Almathande, the Verdant Guardian

"A wooden tower shield, carved from the World Tree. Its forward face is covered in Ironbark, save for the blazing-gold Frian Lily at its center, ever-blooming and radiating warmth."

Awoken Form

Gifted to a protector of the Sacred Grove, Almathande blesses you with the strength to protect others. Once per day, you can use an action, bonus action, or reaction, to unleash one of its nurturing magics:

• Embrace of the World Tree: You and up to 3 other creatures you choose within 30 ft. each gain a +4 bonus to AC until your next turn.
• Rejuvenation: Allies within a 20 ft. of you are healed for 3d10 HP.
• Rite of the Verdant Guardian: Draw your weapon across your shield to invoke the ancient rite of the Verdant Guard – holmgang. Choose one creature that you can see within 30 ft of you (the creature can be up to one size larger than you). Both you and the creature are completely enveloped in what on the outside seems like a 10 ft radius dome created from knarled roots and vines. In reality, you both are teleported to a pocket dimension that appears as a flat 60 ft radius field surrounded by tall trees. Attempting to maneuver through the trees returns you to the field. Both you and the creature retain all items and abilities that you had on your person when the rite was invoked. Neither you nor the creature you chose can leave this field until at least one of you reach 0 HP. Once you use this ability, you must take a long rest before doing so again. [DM note: there may be some creatures that meet the criteria for a holmgang, but are too powerful to draw into the ritual. Refer to DM in such cases.]
• (Optional Rule) Blood Rite: Alternatively, you can invoke the Ayassi custom of holmgang and wager a weregild, or blood price. For each round within the holmgang, you deal +5 damage on each hit or spell attack, stacking until either you or the other creature have failed all of your death saving throws.

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, creature close to the fey, Healing, Buff, Warding