A Shield That Lies, And Why It’s Still Worth It

Mike’s Thoughts from the Barstool

There’s a reason I don’t trust shields. They’re like tavern promises — look good ‘til steel starts flyin’.

But this one? This one’s the worst of ‘em. Beautiful thing. Smooth obsidian curves, ringed with etched silver runes, always looks like it’s reflectin’ something just outta yer eye line. Real fancy. Real quiet. And it lies. Not once, not subtly — constantly. It don’t show you the enemy, lad. It shows what ya fear the most.

I once watched a sellsword walk into a battlefield lookin’ calm as stone. He had this shield strapped on, chest puffed out, yellin’ about his mother’s cookin’. Took the first arrow square in the throat. When we checked his corpse, the shield was still gleamin’ — showed us a grinnin’ banshee where the archer should’ve been.

By Trickin’s cursed coin purse, it ain’t just cursed. It’s treacherous. And still… still I keep it locked up, not destroyed. Why?

Because if ya know it lies — and ya learn to read those lies — it becomes the only shield that tells ya the truth about yerself.

Makes a man pause, don’t it?

This isn’t the only artifact in here with a mean streak. Look around.

Hold Up a Mirror That Bites

👉 If ya want a shield that guards more than yer ribs — maybe even yer soul — then stick close to the Tavern Armory. And if it starts showin’ yer mother cryin’? Bang on the Contact Page. We’ll talk ya through it.

The Mirror of False Witness

Item Type: Shield
Rarity: Rare
Requires Attunement: Yes
Forged by: Unknown — believed to be a failed divine artifact twisted by mortal fear

Origin Lore

The Mirror of False Witness was first uncovered in a ruined cathedral beneath the Ashen Fen. It was clasped to the bones of a knight who’d scratched out his own eyes. Scribbled prayers on the walls hinted that the shield began as a holy relic — meant to reflect sin. But something corrupted it. Now it reflects not sin, but doubt.

Mechanical Effects

• +2 Bonus to AC While Wielded

• Deceptive Vision: When a creature targets the wielder with a melee or ranged attack, the attacker must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 15). On a failure, the attacker sees a terrifying illusion of their worst fear and suffers disadvantage on the attack.

• False Defense: Once per long rest, the shield can “reflect” a spell or attack back to its source — but there is a 50% chance the reflection is an illusion, offering no actual protection. The DM rolls this secretly.

• Echo of Fear: The wielder has disadvantage on Insight checks and saving throws against fear effects while attuned, as the shield clouds their perception.

GM Ready Usage Tip

This shield is perfect for morally complex characters, paladins who’ve lost their way, or as a cursed item that grows in psychological weight. The best part? Let it occasionally show a truth. Make the party doubt what’s real. Let fear become the encounter.

Not Every Shield is Honest — Some Are Useful

👉 Want to shake up yer players' sense of safety? Drop this beauty into a haunted vault or as a reward from a ghost who regrets everything. Then send ‘em here to Player Builds and NPCs to meet someone broken enough to use it. If it starts whisperin’? Hit the Contact page. Or don't. It’ll find ya anyway.

FAQ

Q: Can players remove the “lie effect” from the shield?
A: Not easily. It’s woven into its nature. You’d need a ritual, a relic, or a deep-buried truth to peel that away.

Q: Is the shield evil?
A: It ain’t got a soul. Just reflections. What you do with it — that’s what makes ya evil, lad.

Q: Can the shield be used against illusions?
A: Ironically? Best not. It’ll just add more lies to the pile. Let yer wizard sort that mess out.