M E A T B A G
NOTE: Despite the listed properties of this weapon, it does not mean - in any shape or form - that the wielder of this weapon may call hits on their opponent. Damage is, and always, determined by their respective writers.
Intent: To create a larger variant of the Force Pike, meant for mounted warfare.
Image Source: Joe Grabenstatter - Artstation Link.
Canon Link: Electro-Plasma Filament, Ultrasonic Vibration Generator, Force Pike.
Primary Source: Repurposed Canon Articles.
Manufacturer: The Golden Company - Armourer’s Guild, The Thyrsian Hierarchy - The Royal Armament’s Guild.
Affiliation: The Golden Company, The Thyrsian Hierarchy, Closed-Market.
Model: TTH/FDL-001 “Cerastus” - Pattern Force Lance.
Modularity: Yes, External Aesthetics, Power Cells, and Couplings.
Production: Limited-Scale Production.
Material: Duranium, Graphite, Haysian Smelt, Crystadurium, Durasteel, Delicate Electronics, Polyplast, Various Force Pike Components.
Classification: Plasmatic Vibroweapon, Or Customized Ultrasonic Polearm.
Role: Battlefield Torture Weapon, Shock Assault Lance, Lethal Crowd Control, Etc.
Size: Large Rating.
Length: 3.8 Metres (From End to End.)
Weight: 8 Kilograms - Heavy Rating.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Integrated Electro-Plasma Filaments - Disruptor Setting(s).
- Integrated Ultrasonic Vibration Generator..
- Crystadurium and Haysian Smelt Infused Blade.
- Magnetic Adhesion Grips, with Automated Sealant Straps.
- Disruptor Field: While the Cerastus was deadly through its use of the ultrasonic resonator built within the blade, the weapon was made even more lethal by the addition of an electro-plasma filament. Although this would’ve been enough to combat flat-footed combatants with lightsabres, the Sun Guard sought to overcharge the system and infused the duranium blade to withstand the coruscating energies. This alteration to the design created a gleaming corona of energy that was akin to that of a disruptor; which in turn destabilized the atomic structure of everything it impacted.
- Exposed Power Conduit: Due to the requirement for a dedicated generator, to supply the Cerastus a constant reservoir of energy; a critical weakness was begrudgingly pushed through -- as there was little means to power the lance otherwise. Thus, should an enemy recognize this, and subsequently locate the transfer conduit, the Lance would become nothing more than dead weight on the rider’s arm if it was severed. While the weapon itself would still be deadly in it’s own right, the weapon would lack the lethality of it’s disruptor field.
- Unwieldy Weapon: The Cerastus was far too heavy, and elongated to be utilized by a simple foot-soldier in the whirlwind of close-quarters combat. Because it’s overall design, and intended purpose, the Force Lance was to be utilized only from a vehicular mount; be it the Anhur combat swoop, or another vehicle -- yet conceptually created. Therefore, such a weapon would only be found in the hands of a Gilded Warrior, astride a mighty steed -- like the Knights of yore.
- Dedicated Generator Requirement: As the power required in order to generate a constant disruptor field was immense, simple power cells or paks wouldn’t cut it; nor would they be capable of sustaining the arcing corona for long, rendering it useless in battlefield scenarios. Therefore, the Cerastus required a dedicated reactor, or generator, in order to be utilized to its fullest potential. This prerequisite meant that the weapon could not be used in an effective manner, without being connected to a consistent energy supply.
- Dangerous Feedback: Disruptors have an interesting quirk when deployed against heavily shielded targets, or lightsabres. From the evidence gathered from the battlefield, when an overcharged plasma bolt strikes either of the aforementioned technologies an explosion of excess energy occurs - which can be detrimental to those within it’s plasmatic reach. With the disruptor field utilized by the Cerastus operating on similar principles as it’s ranged kindred - the blade’s energetic corona would fragment outwards, violently, causing injury to anyone caught within its grasp; including the Rider should they find the Lance torn from their grasp and thrown in their direction. Note, this weapon cannot pierce standard deflector shields if they are equipped with a layered particle shield, however, if it’s simply a ray shield - then the blade would spear through the barrier and likely cause the aforementioned explosion.
