The Black Claw

The Black Claw are the antagonists of the Temple of Spode adventure.

The Black Claw, as seen in the adventure, seems to be a primitive tribal group native to the Temple of Spode's planet, and probably the original inhabitants of it. Another civilisation found in Temple of Spode, Blaharans, may be another local species or probably the Space Age empire. Neverthless, the Black Claw and Blaharans hate each other ad are at war.

The Black Claw is a tribal species, most likely. They certainly can construct small ships and boats (as seen in adventure, where Black Claw-owned ship destroys the Blaharan houses) but do not use any other technology - not even weapons (the Black Claw's species fight with their own bare hands).

Species
The Black Claw is composed of two or probably three species, all of them encountered in the Temple of Spode.

Black Claw Zealots are the most common species in the Black Claw, and have either 16 or 21 hitpoints. Although unnoticeable due to the large masks that they are wearing, they have flat, reptilian faces with the catlike eyes. They are fairly strong, with powerful bite and strike, but nothing else. They wear the two-eyed masks and their skin is black.

Black Claw Fanatics are the "elite" species in the Black Claw - although they may be the same species as Zealots. They share the physical characteristics of the Zealots, but are slightl more endurant - they have 25 hitpoints. They have different clothing though, with some feathers and other features added, as well grinning, three-eyed masks. They are rarely seen in adventure, rarer than Zealots or Scouts. They are first seen attacking Falloha during the ambush.

Black Claw Scouts are the small species in the Black Claw, differing from other Black Claw species greatly. They are smaller than others and have different body structure, being omnivores, having similan faces and eyes. Despite being smaller, they have 20 hitpoints and can be more endurant than Zealots. They are seen in the town surrounding the Temple of Spode, attacking you and Falloha.

Trivia

 * The Black Claw may be named after the Black Hand, who started WW1 by killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand.