---
Ankh Parabuthid (#700)
Spoiler
The patterns on this egg resemble an ancient symbol for life.
Parabuthids are venerated inhabitants of the Etain Desert, though it is rare to come across one these days. The ancient civilizations of the desert raised scorpion hatchlings in the safety of special temples and milked their venom for use in life-giving potions. The toxin of ankh parabuthids was especially prized, given the name of "ichor ambrosia" in old inscriptions, and widely reputed to be a key ingredient in the fabled elixir of life. The venom of both species of parabuthid can be used in a variety of ways, and though the wadjet parabuthids are generally considered weaker than the ankh, they are still revered as symbols of protection and good luck.
Parabuthids are venerated inhabitants of the Etain Desert, though it is rare to come across one these days. The ancient civilizations of the desert raised scorpion hatchlings in the safety of special temples and milked their venom for use in life-giving potions. The toxin of ankh parabuthids was especially prized, given the name of "ichor ambrosia" in old inscriptions, and widely reputed to be a key ingredient in the fabled elixir of life. The venom of both species of parabuthid can be used in a variety of ways, and though the wadjet parabuthids are generally considered weaker than the ankh, they are still revered as symbols of protection and good luck.
Spoiler
An ankh parabuthid hatches like many other scorpions, in a communal nest watched over by an attentive mother. As soon as they hatch, the mother scorpion offers the young their first meal, usually a small deer or rabbit, and places them atop her back. The young grow slowly, and will ride with their mother for years, even decades on occasion, as she wanders the desert in search of food. The young grow at different rates, and if the larger hatchlings grow hungry, they may begin to compete with their siblings. Smaller scorpions will often drop off of their mother's back before any of the others to avoid such confrontations, and because their smaller size reduces their food requirements. As desert animals, parabuthids can go for weeks without food or water.
Spoiler
Ankh parabuthids grow slowly through their whole lives, which can be long indeed. Most of the oldest parabuthids known today are the size of large dogs, though old Voltaran stories talk about scorpions the size of horses, capable of being ridden if one takes care to avoid their stinging telson. The magi who work with them consider ankh parabuthids among the longest-lived arthropods, easily able to live a hundred years or more. This longevity was well-known to the ancient Etainians, who used their venom in fertility potions, energy tonics, and cures for many diseases. While many of these ancient recipes have been recovered, and the venom of ankh parabuthids is still considered a versatile ingredient by Keep alchemists, the recipe for that most famous potion containing the venom, the elixir of life, still evades the most persistent magi. Despite the use of parabuthid venom in life-giving potions, the raw venom is extremely toxic and stings from these scorpions, rare though they are, can be fatal.
Wadjet Parabuthid (#701) (Changes color based on day/night.)
Day:
Night:
Spoiler
The patterns on this egg resemble an ancient symbol for protection.
Parabuthids are venerated inhabitants of the Etain Desert, though it is rare to come across one these days. The ancient civilizations of the desert raised scorpion hatchlings in the safety of special temples and milked their venom for use in life-giving potions. The toxin of ankh parabuthids was especially prized, given the name of "ichor ambrosia" in old inscriptions, and widely reputed to be a key ingredient in the fabled elixir of life. The venom of both species of parabuthid can be used in a variety of ways, and though the wadjet parabuthids are generally considered weaker than the ankh, they are still revered as symbols of protection and good luck.
Parabuthids are venerated inhabitants of the Etain Desert, though it is rare to come across one these days. The ancient civilizations of the desert raised scorpion hatchlings in the safety of special temples and milked their venom for use in life-giving potions. The toxin of ankh parabuthids was especially prized, given the name of "ichor ambrosia" in old inscriptions, and widely reputed to be a key ingredient in the fabled elixir of life. The venom of both species of parabuthid can be used in a variety of ways, and though the wadjet parabuthids are generally considered weaker than the ankh, they are still revered as symbols of protection and good luck.
Spoiler
A wadjet parabuthid hatches in a cool, moist alcove alone, and is unlikely to ever encounter its mother or siblings. They grow quickly but remain far smaller than their ankh counterparts, making them vulnerable to predators. As such, wadjet parabuthids usually prefer to hunt at night, taking advantage of the cool, damp air to keep their delicate joints from growing stiff. The hatchlings are born with a potent venom used for protection and to capture prey. As it grows, a wadjet parabuthid's claws grow more robust and become its primary means of bringing down prey, allowing their venom to become less potent. An adult's sting is painful, but no more deadly than a bee sting. The venom is designed to be painful, rather than deadly, allowing creatures who try to make a meal of a wadjet parabuthid to learn from their mistake and avoid the colorful creatures in the future. Some people actually consider it lucky to be stung, considering the creatures' reputations.
Spoiler
The smaller of the parabuthids, wadjet parabuthids only grow to the length of a human hand, and live far shorter lives than their ankh cousins. They might easily be mistaken for an ordinary desert scorpion except for the brilliant golden pattern on their back for which the species is named. They are purely carnivorous, surviving mostly on insects, small vertebrates, and occasionally other scorpions. Despite their voracious appetites, parabuthids are generally calm around humans and surprisingly intelligent for invertebrates. While most scorpions are known to glow under special lights, wadjet parabuthids actually glow slightly at night to attract moths and other night-flying insects. This makes them easy to spot at night, and avid magi hoping to find wadjet parabuthid eggs often search rocks at night looking for a telling glow.
Sounds like they're scorpions. Can't wait to see what they look like!!
Thanks to Mannimarco and Jrap17 for contributing info!Sprites: Jrap17
Description: PKGriffin
