Also known as: Armer, Clamshell Armor
This sea-shell armor seems to be adorned with all form of aquatic life. Clamshells form a surprisingly strong yet light and flexible breastplate. A line of urchin quills, some broken, stick out at odd angles from the armor to offer some protection from grappling.
Art by Chinesegal https://www.deviantart.com/chinesegal/gallery
| Quick Guide | |
| Core Genre | Fantasy |
| Origin | Natural (Arcane when enhanced) |
| Party Impact | Adventurer |
| Pricing | 2x-3x the price of equivalent armor |
| Rarity | Rare (uncommon underwater) |
Powers
The mermaids have few reliable sources of metal. Sure, they can try to smelt using a volcanic fissure or trade for it, but using volcanic heat underwater is insanely dangerous and the other is not always reliable. Actually, from the mermaids perspective they’re both unreliable and dangerous. Alternatives are needed; clam shells are not ideal, but they cover the basics.
Clamshell armor is a material like any other, but they vary just as iron or steel armor varies. The common armor is a set of clam or oyster shells (of a breed prized for their toughness), then stitched and stuck together through various means (kelp, stolen or traded goods, or the especially sticky residue of certain fish are used). It acts as scale mail but is half the weight and does not detract from swimming ability. It’s not the best, but it’s better than most armor a mermaid society can muster..
However, enchanted clamshell armor is another beast altogether. A gleaming set of armor, made of overlapping layers of mother of pearl, specially treated and reinforced by their shamans. It functions as +1 Plate, except half the weight, no penalty to swimming, and gives a +2 to CHA checks (for sheer impressiveness).
It borders on a work of art, and the greedy or beauty-obsessed might be loathe to fight and thus risk damaging such a piece.
Both of these could theoretically be made for a land dweller. Unfortunately, it’s pretty hard to wear it without custom fitting (due to the lack of legs), but most land dwellers can use it as a breastplate (or +1 breastplate for the enchanted version, no charisma bonus).
Finally, there is one final stage of the armor. It can only be made to fit a single person. Furthermore, it can never be donned or removed (without killing the host). It is reserved for the greatest, most loyal protectors of the mer.
It takes six to twelve months to build the armor- first, the applicant must have a special breed of oysters (or clams, it depends on who you ask) called Fisenriks implanted into their body. They are placed on the surface of the skin, with one placed every ¾ inch away from each other. The oysters slowly grow to cover the body, colonizing every inch, forming a symbiotic relationship with the host. After a three-month acclimation period the creature has the following abilities and changes:
The ability to breath both water and air (note; the oysters must be submerged while growing, but can survive on land afterwards (after colonizing the lungs of the host))
Resistance to Poison
AC equal to plate +2
Any grappling attacks must take 1d4 points damage, due to razor backs. This will snap fishing line, ropes, nets, etc.
Advantage on underwater stealth checks, and you count as aquatic
Additionally, you can now filter feed underwater, and if your lifespan is under 200 years it’s now 200 years.
Note that this doesn’t give you a swim speed.
Histories/Stories
“-Of the Mer, there remains four distinct types; the half-human, half-fish mermaid, the amphibious merfolk, the demon-touched merrow, and the sirens (which, in truth, may be an unrelated subspecies, but how much of this is due to their often animalistic nature is unknown). The mermaids and merfolk, especially those of the Asterask Bay region, are known for their ornate armor, gleaming like the sun. The rumored gillmen of the Black Swamp are not believed to be associated with either the lizardmen or the race of mer, but some older version…”
From Legends of the Unter-Sea by Carlus Fredrichson