Sceleratus Saulosian

Saulosians are a species that need fear little, having either outcompeted or outwitted adversaries in their bid for survival. The largest threat is the menace of one another, and the Sceleratus Saulosians are certainly to be feared. A reputation for brutal fighting and skill in dismembering their foes, Saulos is only fortunate these creatures have contained themselves, or they may have overrun the entire planet.

Physical Traits
Several thousand years of isolation has resulted in differences between the Sceleratus and their Saulosian kin. Without the advantages of technology, they’ve grown resilient to harsh weather, and while agile they remain very strong. Their snouts are much smaller, likely to keep out the dust on the Kuur-Is plains where they’ve existed for so long. The adaptations that are least understood are the knobs of bone that protrude from their vertebrae, covered with a dry layer of their scaly skin. They could be a remnant of sails or spines from an ancestor, or the unrealized vestiges of a new adjustment of their physiology, but in either case the purpose is unknown.

Formation
The few sources of unfalsified history from the Saulosians first mention the Sceleratus subspecies in the time known as the Manos Period. There are a few theories on their formation, but a general idea is agreed upon. During the Great Starvation, the tribes that would unite as the Sceleratus found their lands invaded by other expanding tribes, and united to protect themselves from outsiders. But unlike many such groups, the Sceleratus remained hunters. Relocating into the mountain valleys and plateaus of the Kuur-Is Range, they defended the territory by slaughter, whether the encroachers were nomad hunters or village tribes established too near. They did glean one important aspect from the outsiders, however, and that was population control.

The practices they began then have endured since their formation, roaming the low jungle valleys and desert plains in small groups, none more than 100 with most far less. However, they all answer to a simple form of government, a Warlord who earns the title through fighting skill. With a myriad of ravines leading into their land, a strong military became essential. The Kuur-Is Mountains harbor many native creatures, including the Ancalagon War Beasts and Arrowtongue. The Sceleratus became skilled in riding them and using them in war, though this cavalry advantage was stifled by the tight choke points in and out of their lands. Only twice have armies breached the defenses, and after only found themselves on open plains and outmaneuvered by their cavalry. From this time, the Sceleratus remained in isolation, and in doing so evolved separate from their kin.

The Monarchy-Legional State Conflict
"We have always felt shame for the Last Stand of the Legion. We ran when we could have fought, and lived when we should have died."

- Sceleratus Warlord of the Short War Era

Nearly seven thousand years passed without interaction from outside. History here mixes with bardic tales, legends of warriors hidden in the mountain mists, riding great monsters. After seeing the rainforests of the Kuur-Is’ entrances, it is not hard to imagine how these began. However, in roughly 36,909 BC, the Legional States were becoming desperate, and sent a single Saulosian called Silalac who had claimed he could enlist their aid. The warriors who guarded the pass listened to him, and when he offered tribute of food and abandonment of land surrounding the Kuur-Is, the Sceleratus agreed to fight for them.

Rather than joining the main Legion Horde, their Warlord led the Sceleratus to guerilla attacks on their camps in the west. Only two large-scale clashes of arms took place, each time the Monarchy infantry proved insufficient to combat Sceleratus Ancalagon Beasts, and their own riders were less skilled. But as the Monarchy found victory elsewhere, the Sceleratus found themselves without a sufficient chain of supply. But where it might have been easier to retreat into territory more familiar to them, their Warlord chose to attack. Due to their own losses against the Sceleratus in battle, the Monarchy was forced to send a large amount of weapons, reinforcements, and food at once to the northern periphery. This became the Sceleratus’ target, and in an area known as the Creon forest, they sprung their trap.

Hitting the convoy from both sides, the Sceleratus made a mounted attack on the Ancalagon Beasts carrying most of the supplies. One was quickly brought down, but the Warlord had made a critical error. Attacking one of those near the rear of the column, it allowed those in front to come about and counterattack. Similarly, two behind them cut off a fast retreat as they normally would have done. Without their own war beasts present, the Sceleratus were caught underfoot and many died of being trampled in the chaos. But more were lost to the convoy’s defenders, under leadership of a few very keen individuals who would earn fame for the skirmish. Defeated and diminished in number, the Sceleratus were forced to retreat from the north, giving the Monarchy a wide strategic advantage and making this relatively small conflict a turning point in the war.

For months, the Sceleratus were defeated by technologically superior foes, no longer having their advantages of either closed forest or a superior cavalry. With the Legion quickly losing ground, the tribute and promise of land was abandoned, leading the Sceleratus to cease fighting almost altogether. As August of 36,908 BC found the Legion in a desperate position, the Sceleratus abandoned them completely when they called for help and retreated into their territory again. But because of the many humiliating victories they had dealt the Monarchy early on, within a few years they had been invaded and in 36905 BC were forced to submit. Only the outbreak of the Expansion Wars would force the Monarchy to abandon their occupation, leaving one of their most powerful enemies to rebuild itself.

The Saulosian Campaign
By the time of their kin's development of space flight, what remained of the Sceleratus that had not assimilated into the larger population remained on Saulos, not caring to claim land on other worlds when they were content with what they had. But their tribes were poor, forced to live as scavengers of technology and supplies, generally looked down upon by Saulosian society. They became if anything hardier, learning to craft weapons and vehicles on their own. When first contact with the humans came centuries later, they were already prepared to be sent to battle.

They are used primarily for mechanized and cavalry units, being strong and dextrous, with centuries of experience with mounted combat. They normally carry little in the way of personal weaponry, but this is made up for with sheer strength and speed.

Political Structure
As a primarily military clan, the Sceleratus have little say in the Directorate government, but have few qualms about it. For the most part, they only wish to be left alone in their territories, though their Warlord is constantly prodding the Directorate to use war as a solution to problems and make thorough use of their kind.

Under a single leader given the title of Warlord, they keep to the nomadic ways that have persisted in for tens of thousands of years within their lands, hunting and gathering as they see fit. The Warlord keeps a palace, which is only accessible to his personal guards and the Alphas of the Sceleratus tribes, along with a number of concubines. Though he is the de facto leader, his authority only comes into effect during times in which his people are sent to war. Thusly, he takes no part or side in disputes between tribes, and bribes are violently refused. There has been only one uncovered instance of a Warlord accepting a Chieftain’s bribe, after which the Warlord was murdered by his guardsmen.

Early in their existence, the simple structure became a problem. The Warlords were constantly challenged, and for a brief time a Warlord may have only ruled for days. Eventually, a law was set in place so that only one who has been Tribe Leader for more than twenty seasons may challenge him, and only if he has a valid reason. Also worthy of note is that these leaders have not always been male. The Warlord of the Monarchy-Legional State Conflict was one female leader, and led them to many small victories against Monarchy forces. The Sceleratus follow any Saulosian, or even those of other species, that can prove to be a skilled combatant.

Culture
Due to their seclusion, the Sceleratus have kept hidden a limited number of historical documents that escaped the Purge. However, these were acquired as plunder from battles fought, and are left to deteriorate in their stockpiles. Most of Sceleratus customary practices that haven’t been forced upon them by the Directorate revolve around fathers training sons to be good hunters and warriors, with an emphasis on trusting their own bodies over technology.

One coming of age ceremony is for a warrior to hunt down an Arrowtongue, trap it without killing it, and mingle blood with the creature. Afterwards the creature is released, unharmed, and the two are said to have a linked fate.