- "A coup, then! Break your oath to Queen and Horde! Take command by strength of arm and let us see how your forked tongue protects you!"
- —Sraak to RAAM
Vold Sraak was the former High General in the Locust Army. Born and raised in the Mount Kadar Laboratory, he assisted Myrrah in leading the Locust to rebel against the human scientists. As Queen, Myrrah established the Locust Horde in Nexus, an underground city of the Hollow beneath Mount Kadar. Upon creating the Locust Army, Myrrah appointed Sraak as Uzil (High General). Under his leadership, the Locust forces fought against the Lambent, Imulsion-infected Locust, during the Lambent War. Vold RAAM of the Bloodied Vanguard believed the war to be futile and that the surface of Sera was the future - whereas Sraak believed the Hollow was theirs by birthright. RAAM ultimately arranged a coup, in which Myrrah was shown the realities of the Lambent epidemic and convinced her to attack the surface and claim it as their own. Myrrah revealed that she also had the same plans and waited for the Locust strong enough to share the same vision. Sraak was demoted to Vold as RAAM took his place as Uzil. During the attack in Jannermont on Emergence Day, Sraak was executed by Theron Guards on RAAM's orders for treason after Sraak attempted to assassinate him during the battle in order to retake his ranking.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Sraak was born in the first generation of the Locust during the Pendulum Wars in the Mount Kadar Laboratory. Sraak was born from the Matriarch, a product of in-vitro fertilization between a Sire, a human infected with Rustlung and mutated with the DNA of indigenous creatures of the Hollow, and Myrrah, a human born with a genetic immunity to Rustlung and Imulsion. The reproduction was conducted by geneticist Doctor Niles Samson - who was tasked by a fringe party of the Coalition of Ordered Governments to cure Rustlung and provide the COG Army with strong, controllable soldiers to end the Pendulum Wars.
Sraak, like all his brothers, was cared for by Myrrah. Due to her stem cells being used to create the Locust Horde, she and the Locust shared a Hivemind, with Myrrah in control of them. Eventually, Myrrah gave birth to a human daughter named Reyna with geneticist Dr. Torres. Sraak was taught by the scientists how to communicate and fight in combat. He was researched by the scientists at the facility, but he and his brothers began to resent the humans for their experiments and imprisonment, longing for independence. Among his brothers was Ukkon, Droak, and Vrol.
Pendulum Wars[]
Mount Kadar Laboratory Uprising[]
When the Mount Kadar scientists began their experiments on Reyna, Torres fled the facility with his daughter. Samson was unable to prevent their escape and lied to Myrrah that her daughter had died during the escape attempt. Myrrah, distraught, grew a hatred for the scientists at Mount Kadar and planned to kill all the scientists and escape. She began to test her abilities in controlling the Locust through the Hivemind. Sraak and the others were receptive to Myrrah's commands and began to revere and follow her orders. When the scientists noticed her influence and attempted to separate Myrrah from the Hivemind, she commanded Sraak and the others to attack. Using pipes, the Locust broke out of the stasis tanks and cells and to slaughter the scientists, later using the weapons by the guards, and were successful in eliminating the scientists and escaping the facility before the facility was cryogenically frozen by a dying Samson.
Building the Horde[]
Sraak and the Horde were led deeper into the Hollow below Mount Kadar by Queen Myrrah and created their own civilization called Nexus. Over time, Sraak became a devoted follower and protector of Myrrah and their people. Sometime after the Locust created their own army, Sraak was promoted by Myrrah to become Uzil, or High General, of the Locust army, becoming second-in-command to Myrrah. As the Locust Horde grew their society, the Locust Council was formed to advise Queen Myrrah on all matters of the Horde. Sraak was appointed to advise Myrrah on all military matters. Ukkon, the lead geneticist of the Locust, was appointed to advise Myrrah on all scientific matters concerning the Horde. Droak, a Kantus, was appointed Ketor, or High Priest, of the Trinity of Worms - the main religion of the Locust Horde that worshipped the gargantuan Riftworms, and advised Myrrah on all religious matters relating to the Horde. At some point, Droak died and was succeeded by his apprentice, Vrol.
Lambent War[]
End of the Seventh Cycle[]
- "This could lead us down a path of crisis. We're already stretched thin."
- —Sraak's concerns.
Seven cycles after the onset of the Lambent War, Sraak was in the Royal Palace of the Inner Hollow when two members of the Bloodied Vanguard, Vold RAAM and Skorge, marched inside. Sraak was outraged at this, as RAAM had not only abandoned the Outer Hollow, but also declared the war against the Lambent lost. RAAM said that if Sraak were to leave the safety of the Inner Hollow, then he would see the truth in it. Sraak informed him that despite having the loyalty of the Bloodied Vanguard, there are other fronts to the war besides the Gorgon Line, and that it was to be held by RAAM, not eviscerated. RAAM retorted, saying that perhaps Sraak should have stood by the Vanguard and shown them how it was done. Skorge cautioned RAAM, reminding him that this was to be a negotiation. Sraak then said that RAAM was a defeated leader marching a battered army, and should kneel in shame for his cowardice, and that his presence in the Palace meant the entirety of the South Hollow lay undefended, threatening the safety of the Queen. RAAM then stated that he would speak with the Queen, showing her that the war is lost, and that Sraak's incompetence would lead the Locust Horde to a cowardly end. RAAM then attempted to engage in a fistfight with Sraak, but Sraak overpowered him, headbutting him, and slamming him onto a table. He then proceeded to punch him in the face, leaving him bloodied and wheezing, whilst stating that RAAM was an embarrassing example of what the Bloodied Vanguard had to offer, and that they would unfortunately have to endure his command even longer. Sraak then threw RAAM to the floor in front of Skorge, and ordered them to return to the Gorgon Front, to die for Queen and Horde with honor. Sraak watched as Skorge dragged RAAM's body out of the Palace.
