Shardmind
Fragments of the Gate; Crystalline Sentinels; Psionic Constructs
Shardminds are sentient fragments of the Living Gate, which once stood at the pinnacle of the intricate lattace of the Astral Sea. Beyond the gate lay the alien Far Realm, and the gate's destruction during the Dawn War resulted in the rise of the mind flayer empire. Though Ioun's power holds the portal closed, shardminds seek to rebuild the gate and forever cut off the Far Realm's ability to influence the world.
Shardminds are crystalline creatures consisting of hundreds of small shards of translucent green, white, red, or amber crystal assembled into humanoid form and animated by a force of pure psionic energy. Shardminds choose their forms to mimic the shapes of humanoids; some take on forms that seem more masculine, while others appear more feminine. A shardmind's animating force glows dimly from within each ofits component shards, emanating most brightly from where the eyes of a natural humanoid would be. This inner light sheds dim light in a shardmind's space, but a shard mind individual can squelch the light with an instant's concentration-in order to hide in the dark, for example.
The crystalline fragments making up a shardmind's body are in constant, silent motion, almost like the circulation of blood. When a shardmind is stunned or unconscious, it might lose control of the tight mental reins that keep its body in humanoid form, a few shards slipping free into orbits around its body until the shardmind regains control.
Shard minds are living creatures only in the loosest sense. Their crystalline bodies require no sustenance, and they don't breathe. They don't need sleep, though they must still rest for six hours to gain the benefits of an extended rest. They don't have gender and don't reproduce, but the shardminds alive today aren't the same ones that sprang to life during the Dawn War. Shardminds say that the Living Gate shattered into countless fragments, and each time an awakened shardmind is killed, another one somewhere in the universe stirs to consciousness.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Shardminds are humanoid constructs composed of hundreds of crystalline shards bound together by a psionic energy core. Their forms are semi-fluid, with shards constantly in silent, hypnotic motion. They lack internal organs, blood, or muscles, and their "bodies" are entirely composed of translucent crystal, glowing faintly with psionic energy.
They mimic humanoid forms with varying degrees of accuracy; some take on symmetrical shapes resembling humans or elves, while others favor abstract, angular designs. When incapacitated or unconscious, their bodies lose cohesion, with some shards detaching and orbiting their core.
Genetics and Reproduction
Shardminds do not reproduce biologically. New shardminds "awaken" when dormant fragments of the Living Gate gain sentience, often triggered by significant psionic events or interactions with the Astral Sea. This awakening process is random and unpredictable.
Ecology and Habitats
Shardminds thrive in places rich with psionic or arcane energy. Eclipsion, nestled in Vapour Valley, serves as their primary habitat due to its concentrated magical mist and isolated environment. They can survive anywhere but gravitate toward locations where their unique abilities can be utilized or enhanced.
Behaviour
Shardminds are logical, methodical, and deeply driven by their overarching goal of restoring the Living Gate. They are intensely focused on their purpose, yet capable of forming bonds with humanoids, especially those who share their ideals. Their lack of biological needs can make them seem cold or detached, but they are deeply philosophical beings with a profound respect for existence.
Additional Information
Average Intelligence
Exceptionally high, with a natural affinity for logic, problem-solving, and psionic disciplines.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Shardminds are highly attuned to psionic and magical energies, allowing them to detect disturbances in the arcane weave or psychic realms. They "see" through their glowing crystalline "eyes," capable of both normal and psionic vision. Their unique nature grants them heightened sensitivity to astral phenomena and planar disruptions.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Shardminds adopt names that reflect their psionic nature, purpose, or perceived individuality. Examples include Void, Resonance, Lattice, Aegis, or Prism. They may also append descriptors like The Bound or of the Gate.
Beauty Ideals
Shardminds value symmetry, intricate crystalline patterns, and the intensity of their inner glow. A shardmind's cohesion and stability are seen as signs of strength and beauty.
Gender Ideals
As genderless beings, shardminds do not ascribe meaning to gender. However, they respect the concept among biological beings and sometimes adopt gendered traits for ease of interaction or personal expression.
Courtship Ideals
Shardminds form connections through shared purpose and psionic resonance rather than romantic affection. Bonds are forged through mutual understanding and synchronization of goals, often symbolized by sharing fragments of their crystal cores in a gesture of trust.
Relationship Ideals
Relationships among shardminds are based on collaboration, respect, and the pursuit of their overarching mission. They rarely form exclusive partnerships, valuing collective effort over individual bonds.
Common Etiquette Rules
Address others formally and with acknowledgment of their contributions.
Avoid unnecessary emotional outbursts, as shardminds view such behavior as a loss of focus.
