Shield of Resilience

From: Insect 847 of Myrmosalux

Ingredients:

• 4 Myrmocite Shell Fragments
• 1 Steel Shield
• 2 ounces of Dragon Blood
• 5 strands of Elven Hair

Preparation:

• Lay the Steel Shield on an altar dedicated to Mertex, the God of Elemental Alchemy.
• Place the Myrmocite Shell Fragments in a geometric pattern on the shield.
• Drizzle Dragon Blood over the fragments while chanting a fortifying spell.
• Weave in the Elven Hair through the fragments to seal the magical essence.
• Let it sit overnight under the constellation of the Guardian.

The Lore of the Shield of Resilience: In the annals of Saṃsāra’s arcane history, the Shield of Resilience holds a special place. Originally conceived by the revered armorsmith Vaeleria, this formidable artifact pays homage to Mertex, the God of Elemental Alchemy. Vaeleria was a devout follower of Mertex and was inspired by a vision where she saw a shield so strong that it could withstand the elements themselves.

The core component, the Myrmocite Shell Fragments, comes from the magical insect Myrmosalux. These fragments are revered for their elemental resistance, making them an essential part of the shield. The Dragon Blood infuses the shield with innate magical properties, making it nearly indestructible. The strands of Elven Hair, a tribute to the ancient alliance between Elves and the followers of Mertex, are woven into the shield to seal the magical energies. When all these elements combine under the celestial watch of the Guardian constellation, the Shield of Resilience is born.

Appearance, Cost, and Other Information for a Tier One Avatar

• Appearance: The Shield of Resilience is an imposing steel shield, covered with a geometric pattern of shimmering Myrmocite fragments. Interspersed between these are strands of silver Elven Hair, which seem to glow subtly. The shield itself has a radiant aura, visible under moonlight or in the presence of magical energies.
• Cost: Given the rarity and power of the ingredients, a tier one avatar would need to invest a significant sum, approximately 300 gold pieces for the materials and an additional 100 gold pieces for the specialized ritual services.
• Procedure:
  • Lay the Steel Shield on an altar dedicated to Mertex.
  • Place the Myrmocite Shell Fragments in a geometric pattern on the shield.
  • Drizzle the Dragon Blood over the fragments while chanting a fortifying spell.
  • Weave the Elven Hair through the fragments to seal the magical essence.
  • Let the shield sit overnight under the constellation of the Guardian.
• Tags: Defensive, Elemental Resistance, Magical, Rare
• Served or Offered: The Shield of Resilience is typically bestowed upon a warrior during a special ceremony in a temple of Mertex. The priest or priestess overseeing the ritual would offer the shield to the avatar, often with a blessing of Mertex, as the gathered congregation witnesses this sacred event.

This shield not only offers physical protection but also acts as a conduit for elemental resistances. It is an item held in high esteem, symbolizing the blend of elemental alchemy and protective magic.

The Tale of the Shield from the Time-Long-Past

In time-beyond-knowing, a maker of armor, Vaeleria-named, sought the favor of sky-dwelling Mertex. Vision-come-at-night showed a shield, hard as mountain, fluid as river. Myrmosalux, insect-armor-bearer, its shell given. Dragon, sky-flame, its essence dripped. Elves, forest-whisperer, their hairs knitted the binding-spell.

Shield in altar-laid, pattern of the-world-on-small-scale made by Myrmocite shell. Sky-flame blood, a raindrop-fall on pattern. All-around chant of fortitude-making done. Forest-whisperer hairs woven in one, two, three, four, five ways. Night-sleep under sky-picture of Guardian, shield-awake to light.

Many-come to witness shield-born. It is told, shield blocks flame-of-wild and ocean’s anger, saves from sword-and-arrow. A clan-chief, Grathor, shield-taken, led people to victory. But pride-come-inside, thought shield makes undefeatable.

Last-battle, not listened to caution, went alone against beast-of-night. Shield-stayed, but no wisdom in holding. Grathor fell, shield-back to altar of Mertex, lesson-learned too late.

