Generic Brotherhood of the Solarii thugs
Context
The Brotherhood cult are the main opponents in the 2013 version of the Tomb Raider video game. Thus, we quite suggest that you first read our big character profile for the rebooted version of Lara Croft, for context.
This entry has S P O I L E R S about the game, in the History section.
The main illustration is of Father Mathias, the Brotherhood’s leader.
Powers & Abilities
Solarii cultists were picked for their physical strength and lack of curiosity and mental acumen. They were ruthlessly brainwashed, and brought beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance to break them.
As a result, they’re little better than sociopathic beasts. They can still talk, reason, etc. and behave somewhat normally. But they are thoroughly uninhibited when it comes to violence.
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The cultists are bullies and unskilled labour, not a regimented fighting force. They know enough to take cover, crudely coordinate their attacks and stand watch, but this is about it.
For instance they do not seem to genuinely train with their weapons, and their accuracy is thus questionable.
They normally clash with hapless (and probably wounded) survivors and poorly-armed villagers. When they do run into experienced fighters, like most of the Endurance crew, they do not fare well.
They do have good pain tolerance, though. For instance, barring a headshot, it takes three or four hits with the basic pistol (presumably a .380 ACP) to take them out if they are not wearing armour.
That some of them have Molotov cocktails or even grenades is also a significant asset to flush people out of cover.
The cultists speak a variety of languages, though it’s generally heard as English in the game. They might use a mishmash of English, Russian and Japanese as a work tongue, but Lara would understand this patois.
One cadre of cultists used tamed wolves as wardogs. Use standard wolf stats from our Animals File.
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History
The Solarii Brotherhood are a somewhat random collection of survivors from boats and planes that crashed on Yamatai, and their descendants. Most of them are aware that leaving the island is impossible.
The Brotherhood was established 25-ish years ago by a charismatic, psychotic crash survivor called Mathias. It is most definitely a cult. Recruitment involves throwing the “candidates” into a network of ghastly geothermal caverns without any food, advice or supplies.
The caverns are Hell on Earth, with cannibalism being common. Most “candidates” die and are eaten, and those who make it alive are generally insane, sadistic brutes.
Brothers aren’t allowed to ask any question about policy or orders, under pain of immediate execution.
Praise the sun
Mathias runs weird, mostly made up religious rituals about his version of Amaterasu, the primordial sun goddess. Many of the Brotherhood have come to see this made-up religion as real. Thus, they often paint crude sun symbols in their quarters. “No One Leaves” is also a common religious inscription.
Part of the cult is based on finding a descendant of Himiko, the legendary shaman queen of Yamatai. The ritual to do so involves burning women at the stake, in the belief that Himiko’s spirit will manifest and drench the flames to prevent the execution of one of her descendants.
Based on frescoes in the palace, Himiko could transfer her spirit and power from generation to generation. Thus, the Queen of Yamatai would always be Himiko.
The Brotherhood has built its own shantytown at the feet of the old palace of Yamatai. Yet one suspects that this lengthy, work-intensive project was chiefly about keeping the bestial Brothers busy and tired.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Basic Solarii killer
| Dex: 02 | Str: 03 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Psycho |
| Int: 02 | Wil: 01 | Min: 01 | Occupation: Thug |
| Inf: 02 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 01 | Resources {or Wealth}: 002 |
| Init: 006 | HP: 000 |
Skills:
Acrobatics (Athletics): 03, Weaponry (Pick one): 02
Advantages
Area Knowledge (Yamatai), Iron Nerves.
Connections:
None.
Drawbacks:
Serious Rage.
Equipment:
Pick one :
- Self bow [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 03), Enhance (Range): 02 (cap is 04), Ammo: 01, Recommended STR: 02, R#03, Limitation: Low Penetration, Descriptor: Piercing] and 12 arrows in a quiver.
- Hand axe or machete [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Descriptor: Slashing].
- Type 100 submachinegun [BODY 03, Projectile weapons: 05, Ammo: 05, R#04, Advantage : Autofire].
- Type 14 Nambu pistol [BODY 02, Projectile weapons: 03, Ammo: 07, R#04]. Not actually featured in the game, but would make ample sense.
- Type 99 Short Arisaka rifle [BODY 04, Projectile weapon: 06, Ammo: 05, R#04, Drawback: Long Reload, Misc.: an Automatic Action is needed to ready the next round by working the bolt]. Not actually featured in the game, but would make ample sense.
- Molotov cocktails (x5) [BODY 01, Flame project: 03, Bonus: Half-strength Continuing Damage, Advantage: Scattershot, Grenade Drawback, R#05].
Later in the game, additional equipment appears:
- BODY ARMOUR [BODY 03, 2 to 5 APs of Damage Capacity, Drawback: Real Armour]. The best enforcers wear full body armor which seems to be leather with metallic plates held by fabric pockets. Its in-game behaviour is closer to Damage Capacity than Skin Armour.
- WWII offensive grenade (x4) [BODY 01, EV 06 (Area of Effect 1 AP), R#04, Grenade drawback]. The older explosive formulation makes it weaker than modern grenades, but still quite able to one-shot enemies.
- Some armoured enforcers seem to have an assault rifle (I couldn’t quite check due to the whole “being shot at” thing), presumably an AK47 [BODY 03, Projectile weapons: 06, Ammo: 08, R#04, Advantage : Autofire] and to have Weaponry (Firearms): 03.
Shield guys
A few Solarii cultists are equipped with a tactical shield. This is a tower shield with a small vision slit. The metal plating will easily defeat most ammunition, never mind arrows. This makes them essentially invulnerable unless flanked or caught with their shield lowered.
The shield guys are also equipped with armour and a machete, as above.
The TOWER SHIELD has a Hardened BODY of 07 and provides a -3 OV/RV CS when Blocking.
The default way to kill them is for Lara to wait for them to swing their machete, then dart to the side and attack as their swing leaves them temporarily exposed. Explosives also work (one cannot Block an Area of Effect attack). They are also plodding (that shield is heavy), so outrunning and outmaneuvering them is easy.
Armoured giant
This gigantic man was a one-of-a-kind enforcer. He is decked out in armour plates making him immune to practically all gunfire. While his head is exposed, putting his huge arms in front of it offers complete protection. Albeit he’s practically unstoppable, he is also slow and stupid.
| Dex: 02 | Str: 05 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Psycho |
| Int: 01 | Wil: 01 | Min: 01 | Occupation: Thug |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 01 | Spi: 01 | Resources {or Wealth}: 002 |
| Init: 007 | HP: 000 |
Skills:
Martial Artist (AV): 04
Advantages
Iron Nerves.
Connections:
None.
Drawbacks:
Serious Rage.
Equipment:
BODY ARMOUR [BODY 06, Damage Capacity: 05, Skin armour: 02, Recommended STR 05, Drawback: Real Armour, Limitation: Partial Coverage (Long Coat level ; this limitation can be done away for the whole Phase if the giant uses a Dice Action to put his arms in front of his face, Limitation: Damage Capacity doesn’t protect against Stun.].
Source of Character: Tomb Raider (2013 video game).
Writeup completed on the 25th of July, 2014.