Artifacts Aegis, the Shield of Reflection

Aegis is the shield of Zeus, king of the gods usually carried by him, but he sometimes loans it to his daughter Athena or a favorite mortal hero.

Relics & Rituals: Olympus©

2004 White Wolf Publishing, Inc. Distributed for Sword and Sorcery Studios by White Wolf Publishing,

Inc. By W. Jason Peck, Aaron Rosenberg, Christina Stiles and Relics & Rituals: Olympus team

This +8 large mystic bronze shield has a border of entwined snakes. At its center, in place of a boss, etched into the surface is the head of a beautiful woman with snakes for hair. This is the severed head of the original Medusa, one of then three Gorgon sisters, and one glance at her visage turns anyone to stone (DC 30 Will save, or suffer as per the spell flesh to stone). The Aegis also bears the usual bonuses of a mystic shield, although the bonus types are considered divine (hence, an additional +2 divine bonus to AC against spells, including those that use touch attacks to hit, and an additional +2 divine bonus on saving throws against spells). The inside of the shield is mirror bright, and provides the benefits of a shield of awareness (the wielder is immune to flanking and sneak attacks) and all gaze attacks are automatically reflected back at the source. Wielder is immune to all poisons and forms of petrification (including gaze attacks).

However, Zeus and Athena both know exactly where the Aegis is at all times, and should the bearer offend them in any way, he must immediately make a DC 35 Will save or suffer the effects of a flesh to stone spell as if he had looked on Medusa’s face. The Aegis is not petrified along with its bearer, and remains on the statue, a lesson to all onlookers, until retrieved by one of the gods or their servants.

Languages Spoken: Can communicate with any creature capable of language.

All foes of Zeus or Athena who behold the front of the shield must make a Will save DC 56 versus fear or flee in panic for 1d10 turns.