Ink and watercolour plate: a gloved hand raised palm outward behind a curved shield of golden arcane lines, a thrown rock glancing off it, with a side-view sketch of the shield.

Spell

Arcane Shield

A protective field of arcane energy that deflects blows and projectiles, and in the right hands turns a dragon's fire against it.

  • The Goblin Invasion
  • Dark Times

Description

The Arcane Shield is a protective energy field that the caster raises to turn aside attacks, both blows and projectiles. Whatever is shot at the wizard can be deflected, sometimes straight back at its source.

Historical context

Aurelius refused to let the stranger face the orcs again before practising the shield, unwilling to see his work and the kingdom undone by a boulder to the face. It proved decisive above Shrike's Lookout, where turning the dragon Asper's own blaze back upon it was the only way through its thick hide. A generation later, in the Primeweald, the shield was strong enough to tear down a crumbling wall.

In the original game its spellbook upgrades were Deflection, which sends deflected projectiles towards the nearest enemy; Arcane Bulwark, which increases the shield's duration and durability; and Aegis Throw, which lets the shield be thrown at enemies.