These masterworks are the culmination of Dwarvish technique and Gnomish ingenuity. An Adaptable Aegis requires a lightweight and easily shaped metal that can still protect the user. Therefore all of them are made from mithral making them extremely valuable. The mithral is fashioned into a 1/8th inch thick concave shield and tempered in the blood of a shapeshifter. The shield is then polished perfectly smooth and acts like mirror.
A common ability for the Adaptable Aegis is the Medusa's Visage. The Medusa's Visage has a debilitating effect in a 15 foot cone directly in front of the wielder. This effect has a DC 10 charisma save or a failed creature becomes paralyzed.
While the Medusa's Visage is a frightening sight, it is only one of many forms the Adaptable Aegis can take. On the back of the shield is a mouth like compartment that can be "fed" monster parts which then change the shields shape and abilities. Any static effects last for up to an hour, including the Medusa's Visage, or until another monster piece is spent. These monster parts and abilities are up to DM discretion, but here are some suggestions:
- A piece of dragon tongue that replicates the breath weapon of that dragon's type and age
- A beholder's eyestalk to replicate that eyestalk's beam
- A dragon's scale to grant resistance to that dragon's type (i.e. fire for red, cold for silver, thunder for sapphire)
- A mind flayer's tentacle for a mind blast attack.
- A sphinxes tooth to replicate it's roar attack.
Feeding the Aegis takes one action. When the Adaptable Aegis is fed it's outward face morphs to match the face of the monster it was just fed, even after any static effects have ended.
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.
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