Overview |
The Skaarj (pronounced "Scar") are an anthropomorphic reptilian race of tyrannical warriors appearing in the Unreal series. Feared throughout the galaxy for their extreme speed and fighting prowess, they come from the planet Skrath.
Overview[]
The Skaarj are a powerful, imperial reptilian race. They are 7 to 9-foot tall lizard-like creatures that weigh around 385 lbs. The color of their scales range from light or dark green to blue or yellow. They have an overhanging forehead with glowing cold evil eyes burning underneath, short, curved tusks, and, in the case of the Warrior caste, long, braided, scaly, dreadlocks arcing off the back of their heads. Most Skaarj have thick tails, though this feature seems to become increasingly reduced the farther along the Trooper caste a Skaarj progresses.
Each Skaarj is born as a Pupa that eventually mutates into the commonly seen lizard-like form. Their lifecycle is much more akin to that of insects. Large queens lay eggs which then hatch into pupae, which finally metamorphize into the Skaarj adults. Some Skaarj adults have cybernetic implants, and many have blades, called Raziks, strapped or surgically affixed to their wrists; these weapons may also fire energy charges from between the blades. In Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, the Skaarj are even allowed to use Raziks due to the nature of the battles during that game's timeframe.
In fact, the official symbol of the Skaarj race is the Razik blades. Skaarj prefer the green color, as it is the usual color of their skin. Skaarj motherships have panels shaped as the Razik and the interior of the ships are usually decorated with various accents of green color. There are many items that are of Skaarj origin, and they are usually colored green or have the shape of their Razik. For example, the UDamage has absolutely the same form as the Skaarj symbol, and the official Unreal Tournament symbol for the Green team has the Skaarj Razik. Panels and switches are often decorated with their symbol or their writing. That said, different clans prefer slightly different colors - the Skaarj in Unreal prefer metal gray, brown and green, while the Skaarj in Unreal Tournament 2004 prefer black and green. In Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, they also make extensive use of shields composed by projected blades ("Blade Shield") and at least two of them make use of poison clouds ("Poison Cloud").
The Skaarj are a highly tribal race. They are mainly divided into separate clans, like the Black Fist and the Iron Skull. Each clan works as a separate unit, with little or no co-operation with the other. An example is the hostility between the Black Fist and the Iron Skull clans, as described in the bios for Mekkor and Skrilax in Unreal Tournament 2004. They, however, could also stand together for a common cause and unite to form an empire, which in turn reunite into the feared Skaarj Empire. Each clan of Skaarj is headed by a Queen (who has a central role in their society) and one or more Warlords (who lead the Skaarj in combat situations).
The Skaarj have been officially described by Epic Games as "sophisticated savages" and references are made in-game to their apparent high level of technological development in contrast to their brutal and barbaric nature. They are capable of extensive space travel, and seem to be focused around a giant Mothership that houses their Queen. Their technology is noticeably superior to that of humanity. They move about the planet via Skaarj Skimmers, relatively small anti-gravity fighters that the player encounters twice throughout Unreal and RtNP, but is never able to operate. The Skaarj engage in extensive and bizarre experiments ranging from genetic manipulation to energy-based experiments, seemingly aimed at creating super-soldiers of one sort or another.
The Skaarj usually build structures out of metal. They also use different forms of force fields and other energy items, although a lot less commonly. All of their motherships are usually made of metal and powered by energy from Skaarj generators. The generators are usually heavily defended and are the main, but not only sources of power. Skaarj panels are usually holographic and are capable of creating 3D holographic shapes. When Skaarj decide to build a structure on the surface of a planet, they usually design them just like the spaceships. These buildings don't contain anything organic other than the creatures inside and often plain metal is displayed. Special decorations are very rare, but if there are any, they are colored green. Their light sources, although usually white, are sometimes green as well.
