Dreaded Armory

Remember the Living Chest Plates? [link]

Well now they got a GREAT and NECISSARY Revamp. They are now known as Dreaded Armory. I gotta say, I REALLY love how I made these guys here

Thanks Slivs for the description

DREADED ARMORY: Like many of its brethren, this bizarre species of Hostile owes its existence to the experiments of Angel Holsitius - in this case, an attempt to create Infestors that could animate any non-living object. Angel's first test put enhanced Infestors into suits of armor, reasoning that the metallic shells would be effective for both physical and psychological warfare. Once implanted, the Infestors penetrated the empty chest cavities with dozens of small tendrils, creating an organic energy matrix that allowed them to take control of the chest plates, pauldrons, gauntlets, and weapons of the armor.

Although the Hostiles only animated a portion of their hosts, Angel discovered that the newly animate armor possessed impressive combat skills, particularly in defense and melee combat. Unfortunately (for the Hostiles), he also discovered that the enhanced Infestors were only effective within a cavity of the approximate shape and size as the armor, limiting their adaptability. Nonetheless, the living chestplates became a dangerous new addition to the Hostile army.

Dreaded Armory Hostiles specialize in defensive combat, protecting themselves with their shields and waiting for an opening to strike back. The demonic power that brought them to life also empowers their shields to the point of indestructibility; however, a sufficiently powerful attack can knock them off balance for a short time, providing an opportunity to attack. Their only weakness is the Infestor girding the middle of the chest plate. Fortunately, the creature is highly unstable due to the energy flowing through its body, so a few attacks will be sufficient to destroy it - especially if the back-mounted eye is targeted.

Offensively, Dreaded Armory Hostiles use their shield and sword in tandem, with shield blows used to stagger opponents and leave them vulnerable for more damaging sword strikes. Later versions gain some arcane abilities that improve their combat effectiveness and enable them to cover their weaknesses to some extent.

-VERSION ONE: Valiant-
The original variant of the Dreaded Armory species is used primarily as a front-line defender, protecting more fragile Hostiles during their raids on cities and enemy formations alike. It is slow and fairly easy to stagger, but its sword has a great reach, and its defensive utility is not to be underestimated.

Attacks
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Slash: A basic swing of its sword. Slow, but powerful; has a chance to break guards.

Vertical Cut: A powerful overhead swing of its blade, dealing heavy damage and breaking most guards. The Valiant is left vulnerable during the attack, especially while pulling its blade out of the ground.

Shield Bash: A short push forward with its shield. The range and damage are almost nonexistent, but the move is fairly quick and leaves its victim stunned for a short time.

Hold Fast: By focusing entirely on defense, the Valiant becomes impossible to stagger and difficult to trick into exposing its weak spot. Usually used to harass opponents and prevent them from engaging other targets, multiple Valiants can band together in this state to create more effective defensive formations.

Forceful Charge: A surprisingly quick dash with shield raised, ending with a wide-ranging horizontal sword swing. Highly damaging - especially if one is caught in the initial charge - but telegraphed by the Valiant adopting a certain stance and remaining still for several seconds as it charges its energy.



-VERSION TWO: Obloquy-
The upgraded version of the Dreaded Armory Hostile is imbued with demonic energy through a new metalworking process developed by Angel. It is significantly stronger, faster, and more difficult to stagger than the Valiant, but its sword is somewhat shorter than before, reducing its attack range. On the other hand, the energy coursing through the Obloquy enables it to perform basic spells to enhance its performance in battle.

Attacks
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Slash: Significantly faster than the Valiant's version, but at the cost of range. A concentrated energy aura around the blade increases its reach, but the damage output is far lower unless the blade itself makes contact.

Vertical Cut: Apart from being faster to use and recover from, the Obloquy's Vertical Cut creates a small shockwave from the point of impact. It can also follow up with a Shield Dash.

Shield Dash: In addition to dealing actual damage now, the Obloquy's shield bash attack can be used to move a moderate distance if necessary. The Hostile generates a small energy aura from the shield as it charges, increasing its range and defense against counterattack.

Piercing Beam: A quick laser fired from the tip of its sword or the black points on the edge of its shield. Low damage, but capable of piercing right through most armor and stunning opponents for a critical moment.

Hold Fast: Same as before, but with better movement, making it harder to shake the Obloquy or hit its weak spot.

Defender: In this state, the Obloquy binds itself to a specified ally, following it around and protecting it from attacks. Although unable to attack, the Obloquy's defense of its comrade leaves its weakspot almost impossible to hit - on the other hand, destroying the one it is protecting creates a magical backlash that stuns the living chest plate, leaving it easy prey.

