Weightless Shields

Light as a feather, hard as steel.

Weightless Shields are a group of lesser artifacts with a common enchantment - they are so light as to be almost weightless.

Description

Weightless Shields come in every size and shape, but mages usually favor heavier shields for the enchantment to have the greatest effects. Kite Shields and Tower Shields are the most popular choices, reducing their usually obstructing weight to little more than a feather. Most are free of any adornment that would otherwise add weight, featuring a plain metal surface that shimmer white with Air magic. On a correctly made Wightless Shield, the handle or strap is the weightest elements, and usually not enchanted.

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This weight allows the shield to be carried and wielded effortlessly, but not without complication. The same ethereal weight makes the shields vulnerable to brute force, as there's little to help the wielder to brace from impact save their own strength. Powerful winds have been known to pick the shield from rest and there is no more embarrassing way to lose an magical artifact than that. Most wielders learn to tie the shield to their arm with a second, longer strap to recall it should they lose their grip.
The shields aren't truly weightless and will sink to the ground if dropped. Likewise, beating someone in the face with one lacks heft, but is still slamming a piece of metal into them.

Construction

Weightless Shields are made by suffusing metal with Air essence, forcing it to take on aspects of that element. Ingots are enchanted for seven days and seven nights to keep them afloat, then smelted and forged, or left in the chaos of a Air Demesnes to absorb its essence. Once the metal has opened, the enchantments of Air are permanently hammered into them, made true by the sacrifice as one to three Air components, depending on the size of the shield.

Rarity - Power

Lesser

Magic Used

Air

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Captain Ithekshem

Some mages turn their shields into weapon by sharpening the edges to razor points. These shield become weightless blades, quickly swung to lacerate and cut.

Dancing Shields

Weightless Shields are sometimes used as components in the creation for Dancing Shields - animated shields that protect their user by their own. It's seen as somewhat of a shortcut, and the Dancing Shields made this way are generally inferior, as the lack of weight make them unsuitable for parrying all but light blows.
Their greatest use is against ranged weapons, especially for a mage whose hands are busy casting some spell.