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"...infernal beasts of segmented form, manifold claws whose maws spew forth the molten stuff of the beyond."

Ordo Malleus savant's account describing Brass Scorpions Daemon Engines during the First War of Armageddon
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A Brass Scorpion in combat during the Siege of Vraks

The Brass Scorpion, also known as the Great Brass Scorpion, or Scorpios Colossi to the Inquisition, is a large Daemon Engine used by the Chaos Space Marine Traitor Legions and the forces of the Dark Mechanicum. The Brass Scorpion is a massive, multi-legged warmachine shaped in the image of the ancient Terran scorpion and is completely dedicated to the service of the Blood God Khorne. The machine is one of the largest Daemon Engines ever encountered by the Imperium, dwarfing its smaller counterparts such as the Defiler and the Decimator. The Brass Scorpion was believed to be simply an apocryphal myth, until the latest Black Crusade of the Arch-Traitor Abaddon the Despoiler in 999.M41, where they were encountered in increasing numbers by Imperial armed forces. The beast is deceptively fast and agile for a warmachine of its size and excels at attacking enemy fortified positions and engaging entrenched infantry. The Brass Scorpion seems to be imbued with a predator's instincts and has shown a level of bloodlust and delight for slaughter rarely matched even by other Daemon Engines found amongst the Forces of Chaos.

Construction

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A Brass Scorpion advancing across the battlefield

The Ordo Malleus of the Inquisition believes that the Brass Scorpion is another diabolic invention of the Dark Magi of the Dark Mechanicus, much like the Hell Blade and Defiler. It is believed that the Hereteks of the Dark Mechanicus sell their insane genius to the highest bidders, forging them heretical weapons, technology, and war engines of unparallelled savagery. The Brass Scorpion, like many Daemon Engines, can vary in shape, size, and armament, but all are nearly impossible to destroy, as its massive brass and iron armour protects it from all but the most powerful weapons. The machine is powered by a Warp-spawned device known as a Doomsday Engine, a form of daemon-forged Chaotic technology that generates tremendous amounts of power for a Daemon Engine by burning the souls of the still living bodies of victims trapped within the Brass Scorpion's mass of tangled, semi-organic cabling that runs throughout the infernal machine's entire body.

The Brass Scorpion construct has been noted to have several variants, some bearing similarities in construction to the Defiler, while others are more outlandish and distinct in shape and size. These variants have been noted to range in size from that of a Leman Russ Battle Tank to that of small Titans, with varying armaments and armour configurations. The Inquisition is unsure if these variants are deliberately constructed in this manner by the Dark Mechanicum as a means of technological progression, or simply the tendency of Chaos to twist and change of its own accord. The Brass Scorpion, like many other Khornate Daemon Engines, is inscribed with the Runes of the Blood God, granting it added defence against psychic powers, acting as a reflection of the hatred that Khorne and his followers display to those who practise such arts.

Armament

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A Brass Scorpion firing its tail-mounted Scorpion Cannon

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A close up view of the Brass Scorpion's powerful claws and their in-built Chain Weapons

The Brass Scorpion is heavily armed, featuring a Demolisher Cannon located at the creature's front, where a real scorpion would have its eyes and mouth. The machine is also fitted with two Hellmaw Cannons; massive Flamers that spray infernal Warp-fed fire and molten brass located just beneath its Demolisher Cannon. As befitting a war engine of the Blood God, the beast's two primary limbs end in massive hydraulic Pincer Claws, each fully capable of tearing armoured vehicles into pieces and wiping out entire infantry squads in one fell sweep. The creature's claws are protected on their outer sides by large Warp-forged alloy shields. When the beast places its claws in front of itself, these shields are able to protect its entire body from harm. The Claws also feature three large in-built Chain Weapons, allowing them to cause even more damage during combat. There also exist variants of the Brass Scorpion outfitted with massive spinning blades instead of pincers. The machine completes its resemblance to the natural scorpion by featuring a long, upright tail armed with a Scorpion Cannon, also referred to in some sources as a Sting Cannon. This massive, multi-barrelled cannon is positioned atop the creature's tail, giving the weapon a full 360 degree arc of fire, making it perfectly suited to unleash rapidly fired torrents of projectiles upon enemy infantry at close range.

Ordo Malleus Departmento Analyticus Technical Specifications

The technical specifications of the Brass Scorpion have not yet been determined by the Ordo Malleus of the Inquisition.

Also See

Sources

  • Black Crusade: The Tome of Blood (RPG), pg. 117
  • Imperial Armour Apocalypse II, pg. 73
  • Imperial Armour - Modelling Masterclass: Volume Two, pp. 3, 66-73
  • Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three, pp. 60, 74, 96, 147-150
  • Imperial Armour Volume Thirteen - War Machines of the Lost & The Damned by Andy Hoare with Alan Bligh & Neil Wylie, pp. 118-120
  • Warhammer 40000: Apocalypse, pg. 173
  • White Dwarf 164 (UK), "Space Marine: Daemon Engines of Khorne," by Andy Chambers, pg. 19
  • Forge World Webstore: Brass Scorpion

Gallery


Daemon Engines
Chaos Undivided Calamity EngineDeath WheelDecimatorDefilerForgefiendHeldrakeInfernal BombardMaulerfiendSoul GrinderVenomcrawlerWirewolf
Khorne Blood ReaperBlood SlaughtererBlood Throne of KhorneBrass ScorpionCauldron of BloodDeath DealerDoom BlasterKytanLord of BattlesLord of SkullsSkull Cannon of KhorneTower of Skulls
Nurgle Blight DroneContagionFoetid Bloat-droneMyphitic Blight-haulerPlague HulkPlague TowerPlagueburst Crawler
Tzeentch Æther RayThe AuruntaurDoom WingFire LordMirrorfiendSilver Tower
Slaanesh Hell-KnightHell-ScourgeHell-StriderQuestor Scout TitanSubjugator Scout Titan
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