Lantern-Warden Armor Set

[Diarch Rellik]

DESCRIPTION
Forged in the Crucible as the grand armor prize for the Diarchy's first Shadowlight Festival on Bastion, the Lantern-Warden Armor was never meant to be a incredibly high tier set. Instead, it was designed as a wearable piece of art//ceremonial plate that could still see real use if its owner chose to take it into the field. The armor's design leans into the imagery of All Souls' Day: a stark skull helm, rib-like trim down the torso, and a single carved "jack-o'-lantern" chest plate housing a carefully sealed luminant capsule. When activated, this lantern casts a steady ember-orange glow through the carved face, illuminating the wearer and throwing long, theatrical shadows. A short overcharge setting allows the lantern to flare once into a brief, disorienting flash at close range. Structurally, it is honest durasteel and armorweave: tough enough to stop most sidearms and shrug off glancing blows, but fully vulnerable to dedicated anti-armor weapons and lightsabers. The plate distribution focuses on the chest, shoulders, thighs, and shins, with deliberately looser coverage at the joints. It is heavy enough to feel substantial, and untrained users will quickly notice the weight, but the internal padding and balance keep it serviceable for longer operations.

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Full skull-style helmet with voice-scrambler and internal filter (basic protection against smoke and light irritant gases; not full vacuum seal).
• Chest lantern plate: built-in chemical luminant behind carved "jack-o'-lantern" motif; provides adjustable ember-orange glow for visibility or mood lighting.
• Lantern can be briefly overcharged into a short flash (once per prolonged engagement/scene) to dazzle targets at very close range.
• Tattered back cloak of dark treated fabric to break up silhouette and keep the set visually distinct; easily removable via discreet clasps.
• Comfort-focused interior padding and balanced weight distribution to make the armor usable by non-Force-sensitives with basic training.

STRENGTHS

• Solid general protection: Heavy durasteel plating and armorweave underlayers give good defense against standard blasterfire and small-arms kinetic impacts across the most vital zones.
• Intimidating / thematic presence: The skull helm, ribbed motifs, and glowing chest lantern create a striking silhouette that plays well into All Souls' Day, making the wearer instantly recognizable in crowds or ceremonies.
• Lantern utility: Adjustable chest lantern provides hands-free light in dark environments, and its brief "flash" setting can disorient unprepared enemies at close range without being a full weaponized blinding system.
• Low-maintenance, non-powered: No power packs, servos, or advanced systems to fail; easy to maintain, repair, and refit by any competent armorer.
  

WEAKNESSES

• Limited lightsaber defense: The armor uses durasteel and standard composites; lightsabers will cut, melt, or shear through the plates with relative ease if contact is maintained.
• Gaps and joints: To keep the armor wearable and mobile, there are deliberate soft spots at the joints, neck, and lower torso; glancing hits can still injure, and precision strikes or shrapnel can exploit these gaps.
• Heavy & not stealthy: Classified as Heavy to untrained wearers will fatigue faster, and the clank of plates, plus the chest lantern's glow, make stealth difficult when the armor is worn as designed.
• No advanced systems: No personal shield, HUD, environmental sealing, or built-in comms; against chemical, vacuum, or exotic threats, the wearer must rely on external gear.