Sentient Plate

Characteristics

Combat Behavior

Monster Description

The Sentient Plate is a unique construct, born from the remnants of ancient warriors' armor, imbued with a semblance of life and intelligence. Crafted by powerful wizards to serve as guardians of lost treasures or vast dungeons, this living armor chooses its allies wisely. Composed of magically infused metals and imbued with memories of past battles, it exudes an aura of authority and protection. The surfaces of its armor gleam with an otherworldly sheen, reflecting the light in a spectrum of colors, shifting slightly as it moves. Its joints move fluidly, revealing a striking design that binds marching regality with ominous potential. Occasionally, whispers of its past accompany its presence - echoes of fraught battles and unresolved conflicts that it infringed upon in the ages past.

Monster behavior

In combat, the Sentient Plate approaches engagements primarily with tactical caution, opting to protect its wearer first and foremost. It engages in melee with its Slam ability, efficiently knocking back foes that dare threaten its guardian. The armor may also employ its Psychic Bolt from a distance, stunning enemies and affording its wearer an opportunity to regroup or strike back effectively. When faced with overwhelming odds, the Sentient Plate's defense mechanism springs into effect, providing a disorienting edge to its wearer, as well as temporarily merging with them for enhanced protection. Outside of combat, the Sentient Plate remains an enigmatic companion, engaging with its wearer through intuitive emotional understanding and is known to advise rather than command, forming a unique bond with those who prove worthy.

Ecology

As a construct, the Sentient Plate does not pertain to a biological ecosystem as traditionally understood. It exists to uphold and safeguard ruins and treasures, asserting itself within ancient battlefields and halls of valor. Reconstituted from steps of fallen warriors, it possesses vestiges of the lives long past, which aid it in understanding the spectral remnants of life around it. Sentient Plates often serve as deterrents against grave robbers and those wishing to despoil sacred grounds. They preserve the memories of battles in the charms and defenses integrated within their forms, preserving history in a unique manner.

History

The origins of Sentient Plates are shrouded in myth and legend. Some say they were originally created by an ancient civilization as embodiments of their greatest warriors' spirits, designed to protect sacred grounds from invasions and brigands. Legends tell of an arcane explosion that granted these armors a glimmer of life and sentience after a failed ritual. Since then, many entered the lore of nobility and royalty, invading deep tombs and reaching hidden treasure sites where they now reside. The bond formed between a Sentient Plate and their wearer is often described in tales—each adventure winding their fates together, swaying between formidable ally, unexpected mentor, and devoted guardian. In modern tales, Sentient Plates may emerge in ruins or as guardians of long-lost artifacts, recounting their encounters with forgotten glories and devastating wars.