Ardemin

**Ardemin** is a bizarre Brute Wyvern notable for its cannon-like tail and sizable thoracic sac, which it uses to blow up anything in its path and empower itself, respectively. The female of the species, it is often seen in the vicinity of its partner, Austros, and will work together with it to destroy trespassers.

## Physiology

Ardemin vaguely resembles a *Qianzhousaurus sinesis*, possessing an elongated snout with narrow fangs, a narrow premaxilla (a small pair of cranial bones located at the tip of the upper jaw), a medium-sized, tyrannosaurid-like build, and long legs. However, it has some differences to set itself apart from them. Its body is primarily light purple, with some metallic gray parts here and there, such as its chest and underbelly, the spikes found on its neck and back, and the claws found on its hands and feet. Its shoulders, lower arms, and lower legs are encased in a sturdy carapace that is light purple with pink stripes, and its arms are fairly long for a Brute Wyvern's, though are shorter than those of Brachydios and Austros. On its tail rests a long, cannon-like structure that is light purple with pink stripes and a grey "muzzle". Its head is light purple, with gray outlines along the eyes and lips, and its eyes are blue with black sclera. A sizable thoracic sac akin to Qurupeco's can be seen on its throat, with this sac being purple in colouration.

## Ecology

Ardemin is a high-level carnivore, subsisting on a variety of smaller monsters, such as Aptonoth, Kelbi, Slagtoth, Burukku, Great Jaggi, Tzitzi-ya-Ku, Bulldrome, Seltas, and Yian Kut-Ku, and only facing competition from other apex monsters, Elder Dragons, and Elder Dragon-Level Monsters, such as Rathalos, Zinogre, Seltas Queen, Astalos, Tigrex, Gurenzeburu, Deviljho, and Chameleos. The female of an extremely sexually dimorphic species of Brute Wyvern, it holds a different set of adaptations from its female counterpart, the Austros. For starters, it possesses a long, cannon-like structure on its tail that allows for extensive melee combat and a sizable thoracic sac that it uses to amplify its calls and let males know that it is ready to breed. The tail also secretes a Void-based fluid that corrodes materials like monster shells on contact, suppressing their attributes to render their possessors more vulnerable to attack, and it sustains this fluid by feeding on Obscurity Berries and the organs of other Void-based monsters, such as Sohaloek and Teccarotl, storing the contents in a specialized organ. In addition to this fluid, its body produces a corrosive poison that is absorbed through skin and can make targets dissolve in moments, with it mixing it with the fluid for maximized damage potential, and it can use its thoracic sac to produce songs that bolster metabolism in a manner similar to those of Qurupeco, buffing itself and its partners. Its body is covered in a light purple shell coated in a protective layer that shields it from a variety of elements along with the corrosive secretions it produces, and provides it with camouflage in during twilight and serves as a warning to back off in dark areas like the caves it calls home, with it hunting during twilight, guarding its nests from hungry predators during nightfall, and sleeping during the day. Its long legs are designed for quick bursts of speed, allowing it to gain the distance on prey in mere moments, and its tail provides it with balance and coordination as it runs. In addition, it forms a strong bond with Austros, and will work together with it in battle, flanking foes from a distance while Austros attacks them upfront, and will put its superior range to good use by healing and buffing injured Austros.

## Behavior

Ardemin will warn foes to leave instead of attacking right away, and dislikes fighting foes up-front, preferring to keep its distance and strike them down from afar. It works with its counterpart Austros as a team, and if Austros is at a disadvantage, it will come to its aid, using its sounds to heal and buff it.

## Abilities

Ardemin exhibits a high level of prowess in ranged combat, using powerful blasts of Void energy and acrobatic movements to gain the advantage over hunters, and its shell is highly resistant to elemental damage, allowing it to brush off intense elemental attacks with ease. In addition, its cannon-like tail secretes a fluid that wears down a hunter's armour upon contact, suppressing the armour's abilities, and it mixes this fluid with corrosive poisons that wear down a foe's defenses and drain their health, making them more susceptible to damage. Furthermore, similar to Qurupeco, it has access to vocalizations that it can use to bolster its abilities. It forms a strong partnership with Austros, and will work together with it to crush any opposition.