Respect sacred psionic rituals and spaces.
Common Dress Code
Shardminds rarely wear clothing, but they sometimes adorn themselves with metallic bands, engraved runes, or energy-infused ornaments that enhance their psionic abilities. These decorations also serve as identifiers of rank or purpose.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
The Crystal Tide is a vibrant and mystical holiday celebrated by the Shardmind people aboard the floating pirate ship city of Leviathan. This unique festival honors the Shardminds’ connection to the arcane energies that bind them together and the sea’s ever-shifting tides, which mirror their own fluid and crystalline nature.
As the holiday begins, the Shardminds gather on the deck of Leviathan under the light of the full moon, when the ocean’s surface is said to resonate with the same energies that sustain their crystalline forms. The festivities start with the Ritual of Refraction, where Shardminds align themselves with the moonlight, channeling its beams through their bodies to create dazzling displays of refracted light. This ritual symbolizes their harmony with the natural and arcane forces that govern their existence.
Throughout the day, the Shardminds participate in the Wave of Echoes, a synchronized movement across the ship where they create resonant frequencies that echo through the ship’s structure. This act of collective resonance strengthens the bonds between them and the Leviathan, ensuring the ship’s continued protection and their unity as a people.
At the peak of the celebration, the Ceremony of the Crystal Tide takes place. During this ceremony, the Shardminds gather in a circle at the ship’s helm, each holding a piece of raw crystal. These crystals are imbued with the energies of the sea and sky, and then cast into the ocean as offerings. The act of casting the crystals into the water represents the Shardminds’ gratitude for the life and power they draw from the world around them, and their commitment to the never-ending journey across the seas.
The Crystal Tide concludes with the Dance of Shattered Light, where the Shardminds release bursts of light from within, creating a breathtaking display that illuminates the night sky and the ocean below. This dance is both a celebration of their inner strength and a reminder of their enduring spirit, as they navigate the treacherous waters of their pirate ship city, Leviathan.
The Crystal Tide is a time of reflection, unity, and celebration for the Shardminds, where they honor their origins, their journey, and the ever-changing tides that guide them through the vast and mysterious seas.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Shardminds' culture is deeply tied to their origin and mission. They revere the Living Gate and its fragments, viewing themselves as guardians of the multiverse. Their practices focus on maintaining their cohesion, honing psionic skills, and safeguarding astral and planar balance.
- Psionic Convergence: Rituals where shardminds combine their energies to refine their abilities or awaken dormant fragments.
- Gate Remembrance: An annual event honoring the Living Gate and their purpose, where they meditate on its reconstruction.
- Crystal Exchange: A symbolic exchange of fragments among shardminds to signify trust and unity.
Common Taboos
Betraying the shardmind mission by aiding Far Realm entities.
Allowing crystalline fragments to fall into enemy hands.
History
The Shardminds are fragements of the Living Gate, which was destroyed in the during the Dawn War, allowing a being that was locked in the Far Realm; Hadar to seep some of his essence through into the astral sea. Void, the leader of the shardminds had been sent through the Astral Sea into the material plane of Astrium, that became known as the Nexus Plane.
For centuries Void gathered the loose shards that fell into Astrium nurturing and growing them into the warriors they would become on the floating pirateship city of leviathan. A complication in the power needed to raise the shardminds meant that void and the others were left to their dormant crystalline stages, until members of the Archwardens were able to assist in raising them back into humanoid forms.
Today the Shardmind are building their forces in order to return to the living gate and destroy Hadar once and for all.
Common Myths and Legends
- The Shattered Will: A tale of a shardmind who resisted Hadar's corruption and sealed a portal to the Far Realm at the cost of its own existence.
- The First Shard: A legend about the original shardmind who witnessed the Living Gate's destruction and began the quest for its reconstruction.
- The Lost Lattice: A myth about a hidden fragment of the Living Gate said to contain the knowledge needed to permanently banish Hadar.
Scientific Name
Psionica Crystallus Sentia
Lifespan
Indefinite, as they do not age in a traditional sense. However, significant psionic disruptions can destroy them.
Conservation Status
The Shardminds, being beings of the divine gate, are limited in their beings and the shards can be harverted every few decades.
Average Height
5'8" - 6'6"
Average Weight
250-400 pounds
Average Physique
Shardminds are durable and resilient, though not physically strong by default. Their crystalline forms make them resistant to many physical and magical effects.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Their crystalline bodies are usually translucent, glowing faintly in shades of green, white, red, or amber. Their surfaces may bear natural striations or etched markings resembling runes, which often glow brighter during psionic activity.
Geographic Distribution
Discovered by
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