Protectorate

The Protectorate are an elite organisation of Heroes within the Imperial Military dedicated to wiping out outstanding threats both magical and otherworldly. They do the work that the regular Apex Militarum are ill equipped to do. Most often, this work boils down to assassination or strategic extermination of a Hero or band of Heroes that cause the Empire too much trouble.

Composition

Manpower

The Protectorate can field roughly 60 000 units consisting of 10 chapters, each of different hero types and combinations. Wraiths - Deathlords Crusaders - Heavensblade Guardians - Emperor's Fists Nightwakers -

Equipment

Protectorates are outfitted with a suit of armour known as the Holy Carapace as a standard issue to all Chapters. This armour features the pinnacle of Proxian advancement in technology, engineering, magecraft and metalwork. So advanced is this armour that it could be compared to futuristic power armour. Chapters will further outfit their armour in unique ways that aid the power of their magical circuits. Those of the highest rank will even personalise their armour to further aid their fighting style.
Donning this armour would be incredibly difficult to those without training, as it weighs around 50kg - double that of full plate - and without proper training, will shatter the user's bones and even break their magical circuits. For as the armour links physically with the user, so too does it attach itself to the invisible threads of magic around them.
When the Holy Carapace is donned, it begins to fuse with the user's body and mind. This means most of the armour can never be removed, only certain parts. The purpose of this is twofold. Firstly, it allows a greater connection between the user and the armour and thus provides a wider range of augmentations tot he user's own power and defense. Secondly, it makes it far harder for scavengers and enemies who would look to reverse engineer the armour to get a working piece from a corpse as the armour only works when the user and itself are connected with mind and body intact.

Weaponry

Protectorates have a standard issue Skysteel blade and shield forged with an Arcanite rod. Skysteel is among the sturdiest metals known to the Imperium and one of the only metals known to be able to pierce the flesh of high ranking Hellborne and Divine beings. The arcanite rod within the blade and shield allows the Protectorate to easily channel magical energy into their weapons, augmenting their attacks far beyond the capabilities of their forge parts.

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