During random encounter North3 when you look on dead traveler, you see text "dead radscorpion" instead.
In RNDDESRT.ssl script, procedure North3 the radscorpions are paced first with script SCRIPT_RADSCORP. For dead traveler (creature PID_MERCHANT) is not defined a new script, so procedure "place_critter" places it with previously defined script.
During random encounter North3 when you look on dead traveler, you see text "dead radscorpion" instead. In RNDDESRT.ssl script, procedure North3 the radscorpions are paced first with script SCRIPT_RADSCORP. For dead traveler (creature PID_MERCHANT) is not defined a new script, so procedure "place_critter" places it with previously defined script.