- Limited EMP and Ion Insulation: While the Blade features several methods of insulation, in regards to defending itself from the various methods and means of electronic warfare; it was far from immune to its effects. Therefore, should the Cerastus find itself enshrouded within an ionic disruption field, be it the lingering traces of a recently discharged EMP pulse - it’s performance would weaken significantly. If, by chance, the pulse was detonated with the Force Lance in close proximity -- the weapon would become nothing more than a silent, elongated spear until the systems were purged of excess energy and manually rebooted.
- Limited Lightsabre Resistance: As the majority of the Force Lance was forged from highly resistant materials, that would allow the weapon to stave off glancing blows, the Cerastus wasn’t entirely immune to the lethality of a Lightsabre’s plasmatic edge. These weapons could still be destroyed with a few direct hits, as the graphite and duranium would crack and splinter - and the protection that was afforded to this weapon ran out just before the textured, and magnetic grip. This weakness meant that it was possible to entirely disarm the Sun Guard bearing this weapon into war, but would force their attackers to rush in close to do so; which was a risky gamble at the best of times.
With the creation of their mighty, gilded steed, the Sun Guard found themselves in need of a weapon befitting their new charger. To this end, they looked to their collective past - both before the coming of the Gulag plague, and their most recent history, when they found themselves employed by the second incarnation of the First Order. Gleaned from such insightful gazes into the past, were the technologies surrounding the electro-plasma filaments. While the Thyrsian people utilized such enhancements before, several minds believed that the bar needed to be pushed further - that these plasmatic filaments needed to become even more deadly than they already were. Thus began the myriad attempts to supercharge the output, and create a stable field in which could encapsulate the bladed edge of their new weapon. After a dozen variants and several disfiguring injuries, the Cerastus found itself leaping from the conceptual drawing board and into production.
The foundations of the weapon began with a “liberated” crate of Crystadurium that found its way into the Golden Company’s possession after they raided a convoy on the end of First-Imperial controlled space. This crystalline substance was rumoured to be not only resistant to high heats and pressure, but that it was highly blaster resistant as well; which meant that it was a perfect base to act as a protective sheath against the cracking disruptor field. Combined with the conductive properties of Haysian Smelt, and the high-melting-point of Duranium, the lethality of the Force Lance was rendered unto reality. With the combination of properties and the distinct bluish-silver colour, the Cerastus was further enhanced by the twinned emitters of the electro-plasma filament. When activated, the conductive and resistant traits forced the supercharged energies to dance across the entirety of the weapon’s bladed edge - creating a disruptive field that forcibly altered the atomic structure of anything it impaled.
Their victims would find their very molecules becoming excited, and unshackling themselves from their atomic bonds; turning to ashen dust scant seconds later.
This lethal weapon was mounted atop a lengthy shaft of duranium and graphite - which would not only support its weight but allow for the integration of impregnated circuits and insulating materials - that formed the entirety of the Force Lance. These blended materials allowed for a limited resistance against the glancing blows of a lightsabre; provided that the blade’s killing edge didn’t slay their target in the first place, or that the plasmatic edge didn’t collide with the Lance’s killing point before then. It would crack and splinter under repeated strikes, which in turn would leave the mounted warrior with nothing more than an oversized ‘stick’ in which to do battle with. As you can imagine, this was not ideal, thus the reasoning behind having the Cerastus paired with a mighty steed; so that they may tear through an enemy position and swoop around for another pass -- rather than getting stuck into the mix.
Even if the Disruption field was deactivated, the Cerastus proved to be a deadly weapon -- as it was outfitted with an ultrasonic vibration generator that allowed the blade to vibrate at extreme speeds, exponentially increasing the damage caused by a single strike. This was merely an expansion on the technology that they already had, and their ancestors were renowned for creating in the first place. Much like the Force Pike, utilized by their un-mounted kindred, the Force Lance was capable of causing horrible, gaping wounds, with but a single touch when it’s settings were pushed to its operational maximum. Combined with the disruptor field, however? Such a fusion of ideas was simply, downright criminal to imagine, as their intended victims experienced the worst form of battlefield mutilation known to sentient life.
Suffice to say, none would remain standing -- if they were caught up in the thunderous charge of the mounted Golden.
