Albio’s Armor (Artifact •••••)

A suit of super heavy plate made entirely from Starmetal. Every link, stud, decorations, and plates are all made from the rarest of all magical materials. Untraditionally this armor bears the emblems of the Unconquered Sun instead of the usual iconology of the the Five Maidens common to Starmetal items. The armor is extravagantly decorative and done the style of a culture that has long since become extinct, though elements of it styling are similar to those found in various cultures of the South. Cities such as Chiaroscuro, Varangian City-States and Paragon all have some of the armor’s design themes in their culture. The name of the maker of this suit of armor has faded with history but quite possibly it was done by Albio’s own hands as was the fashion during the time of his living. The armor has one socket for a Hearthstone on the center of the breastplate and was found with it cracked and destroyed.

     Soak: 15L/15B
     Hardness: 11L/11B
     Mobility Penalty: –2 (See Below)
     Fatigue Penalty: –2 (See Below)
     Attunment Cost: Armored Scout’s Invigoration (6 motes)

• The armor is made from Starmetal and especially designed to be harmonious with Solar Anima. Thus Solars can attune to the armor as if it were made from Orichalcum but still gain the Starmetal magical material bonus. The material and construction of this armor when attuned subtracts 1 success from all damage rolls done to the wearer. If this lowers the number of successes to 0 or lower, the attack is treated as if the attack was miraculously avoided - e.g. considered a Miss with all its ramifications.
• The armor is designed to attune by those with the “Armored Scout’s Invigoration” Charm. To attune armor they must commit enough Essence to the Charm to lower its mobility and fatigue penalty to 0, meaning 6 motes. The Armor will remain attuned for as long as the Charm is active. Should the wearer cancel the Charm the armor instantly loses attunement. The cost of the Charm/commitment is lowered by 1 mote for every dot of the Hearthstone socketed to a minimum of 1. This does not reduce the effect of the hearthstone in question as it only absorbs ambient energy to enhance its harmonious resonance with the wearer’s charm and anima.
• When attuned and worn the armor grants the wearer’s strikes the surety of the Unconquered Sun and the inevitability of the Maidens. His swings are emboldened by golden trails of energy and showers of star colored sparks burst forth from each impact. All the character’s attacks have their damage and accuracy increased by 2 dice. The armor also grants the Wearer +3 dice to his Dodge and Parry attempts. These bonuses are not stackable with any Hearthstone bracers however, since they come from the greaves of the armor itself.
• The armor itself is designed to be imperishable to Fire/Heat and Cold. When attuned and worn it extends this blessing to the Wearer and all his personal equipment. This definition of personal equipment includes even Warstrider he is piloting and mounts/chariots he is controlling – but not ships he is commanding, etc. This immunity is considered a constant Perfect Soak, and is applicable even to aggravated damage. This power came as shock to the Dragon Blooded Legion of Fire arrayed against Rathess. Fatally wounded by the Spear “Eye of the Fire Dragon,” Albion still managed to penetrate the formation of the Legion of Fire to its very heart and challenged their commander to single combat for the lives of the people of Rathess. The commander Shou Yu was later executed by Taichi-Kun the god of Exalted Combat and Sunipa the Goddess of Military Accords for betraying the terms of the dual after Albio died with smile on his face believing he saved the people of Rathess from slaughter with his victory.