## Habitat

Ardemin is primarily found in caverns and mountains, but can also be found in settlements like the Tower.

## HP and Damage

**HP:**

* Base HP: 4,000 HP

* High-Rank (0.70x): 2,800 HP

**Physical/Elemental Damage Taken:**

* Head: 45 (Cut), 50 (Impact), 30 (Shot), 5 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 25 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Throat: 65 (Cut), 65 (Impact), 65 (Shot), 5 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 20 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Torso: 45 (Cut), 50 (Impact), 40 (Shot), 5 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 15 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Arms: 45 (Cut), 45 (Impact), 40 (Shot), 5 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 25 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Legs: 35 (Cut), 35 (Impact), 30 (Shot), 5 (Fire), 0 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 10 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Tail: 40 (Cut), 40 (Impact), 20 (Shot), 10 (Fire), 0 (Water), 10 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 20 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 0 (Wind), 10 (Nature), 10 (Aether), 0 (Void)

**Element/Status Effectiveness**

* Fire = ★
* Water = ✖
* Thunder = ★
* Ice = ✖
* Dragon = ★★
* Earth = ★
* Wind = ✖
* Nature = ★
* Aether = ★
* Void = ✖
* Poison = ★
* Sleep = ★
* Paralysis = ★
* Blast = ★★★
* Stun = ★★

## Attacks

Ardemin shares many attacks with other Brute Wyverns, but possesses some attacks of its own.

**Triple Attack Combo**

Ardemin does a backhand motion with its right arm, then does a roundhouse kick with its right leg, then finishes the combo by jabbing at the hunter with its tail, releasing a short-ranged burst of Void energy. The swipe and kick deal medium damage, whereas the tail burst deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Corrosion.

**Kick Away**

Ardemin rears its right leg back, then swiftly kicks at the hunter with sheer force. This attack deals medium damage and sends the hunter flying away, giving the monster time to prepare a different attack.

**Pistol Whip**

Ardemin hoists its tail into the air, charges Void energy within it, then slams it onto the ground, creating a crater that releases a geyser made of Void energy. Contact with the tail deals medium damage, whereas contact with the geyser deals high damage, and both inflict Voidblight and Corrosion.

**Void Stream**

Ardemin extends its tail out, letting out a large stream of Void energy from it, then moves its arms around back and forth to increase its chances of hitting the hunter. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Corrosion.

**Void Spin**

Ardemin extends its tail out, letting out a large stream of Void energy from it, then moves towards the hunter while spinning. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Corrosion.

**Back Hop**

Ardemin jumps back to avoid physical confrontation. Anyone it lands on will take medium damage. It will often use this attack to make distance between it and the hunter.

**Void Missiles**

Ardemin charges up Void energy in its tail cannon, then fires a series of Void-elemental projectiles at the hunter from the cannon, which home in on them until they dissipate. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Corrosion.

**Void Beams**

Ardemin charges up Void energy in its tail cannon, then repeatedly swings it either horizontally or vertically in a rapid fashion, sending multiple beams of Void energy at the hunter. Each beam deals medium-high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Corrosion.

**Void Bombs**

Ardemin charges up Void energy in its arm cannons, then points them at the hunter, firing four large Dragon-elemental bombs at them in succession, which explode upon hitting the ground. Each bomb deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Corrosion.

**Void Bolt**

Ardemin raises its tail, charges Void energy from within it, then lowers it, releasing a massive Void-elemental bolt from it, shifting its body around to increase its chances of hitting the hunter with it. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight. This attack cannot be blocked without the presence of Guard Plus.

**Buffing Sounds**

Ardemin stays in place while releasing loud noises from its thoracic sac. The colour of the energy released from them determines what it will use; red sounds boost attack power, orange sounds boost defense, white sounds boost movement speed, and green sounds heal. It takes 8 seconds for it to finish making the sounds, leaving it vulnerable to damage, a Flash Bomb, or a Sonic Bomb until it finishes. It will often use this attack in response to Austros getting overpowered by hunters.

