Scraper

The Scrapers were deranged Unitologists of the Circle who abandoned their old faith for a new flesh cult after the failure of Convergence on Tau Volantis. They were found only aboard the CMS Terra Nova, where they worshipped the Brethren Moons by mutilating themselves and others.

Origin#

The Scrapers were the remnants of the Circle who came to worship the Brethren Moons as part of a new religion. After Jacob Danik died, most of the Circle lost hope in their cause. One member, however, became convinced by a vision from the Moons that Convergence had not ended. He gathered supporters around himself and led them in giving offerings of severed limbs, including their own hands, to the Moons. Those who wanted no part in the practice were either killed or captured so that their limbs could be offered as well.

Appearance and beliefs#

Scrapers were insane Unitologists who wore sacks over their heads and bore two crude, claw-like contraptions grafted onto what remained of their arms. Their bodies were riddled with bloody gashes, scars, and ritualistic markings that pointed to extensive self-mutilation. Their new creed, preached by the figure known as the Cult Leader, held that the body should be cut apart and offered to the approaching Brethren Moons, in sharp contrast to the older Unitologist belief that the body was a sacred vessel.

Numbers and fate#

The Scrapers were encountered only aboard the CMS Terra Nova, and how many of them truly existed is unclear. Randall Carr spoke of dozens, and many were seen in hallucinations, but only about four real Scrapers were ever met outside those visions. The lone Scrapers proved little real threat, which raised the possibility that only a very small number of people actually joined the new cult and that Carr himself had been deceived by hallucinations. If more Scrapers had been aboard the Terra Nova, some likely died in the blast that took place near the ship''s engine. What became of any survivors after the Cult Leader was defeated and the ship was shocked into Earth space is unknown.