The Shell

The Shell is the result of the combined efforts of the Cult of the Source, the Cult of Yiggith, and the Cult of Kratling at the behest of Emperor Ghalm. The emperor wanted a troop transport vehicle that could wander into heavily fortified positions, cause chaos among the enemy, and deploy a force of well trained solders. He also needed something for the three cults to come together over.
At the time, tension between the three cults had been rising, and threatened to bubble over. The Followers of the Flame were pressing the Cult of Kratling in the East, and the Yiggithans were makng quick strikes against both in the South. Emperor Ghlam saw the havoc and destabilization such aggression could lead to unless something was done, but he also knew his overall position was too weak to directly order them to cease hostilities. The Imperial forces of Kharsaag had been decimared during a war with the kingdom of Raelkin, and though the empire had been victorious in that war the cost was high. Ghalm needed the support, both civically and militarily,of the Cults and their followers.
To this end, he commissioned the creation of a durable and mobile troop transport. He figured that if the cults had a common goal toward which to devote their resources, then their interest in fighting each other would wane. He was right, though the process was anything but easy.
The Raelkin lands were mountainous and treacherous where they bordered Kharsaag, and Ghalm wanted a vehicle that would protect his troops from the cold climate as well as allow them to move over such terrain with ease.
Specialists from the three cults heeded the Emperor's summons and got to work building his order. After much thinking and discussion they decided to model the vehicle after a tortoise. The hard shell and ridges exuded protection and armor, making the thing's purpose known at a glance. The Yiggithians were tasked to design the thing due to their close relation to the reptile and amphibian world. They are not the best designers, though, so both the Kratlings and the Follwers of the Flame had much input to add.
The Cult of The Source designed the Life Stone, based on the spark stone, but needing much more power and energy. They prayed to the Lord of the Flame daily for two weeks, channeling his energies until they sprung forth and created the glowing fiery sphere out of thin air. Then it was time for the Yiggiths and Kratlings. The Yiggiths, whose tenants are passion and resilience asked their god for the power to fortify the Life Stone because they knew it would be taxed by battle and other stress and it needed to be sturdy and reliable. Yiggith, always fickle, felt generous and answered their beseeching almost immediately. She added a little something extra as well, the ability for the Shell to travel under the water.
Next, it was time for the Kratlings to call upon their deity. Their task was to infuse the Shell with the ability to channel the Life Stone and use it for without the direction and blessing of Kratling, the Life Stone would be useless. The Kratlings asked for guidance and received it in a series of visions that showed them how to construct the inner workings of the Shell so that it could take full advantage of the Cult of the Source's contribution.
Then, the Kratlings and the Yiggithians worked together to forge the helmets which the three operators would wear and use to control the Shell's movements. The helmets are linked through magic, and allow all three operators to act as one.
Once the spells had been cast and the frame constructed, the representatives of the three cults joined together to create the defensive lighting spell that protects the Shell from attackers. The spell is activated when the pilot and the co-pilots all focus on activating it at the same time. This guarantees that the spell is only used when desired, and helps prevent accidental injury or death to allies. If an operator resists using the spell or is incapacitated, there is a magic phrase that can be spoken by the other operators to activate it, though it will only work if those who speak it are wearing a helmet. So far, this has not posed a problem, but the potential for disagreement and trouble exists.
When the Shell was complete, the Emperor's intentions were realized. Upon seeing the result of their combined efforts, the cults brokered peace treaties among themselves, and reiterated their allegiance to the Imperial Throne, and that peace has lasted for over 100 years. In that time, there have been minor spats between the cults, but nothing serious.
The Shell's design has not changed much since its creation, and the Empire of Kharsaag now has nearly fifty of them at its disposal. There has not been many major conflicts since the end of the war with the Raelkin, but in the few dust-ups the Shell has been deployed, it has performed admirably.

Power Generation

The Shell is powered by an oversized spark-stone called the Life Stone which was created by the Cult of the Source for specific use in this vehicle. The Life Stone not only provides power to the vehicle, but also enhances the abilities of the pilot and co-pilots as they are in direct communication with it through the use of a special helmet crafted by the Yiggithians.

Propulsion

Powered by the Life Stone and controlled by the pilots and co-pilots, the Shell's main mode of propulsion is walking on it's sturdy and well armored legs. These legs can be retracted and reversed so that they turn into wheels for faster movement on even ground. This process takes a few minutes, and is best done when there is no immediate danger. Additionally, the Shell can be used as a submersible and has a diving depth of about 15 meters. This feature is mostly used for deep river and moat crossings.

Weapons & Armament

The Shell has no real weapons to speak of, though its 'head' can be used as a spring loaded battery ram to clear large obstacles and lay siege to castles. Slots in the upper shell will open, allowing for archers and sorcerers to shoot arrows and lob spells at the enemy. Also, it's defensive spells can be used as weapons in large crowds.

Armor and defense

The Shell is heavily armored with large spikes ringing the exterior. The shell has also been imbued with the ability to cast a shock spell on itself that affects any one in contact with, or within 2 meters of, the Shell's exterior.

Communication Tools & Systems

Speak stones are placed in the front of the vehicle and throughout, allowing for easy communication between passengers and the crew.

Sensors

n/a

Additional & auxiliary systems

n/a

Hangars & docked vessels

n/a

Nickname

The Shell

Price

1,000,000 Imperial coins

Rarity

Extremely Rare

Width

10 meters

Length

8 meters

Height

4 meters at the apex, one meter near the front and back

Weight

2 tons

Speed

up to 25 kmph walking, up to 70 kmph on wheels, 10 kmph when in water mode.

Complement / Crew

One pilot, two co-pilots

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

Cargo space: Four 10 cubic meter storage boxes in the undercarriage, passenger capactiy: 40 troops