Shield, legendary

This beautiful, golden shield is lined with silver. Once wielded by Grand Marshall Obrek FolkBrand, Herald of the All-Hammer, it glows brightly when struck. While holding the shield, you have a +1 bonus to AC. This bonus is in addition to the shield’s normal bonus to AC. You add 1d4 to Dexterity saving throws made to reduce damage.

Awakened

When a character awakens the Bulwark of Valour, apply the following changes to the item’s traits:

• Increase the bonus to AC to a +2.
• Allied creatures adjacent to you deal an extra 1d4 radiant damage on melee and ranged attacks.
• When an allied creature that is adjacent to you is hit by an attack, you can use your reaction to absorb part of the hit. Reduce the damage by 1d10 points.

Exalted

When a character exalts the Bulwark of Valour, apply the following changes to the item’s traits:

• Increase the bonus to AC to a +3.
• Increase the extra radiant damage to 1d6. Increase the range to allies within a 10 foot radius.
• The shield now stores damage absorbed. As an action, you can distribute the stored damage evenly as temporary hit points to all allied creatures within 30’. The shield can store up to 60 hit points, but can continue to absorb damage as normal.

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: As per the rules for Vestiges of Divergence in Matthew Mercer's Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, when and how a Vestige will advance in power is up to the discretion of the DM. Often these moments will come in times of crisis or desperation, or personal distress. Or perhaps it will occur as the character develops personally, or completes an accomplishment of some kind. As the man himself says, "Allow the organic narrative moments you feel may exemplify such an advancement to occur, and tailor your triggering moment accordingly" (TCS 111), A non-chaotic aligned character.