Sectaurs
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Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion was a line of action figures released by Coleco in 1984.
The premise was that "somewhere in space, somewhen in time," exists a planet called Symbion, where a genetic experiment fails. Frightening changes take place that cannot be stopped. The result? A world where insects and arachnids grow to frightening proportions. A world where the inhabitants have taken on the awesome characteristics of insects and arachnids. Prince Dargon, ruler of the peaceful Shining Realm of Prosperon, and his allies are in conflict with the forces of Empress Devora, ruler of the Dark Domain of Synax, and her henchmen, for possession of the Hyves, fortresses of an ancient civilization holding the key to ultimate power. Each character was "tele-bonded" with intelligent, non-anthropomorphic insect creatures called Insectoids that had a special ability, and shared each other's "pleasure and pain."
An animated mini-series that spanned five episodes was created based on the characters, and Marvel Comics published an eight issue limited series about them as well. A read along record storybook was also made.
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[edit] Sectaurs Action Figures
Sectaurs was released by Coleco in 1984, figures and insect companions were packaged together in a window box with weapons, a mini comic book and instructions. Some of these companions were large enough for the Sectaurs to ride, and were actually "puppet like" where you could place your hand inside a glove that made up the lower body of the beast. The Hyve playset was also produced, and is one of the larger playsets released for action figure lines of the 1980s. A second series of figures were designed but never produced including Bodyball, Stellara, Night Fighting Spidrax, Nuckles and Bandor. The companion insects were Ax-Back, Gyrofly, Rhine-Ox and Snagg. The toy line did not do well partly because of the intimidating appearances of even the heroes and their companion beasts.
[edit] Heroic Sectaurs of the Shining Realm
- Dargon: Prince of the Shining Realm. He bonded with a flying mount called Dragonflyer, but an alternate figure was released where he had blue armor and another companion, Parafly, that attached to his back and allowed him to fly. Parafly also appeared in the Sectaurs comic book.
- Zak: Captain of Prosperon's Royal Guard and Dargon's best friend. His companion, Bitaur, has a powerful bite.
- Pinsor: A veteran warrior who rides the massive Battle Beetle.
- Mantor: A "Keeper of the Way," a scholar of the ancient powers contained in the Hyves and the Ancients who created them. His companion beast is Raplor, who shoots a grappling cable from its mouth.
[edit] Evil Sectaurs of the Dark Domain
- General Spidrax: Hideous leader of the Dark Domain's armies, armed with a whip coated in lethal poison. Unlike most Sectaurs, he enslaved his animal companion, Spider-Flyer, rather than form a bond with it. This was possibly due to the fact that Spidrax had no forehead antennae (which all other Sectaurs possess) with which to initiate the tele-bonding process, but also to show his cruelty.
- Commander Waspax: Spidrax's rival. His Insectoid companion is Wingid.
- Skito: A mercenary. His companion, Toxcid, sprays poison (water).
- Skulk: Empress Devora's hideous and opportunistic stepson, who rides the spider-like Trancula.
[edit] Characters From the Comics
- Belana: Zak's fiancee, who is really in love with Dargon.
- Devora: Empress of the Dark Domain and stepmother of Skulk.
- Galken: Youngest brother of Markor, rules the Shining Realm in his absence. A politician, not a warrior. Uncle of Dargon.
- Gnatseye: A warrior of the Shining Realm who possibly was the idea for another figure that wasn't released. He even had his own companion creature, Jumpyr.
- Markor the Mighty: King of the Shining Realm, father of Dargon. Disappeared years ago searching for the Hyves.
- Scorpia: A villainous Keeper, and Spidrax's half-sister.
- Stellara: A female warrior, also in love with Dargon. In the comic book series, it was established Stellara's Insectoid died in battle some time ago and one story focused on her attempting to tele-bond with a new one, but was unable to complete the ritual because Dargon and the others were in danger. Nevertheless, the Insectoid she tried to tele-bond with aided her in saving them.
[edit] Terminology of Symbion
- BATTLE BEETLES: hot-tempered and high-strung insectoid land steeds, with sleek and striding legs. With their crushing claws and restless energy, they can power their way through the toughest obstacles. Pinsor rides one. (See Insectoids, Sectaurs.)
- BLUE FOREST: product of the Great Cataclysm, east of Synax. Common deportation ground for convicted criminals, since all those who journey through this zone are subject to complete and absolute amnesia. (See Great Cataclysm.)
- CITADEL OF SHADOWS: the first known entrance to the Hyve. It lies due east of Prosperon and west-northwest of Synax.
- DARTWING: a ravening spear of wing-buoyed skall guided as a weapon via telebond with its wielder. Each wing is razor-sharp and can cut like a sword. Skulk uses one of these.
- DESERT OF THE LOST: product of the Great Cataclysm; lies southeast of Prosperon and southwest of Synax. Common deportation ground for convicted criminals, since all those who journey through this zone are subject to near-suicidal depression. (See Great Cataclysm.)
- DRAGONFLIERS: flying insectoid steeds with furry and wriggling legs. Dargon rides one. (See Insectoids, Sectaurs.)