Sraak overpowering RAAM.
Queen Myrrah then came out of the shadows, asking Sraak what RAAM's desire was. Sraak replied that he refused to present his case, but insisted to speak directly to her. Myrrah then asked if the war was lost, though Sraak assured her that the Hollows were safe. He then added that tension could not be afforded in the ranks, and that the Drones loyal to RAAM would be swayed to his intentions, be it desertion or civil war. Sraak then stated that RAAM betrayed his oath, making his allegiances known. Myrrah asked why Sraak would let him walk free, to which Sraak replied that he would know the Queen's desires, to whom he defers all things. Myrrah stated this to be a wise decision, and to do what he must.[1]
Demotion and Banishment[]
Following the Assault on the Temple of the Trinity, RAAM reported to the Locust Council on the fall of the Expansion Hollow and the attack on the temple which the Bloodied Vanguard had driven off. Sraak was enraged, calling RAAM's actions a staged coup and that the Queen must not believe them. Angered by his audacity, Myrrah warned Sraak not to tell her what to think or she'd feed him to the Kryll while he was still alive. Sraak apologized and tried to convince Ketor Vrol that RAAM was using the Trinity of Worms to manipulate him, leading to angry outburst from Vrol over everyone on the Council abandoning the old ways. Sraak assaulted RAAM, stating that he had not delivered a report of a hopeless war he refused to lie down and die.
Sraak's assault was interrupted by the arrival of Vold Karn with information for the Queen. When Sraak protested, Myrrah silenced him to hear Karn's report. Karn explained that RAAM had been developing a plan far from the eyes of Sraak and he agreed that the war was lost. Myrrah demanded to know how the Lambent were able to reach the Temple in the first place and why she had three Volds reporting to her a situation that she had been aware of. Sraak admitted that he had no worthy response for that. When RAAM began to speak of victory, Sraak angrily demanded that RAAM bended craven knee to a threat breaking down their defenses and spoke of victory. RAAM suggested unleashing the Horde on the surface against the humans and the Council began to debate the matter as if Sraak wasn't there.
Sraak demanded to know what of his opinion on the matter, but Myrrah stated that it no longer mattered, she would now be advised by Uzil RAAM. Myrrah stated that the Hollow was their home, and they would never cede it to the Lambent. To that end, she intended to send her strongest warrior to the front line against the Lambent. Myrrah ordered Sraak to rally his Blight and hold the line while those with ambition secured their future and then dismissed everyone but RAAM. In private discussion with RAAM, Myrrah revealed that she knew of his plan and allowed it. Sraak's banishment to the front line was a formality, he was undone by his own failures and RAAM simply laid them bare for the Council.[2]
Locust War[]
Emergence Day[]
During the First Battle of Jannermont on Emergence Day, Sraak initially followed Uzil RAAM's command as Vold to emerge and slaughter the humans, but he soon became enraged with the loss of his position and the insubordination of RAAM.
Death[]
RAAM killing Sraak by ripping his heart from his chest.
During the First Battle of Jannermont, Sraak ambushed Uzil RAAM and was enraged over the loss of his position as Uzil of the Horde. Skorge berated Sraak, and attacked him using his Gorgon-Hammerburst Rifle for his actions against RAAM. Sraak then using his Cleaver Glaive attacked Skorge, knocking him off his feet and stated that a title was not earned but taken from him. Sraak then challenged RAAM to a fight and vowed to reclaim his rightful place while RAAM stated that he would claim Sraak's head as his victory prize. The two engaged in a duel while Skorge and the Locust continued their first battle with the surface. The duel between RAAM and Sraak continues, and ended with RAAM burying his blade in Sraak's shoulder and Sraak grabbing RAAM by the throat.
As Sraak gloated about his victory, RAAM kicked clear and signaled two nearby Theron Guards. The Theron Guards shot the former Uzil with their Torque Bows, destroying the chest piece of his formidable armor and seriously wounding Sraak. As Sraak lied bloodied and wheezing from the Torque Bow’s explosions, RAAM approached and mocked Sraak's armor. RAAM then proceeded to tear out Sraak's heart with his bare hands, killing him. RAAM would then raise Sraak’s heart and revel in the victory and death of Sraak while war would rage on all around him. After the victory, RAAM then approached the Theron Guards and revealed to them that he had anticipated Sraak's attack and set a trap for him which Sraak had fallen into right as RAAM had predicted.[3]
Appearance Gallery[]
Behind the Scenes[]
- Sraak uses the Palace Guard character audio in both Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 multiplayer.
- In Gears of War: The Rise of RAAM, Sraak refers to himself as the "true spawn" of the Sires in comparison to RAAM. This indicates that Sraak was among the first generation of Locust created in the Mount Kadar Laboratory, whereas RAAM was born sometime after the colonization of Nexus.
Multiplayer[]
- Uzil Sraak is a playable character in Gears of War 4, available in the Rise of RAAM Gear Pack.
- Sraak was added to Gears 5 multiplayer as playable Swarm Team character during Operation 4 Drop 2 as part of the Anniversary bundle.[4]
Appearances[]
- The Rise of RAAM (First appearance)
- Gears of War 4 (Multiplayer only)
- Gears 5 (Multiplayer only)
References[]
| Locust Leaders | ||
|---|---|---|
| Queen Myrrah · High General RAAM · High General Sraak · General Karn · High Priest Skorge · High Priest Vrol · High Priest Droak · Scientist Ukkon | ||
