The Wraithforged Battlegear is a relic of forgotten wars, woven from the essence of shadows and bound to the whispers of the void. This armor is made of wraithsteel, an ethereal metal that shifts between the material and spectral planes, appearing as blackened plate layered with dark chainmail. The edges of the plating seem to blur and dissipate like smoke, yet solidify when struck, absorbing the force of attacks before fading again.

The helm, a sculpted visage of spectral horror, conceals the wearer’s face behind a mask of engraved midnight steel, its red eye slits smoldering faintly in the darkness. Blackened voidleather straps hold the armor together, infused with runes that shimmer with residual power. A flowing cloak of woven shadow trails behind, vanishing into tendrils of darkness as the wearer moves.

The Wraithforged Battlegear does not simply protect—it warps the presence of its wearer, rendering them a phantom on the battlefield, a specter of death that moves beyond the reach of mortal sight.

Magical Properties and Features:

1. Phantom Stride: The wearer’s movements become otherworldly. They gain +10 feet of movement speed and can move through difficult terrain without penalty.
2. Wraithform: As a bonus action, the wearer can partially shift into an incorporeal state, gaining resistance to non-magical damage and allowing them to move through creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. This effect lasts for 1 minute and can be used twice per long rest.
3. Ethereal Stalker: The wearer may cast Greater Invisibility on themselves once per long rest. While invisible, they leave behind a ghostly afterimage that lingers for a moment, confusing foes.
4. Sovereign of Shadows: The armor grants advantage on Stealth checks, and the wearer cannot be detected by blindsight, tremorsense, or magical scrying while in dim light or darkness.
5. Echoes of the Lost: When the wearer lands a critical hit, the armor emits a spectral wail as the spirits bound to it momentarily manifest. The target must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute.

Item Bonuses:

• Armor Class Bonus: +2 AC in addition to standard medium armor.
• Attribute Bonus: +2 Dexterity while attuned.
• Skill Bonus: Grants proficiency in Stealth and Perception if the wearer is not already proficient.
• Proficiency Bonus: If already proficient in Stealth, the wearer gains expertise in the skill.

Drawbacks and Risks:

• Curse of the Unseen: The armor’s power isolates its wearer from reality. If they spend more than 72 hours without interaction with another living being, they must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw or suffer 1 level of exhaustion, as their essence begins slipping into the ethereal plane.
• Marked by the Wraithbound: The armor’s spectral energy attracts the attention of ghosts, wraiths, and entities from the Shadowfell. These creatures may be drawn to, or hostile toward, the wearer.
• Fading into the Veil: Prolonged use of the armor alters the wearer’s physiology, making them sensitive to radiant damage (vulnerable while Wraithform is active).

Lore and History:

The Wraithforged Battlegear was created during the Veil Wars, a conflict between mortals and the invading legions of the Shadowfell. Forged by the Pale Artificers of Duskmire, this armor was designed for elite phantom knights, warriors who could slip between reality and the ghostly veil, striking before their enemies even knew they had arrived.

Legend tells of Sir Haldris the Black Veil, a warlord who led an army of the unseen, clad in Wraithforged Battlegear. His forces moved without sound, their shadows stretching unnaturally beneath the moonlight, entire battalions vanishing between the folds of existence before returning for the kill. It is said that Haldris himself never truly died, his soul forever entwined with the armor, waiting for a new master worthy of bearing it.

The battlegear has surfaced only in times of great shadow, appearing in the hands of assassins, warlocks, and outcasts who walk the fine line between life and death. But to wear it is to risk losing oneself to the void, becoming more phantom than man, forever bound between worlds.

Additional Roleplay Features:

1. The Veil’s Whispers: The wearer sometimes hears faint whispers of past wielders, warning them of unseen dangers or urging them toward violence.
2. Spectral Presence: Animals and children react strangely to the wearer, sometimes seeing through their illusions or avoiding them instinctively.
3. Shadowed Echo: When the wearer moves rapidly, their form seems to lag behind for a fraction of a second, a ghostly afterimage following their motion.

Armor Information:

• Armor Type: Medium (Wraithsteel and Voidweave)
• Weight: 15 lbs.
• Market Value: Priceless; an artifact of the Veil Wars.
• Black Market Value: Estimated at 1,200,000+ gold, though its trade is forbidden in most kingdoms.

Summary of the Armor:

The Wraithforged Battlegear is a legendary set of medium armor, designed for those who walk the line between existence and the void. It grants supernatural mobility, stealth, and ethereal resilience, but comes at the cost of drawing the attention of the Shadowfell and gradually severing the wearer’s ties to the mortal world.

It is a relic feared and respected, a weapon of phantom warriors and unseen sovereigns, waiting for the next soul bold enough to embrace the shadows.

“You were never meant to see me. You will not live to regret it.”

This armor consists of a fitted metal chest piece worn with supple leather. Although it leaves the legs and arms relatively unprotected, this armor provides good protection for the wearer's vital organs while leaving the wearer relatively unencumbered.

Notes: Bonus: Speed (Walking), Advantage: Stealth, Bonus: Armor Class, Bonus: Dexterity Score, Bonus: Magic, Expertise: Perception, Expertise: Stealth, Rogue, Warlock, or Fighter, Buff, Combat