Scavenger

Scavengers are humanoid creatures which live in tribes in various areas of Rain World. They carry spears, rocks, bombs, and other items in a manner similar to the Slugcat, and can store smaller items around their waist and additional spears on their back.

Appearance
Scavengers come in many different colors, from light blue to dark red, but are most commonly grey to brown or tannish to white in coloration, with elaborate mask-like faces of similar colors. Their eyes come in many colors, like green, purple, red, orange, brown, black, or white. A Scavenger's eyes are very expressive, showing fear, surprise, and anger in various situations. Scavengers move by walking, climbing, or crawling, but cannot jump.

Behavior
"Main Article: Behavior"Scavengers are not always hostile; most of the time they may either run away when they see you, or may attempt to throw spears and rocks at you. Scavengers will react to your behavior: moving while carrying weapons will agitate them - agitated Scavengers will throw debris at Slugcat, or even attempt warning shots using spears. To prevent agitating Scavengers, it is suggested that the Slugcat drop their weapons and crouch down to show they are not a threat.

The player may build their relationship with Scavengers through several methods, but most notably by giving them gifts of pearls. Befriending scavengers will count towards the Chieftain achievement, and befriended scavengers may even follow the slugcat into their hibernation chamber and/or accompany them throughout the zone, and can protect them from predators. The player may also make enemies of the scavengers, by attacking them or stealing their items repeatedly, but this is highly dangerous. Further details on their reputation can be found in the Reputation section.

They live in groups as small as 2 to as large as 9, have a leader, and are social creatures. Although they live in groups, each scavenger has their own opinion and relationship with the slugcat. If you saved a scavenger's life, it may see fit to carry you to safety when you are wounded even if it means their death; if they hate you for some reason they will occasionally throw rocks at you.

Scavengers are curious, and will investigate noises, observe mysterious creatures and even attempt to interact with the Yellow Guide at times. They may also attack lizards, and if the slugcat helps them fight, it will count towards befriending them.

Scavengers are capable of using items in their environment in their defense, even going so far as creating their own custom weaponry. They use explosive spears marked with red cloth and smaller "grenades" which appear to come from the cherrybomb. If befriended, you can take these weapons from them and use them - they can also be stolen or found in unmarked hidden storerooms. They are very effective against stronger enemies, and can even be used to take down vultures, tough lizards, and Daddy Long Legs. Glowstones may also be obtained from scavengers in the Shaded Citadel.

If a scavenger is injured, a scavenger of the same tribe may attempt to drag the injured one away from harm.

Trading
Scavengers will drop their own items in trade for other items they value. If their inventory is full, they will be forced to drop spears, mushrooms, lanterns, etc. when picking something up, unless they don't want what you're trying to give them. If you give a Scavenger an item they have little value of, if their inventory has room for it, they will probably not drop anything in return, unless you have high reputation with them. The higher your reputation, the more likely Scavengers are to trade with you, and the more they will give in return.

Scavenger Merchants are Scavengers with unique behaviors that inhabit a single room named after them. They stick to this room unless scared off, and usually have a full or close to full inventory. Their purpose is to trade with the player. Scavenger Merchants are more docile and willing to give up items in return for what the player gives them.

Below is a table demonstrating the value to Scavengers of each item. Any item not listed is not worth anything to them, though they will still pick it up if they want to.

Reputation
Scavenger behavior has the most notable variation under the reputation system, allowing them to become either slugcat's most potent allies or most fearsome hunters. By giving scavengers items from the list above or saving them from harm, slugcat will gain reputation with them. As slugcat's reputation rises, scavengers will become less aggressive towards slugcat, will actively attempt to save slugcat from harm, and will eventually allow slugcat to pass through tolls without paying. Raising scavenger reputation up high enough will result in the player earning the passage achievement "The Chieftain."

Inversely, if slugcat repeatedly steals from and harms scavengers, their reputation will lower, and scavengers will become more and more aggressive. This will typically only manifest in more protective and hostile scavengers, but if the player repeatedly harms scavengers cycle after cycle, their reputation can eventually drop to the point where they will actively seek slugcat out, sending "kill squads" to the player's general location whenever they are near.

Since scavengers are significantly more communal than the other creatures of the world, the player's actions will often have a significant effect on their global and regional reputation, meaning the larger community of scavengers will react to slugcat's interactions with individual scavengers. This is a significant rarity in the reputation system, as most other creatures gain or lose global reputation very slowly. It is still possible to see (or intentionally create) individual scavengers that are much more or less happy with slugcat than the community, but consistent positive or negative treatment will quickly cause the whole region and even the whole community to adapt.

Tips

 * It is possible to simply grab items from a Scavenger's hands or back, but be wary that this will quickly anger all but the most friendly scavengers.


 * Scavengers can be befriended by dropping pearls at their feet.
 * Avoid moving too quickly around them when you first encounter them - staying low to the ground and moving slowly will keep them calmer.
 * If you are being hunted by scavengers, attempt to retreat to a larger creature, such as a Centipede, Lizard, or even the feared Vultures. They will either retreat from the predator, or if in a larger, armed group, fight it via throwing spears, bombs, and everything else nearby.

Trivia

 * Scavengers will throw objects at the Overseer out of defiance. This will cause the Overseer to drop its eye if successful.
 * They have three slots for holding items (two hands and a "pocket slot" on their side) and can hold extra items such as spears on their back. They will drop everything they're holding, even what's on their back, in order to grab a pearl dropped at their feet. This opportunity may be used to take their items peacefully.
 * In some areas, such as the Shaded Citadel and Industrial Complex, Scavengers will become nomadic, randomly appearing in areas of the map. However in some areas, such as the Outskirts or Farm Arrays, Scavengers will form a community around a red rain deer skull on a stick. At these scavenger tolls, unless slugcat has befriended the scavengers fully, it must provide a pearl to avoid being attacked when passing through. Alternatively, slugcat may pay using other items, or even run through without paying. Scavengers will become aggressive if this is done, but generally will not chase the slugcat into the next room.
 * Scavengers are responsible for hidden rooms around the world, unmarked with the usual tunnel symbols. They typically contain bombs and spears (both exploding and regular), and even pearls. On some occasions they can be seen retreating into these hidden rooms. These rooms can be very useful if a Lizard is chasing Slugcat, due to the amount of weapons.
 * Narrow-eyed scavengers seem to be more aggressive than the normal kind.
 * Although scavengers may at first appear to be wearing masks, upon closer inspection they seem to simply have fancifully shaped faces with grandiose antlers.