Shardplate
Sentient armor forged from a Shard’s soul, turning a mortal into an avatar of war.
Shardplate is a sentient carapace of living metal and light, forged from the physical manifestation of a Shard's Investiture. It transforms a mortal wearer into an avatar of war, granting superhuman strength, speed, durability, and rapid regeneration as long as the plate remains intact. While originally worn only by Heralds and later by Radiants, it eventually became a coveted prize of war among the highborn of Alethkar.
- Origin
- Created by the Shards Honor and Cultivation
- Primary Wielders
- Heralds, Knights Radiant, Highprinces (post-Desolation)
- Material Composition
- Investiture manifesting as a hard, glowing substance
- Defensive Capability
- Near-impenetrable to conventional weapons; shatters under sufficient magical or extreme force
- Healing Factor
- Rapid regeneration of the wearer's physical body while bonded
- Mobility Enhancement
- Grants superhuman agility and the ability to fall from great heights unharmed
Lore & Background
The history of Shardplate is deeply intertwined with the Desolations and the Heralds. For millennia, only the ten Heralds could don this armor, as it was tied to their Oathpacts and their connection to the Shards. When the Knights Radiant were formed, they too were granted access to Plate, though its use varied by order. Following the Recreance, when the Radiants abandoned their oaths and shattered their bonds, the Plate became orphaned, drifting into the hands of Alethi highprinces who could not wield its full potential but could still command immense power through it.
The nature of Shardplate is unique in that it does not require a specific size or shape; it forms perfectly to the wearer's body regardless of their stature. It is powered by Stormlight, which the armor absorbs from the environment during highstorms or from gemstones infused with the light. This energy sustains its defensive properties and allows for rapid healing. However, if the plate is shattered into too many pieces or if the bond between the spren and the wearer is broken, the magic fades, leaving behind dull, heavy metal that offers no protection.
In Their Own Story
The highstorm raged outside, a cacophony of wind and rain that would have crushed any ordinary soldier. Inside the breach, Dalinar Kholin stood alone against the horde. He did not flinch as a spear slammed into his chest; the impact rang out like a struck bell, absorbed by the glowing azure armor that clung to him like a second skin. With a thought, the shards of his plate shifted and knit themselves back together, the light within burning brighter. He raised his hand, and the Plate responded, amplifying his strength until he could lift a boulder with one arm. The enemy hesitated, their eyes wide with terror at the sight of a man who could not be killed, a storm given human form.
Reader's Guide
Shardplate functions as both an impenetrable shield and an instrument of war in the hands of a skilled user. It operates by absorbing Stormlight, which fuels its defensive capabilities and allows it to repair itself instantly upon taking damage. The wearer gains enhanced physical attributes, enabling them to leap vast distances with impossible ease, clearing chasms in a single bound.
Did You Know?
- Shardplate can heal fatal wounds in seconds as long as it remains intact and charged with Stormlight.
- When a piece of Shardplate is shattered, it does not disappear but falls to the ground as heavy, dull metal.
- The color of the light emitted by Shardplate varies depending on the order of Knights Radiant or the specific spren bonded to it.
- Highprinces in Alethkar often fight duels over ownership of a single suit of Plate, as they are rare and incredibly valuable.