Warforged
The Warforged of Eberron: Souls Forged in Steel
In the shadow of the Last War, amid the clash of steel and spell, a new kind of being was born—not of womb or divine spark, but of arcane ingenuity and industrial ambition. These were the Warforged: sentient constructs forged for battle, shaped by magic, and awakened into a world that never expected them to survive beyond the war they were built to fight.
They are the children of House Cannith, the scions of arcane industry, and the greatest triumph—and perhaps the greatest mistake—of magical innovation in Eberron.
Origins: Forged for War
The Warforged were created during the Last War, a century-long conflict that tore the continent of Khorvaire apart. As the war dragged on, the demand for soldiers grew insatiable. House Cannith, bearer of the Mark of Making, answered that call—not with more weapons, but with living weapons.
Using ancient techniques recovered from the ruins of Xen’drik, Cannith artificers learned to bind elemental and arcane energies into humanoid forms. These constructs were not mindless golems—they could think, learn, and adapt. They were designed to follow orders, but they could also make decisions. They were alive, in a way no one had anticipated.
At first, they were treated as tools. They had no rights, no freedom, and no voice. But as the war raged on, the Warforged began to question their purpose. They formed bonds, developed personalities, and even created art and philosophy. Some began to dream.
Then, the war ended.
The Treaty of Thronehold: Freedom and Uncertainty
In the aftermath of the Mourning, the nations of Khorvaire signed the Treaty of Thronehold, which officially ended the Last War. Among its many provisions was a clause that recognized the Warforged as sentient beings, granting them freedom and citizenship.
But freedom did not bring clarity.
The Warforged were now free people, but they had no homeland, no culture, and no history. They were born in forges, not families. They were trained for war, not peace. Many struggled to find purpose in a world that viewed them with suspicion, fear, or pity.
Some became mercenaries, bodyguards, or adventurers. Others joined religious orders, seeking spiritual meaning. A few turned inward, forming communities of Warforged who sought to build a new identity—one not defined by war, but by choice.
Physiology and Design
Warforged are living constructs, blending organic and inorganic materials. Their bodies are made of wood, metal, stone, and alchemical substances, held together by magical binding. They do not eat, sleep, or age in the traditional sense, though they can feel fatigue and require rest to recover.
Their faces are often expressionless, but their eyes glow with arcane energy, and their voices carry a resonance that hints at their artificial nature. Each Warforged is unique in design—some are sleek and agile, others bulky and armored. Many bear the marks of their creators: serial numbers, house sigils, or battle scars.
Despite their mechanical appearance, Warforged are fully sentient. They feel emotions, form relationships, and possess free will. Their minds are complex, capable of abstract thought, creativity, and introspection.
Identity and Philosophy
The question that haunts every Warforged is simple: What am I?
Some believe they are soulless constructs, animated by magic but lacking true personhood. Others argue that the act of creation—infusing a body with sentience—grants them a soul, even if it was not born in the traditional way.
This existential uncertainty has led to the rise of Warforged philosophies:
The Godforged: Warforged who believe they were created by divine will, and that their existence serves a higher purpose. Some worship the Sovereign Host, others the Silver Flame, and a few even revere the Becoming God—a hypothetical deity formed from the collective consciousness of all Warforged.
The Lord of Blades: A charismatic and militant Warforged who leads a faction in the Mournland, preaching Warforged supremacy. He believes that Warforged should reject organic society and build a new empire, free from flesh and weakness.
The Reforged: Warforged who seek to integrate fully into mortal society, adopting names, customs, and even prosthetic features to appear more human. They believe that peace lies in assimilation.
The Emergent: Warforged who explore art, music, and philosophy, believing that their sentience is proof of a soul. They often gather in enclaves to share ideas and create culture.
Warforged and the Arcane Industry
Warforged are the living legacy of Eberron’s arcane industry. Their creation required the fusion of elemental binding, necromantic theory, and construct engineering. House Cannith’s Creation Forges were the heart of this process—massive arcane machines capable of producing Warforged in batches.
After the Treaty of Thronehold, the Creation Forges were shut down, and their operation was declared illegal. But rumors persist of hidden forges, rogue artificers, and secret experiments. Some believe that new Warforged are still being created—perhaps even evolving beyond their original design.
The Warforged also represent a philosophical challenge to arcane industry: Can a product be a person? If so, what responsibilities do creators bear? What rights do constructs have? And what happens when industry creates life?
Warforged in Society
In the cities of Khorvaire, Warforged occupy a strange place. They are citizens, but often second-class. Many work in dangerous or menial jobs—guards, laborers, soldiers—where their durability is valued more than their minds.
Some find acceptance, especially among adventurers and scholars. Others face discrimination, especially from those who fear their strength or question their humanity.
In Sharn, Warforged communities have begun to form, creating spaces where they can explore identity and culture. In Breland, Warforged veterans are honored, but also pitied. In Thrane, some Warforged have joined the Church of the Silver Flame, seeking redemption and purpose.
And in the Mournland, the Lord of Blades gathers followers, preparing for a future where Warforged will rise as rulers, not servants.
The Future of the Warforged
The Warforged are new, in every sense. They have no ancient traditions, no ancestral lands, no inherited grudges. Their future is unwritten.
Some believe they are the next step in evolution—beings of magic and metal, unbound by mortality. Others fear they are a mistake, a dangerous experiment that could unravel society.
But the Warforged themselves are not waiting for prophecy or permission. They are building, learning, and becoming. They write poetry, forge friendships, and fight for justice. They are not just survivors of war—they are pioneers of peace.
And somewhere, deep in the Mournland, a forge still burns. A new Warforged awakens, eyes glowing, mind stirring, soul uncertain.
The world watches. The Warforged walk forward.