the Guardian are yet a mystery.
The Guardian is a “+0 shield,” magical in
nature but conferring no armor class bonus
to its bearer aside from the one-place benefit
provided by any shield. However, it has
a special defensive power: when worn, it
radiates an insubstantial magical energy
field that envelops its bearer (and only the
bearer) like an aura. Any magic missile
directed at the Guardian’s bearer from any
direction — not just at the shield — will
strike this field and be reflected unerringly
straight back at the sender with no damage
to the shieldbearer.
This field also absorbs all electrical discharges
of natural or magical origin, such as
shocking grasp, lightning bolt, or chain
lightning, without harm to the bearer.
These attacks dissipate gradually and harmlessly
if the shield is taken off, but if the
shieldbearer can bring the shield into physical
contact with a foe within 4 rounds of any
such discharge(s), the entire stored electrical
energy of the field can be transmitted to the
foe (save vs. paralyzation for half damage).
The bearer will be made immediately aware
of this storage and discharge power whenever
the field intercepts electrical energy.
When this discharge is activated by the
bearer’s will, there is a 30% chance that the
bearer and shield (but not any companion
creatures or foes unless direct, physical
contact is present at the time) will be plane
shifted to a random known plane of existence.
This power will be unknown to the
bearer until it actually occurs; identify and
sage-lore will not reveal it.
Shoon’s Buckler
The adventurer Shoon briefly possessed
this magical shield. Its true origin is unknown,
but he seized it from the body of a
slain male drow during a battle deep beneath
the Hill of Lost Souls. Amongst the
drow, as speak with the dead has revealed,
the buckler was known as a “blink shield”;
it was unique, and its making a mystery.
Shoon later gave the shield to the fighter
Gorlaung “Blackhelm” in exchange for
training; Gorlaung fell in battle with orcs in
the Stonelands, and his body was stripped
of weapons and valuables by his slayers.
The present location of the Buckler is not
known.
The Buckler is a 1’ diameter disk of
black metal with a fist grip, all fashioned of
one piece, and bearing no inscriptions.
Despite its small size, the Buckler functions
as a +2 shield. Its other easily discernible
power is the ability to glow (equal in radiance
to a light spell) upon the mental command
of the bearer; the light dies away to
nothing when the bearer wills it to, falls
asleep, dies, or loses sanity or consciousness.
This power will be discovered whenever
a being holding the Buckler thinks
about the poor light, wishes he could see
The Guardian is a “+0 shield,” magical in
nature but conferring no armor class bonus
to its bearer aside from the one-place benefit
provided by any shield. However, it has
a special defensive power: when worn, it
radiates an insubstantial magical energy
field that envelops its bearer (and only the
bearer) like an aura. Any magic missile
directed at the Guardian’s bearer from any
direction — not just at the shield — will
strike this field and be reflected unerringly
straight back at the sender with no damage
to the shieldbearer.
This field also absorbs all electrical discharges
of natural or magical origin, such as
shocking grasp, lightning bolt, or chain
lightning, without harm to the bearer.
These attacks dissipate gradually and harmlessly
if the shield is taken off, but if the
shieldbearer can bring the shield into physical
contact with a foe within 4 rounds of any
such discharge(s), the entire stored electrical
energy of the field can be transmitted to the
foe (save vs. paralyzation for half damage).
The bearer will be made immediately aware
of this storage and discharge power whenever
the field intercepts electrical energy.
When this discharge is activated by the
bearer’s will, there is a 30% chance that the
bearer and shield (but not any companion
creatures or foes unless direct, physical
contact is present at the time) will be plane
shifted to a random known plane of existence.
This power will be unknown to the
bearer until it actually occurs; identify and
sage-lore will not reveal it.
Shoon’s Buckler
The adventurer Shoon briefly possessed
this magical shield. Its true origin is unknown,
but he seized it from the body of a
slain male drow during a battle deep beneath
the Hill of Lost Souls. Amongst the
drow, as speak with the dead has revealed,
the buckler was known as a “blink shield”;
it was unique, and its making a mystery.
Shoon later gave the shield to the fighter
Gorlaung “Blackhelm” in exchange for
training; Gorlaung fell in battle with orcs in
the Stonelands, and his body was stripped
of weapons and valuables by his slayers.
The present location of the Buckler is not
known.
The Buckler is a 1’ diameter disk of
black metal with a fist grip, all fashioned of
one piece, and bearing no inscriptions.
Despite its small size, the Buckler functions
as a +2 shield. Its other easily discernible
power is the ability to glow (equal in radiance
to a light spell) upon the mental command
of the bearer; the light dies away to
nothing when the bearer wills it to, falls
asleep, dies, or loses sanity or consciousness.
This power will be discovered whenever
a being holding the Buckler thinks
about the poor light, wishes he could see
