Dune Scorpion (4e Monster)

Dune Scorpions
Unfettered in their conquest to find and hunt for wandering stragglers, dune scorpions provide a sort of physical challenge to those who least expect of their presence. They are clever ambushers, and they use the sands to their advantage. They range from small juveniles to gargantuan adults of massive size. All dune scorpions are a credible threat when they become disturbed, and are even more so threatened when their territories are breached.

Young Dune Scorpion Tactics
Minor children of the larger Dune scorpion parents, they are effective-- yet fragile-- skirmishers that will attack when struck before they die. They nurture each other when in close proximity and even feed off of those they strike.

Young Dune Scorpion Swarm Tactics
Juveniles that stay in small packs. When they disperse, they become individual, weaker babies-- vulnerable to any damage made to them. They are a threat when encountered in large numbers.

Sandstorm Dune Scorpion Tactics
Large, primordial creatures-- they understand the primordial languages and commonly speak amongst one another. Even the lesser children can understand the primordial language but cannot speak very well-- if at all. The large dune scorpions leave a trail of blinding sand from behind at their presence.

Sandcarver Dune Scorpion Tactics
A primordial creature-- more threatening than its weaker counterpart. The sandcarver is not only a more threatening creature, but it can also burrow itself down into the earth as a result of a missed opportune strike from its adversaries-- giving itself an advantage to up-end its foes by utilizing burrowing blast.

Runescarred Dune Scorpion Tactics
One of the many intelligent primordial creatures of the deep desert, these scorpions are marked with runes of fire-- granting them additional power and protection against the harsh elements. They can speak common but not very well, however they can understand common very well, and they know how to speak primordial fluently. They are the mages of the deep desert, and they can be a beneficial ally full of lore and helpful hints or they can become a formidable foe when encountered.

Greater Dune Scorpion Tactics
Elder scorpions with a long history of its travels, it knows its common breeding grounds and the lands they inhabit. Their sheer intellect enables them to speak with creatures-- something that its lesser kin can't do. They are fearless creatures, gifted the power to survive in a deserted landscape for many centuries with little resources other than their strive for knowledge.

Ancient Dune Scorpion Tactics
A truly ancient creature of colossal size-- rivaling that of greater wyrm dragons. They are truly ancient creatures of long lost lore and are the lorekeepers of the landscape's past. They ancient scorpions travel alone, but will sometimes venture along with minor creatures. Its massive size does not hinder its stealth capabilities, as it blends in with the rest of the landscape so well that they can be commonly mistaken for large sand-torn rocks.

Dune Scorpion Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful Nature or Arcana check.
 * Nature DC 15: Instinctual, yet intelligent, dune scorpions are an example between savage animosity and the Elemental Chaos's influence upon many creatures. Dune scorpions are tainted with the full fury of fire, as they live their lives in isolated landscapes such as deserts and dry plateaus.
 * Nature DC 20: Large dune scorpions are more intelligent-- therefore they know more about the land they travel upon. When encountered in the right way, they can become useful guides and provide helpful hints and tips to travel the lands and may sometimes help out creatures to travel long distances. When encountered wrong or if the scorpions themselves are hungry, diplomatics might not be the only solution to deal with these beasts.
 * Arcana DC 25: Great creatures of massive size exist in sparse colonies among the desert sands. Some have useful arcane lore which they can share without difficulty, or they can request something of great value or need in exchange with the knowledge.

Encounter Groups
Many large scorpions may be encountered solo or in groups of 2 or 3 others, but sometimes a mother can have as much as 5 to 15 children travelling along with them. Sometimes, these children can group together to form tightly knit clusters of snapping claws and stabbing stingers.

The older elders may travel alone, but it all depends on the type of family as well.

Level 3-4 Encounter (XP 1,030)

 * 4 Minor Dune Scorpions (Level 2 Minions)
 * 3 Young Dune Scorpions (Level 2 Skirmishers)
 * 1 Young Dune Scorpion Swarm (Level 5 Lurker)
 * 1 Sandstorm Dune scorpion (Level 6 Skirmisher)

Level 5 Encounter (XP 1,186)

 * 6 Minor Dune Scorpions (Level 2 Minions)
 * 4 Young Dune Scorpions (Level 2 Skirmishers)
 * 1 Young Dune Scorpion Swarm (Level 5 Lurker)
 * 1 Sandcarver Dune scorpion (Level 7 Skirmisher)

Level 14 Encounter (XP 4,000)

 * 2 Sandstorm Dune Scorpions (Level 6 Skirmishers)
 * 1 Sandcarver Dune Scorpion (Level 7 Skirmisher)
 * Greater Dune Scorpion (Level 17 Elite Soldier)

Level 19 Encounter (XP 22,450)

 * 2 Young Dune Scorpion Swarms (Level 5 Lurkers)
 * 2 Sandstorm Dune Scorpions (Level 6 Skirmishers)
 * 1 Runescarred Dune Scorpion (Level 13 Brute)
 * Ancient Dune Scorpion (Level 22 Solo Skirmisher -- Leader)