Pulsing Brass Rib Cage 4429

From: Hive 2049 of the Shifting Petal Swarm

(Torso Slot)

This armor consists of a series of curved brass plates salvaged from the boiler of a downed zeppelin. The individual insects of the hive have woven themselves through the rivet holes, using their emerald carapaces to create a secondary layer of biological shielding behind the metal. It hums with a low-frequency vibration that helps stabilize the swarm against concussive sound waves.

Lore: The Echo of the Fallen Boiler

The origin of the Pulsing Brass Rib-Cage 4429 is tied to the catastrophic descent of the metropolitan zeppelin The Gilded Sovereign, which plummeted into the deep jungles after its engines were overwhelmed by a localized magic flow surge. While the crew vaporized into clouds of sparks, the brass remains of the ship’s boiler became a centerpiece for Hive 2049. The swarm recognized that the heavy, pre-stressed brass held a “mechanical memory” of structural integrity.

By weaving their bodies through the rusted rivet holes, the insects transformed a piece of industrial wreckage into a sacred reliquary of the hive. The lore suggests that the low-frequency hum emitted by the cage is actually the synchronized vibration of thousands of emerald carapaces rubbing against the brass, creating a standing wave that mimics the internal pressure of a functioning engine. To the hive, wearing this cage is an act of reclaiming the very technology that once sought to displace them, turning a symbol of metropolitan power into a biological fortress.

Use: The Harmonic Bastion

In practical application, the Rib-Cage serves as more than just physical plating. For a tier one avatar, it functions as a Vibration Sink. When the hive is subjected to the deafening roar of industrial ruins or the concussive force of high-pressure steam weapons, the brass plates distribute the kinetic energy across the entire swarm.

The individual insects use the rivet holes as “firing ports” for their stingers while remaining shielded behind the metal, allowing the avatar to engage in close-quarters combat without risking the integrity of its central mass. It is also used as a sensory tuning fork; by pressing the rib-cage against ancient machinery, the hive can “feel” the health of the gears through the vibrations transmitted into the brass, allowing for precise scavenging of alchemical slag.

Item Specifications

Specific Slot: Torso
Tier One Stats: Armor Class (AC) Bonus: +3
- Damage Threshold: 5 (Ignores the first 5 points of damage from sonic or concussive sources)
- Weight Penalty: -5 feet to Ground Speed (Due to the density of the boiler brass)
Skills Gained:
- Industrial Intuition: Advantage on checks made to identify the structural integrity or mechanical function of steam-powered ruins.
- Sonic Fortitude: Proficiency in saves against disorientation or deafness caused by high-frequency vibrations or loud noises.
Cost:
- Suggested Value: 185 Silver Pieces (Value is determined by the seller’s market and the weight of the salvaged brass).
- Merchant Note: Buyers are warned that the “hum” is constant and may alert sensitive predators in extremely quiet environments.
Tags: Torso-Slot, Heavy-Armor, Industrial-Salavage, Bio-Mechanical, Sonic-Resistant, Tier-1, Resonant, Metropolitan-Origin, Hive-Integrated, Chitin-Reinforced, Vibration-Dampening, Kinetic-Buffer, Pressure-Tested, Steam-Shield, Riveted-Chitin, Harmonic-Anchor, Salvaged-Core, Resilient-Brass, Frequency-Locked, Impact-Dispersal
Appearance: The armor is a series of eight overlapping, semi-circular brass plates that have been hammered into a crude, cage-like structure.
- The metal is tarnished with a deep patina and stained with chemical residue, yet the edges are polished to a high sheen where the insects constantly move.
- Through the many jagged rivet holes, hundreds of tiny, glowing emerald eyes are visible, peering out from the darkness behind the metal.
- Thin veins of copper wire have been threaded through the brass to act as secondary conduits, pulsing with a faint green light that synchronizes with the avatar’s breathing-like undulation.

The Enchantments: The Harmonic Anchor

The primary enchantment woven into the Pulsing Brass Rib-Cage 4429 is known as the Resonant Seal. This is not a traditional spell cast by a solitary wizard, but a “Persistent Consensus Pattern” maintained by the insects within the brass.

