The Warforged are among the youngest Peoples of Andórë and certainly among the most mysterious.
Created by the artificers of the Rihian Republic during the Great War, the Warforged were originally designed as soldiers, combining the principles of Golem Craft with revolutionary advances in Artifice. Though their bodies are constructed from metal, wood, crystal, and alchemical components, the Warforged are undeniably alive. They think, feel, dream, and possess personalities as varied and complex as those of any other mortal people.
Exactly how the Rihians achieved this remarkable feat remains one of the greatest mysteries of the modern age. The artificers responsible for their creation either died during the war, disappeared afterward, or took their secrets to the grave. Many scholars have attempted to recreate the process, but none have succeeded.
Some theologians claim the gods themselves granted souls to these constructed beings. Others believe the Warforged represent a previously unknown form of life that emerged spontaneously through sufficiently advanced magic. Still others insist that the secret lies somewhere within the lost notes of the Republic's wartime artificers.
The Warforged themselves rarely concern themselves with such debates. Most simply accept that they are alive and seek to determine what that life means.
Unlike most peoples, the Warforged possess no natural ancestry, no ancient legends, and no distant homeland from which they came. Every living Warforged can trace their existence to the Great War and to the workshops of the Rihian Republic. As a people, their entire history exists within living memory.
This unusual beginning has shaped much of their culture.
Many Warforged struggle with questions that other peoples answer almost instinctively. What purpose should they serve now that the war is over? What does it mean to have a soul? Can a being created for battle truly choose its own destiny? What obligations, if any, do they owe to those who made them?
No two Warforged answer these questions in the same way.
Some continue to seek structure and purpose through military service, guarding caravans, or serving as protectors and laborers. Others embrace art, scholarship, religion, or exploration, determined to prove that they are more than weapons forged for war. Still others wander the world in search of meaning, believing that purpose is not given but discovered.
Though initially viewed with fear and suspicion, the Warforged have gradually earned acceptance throughout much of Andórë. They are widely respected for their reliability, discipline, and determination, though some still regard them with unease. To many people, the sight of a living construct remains difficult to reconcile.
At present, the oldest Warforged are only one hundred and thirteen years old. None have shown signs of physical aging or decline, and no Warforged has yet died of old age. Consequently, scholars cannot say whether they are effectively immortal or whether their years are simply far longer than those of other peoples.
The Warforged themselves often treat this uncertainty with characteristic pragmatism.
As one saying among them goes:
"We were made yesterday and may live forever. Neither fact helps with tomorrow."
Sub-Cultures¶
The Warforged possess no ancestral nations, ethnic groups, or biological lineages. Instead, their identities often form around shared experiences and personal philosophies.
Many identify themselves by the military units in which they served during the Great War, maintaining strong bonds with former comrades regardless of national borders.
Others form small communities based upon profession or purpose. Groups of artisans, laborers, scholars, and mercenaries are not uncommon, and many Warforged prefer the company of others who share their chosen path.
A growing number have also settled permanently among the peoples of other nations, adopting local customs and traditions while retaining a distinctly Warforged perspective on life.
Some have embraced religion and philosophy in search of meaning, while others reject such pursuits entirely and define themselves through action alone.
Unlike most peoples, the divisions among the Warforged are not inherited but chosen.
A Warforged may completely reinvent themselves several times over the course of their existence, changing occupations, beliefs, and even names as they continue their search for purpose.
Among the Warforged, it is often said:
"We were built with a function. We must choose a purpose."
Naming Traditions¶
The earliest Warforged possessed no names in the traditional sense.
During the Great War, they were assigned designations by the artificers and military officers who created and commanded them. Some units were identified by numbers, others by functions, and still others by simple descriptive terms. A Warforged might have been known as Sentinel, Hammer, Builder, or merely Two.
After the war, many retained these designations, having known no other names. Over time, however, it became customary for Warforged to choose names for themselves.