The Skaarj's goal is to conquer the universe, under the justification and belief that the Skaarj are naturally superior to all other species. So far, there's only one planet the Skaarj managed to conquer, Na Pali. They enslaved the Nali to do their bidding, such as mining in the Rrajigar Mines for Tarydium shards. They have highly notable levels of hostility towards the humans because one of them managed to kill their Queen, and because of their strong disdain towards other "inferior" species in the galaxy. According to Unreal Tournament 2004, they tried to conquer Earth, but failed. As such, every human that they see will cause them to rush towards the intruder, no matter what the consequence. Their inability to cooperate with other races is even seen in Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, where Szalor's ladder reveals that no Skaarj individual nor team has ever managed to win the Liandri Grand Tournament.
Involvement in the games[]
Unreal and Return to Na Pali[]
- Main article: Unreal Single player
- Main article: Unreal Mission Pack: Return to Na Pali Single player
The Skaarj are the main antagonists the Prisoner 849 has to face. They have recently conquered Na Pali during the time that the Vortex Rikers crashed on the planet.
The Skaarj presence on Na Pali is separated into two main castes: Warriors and Troopers. Skaarj serve to protect their Queen, and presumably follow the orders of the Warlord. Other enemy classes are present as well:
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A fair portion of the weapons in Unreal are of Skaarj origin, including the Eightball, Razorjack, Flak Cannon[1], and, to an extent, the Stinger.
Unreal Tournament[]
- Main article: Iron Skull
DM-ArcaneTemple takes place in a sacred place the Skaarj didn't manage to capture. It is also revealed that tournament combatant and tactical expert Dovienya was trained by a Skaarj clan. Dominator is featured in the console versions as an unplayable pure-blooded Skaarj boss.
By 2291 (the time period of UT) the New Earth Government, inspired by the Skaarj's abilities in the Human-Skaarj War, had developed the Human/Skaarj Hybrid, meant to be used as a leading force in ground based ops. To test the Hybrids, the NEG entered two teams: Red Claw and Iron Skull into the Tournament.
Unreal II: The Awakening[]
The Skaarj are one of the factions that chase the Artifact pieces, although they were seen in the first two levels and the last two levels. In this game, the Skaarj are not much of a threat, as their mobility is reduced at various levels, depending on the the three variants in the game.
The Skaarj are divided, like most of Unreal II's enemies, into three variants, each with different levels of health, armor and speed:
The Krall, the Skaarj's enslaved hunting partners and guards, are replaced by the insane Izarians, suggesting that the Skaarj Empire has a diverse well of species to draw assistance from, and that various clans prefer different assistants. The Izarians carry a new Skaarj weapon, dubbed the Shock Lance by Isaak, which is based upon ASMD technology, indicating that the Skaarj are even now not above stealing and adapting alien technology for their own uses. After a limiter has been applied that reduces the weapon's power, the Skaarj give it to the Izarians, who use it as their primary weapon. It appears as a high-tech trident or pitchfork which fires purple energy bolts, or a powerful EMP ball. Later on Isaac is able to remove the limiter and the player's Shock Lance becomes more powerful.
The Skaarj are among the races experimented on by the Drakk, a race of self-aware machines, and a significant portion of the final hybrid created by them that the player has the option to face, deep in the Drakk Hive. They also play a central role in the game's climax, at least at first.
Skaarj dropships appear briefly during the assault on Avalon, resembling sleeker versions of the Skimmers from Unreal. It is possible that they serve double-duty as fighter craft, as well.
Unreal Tournament 2004[]
In 2303 (the time period of UT2004) a team of pure Skaarj from the Iron Skull clan enter the Tournament. It is unknown how they are related to the Hybrids who fought under the same name in the earlier Tournament. What is known is that the Skaarj Empire holds them responsible for the loss of the Skaarj Mothership during the Human-Skaarj War in 2216.
Later in that Tournament, the two brothers Mekkor and Skrilax of the Black Fist Clan enter the Tournament to test their new cybernetic armor, which replaces entire limbs lost in battle. Because of this they are referred to as MechaSkaarj.
One of the Tournament's Assault matches, AS-Mothership, centers around the destruction of a Skaarj mothership attacking Earth at the end of the Human-Skaarj War in 2216. The mothership and the Skaarj Black Scorpion spacefighter are recreated. The Black Scorpions return for the map AS-BP2-Acatana as part of the attacking Skaarj Marauder team.
