Dwarven Warshield
(armor, uncommon)

Last Updated: March 18, 2023
Campaign: The Lost Mine

This durable large steel shield has Dwarven runes worked into its design.

While holding the Dwarven Warshield, you have a +1 bonus to AC
This bonus is in addition to the shield's normal bonus to AC.

The bearer can use an action to cause his or her voice to carry clearly for up to 300 feet until the end of the bearer's next turn.

As a bonus action, the bearer can strike the Dwarven Warshield to produce a loud clang, like a hammer striking an anvil, that is clearly audible for up to 300 feet in that moment.

In addition, if an attack misses the bearer of the Dwarven Warshield by 3, then the attack will have hit and deflected off of the Dwarven Warshield.
Each such hit on the Dwarven Warshield will produce its own loud clang that is clearly audible for up to 300 feet in that moment.
(DM note: for ease of play, only track this when relevant to the story, i.e. trying to be quiet, or could alert nearby opponents or wandering monsters)

History:

  • Dwarven Warshields are given to dwarven War Leaders of the Iron Guard from Citadel Adbar in the north.
  • Many Dwarven Warshield's were lost in ill-advised assaults against the Many-Arrows orc tribe.
  • The orcs took and used the Dwarven Warshields as trophies, until they in turn were killed in raids against the southern human kingdoms.
  • Thus, many Dwarven Warshields are in circulation and can be found among other adventurers or merchants.
  • The shield dwarves of Citadel Adbar claim ownership of all these missing Dwarven Warshields and endeavor to see them returned to their ancestral halls, by any means available.
  • If used by a shield dwarf, other shield dwarves might mistake the bearer as a legitimate Iron Guard War Leader from Citadel Adbar and have certain expectations of them.

    Design Notes:

    Its cost is 100 gp.
    = +100 gp for the shield +1 (uncommon item).
    = +50 gp for War Leader (common property).
    = -50 gp for loud (common quirk).

    Inspired by the tables in the DMG on page 142-143 to make this magic item unique. Basically, they provide ideas for the creator, history, minor property and quirk.
    - creator: Dwarf
    - history: Symbol of Power
    - minor property: War Leader
    - quirk: Loud

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