Moral of the Story: Shield-strong not replace wisdom. Both-walk-hand-in-hand for true victory.

Senses and Extra-sensory Perceptions Activated

• Touch: The shield’s surface feels almost sentient to the touch, providing a tactile feedback to help guide its positioning. It may give the holder a tingling sensation when aligned with an elemental attack.
• Sight: The Myrmocite fragments on the shield can sparkle or glow depending on the ambient magical energies, thus assisting the holder in detecting the type of elemental attack.
• Sixth Sense / Magical Awareness: The holder of the shield may feel an increase in magical sensitivity, gaining an intuitive understanding of imminent elemental dangers or magical events within the immediate environment.

Description, Positives, and Negatives

• Description: A sentient tactile sensation, visual cues from Myrmocite fragments, and heightened magical awareness contribute to an almost symbiotic relationship with the shield.
• Positives: Enhanced elemental resistance, improved perception of elemental threats, and heightened magical awareness.
• Negatives: The shield may at times become a target for magical entities attracted to its powerful aura. The heightened senses might also make the holder more susceptible to magical illusions or mental manipulation.

Buffs Derived from the Shield

• Elemental Resistance: Grants resistance to elemental damage types such as fire, water, earth, and air.
• Enhanced Perception: Grants the holder the ability to perceive elemental threats or magical events before they happen.
• Magical Awareness: Grants a +2 to magical detection and awareness rolls or their equivalent in various systems.

Storage and Duration: The buffs granted by the Shield of Resilience can be stored and activated later as an action. When the shield is not in use, these stored buffs remain dormant within the shield for up to seven days. Upon activation, each buff lasts for one hour. After the stored buff is activated, it will need to be recharged through a new ritual preparation.

Suggested conversion to other systems:

Dungeons & Dragons 5e

Shield of Resilience

• Armor (shield), rare (requires attunement)
• AC: +2
• Grants resistance to elemental damage types (fire, water, earth, air).
• Advantage on Perception checks related to detecting magical traps or elemental hazards.
• Action to activate stored buffs for 1 hour, once every seven days.

Call of Cthulhu

Shield of Resilience

• DB Bonus: +1D4
• Adds +20% to Magic Resistance roll.
• Adds +10% to Spot Hidden when looking for magical or elemental threats.
• Can be activated once a week to give buffs for 1 hour.

Knave

Shield of Resilience

• Armor: Shield
• Armor Class: +2
• Trait: Resistance to elemental damages.
• Bonus: +1 to detect magical threats.
• Action to activate for 1 hour, rechargeable once a week.

Numenera & Cypher System

Shield of Resilience

• Level: 4
• Form: Shield
• Effect: Provides Armor 2 against elemental damages.
• Adds +2 to Intellect defense rolls against magical hazards.
• Can be activated for 1 hour once per week.

Pathfinder 2e

Shield of Resilience

• Price: 400 gp
• AC Bonus: +2
• Check Penalty: 0
• Property: Grants resistance 5 against elemental damage types.
• Activate to gain heightened awareness for 1 hour, recharge 1/week.

Savage Worlds

Shield of Resilience

• Parry: +2
• Armor: +2 against elemental attacks
• Special: Grants a +2 to Notice checks for detecting magical threats.
• Activation: Once per week for 1 hour.

Shadowrun

Shield of Resilience

• Armor: 12
• Capacity: 8
• Resist elemental damage with extra 2 dice.
• +2 dice for magical perception tests.
• Activation: Once a week, lasts for 1 hour.

Starfinder

Shield of Resilience

• Level: 5
• EAC Bonus: +2
• KAC Bonus: +2
• Special: Resistance 5 to elemental damage types.
• Activation: 1 Standard Action, lasts 1 hour, recharge 1/week.

Warhammer

Shield of Resilience

• Armor Points: 2
• Grants 5+ ward save against elemental attacks.
• +10 to Perception Tests related to magical threats.
• Activation: Once per week for 1 hour.