The description of the map ONS-Dria revealed that the Skaarj did use Titans in their siege of Na Pali.
Unreal Championship 2[]
During the time period of Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, Torgr and his tribe enters their slave Szalor in the Nakhti Ascension Rites, a qualifying round for the Tournament, hoping to watch an entertaining death. Torgr himself enters hoping to win and prove himself worthy of being consort to the Queen. His wish is to unify the Skaarj and their slave races and conquer the galaxy. Skaarj lobbyists also managed to add Nali Slaughter to the Tournament's schedule. In an interview during the Ascension Rites, Szalor reveals that, while the Skaarj do have a grudge against humans for the death of their Queen, they see all races different to them as inferior.
In their respective ladders, more details about the race and their history are revealed: the Skaarj have "revenge, honor and mercilessness" as their three tenets, their Warriors have Stamina as a natural trait, and due to their inability to cooperate with "inferior races" they never managed to win any Liandri Grand Tournament. However, they see the Necris as acceptable teammates due to the abilities given by their undead status, despite their human origin.
Other Skaarj who are competing in the Tournaments around this time are the honorable Garek, who disdains the brutality and bloodshed of combat, fighting in the Tournaments because it's the only event where he can meet and fight other honorable warriors in true combat; Kraag, who sees the Tournament as a "hard-earned vacation" before another lengthy campaign, and Korig.
Unreal Tournament 4[]
Garog is one of the fighters. He was bred to serve as a Skaarj Trooper for his Queen. He showed great prowess, ambition, and a drive typically only seen in the Skaarj Warrior caste, however, his breeding left him unsuitable for that rank, so his talents were put to use in the Arena where he proudly serves as a representative of the Skaarj Empire. Many other Skaarj Warriors are also present. As a Trooper, Garog was first sent to Na Pali to oversee Nali resettlement, however, he found them weak and unworthy, and he treated them harshly. This earned him the approval of the Skaarj, giving him a nickname, Naalgesh, "Lord of the Nali". Meanwhile, his prowess in the Arena was heavily recognized, and he donned the Interloper armor to stand out.
Trivia[]
- The design of the Razik blades can be seen as the trademark of the franchise, as it inspired the main logo of Unreal and became the Green team's logo and the design for the Damage Amplifier in Unreal Tournament. The item's design is so iconic in the franchise it even appears on Unreal Tournament 3 and Unreal Tournament 4.
- It was announced early on in Unreal 2's development that the Skaarj would be divided up into clans that would be fighting amongst themselves for control of the artifacts, but this feature did not end up making a substantial appearance in the final release. Nonetheless, the clan-based element expanded the Skaarj social structure in a manner that was later expanded upon in Unreal Tournament 2004 and Unreal Championship 2 with the Iron Skull, Black Fist and Torgr clans.
- The team symbol for the Skaarj team Iron Skull in UT2004 is essentially a front view of the Skaarj warrior's face, possibly based on Dominator's.
- The Expansion package known as "Editor's Choice Edition" or "ECE" adds two more Skaarj warriors- Mekkor and Skrilax, to the Skaarj pool in UT2004.
- The box art for both the standard installer package as well as the ECE package of UT2004 features the Skaarj warriors Dominator and Mekkor respectively, as the highlighted characters.
Easter eggs[]
- Main article: Easter eggs
- The Skaarj Warriors' outward appearance, as well as their savage behavior, are all possibly references to the Predator, from the movie franchise "Predator" and "Aliens vs. Predator'". They are also both equipped with wristblades.
- According to Artur Bialas, the Skaarj language in Unreal was based on ancient Cuneiform scripts.[2]
External links and references[]
- ↑ "I'll not stay here any longer. With the next passing of the two suns, I'll try to reach the Sunspire. There I will be safe. Before I go I will retrieve the sky demon's weapon from the abbey." - A Nali journal found in Harobed village
- ↑ Caldwell, Brendan (5 June 2018). "A retrospective of Unreal, from the people who made it". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
See also[]
- Official Unreal timeline