- FORBIDDEN ZONE: basically, an unknown area outside the hexagon boundaries that enclose all of known Symbion.
- GREAT CATACLYSM: result of a failed genetic experiment, which ruined the Civilization of the Ancients on Symbion. Insects and arachnids grew to frightening proportions; Humans took on the awesome characteristics of arachnids and insects, with the Sectaurs as the results. (See Blue Forest, Desert of the Lost, Meander, Sea of Acid.)
- GRIMHOLD: dark fortress of Synax; residence of Empress Devora and family. (See Synax.)
- HYVE: mysterious, danger-filled fortress of the Ancients. Filled with guardian monsters and booby-traps, its wisdom is lusted after by good and evil Sectaurs alike. (See Citadel of Shadows.)
- INSECTOIDS: giant, mutated insects and arachnids that inhabit both Prosperon and Synax. Examples include battle-beetles, bitaurs, dragonfliers, graplaurs, jumpaurs, paraflies, spiderfliers, toxcids, tranculas and wingids. They frequently serve as allies, pets and/or steeds of the Sectaurs. (See Prosperon, Sectaurs, Synax.)
- LAKE OF BLOOD: northeast of Prosperon and northwest of Synax. So-named because of a great air/sea battle fought there by the great-grandparents of King Markor and Empress Devora. Said battle cost nearly a million lives.
- LIGHTKEEP: shining castle of Prosperon; residence of the Royal Family. (See Prosperon.)
- MEANDER, FOG OF DEATH: product of the Great Cataclysm, located south-southeast of Prosperon and south-southwest of Synax. Breathing this crimson fog results in prompt and violent corrosion of the internal organs, for all those foolhardy enough to expose themselves. (See Great Cataclysm.)
- MOUNT SYMBION: highest elevation in known Symbion; 5 miles. Located east-southeast of Prosperon and west-southwest of Synax.
- PROSPERON: aka the Shining Realm; a constitutional monarchy.
- Feudal ranks, from lowest to highest, are: Baron/Baroness; Sheriff; Count/Countess; Marquis/Marchioness; Duke/Duchess; Prince/Princess.
- SEA OF ACID: product of the Great Cataclysm, located west of Prosperon. Will promptly and violently corrode the flesh of all those foolhardy enough to swim in it. (See Great Cataclysm.)
- SECTAURS: insect-evolved denizens of both Prosperon and Synax. They and the insectoids comprise, for the most part, the remnants of Symbionic civilization. (See Insectoids, Prosperon, Synax.)
- SKALL: shatterproof element used almost exclusively in the manufacture of shields, armor and weapons (contact and edged). It is impervious to damage from venom. (See Slazor.)
- SLAZOR: pneumatic projectile weapon throwing pellets capable of piercing skall. (See Skall.)
- SPIDERFLIERS: flying insectoid steeds. They have the wings of a giant wasp, which gives a literal meaning to the term “bird spider.” The wings are frighteningly sharp; while unable to pierce tempered skall, they can cut a Sectaur warrior to shreds almost instantly. Spidrax rides one. (See Insectoids, Sectaurs.)
- SPINE-BOMB: canister designed to explode and release hundreds of razor-sharp quills (technically, flechettes) at high velocity over a six-meter-diameter area (three meters in every direction). Can be fired from a sting-launcher. (See Sting-launcher.)
- STING-LAUNCHER: rubber-powered heavy weapon for firing spine-bombs or stun-spears. Commonly mounted on insectoid steeds. (See Spine-bomb, Stun-spears.)
- STING TROOPERS: elite corps of Synax. With their swordsmanship and their cunning abilities at in-fighting, any one of them is rated a match for any ten ordinary Sectaur warriors. Commanded and trained by Waspax. (See Synax.)
- STUN-SPEARS: sting-launcher ammunition, used mostly to capture insectoids. One spear will paralyze a steed-size insectoid for an hour. (See Sting-launcher.)
- SWAMP OF DEATH: located south of the Sea of Acid and southwest of Prosperon.
- SYMATOR: legendary double-edged broadsword of Prosperon, passed down from ruler to ruler for the past 81 years. Dargon is its most recent owner. (See Prosperon.)
- SYNAX: aka the Dark Domain; a military dictatorship.
- Feudal ranks, from lowest to highest, are: Lieutenant; Captain; Major; Commander; Bashar (Colonel); Caid (Brigadier); Burseg (General); Warlord (or Marshal); Grand Marshal (or Grand Warlord).
- TELEBOND: ability to share the mind and senses of another.
- TRANCULAS: insectoid land steeds. In battle, Trancula can propel a cloud of hairs off his body at his attacker. These hairs are barbed and can kill like a bolt. Skulk rides one.
- VENGUN: spring-loaded gun for firing poison darts; range about forty meters. (See Venipede.)
- VENIPEDE: giant (or gargantuan) insectoid, first discovered (by accident) in the Swamp of Death. Venom taken from a live Venipede is used as vengun ammunition. (See Swamp of Death, Vengun.)
