Wyvrün Plates

Of the relics found within the armouries of the Third Chapter of the Iron Revenants, the Wyvrün Plates have the illustrious reputation as both one of the best protective features as the Chapter's most colourful.

Description
Hidden amongst the blue clouds of Neptune, the Concorde between Iron Revenants, The Imperium at large and those remaining Tech-Claves holds strong. Deep within the clouds amongst the horrible pressures are the once xenos-infested mines. Long cleared out since the beginning of the Great Crusade thanks to the First Legion, it is now home to those mysterious ranks of specialists working outside the Mechanicum's vantage. Pulling up strange, iridescent metals they are quick to spirit away for further use.

As an item they are relatively simple in design, but the application is where they shine most, able to be mounted on almost any power armour mark, dreadnoughts, and even vehicles should they have enough, they are a versatile and powerful defensive measure. Equal if not slightly tougher than standard ceramite, the plates themselves are simple, small, multi-coloured metal blocks, their main feature however, comes from their ability to absorb and dissipate heat. Able to take a frightening amount of energy-based weapons fire and rapidly absorb the it, a single plate is able to withstand a sustained 30-lasgun barrage for half a Terran-standard hour before reaching melting point. It is no wonder then that they have been extremely effective for the Third Chapter in their siege-breaking efforts. With a set of Wyvrün plates xeno strongholds, rebel hideouts and traitor bases have been stormed with relative ease, a shining captain or squad leading the charge and batting aside any resistance.

While one plate is powerful in and of itself the trick to maximising it's capabilities lies in it's application to a subject. Moulded to be slightly thicker at one end, they are layered on top of one another from head to toe, with small insert sections cut out for those trickier armour elements. A marine clad in full Wyvrün Plate will be rather bulky, both in appearance and in motion. Seen as an easy trade-off the standard Third Chapter outfitting is to have a marine covered in a full set of plates. Counted amongst it's design is also the ability to easily switch out or add new plates, whether damaged or lost on the battlefield. The relative ease with which replacements can be bolted or glued into place means that should a few plates be needed they can easily be made battle-ready in minimal time. Where this is not possible due to lack of resources or time to mount them, several plates are usually placed along the outer forearms, stomach area and gorget of the marine in question. With this layout most of the problem areas with Mk3 and 4 power are solved, with the forearm plates able to act as a small shield against ranged and melee attacks.

Thanks to the colourful nature of the metal, and its propensity to dissipate heat as steam, the plates and those that use them have also earned a nickname amongst the Third as 'Technicolour Targets'. Standing out distinctly from the shimmer of the metal along with the heat haze after enduring fire they are easily recognizable amongst humanity's enemies as a sign of importance, and so, by virtue, draw more fire. Though this has been brought up as a potential flaw by the Tech-Claves the First have dismissed the notion of painting over the metal, quoted as saying:

“It wouldn't be doing it's job properly if they didn't ''fire are it. Leave it be”''

-Unknown Iron Revenant

Ever since their use has continued, helping lead thunderous charges into the breach across the galaxy, and would do for millennia afterwards.

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