Wraith Royal Warrior
Overview
In Pegasus, there are some monsters so terrible and rarely seen that they are considered myth. Legends speak of ghostly silent phantoms accompanying wraith warriors. But these stories are more than just legend. Seen as monsters even by the nightmarish wraith, Royal Warriors serve as the wraith combat elites, tasked with completing objectives even if that comes at the cost of potential crop. The result of genetic manipulation, royal warriors are tank-grown wraith clones, their DNA manipulated to enhance the effect of the iratus bug gene. Stronger, faster, and more durable, royal warriors are true monsters.
Role
Royal warriors are single-purpose heavy combat units for the wraith. As a vampiric race more concerned with culling their human crop, dedicated combat units are rarely used. Since most of that is done from darts, the militant royal warriors are rarely ever seen or deployed. Upon that, royal warriors also require two to three times more nourishment than normal wraith, even developing a second feeder on their other hand. They are only utilized in warfare in desperate times and when the completion of a goal takes priority. They will go to any length to complete their objective even at the cost of potential food. They can be sent out in small groups or they can serve as attachments to raiding parties. Their secondary role is to serve as body guards to the queens. While a queen in on their personal hive ship, they are not needed. But if a queen or any other target of interest needs an escort, Royal warriors are deployed. Royal warriors are greatly hated by other wraith, with the exception of queens. They are seen as mutant abominations and their willingness to destroy potential food earns them a lot of ire. However, they do not see much abuse despite this disdain. While some believe it is because the royal warrior would easily slaughter any wraith that dares, it is a cultural aspect. Royal warriors are only created as the queen's behest. And wraith obey their queen.
Biology
Wraith can either be born or cloned. However, all Royal Warriors are clones, tank-grown and genetically modified. They have all been genetically altered to enhance the effects of the iratus bug DNA. The result is a wraith that is faster, stronger, and more aggressive. The drawback is that Royal Warriors require two to three times more nourishment. To compliment this, royal warriors possess two feeding organs, one on each hand. This also results in the warrior being more aggressive and violent. This is actually detrimental to the royal warrior as they'll be as much of a threat to themselves as their target. All wraith exhibit animalistic behavior, snarling and charging into a fight in an attempt to feed. However even basic warriors possess enough intelligence and self control to keep these impulses in check. The animalistic tendencies of the royal warrior would have them forgo tactics in favor of charging at foes to feed in a manner comparable to Ellia. This is solved thanks to the limiter suit they wear which feeds a steady stream of chemicals into the royal warrior's body. This chemical passifies the warrior while keeping their enhancements. This results in the royal warrior being perhaps the calmest and most passive of the wraith. But if this limiter is damaged or destroyed, the royal warrior will regress back into their animalistic tendencies. When off their limiter, they regress into screeching and snarling like a normal wraith. While on the limiter, they occasionally emit a low guttural clicking.
Appearance
Like all wraith, royal warriors are humanoid with pale skin. Royal warriors are notably taller than other wraith and possess scalier skin due to the iratus DNA. They also lack any hair.
Uniform
Royal warriors are given unique uniforms that distinguish them from their inferior brethren. Normally royal warriors are given massive cloaks that encompass their entire form and obscures their figure. Royal warriors take care to make sure their cloaks do not flap even in the wind, keeping the cloth tight to their body when out of combat. Even when marching, no arm movement is seen to avoid flapping their cloaks. From a distance, they appear to be floating ghouls. Their cloak is held on by a single clip at their neck. If required, in a moment's notice they can quickly and easily cast off their cloak so they are not hindered by it. Under their cloak is a curiass decorated with bone in a manner that it looks like a rib cage. They also wear a bone mask that covers their eyes, nose, and forehead but leaves the mouth exposed. Some Royal warrior wear hooded shawls but it is up to the queen whether or not they have the hood up. Even if the cloak is cast off, the hood can remain on. Like other warriors, royal warriors possess self destructs.
Equipment
Royal warriors are equipped with wraith stunner rifles, though they have snapped off the sharp point at the back, rendering them short enough that they can be carried inside the cloaks without disturbing the cloth, nestling it in their forearms. However, royal warriors are also equipped with plasma casters. These energy weapons can be used as pistols or attached to the underside of their stunner rifles and fire lethal bolts of plasma. They are also sometimes seen carrying plasma caster rifles where a wraith handblaster is attached to the underside. In either case, the royal warrior has both lethal and nonlethal options at his disposal. The bolts of the plasma caster are powerful, capable of killing even wraith in one hit with a destructive force that rivals the particle magnum. While wraith warriors and commanders carry knives, the enhanced physique of the royal warrior has made that unnecessary. Instead, they possess clawed gauntlets that protect their hands and forearms and gives them a close range weapon. They can use their claws to slash and maim opponents and with their strength, they can effortlessly plunge their bladed fingers into their opponents. They can also use their claws to seize their opponents, holding them still so they can feed on their victims.
