Lore - Empire of Hips and Thighs / Imperial Arsenal; part 2

Cataphractuhr Panoply:

The most noticeable design feature of this magnificent armature is the absence of pelvic protection, which is explained by the fact that no armour-plating can withstand the might of a running Cataphractuhr. Most materials just shatter into pieces within first seconds, and any carefully crafted designs bend unnaturally under the pressure of mighty legs, rendering themselves useless. Some shy ones may wear fashionable panties, but many see no point when there is no textile or style capable of surviving the intense friction between the buttocks of Imperial Knights of Creation.

The protection plates that are present, are enormously valuable simply by their very existence, as they are made of the Black Bark of mature Hallow Trees. A very resilient natural material, it is believed to be that the Black Bark is the result of the excessive purification of the dark elements of the world. Whether it be our sinful thoughts or the Umbral dust in the wind, the sacred leaves of Hallow Trees absorb all that is evil and erase from existence. However, the blackest energies gather in these warts – failed attempts to corrupt the Tree. As such, these warts retain intense concentrations of divine mana remaining after intense purification; by examining the layers of the growth rings, one can judge how much vile energy has been suppressed. It is difficult to refute these claims, after all the Thigh Region is home to most Hallow Trees, and all its people live pious and happy lives, free from the fear of the Taint. This bark is a symbol of the dominance of Meora’s Light, and nothing can better reflect our faith in the Allmother than Her greatest defenders clad a triumphant armor made of such sacrosanct material.

As a result, there is almost no electronics inside the Cataphractuhr Panoply, and even its supportive functions, like the shock absorbers in the legs, are purely mechanical.

The creation of this armor is both a sacramental and laborious challenge, requiring the constant presence of the future owner, for once a piece is attached, it is not going off until replacement is needed. Only the experts can undertake this labor: skilled Woodsmiths in the service of the Keepers of the Hallow Trees. Most of them were Cataphractuhr Initiates who unable to attain the title of Knights of Creation, but whose zeal and Gift are worthy of being used for noble causes beyond the battlefield. These craftsmen regularly remove the black warts from the white skin of the Hallow Trees to preserve their beauty unblemished. Then, each collected sample is meticulously examined and treated to construct a mighty arsenal for their sistren. It is a lengthy process, not always resulting in success.

The already dried and dead parts will be carved and polished to form outer protective plates. In the early centuries, when this craft just emerged, small branches were never removed for fear of damaging the entire structure of the piece, but only trimmed, giving the Cataphractuhrs their distinguished thorny appearance which they retain to this day. There are three key characteristics of the dead Black Bark that make it valuable to the Imperial Knights of Creation. First, its Gift-related properties: having grown from the bodies of Angels of Grace, they are not affected by the Anomalous Presence of the Engifted, and their materials are easily manipulated with the Gift. Second, its high conductivity is useful for the Galvanic Doctrine common among the Cataphractuhrs. And finally, the Black Bark can be easily influenced to produce a controlled electromagnetic field: by amplifying it to its maximum, a Cataphractuhr wearing such armor can use this field to manipulate her own cognitive abilities and nervous system, greatly enhancing her reaction time and muscle activity, allowing her to reach the incredible speeds for which they are known.

Bark samples that have retained their vitality are the most challenging to handle. They are like the white cells of the Tree, and improper processing and prayer either kills them or turn hostile to the wearer. It is the crucially important to ensure that they stay alive for many years to come. These samples are used for the inner parts of Cataphractuhr Panoply: pliable organic exo-muscle elements to which the outer armor is attached, which then fuse together like clams, completing the armor part.

The small warts, leftovers, or failed pieces, will be melted into resinous wax and sacred oil for Thighological rituals. Applying and rubbing fresh wax into the Cataphractuhr’s body is the first step in creating and donning their panoply. When dry, it acts as a zero-layer suit, and its cells serve as a conduit between all parts of the armor and the wearer. The living Black Bark spreads its little tendrils through the wax layer, tethering directly to the wearer’s skin with its tiny suckers and communicating with other parts. Damaged wax on the unprotected Bottom cannot simply regenerate once its dried, but the layer can be restored by applying fresh wax. The living bark will activate new cells and distributes them evenly across the body. This is why dark rings can be seen on the inner thighs of some Cataphractuhr – these are places were the wax layer was previously abraded during running, or torn away for other needs.

A complete Cataphractuhr Panoply envelops its owner like a second skin, responding to muscular activity with equal speed and feeding off her sweat and Gift in return. But even when perfectly crafted, the wearer should remain gentle: never overfeed the living Black Bark and avoid its dehydration. As previously mentioned, the armor stays on, and besides only a few removable parts, like a breastplate or faceguard, the Gardeners of Death live in their panoplies for the majority of their lives. And when they die, they are buried in their armor beneath the Hallow Trees, strengthening the white giants with the righteous Souls of the warriors of Her Light. But after nine hundred and ninety-nine daily prayers, their pelvic bones are excavate for subsequent preservation in the Thigh Chapels as relics of saints.

Imperial Melee Arsenal:

Tactical Sickles: issued in pairs to every Leggionehr and designed for a variety of encounters a one might confront, both routine or unexpected. They are equally efficient at cutting through dense vegetation and flesh, as they are at sawing through wood and bone. A robust locking mechanism converts the sickles into climbing hooks, capable of securing the weight of a fully equipped Leggionehr.

Additionally, a standard part of the military inventory are Pugio Saws. One copy is always crafted from precious metals and serves as a symbol of military identity; no honest citizen of the Empire would counterfeit them. The other are expendable and are usually made of copper, frequently used by Engifted Leggionehrs as a medium for Eruption-type miracles of the Galvanic Doctrine. Though, some Cataphractuhr carry these Pugios for the same utility – to eliminate targets not worth wasting time and energy on.

Like their Armor, Cataphractuhr arsenal is crafted from the Black Bark of Hallow Trees. These are Mastercrafted blades, polished and honed. Blessed by the supernatural properties of the source material, an Engifted wielder can effortlessly control the sturdiness and cutting potential of these weapons, even severing the molecular bonds of an enemy's flesh with a mere touch. High-quality work don’t even require a Cataphractuhr to hold the weapon, its Black Bark will be firmly held by the armor's magnetic field. The three holy weapon shapes wielded by the Cataphractuhrs are the Contus spear, the Corseque axe, and the Stabbius sword. But there are also several other unique and remarkable hallow weapons: the Love Scythes of the Third Leggio, the Thunder Claws of the Western Healing Front, and, of course, the Golden Croziers of the Praethighrian Guard of the Golden City.

Thanks to the aplenty of Hallow Trees, the Empire has significantly developed its Woodsmithing craft. Thus, other nations, including the Great ones, regularly commission such sacred weapons for their own Knights of Creations as an honorary rewards. They are ready to pay hefty for such masterpieces, with capital or with ass, it matter not when they want to prove their gratitude to their heroes.