**Gunman's Fury**

When enraged, Ardemin becomes enveloped in a deep purple aura. During this time, its attacks will come out notably faster and inflict more damage, it will not flinch when struck, all of its ranged attacks cannot be blocked without Guard Plus, and it will be smarter in how it handles the fight. In exchange, it won't its empowering songs unless it or Austros are at low health and is less likely to evade attacks, and when the mode expires, it will temporarily be limited to physical attacks due to it using up most of its energy. If Austros dies, it will be locked in this mode until it dies as well.

## Weapons

### Great Sword

**Diamond Scimitar** --> **Diamond Supremacy**

### Sword and Shield

**Draconic Suppressor** --> **Dragon's Ultimatum**

### Dual Blades

**Warrior and Wizard** --> **Righteous Duo**

### Lance

**Diamond Spear** --> **Diamond Bastion**

### Charge Blade

**Suppressor's Edge** --> **Suppressor's Brutality**

### Bow

**Suppressor's Cruelty** --> **Suppressor's Despotism'**

* **Note**: It and Austros share weapons, and thus, all of these require both of their parts to make.

## Armour

### Blademaster

#### High-Rank

**Defense**: 285-630

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire 0
* Water +5
* Thunder 0
* Ice +5
* Dragon -15
* Earth 0
* Wind +5
* Nature 0
* Aether 0
* Void +20

**Skills**: Mind's Eye, Bond, Steady Hand, Undrea Blood

#### G-Rank

**Defense**: 480-715

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire 0
* Water +5
* Thunder 0
* Ice +5
* Dragon -15
* Earth 0
* Wind +5
* Nature 0
* Aether 0
* Void +20

**Skills**: Mind's Eye, Bond, Steady Hand, Undrea Blood

### Gunner

#### High-Rank

**Defense**: 140-400

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire +5
* Water +10
* Thunder +5
* Ice +10
* Dragon -10
* Earth +5
* Wind +10
* Nature +5
* Aether +5
* Void +25

**Skills**: Mind's Eye, Bond, Silver Bullet, Undrea Blood

#### G-Rank

**Defense**: 265-465

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire +5
* Water +10
* Thunder +5
* Ice +10
* Dragon -10
* Earth +5
* Wind +10
* Nature +5
* Aether +5
* Void +25

**Skills**: Mind's Eye, Bond, Silver Bullet, Undrea Blood

* **Note**: Austros and Ardemin have the same armour, and thus, it requires parts from both to craft. However, to go with their theme, the Blademaster Armour primarily uses Austros parts while the Gunner armour primarily uses Ardemin parts.

## Breakable-Parts

Head- The monster's right eye will be gouged out.

Throat- The thoracic sac will be covered in scars.

Arms x2- The claws will be chipped, and the arm's armour will crack.

Tail- The tail will be covered in scars.

## Trivia

* Ardemin's name is an anagram of Menardi, one of the two main villains of *Golden Sun*.
* Ardemin was mainly inspired by Duon, a boss from *Super Smash Bros. Brawl: The Subspace Emissary*, in terms of design and abilities. It also takes inspiration from Palkia, a Legendary Pokémon with the ability to control space, in terms of design, and the aforementioned Menardi, who primarily uses magic-based attacks as opposed to sword-based ones, in terms of abilities.
* Even if Ardemin can temporarily lose its ability to use ranged attacks, it cannot become fatigued.
* Ardemin was designed to be the Blue Oni to Ardemin's Red Oni, being more passive and distant in terms of its battle style. This is further reflected by its Rage Mode; when enraged, Ardemin stays collected despite being more inclined to attack the hunter while Austros goes berserk and attacks uncontrollably.
* Ardemin was originally an artificial Bypaldian, but was reworked into a natural, albeit abnormal Brute Wyvern due to Nin10DillN64 wanting to increase his list of Brute Wyverns and thinking that it would work better as one.