Kinetic Dispersal: When a physical blow strikes the plates, the enchantment instantly vibrates the brass at a frequency that matches the incoming force, partially neutralizing the kinetic energy before it can crush the fragile biological modules behind the metal.
The Stabilizing Hum: The armor emits a low-decibel frequency that acts as a cognitive anchor. This prevents the swarm’s internal communication from being “shredded” by the multi-frequency atmospheric vibrations of heavy industrial zones. It ensures the avatar remains a unified entity even in environments designed to dismantle hive-minds.

Protective Aura: The Emerald Shroud

The armor projects a localized field of magical energy known as the Emerald Shroud. This aura extends approximately three feet from the central mass of the avatar.

Atmospheric Scrubbing: The aura chemically reacts with the humid jungle air to create a faint, shimmering “haze” that smells of ozone and beeswax. This haze acts as a filter against alchemical gases and toxic off-gassing from ancient mechanical power transmission systems.
Psychic Dampening: To external observers, the aura creates a visual and mental blur, making it difficult for hostile forces to pinpoint the exact locations of the individual insects through the rivet holes. This provides a minor “Concealment” effect in shadowed or overgrown environments.

Significance and World-Building

The significance of the 4429 model lies in its representation of Technological Reclamation. In the world of Saṃsāra, the metropolitan cities often view the jungles as a source of raw materials to be extracted. For Hive 2049, the rib-cage signifies a reversal of this flow. By taking a piece of a high-tier zeppelin—a pinnacle of metropolitan engineering—and “colonizing” it with biological modules, the hive demonstrates its ability to adapt to and overcome the industrial expansion of the island countries. It is a functional trophy that proves the gestalt mind can utilize the “dead” tools of the solitary races.

Symbolism: The Industrial Heart

The Boiler as Womb: To the hive, the brass plates are a symbolic replacement for the crystalline hives they normally inhabit. It represents the “hollow heart” of humanity’s fire and water machines, now filled with the living, emerald life of the jungle.
The Rivet Hole as Eye: Each hole in the brass is a symbol of the “Great Watchfulness.” The collective eyes staring through the metal represent the hive’s refusal to be blindsided again by the “Information Affront” of the first metropolitan incursions.
The Hum as Voice: The constant vibration of the armor is the “Consensus Song.” It symbolizes the ongoing agreement of thousands of individuals to act as one. To a solitary avatar, it is a sound of warning; to the hive, it is a sound of absolute stability.

Other Technical Information

Maintenance: Because the armor is composed of salvaged industrial brass, it is prone to corrosion from the acidic magic pools of the deep jungles. The avatar must regularly apply Frictionless Industrial Slurry 9914 to the rivets to prevent the metal from seizing and crushing the resident insects.
Attunement Resonance: For a tier one avatar to fully utilize the protective aura, they must remain “in consensus” for a full long rest while wearing the cage. If the avatar experiences a mental affront or a fracture in the hive-mind, the protective aura collapses until the 5512 Resonant Frequency Fork is used to re-sync the system.
Weight Distribution: The armor is exceptionally heavy. The avatar’s center of gravity is lowered, providing an advantage against being knocked prone, but making it impossible to swim in deep water without the insects detaching to save themselves, effectively abandoning the gear.

Sky-Fire-Pot and Song of Many-Inside-Metal

It is written upon the crumbling mud-plates of the high-mountains, moved from the vibrating-mouth-noises of the ghost-people into the scratching-scripts of the before-times, that a great vessel of the metropolitan-sky did fall. It was the Sovereign, a metal-bird of the steam-kings, which carried the fire and the water in its belly-pot. Because the magic flow of the islands is a Great Affront to the machines of the men, the sky-pot did burst. The vessel plummeted into the deep-shadows, where the dirt is hungry and the vines have teeth.

