Archived Arsenal Day 29 - Undying

Shieldtember

Mortal Monument

Armor (shield), very rare (requires attunement)

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Mortal Monument is the name of a tall shield originating from the Eternal City of Al’ahramath—the only city in this world where the dead and the living coexist under the protection of Teala Alramizan, the Gold Dragon of Death. This shield is typically carried by the Grave Wardens, who maintain order within the city. Crafted from the consecrated remains of previous Grave Wardens who were unable or failed to be resurrected as undead.

Each shield is imbued with Teala's power over souls, allowing the wielder to return from the brink of death with a soul infused with necrotic energy that makes them stronger than before. However, this power comes at a cost: the shield burns away the user's life force, aging them each time they are revived. Grave Wardens blessed by Teala Alramizan have resistance to this effect, but for others, it could lead to their demise. 

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Sarcophagus of the Undying. When your hit points are reduced to 0 while attuned to this shield, it entombs you in a sarcophagus that appears around you, sealing you inside. The sarcophagus has an AC equal to 10 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier and hit points equal to 5 times your character level. The sarcophagus is immune to poison, psychic, and necrotic damage. 

While inside the sarcophagus, you are unconscious and continue to make death saving throws as normal. You are considered to have full cover. Any healing directed at the sarcophagus heals you instead. The sarcophagus lasts for 1 minute or until it is destroyed or you regain hit points. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Strength of The Grave. Upon succeeding on 3 death saving throws while you’re inside the sarcophagus, you are revived with hit points equal to half your maximum hit points and gain the following benefits for 1 minute: Your AC increases by 2, you have resistance to all damage types except force and radiant, and your melee attacks deal an additional 1d6 necrotic damage.

Tomb of Preservation. Upon failing 3 death saving throws while you’re inside the sarcophagus, your remains are preserved under the effects of the gentle repose spell. The sarcophagus remains intact until it is destroyed.

Curse - Weight of Mortality. Each time you are revived from inside the Sarcophagus of the Undying, you age by a fraction of your race’s natural lifespan, as the strain of the shield’s power hastens your mortality. Roll 1d4 + 1 to determine the percentage of your race’s maximum lifespan that you age (rounded up). For example, a human with a lifespan of 80 years would age 3-5% of that, or approximately 2-4 years.

This aging effect cannot be reversed by any means short of a wish spell. The curse is not revealed until the first time you are revived by the shield. Once attuned, you cannot willingly end your attunement, and if your attunement is broken by an external effect, such as remove curse, you can never attune to the shield again.

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All the files will be added to a new Shieldtember 2024 folder that you can find in the Vault