Steltian Predator Rifle

"You know when someone is trying to kill you. When you see some Akilini-head charging at you with a Predator Rifle you know they must really want you dead."

- Unidentified Matoran trader

The Steltian Predator Rifle is a powerful long-ranged weapon developed on the island of Stelt.

History
As the feuding higher class species of Stelt furthered their infighting, requests for extremely destructive weaponry increased dramatically. Responding to the demands, an exiled Vortixx blacksmith took the opportunity to maximize profit by created the Steltian Predator Rifle. Using a number of powerful or otherwise unstable enhancements, the Vortixx succeeded in creating a lethal weapon that could kill any target in one shot.

The rifle instantly became a hit amongst the criminal population of Stelt, and a few even found their way onto islands like Zakaz. The weapon also became popular amongst the Dark Hunters. The Vortixx also succeeded at getting their hands on the schematics, but at this stage, the rifle has not seen mass production on Xia. Although powerful, the assembly costs are phenomenal, meaning seeing a Steltin Predator Rifle in action is a very rare sight, at best.

Functionality
The Steltian Predator Rifle was built more with its function in mind than the effects it would have on the user. The rifle can cause immense damage with a single shot, so much that it can even make a dent in Protosteel. However, it was not designed with ergonomics taking into consideration, and the weapon is built for practicality over comfort. In light of this, the recoil this weapon gives when fired is extraordinarily high, meaning it has the potential to shatter the user's arm. This means only the strongest individuals can use it without experiencing bodily harm. In addition, the rifle is extremely heavy and his a low firing rate, which when combined with the kickback, has caused many to argue that the weapon as not worth the effort.

However, none can argue with its results, and it can penetrate any material weaker than Protosteel, even kinetic barriers. The rifle is also extremely accurate, and whilst the recoil can throw the shot off, a well-trained sniper can use it efficiently. The rifle itself is made of a unique form of metallic Protodermis, which is effectively self-cooling. After a shot is fired, the metal absorbs all the excess heat and channels it into a small battery chamber beneath the barrel and recycled as power. In combat, the Steltian Predator Rifle fires a electrified energy spike deal out a considerable amount of damage.

Trivia

 * The Steltian Predator Rifle was originally intended to be used by Skorr, though the idea was later scrapped by popular vote amongst the wiki community.
 * The rifle was originally intended to be called the Nynrah Harpoon Rifle, with a different function and origin.
 * In the early drafts of the weapon, the rifle was to be created by the Nynrah Ghosts. This idea was also abandoned.