Unlike the naming traditions of most peoples, a Warforged's name is often a declaration of identity rather than a gift from parents or a link to ancestry. A name may reflect a profession, a personality trait, a cherished ideal, or an aspiration.
A Warforged who seeks to protect others may call itself Guardian, Aegis, or Shield. One devoted to scholarship may choose Reader, Teacher, or Author. Another who wishes to remember its origins might retain names such as Subject, Vessel, or Drone.
Some Warforged change their names several times throughout their lives as they discover new purposes or redefine themselves. Among their kind, this practice is considered perfectly natural. To a Warforged, a name is not necessarily a permanent thing but rather a reflection of who they are in the present.
A smaller number adopt names from other cultures, usually after being welcomed into a community or in honor of a close friend, mentor, or fallen comrade.
Warforged possess neither family names nor clan names, for they have neither families of birth nor ancestral lineages to preserve.
As one old Warforged saying goes:
"The first name was given to me. The second I chose for myself."
Another, often spoken to newly awakened Warforged, is equally common:
"A designation tells others what you were made to do. A name tells the world who you have decided to become."
Beauty Ideals¶
The concept of beauty among the Warforged is markedly different from that of most other peoples.
Because they do not reproduce and possess no biological instincts concerning mates or offspring, physical attractiveness serves little purpose in traditional Warforged society. Most simply do not experience aesthetic appreciation in the same manner as other mortals.
This does not mean that Warforged are incapable of recognizing beauty.
Many admire craftsmanship, symmetry, and signs of care and maintenance. A well-polished frame, finely engraved plating, elegant construction, or skillfully integrated modifications may all be considered admirable.
Likewise, many Warforged come to appreciate beauty through their interactions with other peoples. They may learn to admire paintings, music, architecture, or even the physical appearance of others, though often in an intellectual or aesthetic sense rather than one rooted in attraction.
Among the Warforged themselves, beauty is frequently associated with purpose and self-expression. A Warforged that has carefully modified its appearance to reflect its identity or chosen path is often regarded with respect.
As one saying among them goes:
"A well-kept blade is beautiful because it is cared for."
Another is equally common:
"Function made us. Choice adorns us."
Gender Ideals¶
The Warforged are entirely genderless.
They possess no biological sex, do not reproduce, and were not created with gender roles or expectations in mind.
As a result, traditional concepts of masculinity and femininity hold little meaning within Warforged society.
Most simply refer to one another by name and regard questions of gender as largely irrelevant.
Some Warforged who spend significant time among other peoples eventually adopt a gender identity. They may choose to use masculine or feminine pronouns, alter their appearance to resemble the peoples around them, or simply find comfort in participating more fully in the cultures they have come to call home.
Others reject the concept entirely and remain comfortably ungendered throughout their existence.
Among the Warforged, both approaches are generally accepted without comment.
A common saying among them is:
"A hammer need not be male or female to build a house."
Relationships and Courtship¶
The Warforged do not reproduce, do not mate, and generally lack the instincts and biological drives that shape the relationships of most other peoples.
Consequently, romance and physical attraction are uncommon among them.
This does not mean that Warforged are incapable of love, affection, or emotional attachment. They can experience these feelings, and some form deep, meaningful bonds with other Warforged or with members of other peoples.
Such relationships, however, usually arise from companionship, trust, and shared experiences rather than physical attraction or the desire to form families.
Indeed, many Warforged find the customs of courtship among other peoples somewhat confusing. The idea that affection should be tied to beauty, reproduction, or marriage is often difficult for them to fully understand.
Friendship, on the other hand, is of immense importance.
Many Warforged form extraordinarily strong bonds with comrades, companions, and those they have served beside. These friendships are often enduring and deeply loyal, sometimes lasting for decades or even centuries.
It is not uncommon for a Warforged to speak of a close friend with the same devotion that another person might reserve for a spouse or sibling.
A few Warforged do experience romantic feelings and may even choose to marry, usually after adopting the customs of other cultures. Such cases are uncommon but by no means unheard of.
