visor that provides them the power of infravision, at intensity 5. This is useless during the day, of course, but at night they allow Desert Scorpions to more effectively track their prey no matter where they try to hide.
Knife (s): like most Cobras, Desert Scorpions carry a blade with them at all times, because you never know when someone's going to need stabbed. These m.s. 12 implements can either be used to inflict +2 slashing damage, or to cut through items of up to like m.s.
Machine Gun (a): these sand- and dust-resistant weapons can discharge one round to inflict one's Agility +4 in damage, a short burst of bullets to inflict their Agility +5 in damage, or be fired continuously at a Desert Scorpion's foes to inflict their Agility +6 in damage.
Missile Launcher (i): attached to a backpack by a swivel mount (which can also accomodate their machine gun), this projectile launcher gives Desert Scorpions a proper sting. They inflict intensity 10 damage, each, or intensity 11 if both are fired at once.
Stillsuit (s): allowing them to roam the deserts for long periods without a resupply, Desert Scorpions are equipped with a suit that acts to preserve every last drop of body moisture! These allow them to persist for at least a week without an additional source of water.
Furthermore, these suits help regulate the body temperature of a Desert Scorpion, at least to some extent. Of course, being that they're built by the same folks who fabricate Cobra's Toxo-Viper uniforms, Desert Scorpions don't bet on these uniforms alone to help them survive the dunes.
Skills:
Boxing (s): Desert Scorpions are well-versed in the art of self-defense. For some, this takes the form of the boxing skill, which lets them divide their pre-card play action score between two unarmed melee assaults, the second of which will occur as a contingent action.
Guns (a): all Cobra operatives have the ability to wield firearms in combat, and Desert Scorpions are no exception to this rule. They may discharge any standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol at one difficulty level lower than would otherwise be required.
Martial Arts (a): Desert Scorpions are well-versed in the art of self-defense. For some, this takes the form of the martial arts skill, granting them a reduction in the difficulty of actions intended to dodge attacks, catch thrown weaponry, or to strike in unarmed melee.
Military (w): Cobras who wind up as Desert Scorpions may not actually possess this skill, for their poor performance and unwillingness to follow orders is what got them here in the first place. On the other hand, those who don't pick it up quick if they know what's good for them.
Survival (w): while their stillsuits are a great boon in their work in arid climates, wise Desert Scorpions refuse to rely upon them alone. Those who learn how to excel in their punitive position as desert operatives master the ability to persist no matter how little water they have.
Contacts:
Desert Scorpions have few contacts to rely upon for assistance. This is because they're already on Cobra's bad side, their transfer to this position being due to some failing not quite grave enough to earn them a place in the Toxo-Vipers - or a shallow, unmarked grave.
Calling:
Various Callings: like most Cobra operatives, the Desert Scorpions can possess many motivations. Considering their records, though, most of them likely lean upon Vengeance when plotting their schemes, as opposed to the usual Greed or World Domination.
Costume:
The Desert Scorpion uniform is a sleeveless stillsuit, worn under an orange shirt and black trousers, dark brown boots, gloves, sheathes, holsters, pouches, and shoulder pads, and a black helmet with an orange face plate, a red visor, and a brown cooling shroud.
Notes:
Nobody becomes a Desert Scorpion on purpose. Cobra operatives who consistently fail to meet expectations, or have a discipline problem even worse than the criminal element that comprises most of the organization's members, they are often 'volunteered' for this punitive transfer.
Once they've fallen this low, Desert Scorpions can work to maintain a spotless record for a year, which gets them transferred back to their old jobs. Those who also bungle this position are typically shuffled into the ranks of the Toxo-Vipers, often the last-stop in their Cobra career.
In the field, Desert Scorpions often pull together despite their status as troublemakers, knowing that they're all going to die if they don't. When idle, however, they simply can't help themselves, often turning on each other due to being generally isolated from any sense of community.
Desert Scorpions really only have their pet scorpions to rely upon, at least for as long as they can keep their 'pets' well fed. These immense, mutated creatures will happily turn on their friends if the food stops coming, which almost makes them more trouble than they're worth.
Bear in mind the fact that the above descrption details a standard Cobra or Viper who has been demoted to the rank of Desert Scorpion. If a Cobra operative with additional skills falls this far, they'll still have those abilities to draw upon while serving in this position.
2013 Variations
Equipment:
Claw Attachment (s): usable by either a Desert Scorpion or their robotic counterpart, this weapon allows whoever carries it to inflict a pincer attack backed up by powerful hydraulics. It can inflict either's Strength +2 in slashing damage when gripping opponents.
Gun Attachment (a): usable by either a Desert Scorpion or their robotic counterpart, this weapon allows whoever carries it to project deadly force within a considerable distance. It inflicts damage per the Desert Scorpion's machine gun, listed above.
Guisarme (s): despite a lot of their new hardware, Desert Scorpions often carry this medieval weapon with them in the field. It consists of a four-foot long pole with a hooked blade, allowing Desert Scorpions to inflict +3 slashing damage against non-adjacent foes.
Costume:
The second Desert Scorpion uniform is a brown stillsuit, covered by black trousers, an orange shirt, dark brown boots, gloves, sheathes, holsters, and pouches, brown shoulder pads, and a black helmet with an orange face plate, a red visor, and a brown cooling shroud on the back.
Mutant Scorpion
| Strength 6x |
Agility 4x |
Intellect 1x |
Willpower 1x |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
2 (10) 0 |
The immense 'pets' utilized by Desert Scorpions do not occur in nature. Whether produced by accident or intent, these huge arachnids are about half the size of an adult human, giving them a size factor of -1 (as opposed to their normal counterparts, who range from -3 to -8).
In practice, this gives them a +1 bonus to strike standard-sized opponents, while inflicting a -1 to the damage they inflict. Conversely, human-sized foes suffer a -1 to hit when targeting these mutated creatures, but benefit from a +1 to whatever damage they inflict.
The Desert Scorpions' 'pets' possess intensity 4, or +1, protection against physical attacks, intensity 8, or +2, resistance to cold and heat, and the ability to inflict slashing damage with their teeth and battle tail-mounted stingers, the latter of which injects intensity 8 poison.
Furthermore, they possess nocturnal acuity that borders on ultravision. They can see in night-time conditions without penalty, and might actually perceive some of the ultraviolet spectrum as well, as they, like all scorpions, fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light.
Robotic Scorpion
| Strength 6x |
Agility 4x |
Intellect 1x |
Willpower 1x |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
2 (10) 0 |
Eliminating the bothersome tendency of their mutated pets eating their handlers, Desert Scorpions were eventually built robotic counterparts to replace their original, organic partners. While more dependable overall, they lack the survival instinct of their predecessors.
These artificial arachnids are the same size as their fleshling counterparts, but benefit from intensity 8, or +2, armor, as well as intensity 5 infravision for use at night, whether to guard the boss or stalk their enemies. They also feature the same stinging, venomous tail.
Where they greatly differ is that their pincers are replaced with the removable gun and claw attachments, which a Desert Scorpion can use as well, and these mechanoid arachnoid constructs can fold up to be carried on the back of their operator, greatly increasing mobility.
Extra Goodies:
Cobra directories featuring a version of Desert Scorpions:
| 1990 | 2013 |
Interested in using Technoholic content in your own project? Please read this beforehand!