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Sacred Spawnings

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Warhammer Lizardmen Spawning

A newborn Saurus rises from the spawning pools.

Sacred spawnings are those newborn broods of Lizardmen whose divinely-granted physical characteristics and abilities set them apart at birth from others of their kind.[1b][2c]

The Lizardmen servants of the Slann mage-priests are hatched in spawning pools, where they develop from tiny, carnivorous, tadpole-like creatures into the bipedal beings they are when they pull themselves free of the water. Skinks and Kroxigors are spawned in pools on the outskirts of the temple-cities, while Saurus are hatched in the dank, subterranean tunnels beneath the temples themselves, as befitting their role as sacred warriors.[1b]

On occasions, entire spawn broods are hatched under the influence of one or more of the gods, displaying certain characteristics and natural abilities different from the other spawnings. Those hatched in such a manner are revered as particularly sacred warriors chosen to be the representatives of the gods in the Known World.[1b][2c]

Throughout the centuries, various sacred spawnings have waxed and waned, some disappearing altogether for thousands of years before reappearing. In times long past, Saurus were frequently spawned under the influence of two or even three gods, though very few of these ancient warriors remain in the world.[1b]

Many see this as being predetermined many thousands of years ago by the Old Ones, for it is said that they studied the paths of the many futures and determined when particular spawnings were needed. That so many sacred spawnings have reappeared in recent decades seems to indicate that a new time of warfare and aggression is upon the Lizardmen.[1b]

Ceremonies and Sacred Hosts[]

The Old Ones' Sacred Plaques will often predict the exact date that these elite warriors are due to emerge from their spawning pools. On that date, a large crowd of Skinks will gather all about the spawning pools. A delegation of Skink Priests will stand by the pool's very edge, waiting the moment the half-glimpsed shapes in the glowing liquid will emerge. If the spawning is of particular note, a Slann may even be in attendance, and this is the greatest of honours for the new spawning.[2c]

When the warriors emerge they are welcomed one by one and adorned with feathers and totems of the god whose blessing is upon them. Their status will be apparent from their appearance and demeanour, and the Skink Priests will record every nuance for the archives. Lizardmen spawned according to the influence of Sotek, for example, often sport tall, red crests and are warlike in character, while those spawned under Tepok's inscrutable eye may have purple or violet markings and a distinctly detached and otherworldly air.[2c]

It has happened that some spawnings are created under the influence of several Old Ones, exhibiting a combination of characteristics, and the priests will take special care to record every last detail of such an event.[2c]

On extremely rare occasions, more than one of these spawnings have occurred in the same temple-city, at the same time. Thus has been formed a "Sacred Host," an entire army touched by a single god and marked with the signs of his blessing. Such an army is only spawned once in a thousand years, but will have some truly momentous task to complete for the furtherance of the Great Plan of the Old Ones.[2c]

Sacred Spawning Types[]

  • Blessed Spawning of Chotec - The heat of the sun burns within the bodies of those blessed by the solar god Chotec, filling them with energy at times when other cold-blooded creatures become sluggish. A fiery red-orange is Chotec's associated colour.[1b]
  • Blessed Spawning of Huanchi - Naturally stealthy, those blessed by Huanchi, jaguar-god of the earth and night, are able to pass effortlessly through the thickest jungle undergrowth with little effort.[1b]
  • Blessed Spawning of Itzl - As well as naturally exuding a subtle musk that Cold Ones recognise and are comfortable with, those blessed by Itzl often have elaborate bony head-crests.[1b][3b]
  • Blessed Spawning of Quetzl - Those spawnings that are blessed by the divine protector and warrior-god Quetzl have especially thick, toughened scales covering their bodies, and bony spurs often protrude from their forearms.[1b]
  • Blessed Spawning of Sotek - The favoured spawnings of Sotek, the serpent great-god, are infused with the vengeful deity's blood-fuelled anger, and will attack their foes with great fury. Blood red is the colour associated with Sotek, and the physical representation of his blessing can vary from red skin and scales, to subtle hues of red on the crests or even just red warpaint.[1b]
  • Blessed Spawning of Tepok - The blessing of inscrutable Tepok, the mysterious feathered-serpent god of the air, manifests itself in the form of protection from magic, and is often signified by the colour purple.[1b]
  • Blessed Spawning of Tlazcotl - A tinge of yellow is often noticeable on those spawned under Tlazcotl's cold eye. These Saurus reflect the impassiveness of Tlazcotl, and remain unaffected by even the most harrowing experiences.[1b]
  • Blessed Spawning of Tzunki - Strongly associated with water, those blessed by the Sacred Spawning of Tzunki sometimes have mottled sea-green skin hues, their claws are often webbed and they have powerful gills hidden in folds of skin on their necks.[1b]
  • Blessed Spawning of Xhotl - The spawning that bore Kroq-Gar into the mortal world produced only a handful of Saurus, each a powerful creature marked out for greatness, blessed by Xhotl himself. Their natural cunning and instinctive aggression surpassed that of their brethren, and they had an innate dominion over the native beasts of the surrounding jungle.[2a]
  • Blessed Mark of the Old Ones - This most auspicious and rare of blessings is easily recognisable, for those who wear it will usually have white or even albino skin tones. They are treated with much reverence, for their fate is seen as important in the eyes of the Old Ones.[1b][2b][3a]

Sources[]

  • 1 Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen (6th Edition)
    • 1a pg. 41
    • 1b pp. 50-51
  • 2 Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen (7th Edition)
  • 3 Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen (8th Edition)

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