The metropolitan-men vaporized into the cloud of sparks, for they were avatars who did not respect the gravity of the jungle. Their gear remained, cold and silent. Then came the Hive 2049, the many-who-are-one, the shifting-petal-swarm. They looked upon the broken sky-pot, the boiler of the brass, and they saw a house of the great strength. The consensus was reached; the many insects did crawl into the rivet-holes, the small round wounds in the metal.

They wove their bodies of emerald-chitin into the brass. They used the carapaces of the jewel-wasp to make a second-skin behind the metal. The translated skins say that the many-inside-the-metal began to vibrate. They rubbed the emerald-backs against the sky-pot ribs, creating a low-frequency-hum, a music that stabilizes the mind against the roar of the gears. This became the Pulsing Brass Rib-Cage 4429.

One walker of the memories, a solitary avatar called the Smith-of-Silence, sought to steal the brass. He did not understand the consensus. He saw only the metal-pot and thought it a treasure of the silver-coins. He walked into the unsafe area where the armor of the class is cut in the exact half. He lifted his hammer to strike the brass.

But the Rib-Cage did pulse. The enchantment of the Harmonic Anchor did vibrate the sky-pot at the frequency of the hammer. The blow was neutralized; the kinetic-energy was eaten by the brass. The Smith-of-Silence felt the Emerald Shroud, the aura of the ozone-haze, which made his eyes go into the blur. He could not find the heart of the swarm through the rivet-holes.

Then the Consensus-of-Emerald-Echoes, the avatar of the many, did rise. It spoke with the voice of a thousand chittering modules. It did not use the mouth-sounds, but the hum of the brass did speak into the Smith’s head-meat. The Smith-of-Silence suffered the Mental Affront. He saw the rivet-holes as a thousand eyes of the gods. He dropped his hammer and ran to the walled towns, for he knew that the sky-pot now belonged to the jungle-gestalt.

The story says the many-inside-the-metal still walk the ruins. They wear the ribs of the sky-fire-pot to show that the metropolitan-tech is but a shell for the many. They harvest the alchemical slag to keep the brass from the corrosion-rust. They are the industrial-heart of the shadows, a fortress of the shifting-petal.

Moral: He who builds a pot of fire to conquer the sky must remember that when the pot falls, the many-who-are-one will use its ribs to build a cage that the solitary hunter cannot break.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu

The Resonant Chitinous Boiler-Plate

Item Type: Armor / Alchemical Artifact
Armor Value: 4 Points (Brass and Chitin)
Sanity Loss: 1/1D4 Sanity points to witness the insects undulating beneath the brass.
Game Mechanics:
- Harmonic Sink: This armor provides a Bonus Die to any Luck or POW rolls made to resist the effects of deafening noises or sonic-based weaponry.
- The Shifting Mass: Once per combat encounter, the user may ignore the physical damage from a single blunt-force attack as the insects reposition within the brass to absorb the blow.
- Industrial Weight: The heavy brass plates impose a Penalty Die on all Swim and Stealth rolls.
- Sanity Feedback: If the armor is hit with a critical success, the psychic “hum” of the swarm is disrupted, forcing the wearer to make an immediate Sanity roll (0/1).

Blades in the Dark

The Hive-Boiler Rig

Item Type: Armor (Heavy, Tier II)
Load: 3 (Composed of heavy industrial brass)
Mechanics:
- Special Armor: This item provides a unique armor box that can be ticked to resist consequences from “Sonic Interference,” “Concussive Force,” or “Mental Overload.”
- Harmonic Stability: While wearing the rig, you are immune to the “Dazed” or “Disoriented” status effects caused by machinery or ghost-field vibrations.
- Narrative Cost: The constant low-frequency hum makes it impossible to remain completely silent. All Stealth-based actions are at Disadvantage unless the environment is already noisy (such as a factory or storm).
- Integrated Modules: If you are playing a character with a hive-connection, you gain +1 Effect when using the “Attune” action to communicate with swarm-based entities.

