Shardborne

The Shardborne are grotesque demonic beings created from people or animals infused with shards of the corrupted Worldstone.

Lore

Shardborne are driven to kill by endless visions of terror,^[1] and the slightest exposure to Worldstone shards sends the Shardborne into a rabid craze.^[2] Despite this, Shardborne have displayed a modicum of intelligence; intentionally using Worldstone shards on creatures to create more Shardborne, for instance. References have been made to a "chorus of voices" that link the Shardborne, with some voices more dominant than others.^[3]

Shardborne appear to willingly seek out shardstorms.^[4]

Transformation

A human/animal may become a Shardborne if their flesh is pierced by a Worldstone shard. This initiates decay that results in a twisted amalgamation of flesh.^[2] The warping progress can take time (potentially weeks), and the unlucky soul can fall ill, tormented by maddening visions and voices bound in agony.^[3] The formerly deceased may also be turned into Shardborne,^[2] and similarly, the transformation can kill the unlucky soul, and subsequently resurrect them. Organic matter can also be turned into a Shardborne.^[3]

The transformation may be halted,^[5][6] or in its late stages kept at bay,^[7] by exposure to Light. However, one's inner light cannot stop the transformation.^[8]

People who are scratched, not pierced, by splinters of the Worldstone do not change to Shardborne.^[9][10]

If a being is transformed into a Shardborne, the process is usually total; it is very rare for vestiges of the original being to remain, at least physically. Psychologically, some Shardborne can be considered a separate persona from their pre-corrupted self, while others can be considered one and the same.^[3]

History

When Mount Arreat was sundered, the Southern Dreadlands was subjected to horrifying red storms that carried tiny splinters and particles of the destroyed Worldstone. When a storm passed through a settlement, it either cut the inhabitants to pieces or transformed them into Shardborne.^[2]

Seven years later, the Shardborne were wielded by the Cult of Terror, who hoped to unleash the Shardborne on Sanctuary. Some were reanimated dead, shaped into lethal attackers.^[2]

The Shardborne fell under Diablo's control^[11] Through the Worldstoneshard in his possession.^[12] Their forms warped under his corrupting influence, and their crystalline growths changed to horns or shriveled to tendrils.

After Diablo's defeat at World's Crown, Albrecht led the Shardborne into the Sharval Wilds, intent on making it their new home.^[13]

In-game

The Shardborne are a group of monsters in Diablo Immortal. They were introduced in the Dark Rebirth update, and also appear in Splintered Souls update. They appear in Leoric's Manor, Tristram Cathedral dungeon, and in the Southern Dreadlands zone.

Fleshwarped Shardborne^[14] (Shardborne whose forms have been warped by Diablo's influence) appear in the World's Crown zone.

Shardborne-themed cosmetics are available, including Freed From Reason and Shardwarped Savior.

Variants

• Depraved Shambler
• Dreg Eater
• Heartmaw Slinger
• Pebbleskin
• Ruin Lord
• Shardborne Goliath

Fleshwarped Shardborne

• Hive Knight
• Shardtorn

Uniques

• Albrecht
• Drepsaigh
• Elsauli
• Father Benford
• Iphael
• Laird Aymer
• Iscea
• Peisthal

Trivia

This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article.

• Various Shardborne (Albrecht, Iphael, Iscea, Elsauli) have mentioned hearing voices which drove them to madness. This implies that all Shardborne may be connected in a hive mind.

References