The Aegis, as stated in the Iliad, is carried by Athena and Zeus, but its nature is uncertain. It had been interpreted as an animal skin or a shield, sometimes bearing the head of a Gorgon. There may be a connection with a deity named Aex or Aix, a daughter of Helios and a nurse of Zeus or alternatively a mistress of Zeus (Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 13). The aegis of Athena is referred to in several places in the Iliad. "It produced a sound as from a myriad roaring dragons (Iliad, 4.17) and was borne by Athena in battle ... and among them went bright-eyed Athena, holding the precious aegis which is ageless and immortal: a hundred tassels of pure gold hang fluttering from it, tight-woven each of them, and each the worth of a hundred oxen." Virgil imagines the Cyclopes in Hephaestus' forge, who "busily burnished the aegis Athena wears in her angry moods—a fearsome thing with a surface of gold like scaly snake-skin, and the linked serpents and the Gorgon herself upon the goddess's breast—a severed head rolling its eyes", furnished with golden tassels and bearing the Gorgon (Medusa's head) in the central boss. Some of the Attic vase-painters retained an archaic tradition that the tassels had originally been serpents in their representations of the aegis. When the Olympian deities overtook the older deities of Greece and she was born of Metis (inside Zeus who had swallowed the goddess) and "re-born" through the head of Zeus fully clothed, Athena already wore her typical garments. When the Olympian shakes the aegis, Mount Ida is wrapped in clouds, the thunder rolls and men are struck down with fear. "Aegis-bearing Zeus", as he is in the Iliad, sometimes lends the fearsome aegis to Athena. In the Iliad when Zeus sends Apollo to revive the wounded Hector, Apollo, holding the aegis, charges the Achaeans, pushing them back to their ships drawn up on the shore. The Aegis is a gold shield ornate with blue lapis lazuli; it glimmers a bright gold light and is decorated with the Titanomachy on the outside and the history of the Goddess in the inside. At the center is a bronze mas of Medusa.
Random Properties. The Aegis has the following random properties:
- 2 minor beneficial properties.
- While attuned to the artifact, you can’t be charmed or frightened.
- While attuned to the artifact, you can use an action to cast Thaumaturgy.
- 1 major beneficial properties.
- While attuned to the artifact, you can’t be blinded, deafened, petrified, or stunned.
- 1 minor detrimental property.
- The first time you touch a gem or piece of jewelry while attuned to this artifact, the value of the gem or jewelry is reduced by half.
Divine Armor The Aegis is a magic item that grants a +2 bonus to AC while worn and weight nothing. It permanently grant you a +2 in Constitution and +1 in Dexterity.
Medusa 's look As an action the Aegis can petrify a target that sees the Medusa 's head on it. Wisdom save DC 15. on a success the target is immune to this ability for 24 hours.
Sacred animal You can call upon you a divine owl that acts as your familiar. The owl goes away only when you order it or after it reaches 0 hit points. If you are near water you can acquire the help of 3 seas snakes (use the giant snake stat block) They go away after 1 min or if they drop to 0 hit points.
Well of knowledge You can enter for a while in the well of divine knowledge. As a bonus action You can see the future up to 3 seconds giving you advantage on checks and saving throws until the beginning of your next turn. this ability can only be used once per dawn.
Revenge Path If you hear someone making fun of Athena the Aegis force you to deal with him/her. If you punish adequately the impious the Aegis earns a revenge point (for a maximum of 10) leaving the punished 'soul almost without energy. You can use this points to:
- Cast a spell without spending any spell slot (3 points for a first level spell, then 1 additional point per level of spell)
- Double the effect of a spell (does not double damage of a spell, only harmless effects)
- Turn it into a CR 10 Giant Spider at your orders. (7 points depending on the size of the creature)
- Make you permanently expert in a talent. (10 points)
Destroying the Aegis. It can be destroyed only with a power of another higher God.
Shields require the Utilize action to Don or Doff. You gain the Armor Class benefit of a Shield only if you have training with it.
Notes: Bonus: Armor Class, Bonus: Dexterity Score, Bonus: Constitution Score, Immunity: Charmed, Immunity: Frightened, Immunity: Petrified, Immunity: Blinded, Immunity: Deafened, Immunity: Stunned, person who makes the DC 20 CON save as the magic from the shield tests the potential wielder.
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