When a Humanoid creature dies within 15 feet of you while you're carrying this shield, you can use your Reaction to absorb it's spirit. The name of the creature is carved onto the shield, up to a maximum of 10 names. When found, the shield has 1d10 names already on it.

When you take damage while using the shield, you can use a Reaction to call forth any number of the spirits whose names are carved on the shield, and reduce the damage taken by 1d10+1 per spirit. Alternatively, you can use the spell Speak with Dead on one of the names carved into the shield, without needing it's body. After using either of these effects, the name used disappears and the spirit is freed.

Cursed. If you die and less than 10 names are written on the shield, your spirit gets trapped in it, your name appears on it, and you can't be resurrected in any way unless the shield is cleansed by a Remove Curse spell or better.

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.