I think its high time that we have a frank discussion about Magma Scorpions.

Now, we all know that Magma Scorpions are one of, if not THE, greatest creation in Magic's storied history. And certainly, this thread is in no way meant to defame or blaspheme their reputation, but there are some very important questions we need to explore.

First and foremost, is it possible to have Magma Scorpions above ground? If a Magma Scorpion leaves its subterranean habitat, do they necessarily become Lava Scorpions (a concept we can all agree is both silly and absurd)?

Secondly, in the unlikely event of a Magma Scorpion being cooled through the use of powerful and evil magic (or hanging out in room-temperature or cooler environments, I guess), what becomes of them? Do they become Igneous Rock Scorpions?

Thirdly, which M:EM characters do you think are most likely to utilize Magma Scorpions? Obviously, all of them would like to have access to them, but which ones do you think actually would?

There are, I'm sure, dozens of other great questions for and about these noble creatures, but we can start there with this very serious, not-at-all sarcastic conversation...

Pft, molten spiders are clearly the better elemental arachnid.

Strictly speaking, when cooled to obsidian, I'm fairly certain they become nyxathid.

I would imagine, among our many and storied members of our ranks, the most likely to utilize such noble beasts would be Chardis. The shifter likely wouldn't appreciate how much work it would be to actually corral mama scorpions.

On the heroic front, however, Maral likely would have no compunctions about using them.

Demonstrably false. Stingers are superior to spinnerets (although I concede the point that molten spiders spinning glass from their spinnerets is pretty cool). Also, only one had a cameo in Test of Metal...


That makes a frightening amount of sense.


Maybe not, but I could see him dropping some people into a nest of Magma Scorpions and watch the ensuing show.

I could definitely see Chardis using Magma Scorpions. Interestingly, the other person I thought of was Kahr. That would be an interesting fight, both pyromancers summoning their Magma Scorpion champion to fight the other. It was be like the Preying Mantis fight scene in Enter the Dragon, but on a much grander scale, and of course objectively better, because Magma Scorpions...


I thought of this, as well, and considering Maral's forge is literally in a mountain, she is underground, so we don't need to worry about the magma/lava distinction. I actually unironically like the idea of Maral having a magma scorpion as a pet.

Hmm, Sharaka comes from a volcano-based culture, but she's more about volatile fire than lava/magma. Though she could potentially befriend one, which would of course be pretty rad, being the bestest creature and all.

Also, if we take molten spiders able to do Spidey-like web throw, a bunch of molten glass thrown in someone's face must be pretty rough. Which would rake quite a bit of Awesome Points... enough to rival the scorpions? Hmmmmmmmmmm...

I'm imagining HS Sharaka in an Elemental Biology class when the teacher starts talking about Magma Scorpions, and Sharaka pipes up, "Oi, I know that one!"


I mean, let's not be absurd here. Hurling a glob of molten glass does definitely earn Awesome Points, but reaching the levels of Awesome that Magma Scorpions are at by default is a nearly - if not entirely - impossible feat.

Incidentally, I have written a 50 Word Flash Fic regarding Magma Scorpions, which of course makes it one of the greatest flash fictions ever written...

First and fore-answeringly, they remain magma scorpions on the surface. It is only if their internal magma reservoirs are exposed to outside conditions that they would be considered a "lava scorpion" and most likely, "a corpse". If they shoot out magma above the surface however, that magma would be considered lava.

Secondly, that is an unlikely event. Magma scorpions are warm-blooded creatures (obviously) and warm-blooded creatures excel at maintaining their body temperature. If it were to actually happen, then assuming that the cooling occurred too quickly for the magma scorpion to expel excess magma, it would undergo nyxthiation where the cooling magma splits the scorpion's exoskeleton.

So your interpretation is that as long as the magma remains beneath the surface of the scorpion, it still counts as "beneath the surface?" I can accept that. I am working under the assumption that the Magma Scorpions' venom is literally magma, although it is probably some sort of magical bio-magma. Regardless, if injected into it's prey, it would probably follow the same rules; it's magma if it stays in, lava if it spills out.


Yeah, obviously, there would be few mages in the multiverse powerful enough to effect such a radical cooling process.
Aerik could probably pull it off, though. And now I'm thinking of someone summoning Magma Scorpions on Lania, and the image is humorous to me...

But the question is, if injected via stinger into another creature, does it still count as being beneath a surface?

As for magma scorpions on Lamia, the dragons would probably find them a delicacy. Lanian dragons don't breathe fire, after all, but regurgitated molten rock.

I would think that if it counts as beneath a surface inside the scorpion, it would count inside the victim, assuming it gets in there without being exposed to the air. Of course, most things that would be injected probably wouldn't last long, and the magma would probably eat its way out pretty fast, in which case the magma would stop being magma, and the victim would stop being alive.


I'm just saying, Barinellos, if you wanted to write a story where a magma scorpion or two face off against a pack of ferals, I wouldn't object.