Appearance & Movement

At first glance, the Living Armor appears to be an ordinary suit of medieval plate, standing motionless in a long-forgotten corridor, propped up in an abandoned armory, or resting amid the ruins of a battlefield. The metal is often tarnished and dented, showing the scars of battles long past, yet when it moves, the motion is eerily smooth—almost too precise for something supposedly hollow. The sound of shifting metal echoes with each step, but no voice calls from within, no breath fogs the air behind the visor.

The Mollusk Colony

Despite its haunting appearance, the true nature of the Living Armor lies within. The suit is not animated by magic or cursed spirits, but by a colony of small mollusk-like creatures that have taken up residence inside. Each individual is no larger than a fist, their slimy bodies covered in chitinous plates, gripping the armor’s inner walls with tendrils and hooked limbs.

One suit of armor typically houses between five to ten of these creatures, each coordinating their efforts to move different parts of the body—some controlling the limbs, others gripping the breastplate and helm, working in near-perfect unison to create the illusion of a single, sentient being. They are not particularly intelligent on their own, but together, they form a hive-like mind capable of complex movement and rudimentary strategy.

Hordes in Hollow Halls

While a single Living Armor is a formidable oddity, they are rarely alone. The mollusks breed rapidly, forming colonies that can infest entire ruins. A single castle abandoned for a few decades may become home to hundreds, even thousands, of these creatures, each set inhabiting different suits of armor—knights, guards, even old ceremonial plate once meant for display.

When disturbed, they react like a hive defending its nest, mobilizing in unsettling numbers. An entire hall lined with rusted armor may suddenly lurch to life, weapons in hand, advancing as a silent phalanx upon the intruders who dared to disturb their domain.

Defensive Instincts & Combat

Despite their appearance as skilled warriors, Living Armors do not fight as a trained soldier would. They lack the true precision of a swordsman and rely instead on brute force and sheer numbers. Their strikes are heavy and relentless, unburdened by fatigue, and when one armor is destroyed, the surviving mollusks quickly retreat, attempting to merge with another nearby suit.

However, their true strength lies in their natural resilience. The armor itself acts as a shield, protecting the soft creatures within. Swords and arrows may clang against the metal plates with little effect, and only well-placed, crushing blows can shatter their shell and expose the mollusks hiding within.

Weakness & Predators

For all their eerie coordination, the creatures are still simple-minded. Fire and intense heat can send them into a frenzy, causing them to abandon their armor and scatter. Likewise, strong electrical currents or heavy concussive force can disrupt their grip, forcing them to release their hold.

In some underground ecosystems, Living Armors have a natural predator—certain burrowing creatures, such as rust beetles or subterranean wyrms, feed upon the mollusks, breaking open the armor to extract their soft, defenseless prey. Adventurers who learn to exploit this relationship may find ways to use the natural order against them.

Uses & Taming

While Living Armors are mostly seen as hazards to explorers, some daring individuals have sought to tame them. Skilled alchemists and beastmasters have attempted to bond with the mollusks, using specially treated armor to attract and control them. In rare cases, a colony can be trained to obey simple commands, creating a self-moving suit of armor that follows its owner like a loyal guardian. However, keeping them in check is a challenge, as their instincts to swarm and spread can quickly spiral out of control.

Some scholars theorize that the creatures once formed a symbiotic relationship with ancient warriors, serving as natural armor enhancers in exchange for protection and sustenance. Whether this is true or simply a myth, the Living Armors remain one of the strangest and most unsettling denizens of abandoned fortresses and ruined strongholds.