Demonshields were magical shields binding powerful fiends and using them to grant magical powers to their users.[1]
Description[]
Demonshields were magical shields forged from an alloy of silver with arjale and tantulhor, two rare ores found in the infernal layer of Phlegethos. This gave them a silvery appearance with a greenish hue, and caused them to be extremely resistant to physical attacks while retaining a level of flexibility.[1] Having been created during the reign of the Shoon Imperium they were given the form of diamond shields, typical of that era.[1]
Powers[]
The demonshields had the ability to grant their wielders powers borrowed from the fiends imprisoned within them during their creation. For example a demonshield containing a glabrezu would give its wielder unnatural resistances and immunity to some forms of elemental damage.[1]
While a fiend was imprisoned within a demonshield, it was impossible to communicate with them. If a shield was destroyed however, the creature within was released and free to act as it pleased.[1]
History[]
During the Year of the Addled Arcanist, 128 DR the wizard Halaster Blackcloak, then known as Hilather, was hired by the rulers of the Shoon Imperium. According to their agreement Halaster would provide the empire with a new way to bind fiends which was more secure than the methods used in this day and age,[2] in exchange of which the wizard would receive some mysterious payment.[1]
Halaster spent four years working on his task in the realm of Torsil, hidden in the catacombs of an abandoned tower. He emerged four years later, during the Year of Thirteen Prides Lost, 132 DR, with thirteen magical shields and Hilather's Workbook—a libram describing their creation.[1]
Twelve of the shields were distributed amongst high-ranking members of the empires. There are records of those artifacts being used until the first century of the Seventh Age of Calimshan, at which point most of them became lost to history.[1]
During the Year of the Leaping Frog, 1266 DR, four lost demonshields were found in a barrow of the Fields of the Dead and brought to the School of Wonder to be studied there.[3]
The thirteenth shield, known as Kuraltaar, was kept in the vaults of the imperium for a long time. It was never used in battle, but was offered to a dragon during the Year of Emerald Eyes, 371 DR.[1]
Reputation[]
Amongst conjurers of the Ulcasterian school the shields were said to be the key to unlocking the secret magics used by Halaster, and as such were highly sought after.[1]
Amongst the Cowled Wizards of Amn, those shields were an object of great unease. Given the populace's distrust of wizards, they believed that unveiling the frightening power of the demonshields could trigger a witch hunt against all practitioners of the Art.[1]
The creation of the demonshields as well as other fiendish artifacts during the Shoon Imperium lead to the creation of the sword Dornavver by the local church of Ilmater.[4]
Notable Owners[]
- Iryklathagra was offered a demonshield by the Qysara Shaani in 371 DR in an attempt to bargain for peace.[5]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
- Kimeltaar, one of three holy shields created by the Church of Anachtyr during the early days of the Shoon Imperium. Those shields were often called "demonshields" as well.[6]
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 135–137. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 63. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 128. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds (Nov. 2005). Champions of Valor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 62. ISBN 0-7869-3697-5.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 29, 44. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), pp. 23–25. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.