Volatile Rampart *Scutum Elementorum*

Basic Information

Anatomy

Volatile Rampars are a species of Bellataur that are quadraped that are most notifiable for their crests. Wall Heads are known as the "Living Castle" for their durability is known to be impressive even for Jotunheim's standards. Adult Volatile Ramparts are around 8ft tall and 5ft wide and weigh around 1ton while juvenile Volatile Ramparts are around 3ft tall and 2ft wide and weigh around 350 pounds. Volatile Ramparts have a large majority of their body covered in specialized scutes that resemble more like rocks. These scutes have special properties of being quite resistant to elemental magic. If struck or even exposed to any of these elements, the scutes will change property while keeping their insane durability. The durability of these scutes are comparable to Mithral (though Mithral is still lighter and slightly harder than Volatile Rampart Scute). Wall Heads will shed their scutes throughout their lives and each scute shedding will make the new scutes that have grown in become significantly harder, though the magical properties of the shed scutes are much weaker than the ones on the Volitile Ramparts. Because of how sought after their scutes are Volitile Ramparts were constantly hunted for centuries. This resulted in Volitile Ramparts becoming an endangered species with a population below 200 as much to the Dwarves dismay...

Behaviour

The Changing Scutes

The scutes of Volatile Ramparts have the uncanny property of absorbing magical elements and then the Volatile Rampart utilizing said magical elements in unique ways. These changes also change the personality of the individual and there are proposed theories on how each element alters one emotion to bring out another in an exaggerated manner. Once the Volitile Ramparts are exposed to another element, they will change back into their standard form and will change into that different form after some time exposed to said new element.

• Fire/Heat: The scutes become extremely hot to the point where they can walk through rock with ease. Dwarves heavily prefer this mode for mining. The scute can even become explosive if the Volatile Rampart makes the scute hot enough. The firey heat inicinerates its patience making the Volatile Rampartmore aggresive.

• Ice: The ice coats the scute and comopounds at a fast rate, creating an even thicker armor. Fire is the only way of melting the ice armor, but it does take a while to melt it. The freezing ice freezes their anger, making them careful and calculated.

• Electricity: The electricy that coats the scute becomes amplified with so much voltage that the electricity actually pierces the muscles of the Volatile Rampart making it much faster and thus stronger. The scutes also have electromagnetic properites so the Bellataur when amped can also attract metals to its scutes to turn it into a more lethal battering ram. The quick assault of the Bellataur's senses makes it act out in hastily manner.

• Clouds/Harsh Wind: When their scute gets exposed harsh, magical winds or magical clouds, the wind alters the scute to create holes within the scute but this doesnt harm the Volatile Rampart in any way. The exposure to the air makes it light, to the point where it can float. Whenever wind rushes through the holes, it creates a melody that sounds like drums and flutes. The air seems to sweep away all of the Bellataur's worries making it docile and inquisitive.

• Poison: When the scute gets exposed to any noxious gasses, the scute will start to corrode and the result of that creates a type of fume that the Volatile Rampart can control. The noxious fumes are capable of not only corroding armor, but destroying organic matter as well. The toxic matter invades the Volatile Rampart's mind and begins to corrupt it making it cunning and cruel.

There are more elements to be researched, but other matters have had the higher priority for the Skalis to engage in.

Interactions

Civilization

Since Volitile Ramparts are an endangered species, they are now a protected species that are supervised under the Skalis. Hunting and/or killing of Volitile Ramparts is considered taboo in most civilizations that have the Giant Slayers organization associated with. Most know that if one has any Volitile Rampart weapons or armor, it is most likely been in circulation. It is possible to acquire Volitile Rampart scutes, but it is only from obtaining sheded scutes or from vendors that have liscensing to sell scutes.

Dwarves

Dwarves are the people that have an inate fondness to Volitile Ramparts. They are considered luky in their culture due to them being able to search for metals which the Dwarves will provide food and shelter for them in exchange for a portion of the metal they find. They also can be used as a miniature forge if they are tamed. Volitile Ramparts are also used as beasts of burden, but they only transport the rarest of materials for the dwarves believe that their luck will also bring pure veins of metal. If a dwarf lets an outsider interact with a Volitile Rampart, it shows that they have great trust in that outsider.
Dwarven legends say that Volitile Ramparts were once veins of an unknown material that suddenly turned to life whenever one of thr Dwarf Gods named Min E. Ral mined this vein for 10,000 years straight. And once he was finished mining the vien,  all of the bits suddenly combined to create the ancestors of these Bellataurs.
Dwarves even decorate the scute still on Volitile Ramparts with different metals. The decor usually depicts dwarven dieties and legends on each specimen living with Dwarves. Leader of Dwarf clans ride Volitile Ramparts as mounts. With all of this history, the Dwarves have almost all of the Volitile Ramparts in their hands except for 50, which most groups agreed to leave alone, except for some... 
Cloud Giants have some as a personal melody player but seem to take care of them.

A Member in a Band of Beasts

Whenever a Volitile Rampart gets infused with wind or cloud element, that said individual wil then begin to create a small melody with their holes and begin flying around, seeking a partner to end their solo. If a B'Dooga is in the area, it will hear this music and begin to follow it, starting its part of the song also. Once the 2 meet, they will begin to play their song which will begin to have the same effects that the B'Dooga melodies do to the surroundig creatures. There is even a possible chance where more B'Doogas or Volitile Ramparts will join the "band" and even some other creatures will make up this "band" and will play melodies that vary in style and tone!
Once they are done, they will simply leave eachother and potentially will meet again. This rare occasion has only been recorded 7 times where 2 of them had over 6 members in a band.

This is a Volitile Rampart in a normal state.

Volitile Ramparts are mostly found in the mounains these days, but there are some that roam anywhere (with Dwarven and Skalis protection)