Warhammer Grand Cahtay concept art: Terracotta Automatons

The development of automated constructs was the unintended result to Cathay's failed search for immortality. After generations of research it was thought that although the soul is theorized to linger after death, no magic can prolong the integrity of the body without compromising the mind. Instead, the sorcerers of Cathay devised a method to separate the soul from the body and recombined it into a new mechanical host. However, the extracted soul could not retain any of the original individuality, but it could be used as a power source to drive the automaton body. The technology was adapted into the military as the Terracotta Automatons and eventually spawned The Divine Machinery Corps responsible for the construction, maintenance and soul collection needed to combat the endless enemies of Cathay. As front line "meat shield", they can also be ordered to pile their bodies on top of each other then rigged to explode causing massive damage and forming a wall of the construct's bodies.