Gloom-Touched Buckler
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| Biogloom buckler · gloom buckler · the buckler · Hugo's buckler | |||||||||||||||
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The Gloom-Touched Buckler is a small shield coated in Biogloom resin, “a buckler covered in Biogloom resin” [10], found in the storeroom of The Warrens in session 6 [1]. Hugo took it, “Because I do use a shield.” [12], and Harvo identified it after about ten minutes of poking it with his tools [20][21]. The table has never read out what the resin does, but Hugo has called on it twice: for “the plus one AC” against a skeleton’s arrow in session 9 [28][17], and in session 23 as a reaction that made resin spike out and block a greatsword skeleton’s blow, which by his account “recharges on a long rest” [29][15][16].
Overview
The Gloom-Touched Buckler is Hugo’s shield. It came from the Warrens storeroom in session 6 with the silvered short sword and three dusty healing potions [8], and the DM said at once that it was “something else than the shield” [9]. Hugo has used its extra effect twice, once in session 9 and once in session 23.
Description
A small shield, “a buckler covered in Biogloom resin” [10]. A further search found no more resin in the storeroom, and the DM said that it is something an alchemist makes, in a relatively dangerous process that changes the Biogloom fungus into resin [11].
Mechanics (as played)
- A shield. Hugo carries and uses it as one [12][13].
- “The plus one AC.” In session 9 he used the buckler to turn a skeleton’s attack of 17, and the DM let it stand [4].
- A reaction. In session 23 the DM asked whether it was a reaction, and Hugo said it “just recharges on a long rest” [14][15]. Resin spiked out of it and blocked the blow [16].
- The text. It has never been read out at the table. Hugo’s account in play is the only description.
Open questions
- What is the item’s text? It has only been summarised, as “the plus one AC” [17] and as recharging “on a long rest” [15].
- When the block landed “as it shatters” [16], was it only the spike that broke?
History in the campaign
Session 6: Maze of the Minotaur and the Titan
Main article: Session 6
In the Warrens storeroom, Caelumn’s Investigation found three dusty healing potions, a salve, a silvered short sword and “a small buckler that seems to have some kind of resin on top of it” [8]. Terry asked whether it was anything other than a shield, and the DM said it was but that he could add a shield for now [18]. Hugo took it, “Because I do use a shield.” [19]. Harvo sat in a corner for about ten minutes poking it with different tools, and recognised it as a gloom touched buckler [20][21].
Session 9: The Death of Harvo
Main article: Session 9
In the Black Vein Quarry a skeleton’s arrow came in on a 17. Hugo said he was using the buckler to “use the plus one AC”, and the DM let it stand: an arrow “whoosh right past you” [4]. It is the first recorded use of the buckler’s extra effect.
Session 17: New Hands, the Black Mask’s Renegotiation, and the Rimeclaw
Main article: Session 17
Mike’s Detect Magic on the pebble Captain Stone made some of the party’s gear glow, and the DM listed “Hugo’s sword, his ring, his pockets, his shield” [5]. Caelumn asked when Hugo had got so many magic items, and Terry answered that he had been stacking them since day one [22][23]. The DM did not name the shield.
Session 23: The Changeling in Manacles
Main article: Session 23
During the break Hugo’s player turned down Father Thomas’s player’s request for the shield: “Yeah, I do use the shield.” [24][25]. In the fight with the greatsword skeletons, one swung at Hugo with an 18, and on hearing that these creatures reduce maximum hit points he said he would block with his shield [26]. The DM asked whether the buckler was a reaction, and Hugo said it recharges on a long rest [14][15]. “You manage to just barely make resin spike out from your buckler and block the swipe as it shatters.” [16]. Later in the fight, with the skeleton’s sword still caught in his shield, Hugo pulled the shield aside and took its head off [7].
Status
As of session 23. Carried by Hugo. By his account the reaction does not return until a long rest [15], and the session paused mid-fight with no rest taken [27].
See also
References
- ^ Session 6, line 944: Found in the storeroom: "a small buckler that seems to have some kind of resin on" it.
- ^ Session 6, line 972-983: Caelumn passes it round; Hugo takes it as his shield.
- ^ Session 6, line 989-990: Harvo identifies it in about ten minutes as a gloom touched buckler.
- ^ Session 9, line 449-454: A skeleton's arrow comes in on a 17; Hugo: "the buckler", "use the plus one AC"; the DM lets it stand.
- ^ Session 17, line 950: "Hugo's sword, his ring, his pockets, his shield" glow under Mike's Detect Magic.
- ^ Session 23, line 1776-1785: A greatsword skeleton swings with an 18; told that it cuts maximum hit points, Hugo blocks with the buckler: "It just recharges on a long rest."; resin spikes out.
- ^ Session 23, line 1844: The skeleton's sword is still caught in his shield when Hugo beheads it.
- ^ Session 6, line 944-946: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 6, line 978: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 6, line 960: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 6, line 966-971: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 6, line 981: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 6, line 1781: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 23, line 1783: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 23, line 1784: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 23, line 1785: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 9, line 453: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 6, line 975-978: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 6, line 979-983: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 6, line 989: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 6, line 990: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 17, line 951: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 17, line 952: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 23, line 1131: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 23, line 1132: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 23, line 1776-1781: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 23, line 1902: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 9, line 452: Inline citation.
- ^ Session 23, line 1781: Inline citation.