Stormguard Plate

Huge thanks to Konstantin Kim for the cover art/visual design!

A fine breastplate of lamellar, the Stormguard Plate serves as a conduit for its user's magical capabilities. During the Reckoning, this armor was donned by Hedinfrid Steindottir, the greatest Aasveigan warrior-cleric of the Age of Rebirth. When she fought, the lightning of a thousand storms cascaded across the lamellar plates of her armor as she eradicated entire armies of the Obsidian Lords. Like Nauneo, the wielder of Dominion, Hedinfrid was slain in one of the final battles of the Reckoning. She was disintegrated by Xael, but the Stormguard Plate is believed to have survived.
In the aftermath of the battle, the Stormguard Plate could not be found. Where it is and who it belongs to is a mystery.

The Legend

During the Age of Rebirth, some of the greatest warrior-clerics of Isael emerged from the isles of Aasveig. Chief among this group was Hedinfrid Steindottier, strongest of the strong and most devoted of the devout. Legends retell her as a storm upon the battlefield, a swirling vortex of Isael's wrath and death that smote all who earned her ire. Her armor, the Stormguard Plate, was her vessel through which she channeled untold arcane and divine power, and eventually the breastplate grew a legend as large as its wearer.
As the Reckoning stretched on, Hedinfrid's legend grew until she eventually drew the ire of the Obsidian Lords themselves. In the twisted landscapes of Drumis, Hedinfrid was swept up and then disintegrated by Xael. In the aftermath of the battle, her armor could not  be found and it was lost to time.

The Remnant

breastplate, legendary, requires attunement by a spellcaster
Once, the Stormguard Plate was composed of beautiful red and silver lamellar and bound by fine leathers and chainmail. In its centuries of disuse, much of its strength and glory has been lost; however, it still waits to be reclaimed.

Dormant

In its dormant state, the Stormguard Plate has lost much of its shine and refinement, and much of the upper part of the chest is stained with the blood of Hedinfrid and refuses to be clean.

Properties

• The wearer gains a +1 bonus to their AC while wearing this armor.
• Channeling the Storm. The Stormguard Plate can be used as a spellcasting focus.
• Storm's Power. The Stormguard Plate has 5 charges, regaining 1d4+1 charges at dawn. As a reaction when the wearer casts a spell that deals lightning or thunder damage, they can expend 1 charge to increase the damage die of the spell by 1. For example, if the wearer is casting lightning bolt at 3rd level (which would normally deal 8d6 lightning damage), they can expend 1 charge as a reaction and increase the damage to 9d6.

Awakened

Once it has been awakened, the blood stains are purged by lightning from the surface of the Stormguard Plate. The lamellar and silver is once more free of blemishes, and lightning crackles across the surface of the plate when the wearer is channeling magic.

Properties

• The wearer gains a +2 bonus to their AC while wearing this armor.
• Channeling the Storm. The Stormguard Plate can be used as a spellcasting focus.
• Storm's Power. The Stormguard Plate has 7 charges, regaining 1d6+1 charges at dawn. As a reaction when the wearer casts a spell that deals lightning or thunder damage, they can expend 1 to 3 charges to increase the damage die of the spell by 1 per charge expended. For example, if the wearer is casting lightning bolt at 3rd level (which would normally deal 8d6 lightning damage), they can expend 3 charges as a reaction and increase the damage to 11d6.
• Storm's Guard. As a reaction when the wearer is hit by a melee or ranged weapon attack, they can force the attacker to make a Dexterity saving throw with a DC equal to the wearer's spell save DC. On a failure, the target takes 2d8 lightning or thunder damage (wearer's choice) as the Stormguard Plate out in response to assault. The wearer can use this feature a number of times equal to their proficiency bonus, regaining all expended uses on a long rest.

Exalted

Through conflict and strife, the Stormguard Plate has been restored to its ancient glory. The lamellar is nearly impervious, and its deep red and silver is just as well-made and beautiful as when it was worn by Hedinfrid. When the wearer is channeling magics, the Stormguard Plate responds, ranging from sparks to a small storm of lightning and clouds.

Properties

• The wearer gains a +3 bonus to their AC while wearing this armor.
• Channeling the Storm. The Stormguard Plate can be used as a spellcasting focus, and the wearer's spell save DC and spell modifier increases by 1.
• Storm's Power. The Stormguard Plate has 9 charges, regaining 1d8+1 charges at dawn. As a reaction when the wearer casts a spell that deals lightning or thunder damage, they can expend 1 to 5 charges to increase the damage die of the spell by 1 per charge expended. For example, if the wearer is casting lightning bolt at 3rd level (which would normally deal 8d6 lightning damage), they can expend 3 charges as a reaction and increase the damage to 11d6.
• Storm's Guard. As a reaction when the wearer is hit by a melee or ranged weapon attack, they can force the attacker to make a Dexterity saving throw with a DC equal to the wearer's spell save DC. On a failure, the target takes 3d8 lightning or thunder damage (wearer's choice) as the Stormguard Plate out in response to assault. The wearer can use this feature a number of times equal to their proficiency bonus, regaining all expended uses on a long rest.
• Storm's Wrath. Using the Stormguard Plate, the wearer can cast chain lightning, storm sphere, and thunder step without expending material components or a spell slot. Once a spell has been cast in this way, it cannot be cast with the Stormguard Plate again for one week (10 days).

Item type

Armor