 Shattered Shield of Arnisant
Source Gods and Magic pg. 61
Aura powerful abjuration CL 20th
Slot shield; Price —; Weight 10 lbs.DescriptionThis item is normally kept on display in the city of Vigil in Lastwall, though at first glance it is just a collection of wooden shards on a large black silk pillow. If assembled, these 12 shards would form a round shield with a piece in the center missing. The shield is incredibly old and the entire outer surface is carved to look like Aroden’s holy symbol—a winged eye in a circle. Legends contradict its origin; Aroden created it, he carried it as a mortal, he gave it to his first priest as a gift, and so on.
Originally known as the Shield of Aroden, most today call it by its new name. This artifact played a key role in the defeat of the Whispering Tyrant. Carried into battle by General Arnisant , its magic saved his life several times against direct attacks from the witch king, allowing him to rally or rescue his often-outnumbered troops and salvage a retreat from what would have been a slaughter. Frustrated by the audacious mortal who dared thwart his unliving will, in what turned out to be his last battle Tar-Baphon used a wish to summon Arnisant’s heart to his hand. Instead, the shield shattered and one of its pieces—the one directly above the General’s heart at that moment—embedded itself in the lich’s hand, burning him with holy fire. Crippled and weakened, the Whispering Tyrant was unable to hold back the triumphant charge of his enemies and was quickly captured and imprisoned beneath Gallowspire. Its magic spent, the broken artifact became a ceremonial piece of the official uniform of the watcher-lord, its case only opened for the swearing of great oaths.
When it was intact the shield was a +5 light fortification spell resistance (17) heavy wooden shield. Once per day you can invoke a form of fire shield that protected against cold attacks and damaged opponents with fire and holy damage like a flame strike (it is likely that this ability is what burned the lich in his final battle). Once per round, if an adjacent ally is hit by a ranged or melee attack, you can use the shield to redirect the attack to yourself, suffering all effects from that attack as if you were its intended target. All allies within 100 feet of you gain the effect of bless and prayer. Similar to a status spell, all allies within 100 feet know your relative position and condition.
The shield has the special purpose of protecting its bearer from death no matter the consequences to itself. Any attack that would kill you (not merely make you unconscious or dying) triggers this ability, redirecting the attack fully upon the shield and leaving you unharmed, even if the attack normally only works on living creatures. For example, if you failed a saving throw against flesh to stone, the shield would turn to stone instead of you, whereas if you failed your save against horrid wilting or implosion the shield would turn to dry splinters or crushed pulp. Depending on the nature of the attack it may be impossible to reassemble or restore the shield to full functionality again.
The shield bestows two negative levels on any chaotic creature attempting to wield it. The negative levels remain as long as the shield is held or carried. These negative levels never result in actual level loss, but they cannot be overcome in any way (including restoration spells) while the creature holds or carries the shield.
Any attempt to repair the shield requires all of its pieces, and barring the direct intercession of a deity it is likely that any repairs will be imperfect. Any time the bearer fails a saving throw on 1, the shield must attempt the same saving throw (regardless whether the shield would normally be the item to suffer the effects of failure), and if it fails by rolling 1 it immediately shatters again, perhaps with disastrous effects. Despite their lack of active magic the individual pieces appear to be as hardy as any typical magic shield, as evidenced by a mad sorcerer’s attempt to burn the shield to ash in 3971 AR.
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