Great Sentinels

Great Sentinels are giant constructs made from the strange magical harnessing technology the first emperor of Catai, Jiang Da, was a master of. Much of this technology is lost to time, but it is said that long ago, the great dragon gods of ancient Catai would select one from there number to live as a mortal and rule over Catai. He would in the process of uniting the land, create an army of these large war machines to keep Catai safe. Though after this dynasty fell, and much of the land descended into barbarism and civil war, these great giants would slumber. However in a last act, Jiang Di would choose 6 families of his most trusted engineers, and impart a fraction of the knowledge to build the machines so that every descendant would know how to create them, albeit slowly.
To this day these sentinels can be found scattered across Catai, standing watch over rice farms, half submerged in rivers, lost deep in forests, or even standing as proud statues at the center of great cities. While they slumber still, sometimes in moments of grave crisis, when a large amount of hostiles are nearby, they will come to life, their visors burning with divine and magical fury, and charge at the foe. However as of recently, the Jade Empress, who some believe is a dragon herself though there is little to prove this, has discovered the way to manually awaken them and order them, for a limited time. Thus if the need is dire, it can be deemed necessary to have some of these sentinels follow armies into battle, and make for a incredibly powerful and terrifying foe.

Manufacturing

It is possible to make them, but it is incredibly complex and can take a a decade for just one to be created

Social Impact

Due to them being shaped to look like ancient Cataian warriors, many believe that the spirits of some of the greatest heroes and warriors in Catai history were placed inside these constructs, as it has been observed that they have some form of sentience, albeit limited. This leads many to still worship the dragons of old for granting them this divine fury made wholly real, though with the Church of the Jade Empress being formed many turn that worship solely to the Jade Empress herself.

Access & Availability

These great magical and mechanical constructs are scattered across the lands of Catai, standing in an eternal watch over the land.

Complexity

The process of making them is incredibly time consuming, and it is said only those who have been born from a long line of engineer families who were there during their first creation are able to make them, the plans inscribed into their minds by the first emperor