Counter Field: A temporary charge of energy in its shield allows the Obloquy to literally absorb the energy of its enemies' blows and return them as an energy bolt of equal force. This state can be identified when the blue-green parts of its armor begin glowing - avoid attacking its shield when this occurs.

Forceful Charge: Although similar to its new Shield Dash, the Obloquy's Forceful Charge distinguishes itself by having even greater range than the other dash attack and by adding an attack wave to the final slash. The charge time is significantly shorter, but the Obloquy still adopts its distinctive stance before using this move.

Power Blast: A large amount of energy is charged in the Obloquy's shield before being released in a burst that can be three times the size of its entire body. Anything in range of the blast (up to five feet away from and in front of the shield) is knocked over or deflected, with projectiles even bouncing back to their points of origin. If multiple Obloquys synchronize their blasts, the resulting "wall" is exponentially larger and more powerful; sufficient numbers of Obloquys can even weaponize the technique to level obstructions or obliterate enemies.



-VERSION THREE: Dishonor-
The ultimate Dreaded Armory variant is also the rarest, due to the prohibitively high costs of forging its armor and weapons. Its creation involves using a very specific balance of hellish ores and arcane magic, imbuing the souls of sixty-two mortals into the armor as it is being shaped, and leaving it in Hell for at least seventeen weeks after putting an Infestor in it. This process infuses the Dishonor with massive amounts of demonic energy, giving it advanced magic to complement its proficiency in melee combat. Moreover, it partially merges the Infestor to the armor itself - the former weak spot is now all but impervious to damage anywhere but its eye, and the latter can even move around its mass (albeit slowly) to make it even more difficult to hit. Its new abilities include situational teleportation, high-powered energy attacks, and even the ability to control its sword and shield with telekinesis.

Attacks
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Slash: The Dishonor's large sword gives its slash attacks the range of a Valiant without losing the speed of the Obloquy. Additionally, it can combine slashes and shield bashes to create dangerous combos.

Vertical Cut: This version of the attack is actually a full 360 degrees, due to the energized blade cutting through anything in its path. As an added bonus, the Dishonor's Vertical Cut pierces defense and creates two large shockwaves as it hits the ground.

Shield Dash: Faster and stronger than ever, with the addition of making the Dishonor invulnerable for the duration of its dash.

Demonic Seeker: A large orb of energy fired from its sword. Homes in on opponents and deals moderate damage.

Devil Bolt: Similar to the Obloquy's Piercing Beam, but fired with its sword pointed upward. This has the dual benefit of making it harder to predict where the bolt will land, and leaving the Dishonor less vulnerable to attack or staggering.

Piercing Barrage: Six fast-moving energy darts, launched from the spikes on its shield. Difficult to dodge and impossible to block, the darts also have a chance to immobilize their victims on contact.

Mark of the Pariah: An enhanced version of Hold Fast that "marks" the Dishonor's targeted enemy with a unique energy signature. Not only does this enable the Dishonor to literally teleport into its victim's face if it is somehow separated from its target, the energy signature is also visible to other Hostiles, allowing them to attack or flee as necessary.

Counter Beam: If the Dishonor's purple markings begin to glow, it will counter all attacks with a powerful laser for twice the damage of the initial blow. The beam also paralyzes anyone it hits, leaving them open for a follow-up blow.

Power Blast: Stronger than the Obloquy's version, with greater range and blasting power. A lone Dishonor can destroy a decent-sized building with one use of this technique, and its power only increases in groups.

Power Wall: Similar to Power Blast, but with the Dishonor creating an immobile wall of energy by slamming its charged shield into the ground. This wall lasts for a long time, and blocks all attacks without impeding the Dishonor or its fellow Hostiles.

Power Dome: Another variant of Power Blast, covering a wide area in an energy field that absorbs all energy attacks and destroys most solid projectiles. Sufficiently powerful entities can penetrate the barrier, but it covers all angles and lasts nearly as long as the Power Wall.

Guardian's Flame: A jet of searing hellfire from the "mouth" of the shield. Inflicts burns and has a chance of reducing speed and attack.

Guardian's Fang: Converging blades of dark energy manifested around the Dishonor's shield, usually used against enemies too persistent to stop attacking. Breaks guards and has a chance of reducing defense or crippling the enemy.

Full Defense: Throws its sword at a foe and controls it telepathically while defending itself with its shield. The sword's attacks are less elaborate than when it is being directly wielded, but the Dishonor is able to fight from a more defensible position or alongside more powerful/healthy allies.

Full Assault: The opposite of Full Defense, where the Dishonor throws its shield away in order to wield its sword with both hands. Although it is more vulnerable in this state, its attack and speed increase dramatically, and the shield can still attack opponents with Guardian's Flame, Guardian's Fang, or by spinning like a buzzsaw and ramming its foes.