Champion's Shard

The anatomy of the Champion's Shard can be as diverse as that of the armor that makes up its body. Historically, however, the creature has required at least some way to hold its assigned weapons while still appearing like a living champion. As such, many of these constructs tend to match the anatomy of their parent species. However, due to the sacrificial nature of the creature, it rarely comes equipped with a living warrior. Instead, a complicated series of machinery and/or magic is primarily used to bring the construct to life.   However, it is not the fact that it is a construct that is truly its most terrifying feature. Often covered in a variety of metal spikes, the armor and weapons of these warriors are dipped in an unusual concoction that causes those who become nicked or injured by them to become infected with an unusual and debilitating boldness.   This boldness can throw enemy armies into disarray as infected warriors begin to foolishly challenge their peers or even dive headlong into unwinnable fights against their enemies as their fear of death becomes non-existent.

Born primarily to fight and die on the battlefield, these constructs rarely see use outside of this context. However, as wars and kingdoms fade away, it is not unusual for remnants of these suits to be found wandering the old battlefields and challenging all they cross paths with. As they are constructs, they can remain animated in a variety of different environments for years until they are inevitably destroyed.

Constructed to look and act like intimidating champions, these constructs can often be nearly indistinguishable from their more organic counterparts as they attempt to lure enemies into fighting them. As such, it's not uncommon for these battlefield machines to possess haughty words, flourishing flags, exquisite-looking armors, and powerful weapons, all in an attempt to draw the foolish and the arrogant towards their blades.   During battles, they prioritize injuring their foes as opposed to outright killing them to allow their enemies to reintegrate back into their respective army. By doing so, the real goal of their actions can be finalized as infected warriors begin to cause havoc throughout their own ranks.

Possessing the same sensory capabilities as those of the great warriors it is based off of, these constructs are capable of delivering accurate blows while feinting away from their opponent's strikes with a terrifying efficiency. While this is often not enough to ensure its survivability against a multitude of foes or especially experienced enemies, it does help to guarantee that its primary purpose of causing some level of injury succeeds.   As these animated suits possess no eyes, it is commonly thought that they are able to perceive the environment around themselves through advanced understanding of the vibrations that carry through the ground and air.