Among the Warforged, however, relationships are generally measured not by passion or blood, but by trust.
As one old saying goes:
"We were made without families, so we choose our own."
Another is frequently spoken between close companions:
"I cannot give you children or descendants. I can give you forever."
Common Etiquette¶
The Warforged possess no ancient codes of etiquette, having existed for little more than a century. Nevertheless, certain customs have emerged among them through shared experience.
Punctuality and reliability are highly valued. A promise made is generally considered a promise that should be kept, and many Warforged find needless delays or vague commitments frustrating.
Likewise, many place great importance upon direct and honest communication. While they are fully capable of understanding nuance and deception, many prefer plain speech and clear intentions.
Among themselves, introductions often include one's occupation, purpose, or current undertaking. To many Warforged, what a person chooses to do says far more about them than where they came from.
Many also possess an unusual respect for personal autonomy. Perhaps because they were created to serve others, most Warforged are reluctant to tell another person what they should become.
It is also considered impolite to ask a Warforged who created them, what they were built for, or whether they still obey old military commands. Such questions often touch upon painful or deeply personal memories.
Similarly, many Warforged dislike being treated as though they are incapable of emotion simply because they express it differently than other peoples.
Common Dress¶
The Warforged have little practical need for clothing.
Their bodies are naturally protected by metal, wood, and other durable materials, and they neither require warmth nor experience modesty in the same manner as most peoples.
As a result, many Warforged wear only those garments necessary for a particular occupation or environment.
Those who do adopt clothing often do so for social reasons, either to fit into the societies in which they live or as a means of personal expression.
Cloaks, tabards, belts, satchels, and insignia are especially popular, as they allow a Warforged to display affiliations, professions, or achievements without interfering with their construction.
Many also decorate their bodies directly through paint, engraving, etching, inlays, or the polishing and modification of their plating.
Among the Warforged, one's body is often viewed not merely as flesh and bone, but as something that can be maintained, repaired, and improved throughout one's life.
As a result, a well-kept and carefully maintained frame is often a source of pride.
Customs and Traditions¶
Because they possess neither ancestors nor ancient histories, the customs of the Warforged tend to focus upon purpose, memory, and chosen companionship.
Many continue to commemorate the end of the Great War and the day upon which they were recognized as free people.
Likewise, many maintain meticulous records of their lives. Journals, ledgers, sketches, and collections of keepsakes are common, perhaps because every Warforged understands that the history of their people exists entirely within living memory.
Some Warforged also keep the names or personal effects of fallen comrades, preserving them long after other peoples might have forgotten.
Among close companions, the exchange of small tokens is surprisingly common. A tool, a book, a piece of armor, or some other meaningful object may serve as a symbol of friendship and trust.
Because many Warforged possess exceptionally long memories, these mementos often become treasured possessions.
Another widespread custom is the adoption of new names or titles throughout one's life. To many Warforged, changing one's purpose and changing one's name are closely related acts.
Common Taboos¶
Among the Warforged, there is perhaps no greater insult than to suggest that they are objects, property, or merely sophisticated machines.
Likewise, many find it deeply offensive to be referred to as golems, constructs, or tools of war.
Another common taboo is dismantling or scavenging the remains of a deceased Warforged. Though their bodies are constructed from valuable materials, most Warforged regard such acts with the same horror that other peoples reserve for the desecration of a corpse.
Many also strongly object to being judged solely by the purpose for which they were originally created. To insist that a former soldier must always remain a soldier, or that a laborer can never become a scholar, is considered profoundly disrespectful.
Finally, many Warforged dislike being asked whether they possess souls.
To them, the answer seems obvious.
They live, think, dream, hope, and grieve.
What more proof should be required?
Among the Warforged, there is an old saying:
"If I can mourn the dead, then I must have a soul."
Another, often spoken to those who doubt their humanity, is equally common:
"A tool does not wonder why it exists."
Historical Figures¶
Stats¶
Scientific Name
Constructus sapiens
Lifespan
Average Height
Average Weight