#carapaceon

Name: Tosho Hephestaur

Title: Hammer Forge Crab

Species: Carapaceon

Element: Fire

Status: Bleed, Stun

A hulking carapaceon whose presence is well known in volcanic regions. When one of these crabs is in the locale, every hunter and monster knows it. The clattering of metal sabatons upon stone and obsidian, the gurgling of lava within a molten shell, and of course, the thunderous ringing of hammer against iron. Tosho Hephestaur does not hide its presence, as its actions can be heard throughout the area. It does not do anything quietly or subtly, for it does not fear anything within its territory. Its carapaceon shell is already a fine suit of armor, but it goes the extra mile in forging itself an extra layer. This species carries with it a hollowed out shell, one coated in countless layers of harden lava and cooled metal. Within it is a store of molten metal, gathered from lava falls and excreted materials. By lifting and jostling this laden shell, it can pour rivers of fiery metal down its carapace, coating its body to form another shell of pure metal.

This same pool is pulled from to fill its own maw with the burning fluid, which it spews upon its own limbs. While this iron coating is substantial, the carapaceon is not content with letting it simply harden as a metallic malformed blob. Instead, it calls upon its massive claw, coated in metals from previous forgings, to hammer this white hot metal into shape. With this, it forms iron greaves upon its legs, and turns its smaller claw into a nasty sharpened blade. With its armor and weaponry, few monsters dare tangle with it, as those who do are met with hammer and sword. Many beasts don't actually have a reason to squabble with a Tosho Hephestaur, as they often don't compete for a food source. This carapaceon dines upon metals and coals, using its powerful hammer claw to shatter stone and its smaller bladed claw to pick out the tasty bits. While many monsters don't share the same taste, there are still some fights over choice ore veins. Brief bouts between the Uragaan and this crab have been reported, though they rarely end in death. Rather, a sore loser scuttles or rolls away, while the winner claims the prized mine. 

With no hunger for meat, humans and wyverians rarely are attacked by this carapaceon, as it cares only for metals and fuel. However, that does not mean perfect coexistence. While its iconic weaponry bring to mind a blacksmith, local blacksmiths may curse their name when a pocket of precious materials is gobbled up. Most quests to hunt a Tosho Hephestaur is to either stop them from eating needed resources, or to harvest the hoard of materials they carry upon their bodies. Smaller villages that struggle to get enough metals from mining often task hunters to capture these carapaceons so they can gather from its collected store then let them go. However, these quests will not come easy. One look at one of these crabs already shows that they have the armor and weaponry for a fight. Their tough shell and hardened armor makes them difficult for hunters to hit without their own weapons bouncing. The greaves they have on their legs eliminate those as targets, and their own shell is heavily armored. The only real option for damage is to go for the face, but that maw glows with white hot flame and drips molten metal. Hunters will dream of the days they got hit by the water spray of a hermitaur or ceanataur, in comparison to the torrent of lava that comes spilling out from this angered crab.

Alongside that is its massive hammer claw, whose size and impact puts hunter hammers to shame. The earth shattering blows it lands can pulverize the toughest of guards and leave hunters stumbling from the tremors. It is often lights out for those hit by this massive weapon, and even those who survive may be too stunned to avoid the follow up attacks. While its hammer claw is a slow heavy hitter, its smaller bladed claw is perfect for quick strikes and stabs. Often the two work in tandem, either using a furious rain of skewering attacks followed by the bone rattling finisher, or using heavy slams to stun or trip foes so that its blade can pick them off. While its puny skewer may seem like the better option to take one's chances with, the Tosho Hephestaur has another trick up its sleeve. 

When the battle heats up and the crab gets enraged, it spews its store of molten metal upon its smaller claw, thoroughly coating it. Then comes forth its hammer claw, which pounds this glob of liquid iron into shape. With a final blow of showering molten droplets, the Tosho Hephestaur proudly holds up its latest weapon. What once was a tiny little stabbing claw, is now a formidable iron tool that it will happily use against its foes. The addition of metal to this claw gives it extra range and impact, making its attacks that much more devastating. In battle, the Tosho Hephestaur is capable of forging a variety of weapons onto its claw, with the typical being weapons for stabbing, slashing or smashing. The long stabbing blade is perfect for adding range to its lunges, launching forth with surprising speed to catch foes who thought themselves out of range. The slashing sword unleashes a flurry of swipes and cuts, leaving foes with grievous bleeding wounds. The smashing claw is not as elegant as the others, but it does its job quite well. The carapaceon gains a second bludgeon, which its uses with its hammer to double the impact and stunning blows.

It should be noted that these weapons take time and skill for the crab to properly forge, which may be lacking as the battle goes on and the monster's health and patience wanes. As its health drops, its forging grows sloppy, resulting in a malformed weapon at the end. This mangled tool may seem like a useless glob of spike and steel, but the angered crab can wield it just fine. This cobbled together weapon claw can perform stabs, slashes and smashes, borrowing moves from the other three. Combining these fighting styles together makes the carapaceon difficult to predict, as a skewering stab may suddenly whip itself around into a gutting slice. 

Hunters who take on quests to capture or slay these mighty crabs best prepare for a long fight. Such a battle calls for either high levels of sharpness or blunt weapons to properly deal with the metal armor. While its iron coating may seem impenetrable, enough damage can finally crack it open, revealing a softer target for one's blades and blows. There are advantages to be gained for hunters who take the time and effort to break its armored parts. If one is capable of cracking open its lava filled shell, the molten pool within will come flowing out and leave the carapaceon with less fuel, resulting in its flaming spit losing a lot of range. However, hunters should steer clear of its back when the shell is breached, as the leaking lava now splashes about wildly. For bowgunners with heavy duty firepower, targeting its armored shoulder should be a priority. This metal heap on its body acts as a counterweight to its huge hammer claw, and breaking it disrupts its balance. If its counterweight is lost, a tired Tosho Hephestaur may not be able to properly lift up its huge weapon without losing its footing and falling over. If one wishes to trap one of these carapaceons, pitfalls are the way to go. Hunters should wait until the crab is enraged and forges an extra weapon upon its smaller claw. Now wielding two heavy hitting metal armaments, the crab will be trapped in a pitfall for longer, as the extra weight makes it difficult for it to claw its way out. Shock traps should be avoided, as the electricity leaps into its metal parts and hunters who make the mistake of striking these charged bits will be in for quite the paralyzing shock.    

-------------------------------------------------

Chanda Laur, the Chandelier Crab

An odd carapaceon, Chanda Laur rests up on cave walls, filling up its abdomen with helium gas. This helium both fuels its firepower and lets it scuttle across its home nimbly, giving it a reputation as a bit of a ghost. Attacking its face puts you in range of a firey claw snap, and attacking its vulnerable abdomen puts you in literal firing range. If it uses too much firepower, or it is hit in the abdomen too much, it will deflate-increasing its armor-and need to refuel. Knock it down from the cave wall to stun it! Using fire weapons is ill-advised, as it's rumored that this actually heals Chanda Laur.