Visions of Empire
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: A shield and symbol of status for the Knight-Captains of Zakuul and to expand upon the canon item.
- Image Source: Artstation, Elliot Sharp.
- Development Thread: If Necessary.
- Manufacturer: Valkori Technologies
- Model: N/A
- Affiliation: Knight-Captains of Zakuul
- Modularity: Cosmetic
- Production: Limited
- Material: Dark Valkite
- Classification: Shield
- Size: One-Handed, Large
- Length: 3m
- Weight: 18kg
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Symbol of Status: The Shield of the Knight-Captain is a symbol of status among the Knights of Zakuul, signifying someone of a higher command. If an outsider has managed to obtain one through legitimate means, or as a reward, then they are treated with respect unlike most outlanders. The embellishment on the front also signifies what division the knight-captain belongs to and can be customized upon earning further honours.
- Lightsaber Resistant: The Knight-Captain's shield is used for protection as well as status. It's protective capabilities come from the Valkite metal it is made of, allowing for the shield to protect against glancing strikes from a lightsaber. However if the shield is under enough duress, or hit by a well placed strike it can be cracked or cut.
- Mountable: The bottom of the shield folds downwards revealing three sharp prongs for the middle, left, and right of the shield. This allows it to be planted into the ground as makeshift cover to protect the wielder from enemy fire.
Strengths:
- Lightsaber Resistant: The shield can withstand glancing strikes from most lightsabers, save for overcharged and ones with empowered crystals, due to the metal used in crafting the shield. Since the body of the shield is all one sheet it is difficult to break it apart, allowing for a solid defense against most forms of physical attack.
- Heavy: Anyone using the shield can be thrown off-balance due to the weight of the metal used in the shield, often allowing for an opening in the users defense due to reliance on the shield. It's weight also is counter intuitive when fighting a nimble opponent as they can get around the shield due to it's unwieldiness.
- Impossible to Repair: If the main body of the shield is cracked or damaged it cannot be repaired or reforged due to the metals properties.
DESCRIPTION
Shields have long been representative of a higher status among the knights of Zakuul as a symbol for the Knight-Captains. They, along with the armour that the knights wear, are created through the long and strenuous process of reforging dark Valkite. The metal must first be extracted by a specific machine from the depths of the Endless Swamp, it is then put in a stasis field so that the metal doesn't rapidly oxidize and become useless before it can be reforged. It is then melted down by a sun generator in one of Zakuul's specific forges and tempered for a long time before it is set into the mould to become proper equipment. The Shield is sturdier than the armour the Knights wear due to it being mostly one piece, save for the embellishment on the front. As such it is stronger than the armour and more resistant to all forms of damage, however it is also far more difficult to wield and can cause fighters to be thrown off balance. Despite this strength, overcharged lightsabers and abnormally strong crystals and artifacts can slice through the shield and normal lightsabers can crack or heavily damage the shield if under enough duress.