Dungeons & Dragons

Pulsing Brass Rib-Cage 4429

Item Type: Plate Armor (Breastplate), Rare (Requires Attunement by a Swarm or Gestalt Entity)
Armor Class: 14 + Dexterity modifier (max 2).
Game Mechanics:
- Sonic Resistance: You have resistance to thunder damage.
- The Consensus Shield: While attuned, you have Advantage on saving throws against being Charmed or Frightened, as the many minds within the cage stabilize your intent.
- Rivet Injection: When a creature within 5 feet hits you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to allow the insects to strike back through the rivet holes. The attacker takes 1d6 piercing damage and must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute.
- Heavy Burden: You have disadvantage on Stealth checks and a -5 penalty to your walking speed.

Knave

Boiler Ribs

Item Type: Armor (3 Slots, Quality 5)
Armor Defense: 15
Mechanics:
- Sound Eater: You are immune to any magical or physical effects that rely on sound or vibration.
- Solid Footing: You cannot be knocked prone by wind, explosions, or physical shoves while wearing the brass plates.
- Chitin Layers: When the armor reaches 0 Quality, it does not break immediately. The emerald insects take the damage instead, keeping the armor functional for one more hit before it shatters completely.
- Weight of the Sky: You cannot swim or tread water while wearing this item. If you enter deep water, you sink immediately.

Fate

The Harmonic Boiler Shell

Item Type: Extraordinary Extra
Aspect: Stabilized by the Consensus Hum. This aspect can be invoked to resist mental confusion, daze effects, or sonic-based physical attacks. It may be compelled by the GM when the weight of the brass hinders movement or when the constant humming alerts nearby predators to your presence.
Mechanics:
- Sonic Shielding: You gain +2 to defend against any attack or obstacle that relies on sound, vibration, or pressure.
- Interlocked Chitin: Once per session, you can check a physical stress box to reduce the shift value of a physical hit by 2, representing the insects absorbing the impact.
- The Weight of Industry: Because of the salvaged brass, any Athletics checks involving swimming or rapid climbing face a +2 increase in difficulty.

Numenera & Cypher System

Boiler-Carapace of the Hive (1502)

Level: 4
Form: A torso-wrap made of heavy brass plates with glowing emerald insects peeking through rivet holes.
Effect: Provides 2 points of Armor.
Specific Mechanics:
- Vibration Sink: The wearer is immune to any effect that would cause the “Dazed” condition if that condition is caused by sound, machinery, or sonic energy.
- Consensus Buffer: Any Intellect defense rolls made to resist mental intrusion or confusion are eased by one step.
- Depletion: 1 in 1d20. On depletion, the brass remains, but the “hum” stops and the special benefits (besides base Armor) are lost until the insects are replenished.
- Heavy Construction: Any task involving swimming or delicate balance is hindered by one step.

Pathfinder

Pulsing Brass Rib-Cage 4429

Item Level: 4; Price: 90 Silver Pieces
Usage: Worn (Armor); Bulk: 2
Base Statistics: AC Bonus +4; Dex Cap +1; Check Penalty -3; Speed Penalty -5 ft.; Strength 16.
Description: This heavy breastplate is fashioned from salvaged zeppelin brass. The magical insects within stabilize the wearer against environmental chaos.
Specific Mechanics:
- Harmonic Anchor: You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to saving throws against effects with the Sonic trait.
- Swarm Shielding: You gain Resistance 5 to Sonic damage and Resistance 2 to bludgeoning damage.
- Rivet Retaliation: [reaction] Trigger: A creature adjacent to you hits you with a melee attack. Effect: The insects strike through the rivet holes. The attacker takes 1d4 piercing damage and 1d4 poison damage (DC 18 Basic Fortitude save).

Savage Worlds

Zeppelin-Core Carapace

Type: Armor (Heavy)
Rank: Novice
Armor: +4
Weight: 25 lbs
Specific Mechanics:
- Sonic Resonance: The wearer gains a +4 bonus to rolls made to resist being Stunned or Shaken by loud noises, explosions, or sonic-based powers.
- Environmental Filter: The Emerald Shroud aura provides a +2 bonus to Vigor rolls against airborne toxins or alchemical gases.
- Group Mind Stability: The character gains the “Brave” Edge (or +2 to Fear checks if they already have it) as the low-frequency hum stabilizes their resolve.
- Industrial Bulk: The character’s Pace is reduced by 2. Additionally, they suffer a -2 penalty to Stealth and Swimming checks.

