Girtakkilu

Demonic creatures with the body of a scorpion, complete with chelaed pedipalps, Girtakkilu also feature the torso of a man and the head of a furless lion, though with a partial mane. They feature glowing red eyes, chelae instead of hands on their torso arms, and their curved tail stingers can reach up to a foot long.

Girtakkilu are often transformed from other creatures, through a process of natural evolution or by a curse from a Demon. They typically evolve from scorpion-like lesser demons, such as the Alacran or Ju-Xie, though have also been known to evolve from Ghul-Peykar.

Sapients cursed into this form are usually cursed by Demon Lord Xiezijing, though the Demon Princes may also choose this form as their "punishment" of Mortals.

The Girtakkilu are most comfortable in hot, dry climates and are most commonly found in the layers of the Abyss that have that kind of environment. They are capable burrowers and will create cavernous systems of tunnels within which to reside.

Despite being monstrously violent, Girtakkilu do not consume their enemies and do not need to eat or drink. When they need to replenish their strength or heal up, they simply sit inert within the Abyss, though they do not lose consciousness.

Girtakkilu are violent and destructive beings with little care for their own wellbeing. They possess only a bestial level of intelligence, despite having a vaguely demi-sapient form, and respond only to strength that surpasses theirs. While they will not go out of their way to fight with other Demons, they will lash out if provoked and will kill weaker Demons, as well as those whom they perceive as a liability to their Nest.

Girtakkilu can be encountered in small "nests" numbering up to fifteen individuals, but lone individuals are equally as common. When in groups, they appear to operate in a hierarchal system based on strength. These hierarchies are often brutal, and "weak" members with catastrophic injuries are often torn apart to speed up death. All Girtakkilu, regardless of strength, will answer to the direction of Demon Lord Xiezijing, whose name literally means "scorpion demon" in an unknown language. They view her as their "mother" and "queen", and will willingly throw themselves into pyres for her.

As with all Demons, Girtakkilu dissolve into a sticky ichor 48 hours after being slain, making harvesting them for parts and potions very difficult.

Their poison is semi-stable, meaning that it can be harvested from their tails and treated with the nectar of the Micaldehyria plant to prevent it from dissolving along with their bodies. However, the process is extremely dangerous and only produces a small amount of usable poison each time.

Their tail stingers make for useful improvised weapons, though are only viable within the 48 hour window after death or removal before turning to ichor.

Due to their natural environment being dry and dusty or sandy, Girtakkilu have relatively poor eyesight and rely heavily on their superior sense of smell, as well as a limited form of tremorsense.

Biological, Magical and Supernatural Abilities

Supernaturally strong and resilient, Girtakkilu possess a hardy constitution and a resistance to poisons and acids. A Girtakkilu's stinger is a formidable weapon that it uses to great effect; poisoning foes to weaken them before ripping them apart with their formidable strength. Along with their poisonous tails, they are able to spit a form of acid from glands located in their necks and can use their phenomenal strength to generate localised earthquakes.

Combat and Eradication

Combat Considerations

Girtakkilu are large Demons with incredible strength and resilience. They are resistant to poisons and acids, and have a particularly high constitutions. They have the benefit of additional reach with their tails and can subject a foe to multiple strikes in quick succession due to having the equivalent of four arms. Close combat with a Girtakkilu is not recommended, as their tremorsense is more perceptive within 15ft of them. Nests of them should be avoided at all costs.

Due to their Demonic nature, Girtakkilu cannot be poisoned, drowned or starved.

Expulsion Techniques

As Demons, Girtakkilu can only be truly killed within the Abyss, thus "killing" them elsewhere will simply send their essence back to the Abyss to be reformed. While they are not common on the Material Plane, where one has been spotted another can easily appear, thus the presence of Portals and Weeping Tears should be taken into consideration.