The Warforged are a unique and formidable race of sentient constructs, created by the Empire of Bastile using a combination of Rift Magic and advanced Clockwork robotics. These creations were initially developed to serve as the ultimate soldiers, embodying both the resilience of machinery and the adaptability of organic beings. The origins of the Warforged trace back to two influential and controversial factions within the empire: the Cult of Infinitum and the Diocese of Alpia.
Rift Magic: The Cult of Infinitum, a secretive and ambitious faction within the Empire of Bastile, nearly brought about the Third Continuum Crisis through their reckless experimentation with Rift Magic. This arcane power, drawn from the mysterious Abyss Dimension that holds Azhorra'tha, allowed for the manipulation of reality itself. In their pursuit of power, the cultists discovered how to harness this raw, chaotic energy to infuse life into otherwise inanimate materials, laying the groundwork for the Warforged.
Clockwork Robotics: Meanwhile, the Diocese of Alpia, a radical cult known as the Cultus Mechanicus, sought to achieve "The Great Advancement"—a vision of a world where magic was completely eradicated and replaced by pure mechanical and technological progress. The Alpians banned magic within their domains and pursued the integration of their own people with Clockwork robotics, transforming them into cyborgs devoid of free will, but highly efficient in their tasks. This fusion of man and machine led to the creation of highly advanced Clockwork technology, which became a core component in the development of the Warforged.
The Warforged were engineered in the forges of the Imperial Academy, combining the mystical energies of Rift Magic with the precision of Clockwork robotics. The first prototypes were simple, mindless automatons designed solely for combat. However, as the demands of war grew and the need for more adaptable and independent soldiers became apparent, Wargrym—a warmongering noble house within the empire—devoted vast resources to refining these constructs.
The breakthrough came when Rift Magic was successfully used to infuse a Warforged with sentience. This unexpected development produced fully self-aware beings, capable of feeling pain, emotion, and even forming their own identities. The Warforged were made from a blend of wood, metal, and other materials, bound together by powerful magical runes and complex Clockwork mechanisms. Though they were created as weapons, their newfound sentience meant that the Warforged could also experience the world in ways their creators never anticipated.
The Warforged were built to serve in the Northern Wars, a brutal conflict that ravaged much of the Tolrian continent and ended in a costly Bastilian victory as each of the Northern Kingdoms capitulated. On the battlefield, they were relentless and tireless, with their sturdy bodies and sharp minds making them ideal soldiers. However, when the war finally ended, the Warforged were left without a purpose. Unlike other soldiers who could return to their homes and families, the Warforged had no such ties. They were constructs—living weapons—created for a specific purpose that no longer existed.
Now, in the aftermath of the war, the Warforged must navigate a world that is often unwelcoming and suspicious of their origins. Some Warforged seek to find a new purpose, whether as defenders of the innocent, scholars of arcane and mechanical lore, or as explorers seeking to understand their place in the world. Others struggle with their past, haunted by the horrors they witnessed and the role they played in the Last War.
The Warforged stand as a testament to both the brilliance and the hubris of the Empire of Bastile. Their creation represents the heights of magical and technological innovation, as well as the dangers of unchecked ambition. As they forge their own paths in the world, the Warforged must contend with the legacy of their origins and the prejudices of those who see them as little more than weapons.
In the Empire of Bastile, the Warforged are both revered as symbols of the empire's technological prowess and feared as reminders of the power that nearly destroyed the world. For the Warforged themselves, the journey toward understanding their purpose and identity continues, as they seek to carve out a place for themselves in a world that is still coming to terms with their existence.