Warded Hoard

Warded Hoards are not creatures, but a semi sentient form of magical sealant. They were created by the Archomancers to protect their most valuable artifacts. The Archomancers would enchant a rare mineral with a single, powerful command: to guard a specific object. The sealant would then form a small, mobile, and non hostile being that would scurry away when approached. They were an elegant and peaceful form of security.   When the Annihilation happened, the Bleed eroded their clarity. Now they guard everything they carry within them, endlessly running from would-be thieves. Their sense of possession has become pathological — even if the original artifact they were bound to has long since decayed, they still believe they must protect something.    They roam the ruins, still protecting their artifacts, but over thousands of years their sense of possession has become obsessive and territorial. The Warded Hoard appear as small, geometric creatures made of glittering, polished boxes made of metal and crystal. They have no face or limbs, but move with a surprising speed, their bodies clattering as they go. They are completely non hostile and will immediately scurry away when you get too close. You must hit them a few times before they "break," and when they do, they explode into a shower of light and drop rare crafting materials and a single, unique, magically warded item.