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Shield Guardian

• Size: Large
• Type: Construct
• Alignment: Unaligned
• AC: 17
• Initiative: -1 (9)
• HP: 142(15d10+60)
• Speed: 30 ft

ATTR	VAL	MOD	SAVE
STR	18	+4	+4
DEX	8	-1	-1
CON	18	+4	+4
INT	7	-2	-2
WIS	10	+0	+0
CHA	3	-4	-4

• Immunities: Poison; Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned
• Senses: Blindsight 10 ft., Darkvision 60 ft.; Passive Perception 10
• Languages: Understands commands given in any language but can't speak
• CR: 7 (XP 2,900; PB +3)

Traits

Bound. The guardian is magically bound to an amulet. While the guardian and its amulet are on the same plane of existence, the amulet's wearer can telepathically call the guardian to travel to it, and the guardian knows the distance and direction to the amulet. If the guardian is within 60 feet of the amulet's wearer, half of any damage the wearer takes (round up) is transferred to the guardian.

Regeneration. The guardian regains 10 Hit Points at the start of each of its turns if it has at least 1 Hit Point.

Spell Storing. A spellcaster who wears the guardian's amulet can cause the guardian to store one spell of level 4 or lower. To do so, the wearer must cast the spell on the guardian while within 5 feet of it. The spell has no effect but is stored within the guardian. Any previously stored spell is lost when a new spell is stored. The guardian can cast the spell stored with any parameters set by the original caster, requiring no spell components and using the caster's spellcasting ability. The stored spell is then lost.

Actions

Multiattack. The guardian makes two Fist attacks.

Fist. Melee Attack Roll: +7, reach 10 ft. Hit: 11 (2d6+4) Bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) Force damage.

Reactions

Protection. Trigger: An attack roll hits the wearer of the guardian's amulet while the wearer is within 5 feet of the guardian. Response: The wearer gains a +5 bonus to AC, including against the triggering attack and possibly causing it to miss, until the start of the guardian's next turn.

Lore & Background

Shield guardians are powerful constructs created by skilled artificers and wizards to serve as loyal protectors and companions. These magically animated beings are bound to their creators through arcane rituals that forge an unbreakable connection between master and guardian. Unlike simpler constructs, shield guardians possess limited intelligence and can carry out complex instructions while adapting to changing situations.

The creation of a shield guardian requires considerable magical expertise, rare materials, and months of careful work. Each guardian is unique, crafted to serve the specific needs and preferences of its creator. Some are designed for combat protection, others for magical support, and still others for specialized tasks like research assistance or diplomatic security. Their loyalty is absolute, and they will sacrifice themselves without hesitation to protect their bonded master.

Combat Tactics

Shield guardians are defensive combatants that prioritize their master's safety above all other concerns. They position themselves between threats and their bonded ally, using their significant bulk and magical abilities to absorb damage and counter enemy attacks. Their spell-storing capability allows them to deliver magical effects at crucial moments, often surprising enemies with unexpected tactical options.

In battle, shield guardians coordinate closely with their masters, following both spoken commands and telepathic impulses through their magical bond. They excel at protecting spellcasters and other vulnerable allies, using their durability and magical resistance to weather attacks that would prove fatal to their charges.

Encounter Ideas

1. The Masterless Guardian A shield guardian continues to follow its last orders despite its creator's death years ago, creating problems for the current inhabitants of the area. The party must find a way to reprogram or redirect the construct without destroying this valuable magical creation.

2. The Protective Inheritance A young heir inherits a shield guardian along with their family estate, but lacks the magical knowledge to properly command or control the construct. The party becomes involved when the guardian's overzealous protection begins causing problems for the community.

3. The Stolen Bond A villain has found a way to hijack the magical connection between a shield guardian and its rightful master, turning the loyal construct against its creator. The party must find a way to restore the proper bond while dealing with the guardian's formidable defenses.

4. The Guardian Factory An artificer's workshop continues producing shield guardians automatically despite being abandoned, creating numerous masterless constructs that wander the area seeking purpose. The party must investigate the workshop and decide what to do with the accumulating guardians.

Environmental Effects

• Magical Stability: The guardian's presence helps stabilize magical effects and protects against magical interference
• Protective Aura: Areas where guardians operate become safer for their masters and approved allies
• Construct Activity: The guardian's movement and magical emanations can interfere with other magical devices or constructs
• Loyalty Resonance: Other constructs may be influenced by the guardian's strong loyalty programming

Treasure

• Guardian Core (5000-15000 gp): The magical heart of the construct, valuable for creating other magical items or constructs
• Spell Storage Matrix (2000-8000 gp): Crystalline structure that can store and release magical spells
• Adamantine Components (1000-5000 gp): Rare metal parts used in the guardian's construction
• Control Amulet (3000-10000 gp): Magical device that allows bonding with and commanding the guardian
• Arcane Blueprints (varies): Detailed plans and notes for constructing shield guardians and similar constructs

Plot Hooks

1. The Flawed Creation A shield guardian develops a malfunction that causes it to become increasingly paranoid about threats to its master, leading to escalating incidents of violence against innocent people. The party must find a way to repair the construct's programming before it becomes completely uncontrollable.

2. The Guardian's Dilemma When a shield guardian's master commits evil acts, the construct faces a conflict between its loyalty programming and its basic moral restrictions. The party becomes involved in resolving this ethical crisis while dealing with the guardian's increasingly erratic behavior.

3. The Lost Master A shield guardian seeks help finding its master, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The party's investigation into the missing person reveals larger conspiracies while they deal with the increasingly desperate and dangerous construct.

4. The Rival Guardians Two shield guardians with conflicting orders clash repeatedly, causing collateral damage in their ongoing battle. The party must mediate between the constructs or find a way to resolve their contradictory programming before their conflict destroys everything around them.