The Metallons
The creativity of man, and the precision of machine. Merge them together, and you get more than a super soldier. You achieve perfection.
~ Tal Authorus ~
~ Tal Authorus ~
Metal is Transcendence
The empire of Tenelea has always heralded itself as idealists for the advancement of technology. One innovation shall always lead to the next, making for an endless dive into ingenuity and improvement. This, coupled with the empire's devout obedience to the Sword Prophecy of the Cosmic Warrior, makes the Tenelean Empire a vastly dangerous opponent with a variety of powerful weapons of war.
The Metallons are one such creation. At first glance, they are simply a branch of the Tenelean Empire, elite operatives enhanced by machinery and trained in many different avenues, from combat to diplomacy. But at a closer look, there is a much deeper philosophy pervading this faction. A philosophy that was grown with this group's conception up to its current status.
These individuals are dangerous super soldiers constructed of metal and magic that replaces their former bodies. These are the Metallons.
It all began with an elven visionary named Azariah Umbrius. Azariah had grown up always gazing at the marvelous inventions of his empire. But as his elven years continued to pass, he felt more and more like there was something missing. The empire sought to optimize every area of life, but Azariah could only feel there was one area everyone was neglecting.
Studying the use of machinery and the arcane throughout several decades, it wasn't until his sixtieth year into them when he was inducted into the Tenelean Inquisitors that he fully realized the answer. Tenelean society improved every part of life around the people, but it never improved the person directly.
Making this connection, Azariah drew more hypotheses from the technology he worked with, this time applying them to a person's body. Soon, he uncovered many answers in relation to this, all of which supported one thing in particular. The replacement of the human body with automated counterparts.
An avenue towards perfection had opened in front of Azariah, and he did not hesitate when his proposals brought him before the empress herself, Zara Civilius III. His arguments, to his favor, were very influential. The moment he finally left, he had been put in charge of a new imperial branch. This branch focused on everything Azariah's heart was intent on.
Only the bravest of imperialists joined his ranks. Despite the positive results, the procedures Azariah's recruits underwent were very painful. But to him, success was all that mattered. Flesh slowly turned to metal, veins to circuitry. Faces were no longer there, only metal helms. And Azariah saw only for the elite operatives they had become, the Metallons he had created.
But Azariah was not alone in this undertaking. With the creation of the Metallons, he was assigned a partner who worked under the same authority to achieve the same purpose. His name was Tal Authorus. The two got along very well in their working together. At least, initially they did.
Tal observed all that Azariah was accomplishing, and it always ached at him. It wasn't that this entire project felt wrong, but that one particular area of it did. For a long time, Tal stressed to place his finger on what it was. By the time the faction had grown to a great size, it clicked.
Azariah intended to replace the human body with machine. That was where it was flawed, because to Tal, his partner wasn't reaching far enough. The body wasn't supposed to be replaced by machine, machine was supposed to be added onto it.
Tal imagined being fully human with all the advantages of a precise automaton and it thrilled him. However, it only brought the two partners to conflict when Tal came forward with this. From there, the both of them began to disagree on multiple things. Soon, they started working on entirely separate subjects altogether.
While Azariah continued to create the perfect robots, Tal's support grew equally in his attempt to create the perfect man.
But this division was becoming a liability to the empire for that reason. The empress' son, Wulfick Civilius V had come to power, and by his order, unless the two did something to make the Metallons a benefit to Tenelea once again, the program would only be shut down.
Unfortunately, the solution was an extremely bloody one.
Tal Authorus, with his super-human followers met against Azariah with his arcane soldiers, completely under his control, at the factory lab where all this production had begun. Production turned to destruction as the lab became a warzone. Metallons shattered themselves, and Tal and Azariah fought each other across every inch of the place.
But Azariah held one major flaw, one which Tal exploited. In a feint against Azariah, Tal sliced off one of his arms that wore a machine-like gauntlet, before Tal smashed it to pieces. In the resulting conclusion, all the constructs under Azariah's control fell to the ground. Azariah tried to spot any thing like that on Tal, but saw nothing, for all those who followed him were fully sentient and human.
With no words to regard each other, Tal executed Azariah and assumed full control over the Metallons. For decades now, he has operated this branch in tandem with the Tenelean Inquisitors. These operatives function as soldiers, hunters, guards, and even spies as the group continues endlessly in the search to improve upon the body to even greater scales.
Some members have become so engrossed into their affiliation that it has risen as a sort of religion in itself. New additions to someone's body is like a boon bestowed by a god. To this day, that philosophy has carried itself in high regard. So high, for some, that they seek the day when they have received so much improvement that they become a god entirely.
In secret, some of these operatives have even turned away from the Cosmic Warrior, instead choosing to pray to Xisriel, the Transcendent Mind.
Until then, they are necessary additions to the ambitions of the empire they serve, continually testing the effectiveness of human machines until it can be applied to all the land.
The Civilius family line has existed ever since the beginning of this land. If there will be any god that walks this planet, it will be me when that program has shown its worth.
~ Wulfick Civilius V ~
~ Wulfick Civilius V ~
Decimators
Those who join the Metallons and undertake the augmentations normally have specific kinds in mind. Some come from military service or otherwise violent pasts that entice them to be made into an even tougher foe. Weapon attachments, strength enhancing armor, and even a more frightening charisma are but a few of what some Metallons of this sect posses.
For those who call the Metallons an elite group of soldiers, this small division is the epitome of it. Violence isn't always what the Metallons resort to, but when it is, decimators are likely to show up with an arsenal like a one-man army.
The division is headed by its officer Nolani Baro, who is rumored to be perhaps the most dangerous Metallon within the entire branch. One of the oldest members since Tal Authorus' overtaking, she has underwent more improvements to herself than anyone else.
What a crossbow can destroy, a back-mounted ballista rocket can take out twice as hard.~ Nolani Baro
Aegisbearers
All augments a Metallon has makes them like a wall. But, some have the ability to actually make one. Aegisbearers are protectors and guards, a division tasked with defending targets of high value, be they a person or a location.
They are often escorts for diplomats, emissaries, and other noble figures. Though most also pair up with other decimators and metalcasts in the event of a necessary covert operation.
Otaca Primus, brother of Yudin Primus, is the leading officer of this division. He is a man who considers himself one of the most loyal people to the emperor, and awaits the day when his augments land him by the emperor's side.
Our bodies are like our grit. Unbreakable.~ Otaca Primus
Metalcasts
Weaving is an arcane art that many never find luck in wielding. But for these fortunate individuals who join the Metallons, it is like they experience a miracle. In the metalcast division, Metallons possess improvements that enable them to innately weave magic as if they had trained for it all their lives.
Metalcasts, because of the infinite array of opportunity weaving has, are the most versatile operatives within the Metallon branch. Some perform tasks directly similar to that of the decimators and aegisbearers, while others have responsibilities that are completely unique to themselves.
The head officer of this division is Yudin Primus, brother of Otaca Primus. Yudin was a man born with a dream to use magic, but born without arms. Taken in by Tal out of his desperateness, the Metallons made that dream a reality, and to Yudin, Tal is a hero.
Years of weaving mastery, obtained over a few day procedure.~ Yudin Primus
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