Barrier shards are coloured shards that fall from denizen corpses upon death, much like Iconic shards once did. They are a materialisation of the life force departing them, forced into consolidation by the magic of Yudhishthira.
Shards come in three different types, from weakest to strongest:
- crimson/jagged
- tangerine/chipped
- sable/smooth.
The shards were originally used to create foundation stones for an Underrealm barrier to protect the overland from further invasion by the Tsol'teth after the Second Black Wave. Adventurers can use the shards which they collect to power the barrier, which needs constant reinforcement.