Archived Arsenal Day 27 - Shard

Shieldtember

Enigmatic Edict

Armor (Shield), very rare (requires attunement by a creature with Intelligence 13 or higher that can read at least one language)

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This shield is crafted from a fragment of a page torn from a forbidden tome in the Lore Mistress’s Enlightened Hall. Unlike the newer collections in the Hall, whose pages are made of jade-colored metal sheets, this ancient tome is said to be one of the oldest records within the demi-plane, still inscribed on jade tablets. The thief was a former Archivist of the Grand Library, whose whereabouts remain unknown and who is still wanted by the Library to this day. It's unclear which tomes he originally sought or how he discovered their existence. Despite meticulous planning, he was intercepted by the Lore Mistress during his escape from the demi-plane. In the chaos of their confrontation, some of the pages shattered, and the shards scattered across the material realm.

This shield is one of the few fragments the Wallflowers have managed to retrieve. It is engraved with incomplete texts in the Genesis Language—the ancient tongue of creation used in arcane incantations. Reading these fragments is perilous; each letter and word carries the power to shape reality, and without context, they can unleash unpredictable effects. Even in pieces, the shield contains the Lore Mistress’s primordial divine power, and the shards themselves are indestructible. The symbols constantly shift, conveying different meanings to each viewer.

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Truth Beyond Words. While attuned to this shield, you can understand all written languages as if under the effect of the comprehend languages spell. 

Eldritch Inscription. As a bonus action, you can present the shield, causing its script to glow until the start of your next turn. While presented, any creature that can see the shield, understands at least one language, and targets you with a weapon attack, spell attack, or a feature or spell that targets only you must make a DC 16 Intelligence saving throw before resolving their action. Creature that can read Celestial or Draconic has advantage on this saving throw.

On a failed save, the creature rolls a d6 to determine its altered action:

• Skewed Perception: The creature mistakenly targets an ally within range. If no allies are in range, the action is wasted.

• Overwhelming Revelation: The creature is captivated by the writing, wasting the triggering action.

• Instinctive Retreat: Before resolving the action, the creature uses its movement to retreat to a location where it can no longer see the shield or as far away as possible. The triggering action is canceled but not wasted.

• Dulled Strike: The creature proceeds with the action, but any damage it deals is halved.

• Fractured Intent: The creature proceeds with the action but with disadvantage on attack rolls. If the action requires you to make a saving throw, you have advantage on that save.

• Mind Lash: The creature takes 4d6 psychic damage and proceeds with the action as normal.

On a successful save, the creature is unaffected and immune to this effect until the start of your next turn.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses after a long rest. If you exceed this limit, you can still activate the feature, but before you do it you must make a DC 16 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, you suffer short-term madness that last until the end of your next turn instead. On a success, you use the feature without adverse effects.

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All the files will be added to a new Shieldtember 2024 folder that you can find in the Vault