Archived Arsenal Day 22 - Stratum

Shieldtember

Earthen Embrace

Armor (Shield), rare (requires attunement)

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The Earthen Embrace, or Ard-Ghrá, is a traditional piece of equipment crafted by the druidic tribes who dwell within the Chamber Deep. This unique artifact is made from a natural crystal formation known as Tū'ura, a rare form of Lahanite that has been transformed after centuries of exposure to potent extraplanar energies from the Elemental Plane of Earth. Over time, the Lahanite evolves into a spherical lodestone, capable of attracting and manipulating earthen elements around it. For the tribes that navigate the endless underground maze of the Chamber Deep, this item is more than just a shield—it's a powerful magical tool. Drawing upon the earthen elements in its immediate surroundings, the Earthen Embrace can shape a protective barrier with properties that change based on the materials available. In the hands of a skilled druid, it also serves as a potent conduit, amplifying their druidic magic and connecting them more deeply to the earth itself.

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Adaptive Layers. As a bonus action, you can activate the shield's adaptive property. The shield absorbs material from your immediate environment, gaining additional properties based on the dominant earth-related material within 30 feet of you (determined by the DM). The effect lasts for 1 minute or until you dismiss it (no action required). Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

• Stone: The shield becomes encased in hardened rock. You gain a +1 bonus to AC, and you have resistance to bludgeoning damage.

• Plant and Organic Material: Vines, leaves, and bark mixed in the dirt envelop the shield. You gain resistance to slashing and piercing damage, and when a creature hits you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to force the attacker to make a Strength saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier). On a failure, the attacker is grappled and cannot use reactions until the end of your next turn.

• Mud: The shield is coated with thick, protective mud. You gain a +1 bonus to AC, and when a creature hits you with a melee attack, they must succeed on a Strength saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier) or have disadvantage on attack rolls with that weapon until the end of their next turn.

• Sand: Shifting sands swirl around the shield. You gain a +1 bonus to AC and have half cover against ranged attacks and Dexterity saving throws.

Metal: Metallic fragments and ores adhere to the shield. You gain a +2 bonus to AC, and when a creature makes a melee attack against you while within 5 feet, or attacks with a natural weapon or unarmed attack, they take 1d4 piercing damage.

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I have to brag that I'm very proud of how this shield turns out. It took me a much longer time to finish, but I really got absorbed with the process, looking at various references, choosing color combinations (even trying to match it with a 'fictional science paper' that I recently wrote on arcane light spectrum), imagining how it going to turns out, and just working on each detail slowly~

so yeah, I had a really great time making this artwork~~~

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