MYRMIDON CARAPACE (ARTIFACT ••• OR ••••) Repair: 1 Elite Jadeborn soldiers wear distinctive suits of articu- lated jade and alloy armor that are efficient, multi-purpose and easy to mass-produce. Most of the armor consists of a network of interlocking hexagonal plates over a flexible and comfortable suit of synthetic silk. This armor also has a rigid breastplate, spaulders, greaves and bracers that resemble a beetle’s carapace, as well as a solid beetle’s carapace, as well as a solid helmet with a muzzle-like mouth and helmet with a muzzle-like mouth and almond-shaped transparent eyes. almond-shaped transparent eyes. Activating this armor requires a Activating this armor requires a commitment of six motes, which commitment of six motes, which also causes the armor to size to also causes the armor to size to fit the wearer. The helmet contains a The helmet contains a built-in echo jewel, Essence- built-in echo jewel, Essence- scrying visor and mask of scrying visor and mask of pure breath, which are all pure breath, which are all permanently activated as long permanently activated as long as the armor is attuned. In as the armor is attuned. In addition, the armor contains addition, the armor contains Essence effectors that boost the Essence effectors that boost the wearer’s Strength by one dot for all wearer’s Strength by one dot for all purposes. Similar effectors in the purposes. Similar effectors in the armor’s greaves and boots enhance armor’s greaves and boots enhance the wearer’s walking and running the wearer’s walking and running speed. In combat, the wearer adds speed. In combat, the wearer adds three yards per tick to move actions three yards per tick to move actions and six yards per tick to dash actions. and six yards per tick to dash actions. When walking long distances, the wearer can march at a speed of 10 miles per hour, covering up to 100 miles in a day. Because of its alloyed components, this armor does not receive any magical material bonus. Myrmidon carapaces require regular maintenance to function at peak efficiency. After every 150 hours of use, the suit needs two hours of overhaul and recalibration of its joints. For every 10 hours of missed maintenance, the armor randomly adds one to its mobility penalty or fatigue value (to a maximum rating of 3 in either) or loses one power (optical enhancement, filtration, communication or strength boost). After 80 missed hours, the suit’s joints freeze completely and the armor becomes useless. Most members of the Warrior Caste know how to maintain their own armor and keep toolkits with components sufficient for two repairs strapped to their upper thighs. Enlightened Jadeborn often wear Artifact •••• versions of this armor which require no maintenance, have no mobility penalty and add two dots (instead of just one) to the wearer’s Strength.