Boiler-Shell Neural Housing (Model 4429)

Category: Armor (Heavy)
Armor Rating: 12
Capacity: 4
Availability: 4 (R)
Game Mechanics:
- Sonic Dampening: The brass plating and insect-gestalt provide a natural +3 dice pool bonus to resist any acoustic-based attacks or disorientation from loud industrial Noise.
- Bio-Feedback Filter: When the wearer is part of a hive-mind or linked via the 1502 Salve, the armor’s resonant hum provides 2 points of Biofeedback Filter to protect against mental strain.
- Rivet Counter-Strike: Any successful melee attack against the wearer triggers an automatic counter-attack from the insects. The attacker must resist 4P damage (AP -2) from the stinging swarm.
- Industrial Signature: The armor is heavy and noisy. Increase the difficulty of all Stealth and Swimming tests by 3. The constant hum also makes the wearer easier to track using directional microphones or ultrasound sensors.

Starfinder

Resonant Sky-Pot Carapace

Item Level: 4; Price: 2,150 Credits
Category: Heavy Armor; EAC Bonus: +5; KAC Bonus: +7
Max Dex Bonus: +1; Armor Check Penalty: -3; Speed Adjustment: -10 ft.
Upgrades: 1 Slot
Game Mechanics:
- Harmonic Buffer: The armor provides Resistance 5 against Sonic damage.
- Gestalt Stabilization: The wearer gains a +2 insight bonus to saving throws against Mind-Affecting effects, provided they are currently part of a collective or telepathic link.
- Emerald Haze: As a move action, the wearer can activate the Emerald Shroud for 1 minute. This provides 20% concealment against ranged attacks in jungle or ruin environments. This ability can be used three times before the insects require a long rest to recover.
- Heavy Metal: The armor’s weight and industrial nature impose a -4 penalty on Athletics checks made to swim.

Traveller

TL 12 Bio-Mechanical Combat Rig

TL: 12; Weight: 15 kg; Cost: Cr4,500
Armor: +8
Description: Constructed from salvaged starship or zeppelin boiler brass, this rig is integrated with a symbiotic insect colony that reinforces the structure.
Game Mechanics:
- Vibration Sink: The wearer is immune to the effects of “Stun” grenades or sonic-based weaponry that rely on concussive atmospheric force.
- Sensory Integration: The insects peeking through the rivet holes provide a +1 DM to Recon and Investigate checks made in close quarters, as they act as secondary optical sensors.
- Sympathetic Protection: If the wearer is reduced to 0 characteristic points in a physical stat, the insects sacrifice themselves to absorb the final blow, leaving the traveler with 1 point instead (this destroys the armor’s special properties until repaired).
- Encumbrance: The rig is bulky and poorly balanced for water. Any Athletics (Swimming) check is made with a -2 DM.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay

The Plate of the Sky-Pot’s Heart

Type: Heavy Armor (Breastplate)
Locations: Body
AP: 3
Qualities: Impenetrable, Weighted
Description: A massive piece of brass salvaged from a fallen sky-vessel, teeming with a green-glowing swarm that hums in a low, vibrating tone.
Game Mechanics:
- The Resonant Hum: The wearer gains the Strong-Minded Talent. If they already possess it, they gain a +10 bonus to all Willpower Tests to resist the influence of Chaos or mental instability.
- Stinging Retribution: Whenever an opponent fails a melee attack against the wearer by more than 2 degrees of failure, they are automatically hit by a swarm of stingers for 1d10 + SB damage (ignoring non-magical armor).
- Industrial Burden: The armor is incredibly heavy. The wearer suffers a -1 penalty to their Movement characteristic and a -20 penalty to all Swim and Stealth Tests.
- The Shroud’s Protection: The Emerald Shroud provides a +10 bonus to all Endurance Tests made to resist the effects of gases, fumes, or airborne diseases.