Anima Custos (Exalted)

The wide, thick frame of this shining silver shield is lined with etched runes and an embedded gem that glow a pulsing white. Soul Keeper—known also as Anima Custos — is said to fortify the wielder's soul, making them practically impervious to attack. A cleric or paladin can use this shield as a spellcasting focus, as described in the Spellcasting section. To use the shield in this way, the caster must hold it in hand.

While The Soul Keeper is in an exalted state, you have a +3 bonus to AC. This bonus is in addition to the shield's normal bonus to AC. You can benefit from only one shield at a time. The shield has 18 charges for the following properties. The shield regains 3d6 + 4 expended charges daily at dawn. The user gains the following benefits while wielding Soul Keeper in its dormant state:

• Dynamic Resistance. You gain a resistance to a damage type of your choice: Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Fire, Cold, Acid, Thunder, Lightning, Necrotic, Radiant, Poison, Psychic, or Force damage. You may change this damage type after a short rest. 
• Damage Absorption. When you take damage of the chosen type above, you can use your reaction to gain immunity against that instance of the damage, and you regain a number of hit points equal to half the damage you would have taken. Once this reaction is used, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.
• Spells. While holding this shield, you can use an action to expend 1 or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it, using your spell save DC and spell attack bonus: shield (1 charges), protection from evil and good (1 charges), and counterspell (3 charges).
  
  

The user gains the following benefits while wielding Soul Keeper in its awakened state:

• Guardian's Embrace. As a reaction, when an ally within 10 feet of you falls to 0 hit points, you can expend 4 charges to shield them with protective energy, causing them to drop to 1 hit point instead. This ability can be used once per day, recharging at dawn. The shield’s magic seeks to prevent allies from falling in the heat of battle.
• Shield of the Unbroken. While holding Anima Custos, as a bonus action, you can grant yourself or an ally within 10 feet resistance to all damage types for 1 turn. This ability can be used once per long rest, representing the shield's protective aura that grants unyielding defense for a brief moment.
• Spells. While holding this shield, you can use an action to expend 1 or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it, using your spell save DC and spell attack bonus: wall of force (5 charges), and true seeing (6 charges).

 The user gains the following benefits while wielding Soul Keeper in its exalted state:

• Warden’s Instinct – The shield senses danger before it strikes. You can choose one creature within 30 feet and anticipate their movements. You have advantage of attack rolls against them, and they have disadvantage on attack rolls against you for 1 minute. This ability refreshes after a long rest.
• Fatewoven Aegis – When you take damage, Soul Keeper can react, weaving threads of fate to soften the blow. You can choose to have the shield pulse with energy, causing damage to be rerolled, and you take the lower result. This ability refreshes after a long rest.
• Spells. While holding this shield, you can use an action to expend 1 or more of its charges to cast the following spells, using your spell save DC and spell attack bonus:
  • Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere (4 charges)
  • Globe of Invulnerability(6 charges)
  • Forcecage (7 charges)

 

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