Arena:Auriel's Shield

Artifact: Auriel's Shield (lore page)
Shares Appearance With	Ebony Kite Shield
Statistics
Rating	-3 AC
Rating	-3 AC		{{{health}}}
Weight	4 kg
Enchantment
Resist Fire, Spell Shield, Heals

Auriel's Shield

"Auriel's Shield, an Ebony shield said to have once belonged to the quasi-mythical Elvish deity Auriel, can make its wielder nigh invulnerable. In its resistance to fire and magick, Auriel's Shield is unsurpassed. To defend its wielder from any attacks it cannot absorb, the Shield lends him or her health. Like many artifacts of Tamriel, the Shield has life and personality of its own, and does not feel bound to its user. A popular fable tells the tale of it abandoning one wielder in her greatest hour of need, but this is perhaps, apocryphal."—Codex Scientia

Auriel's Shield is a shield artifact that can be obtained by taking part in an artifact quest. The artifact quest for Auriel's Shield can be started anywhere but High Rock, as this is the province where the dungeon containing the map leading to Auriel's Shield will always be located. This map will lead to a second dungeon containing Auriel's Shield itself, and this dungeon can be located in any province with the exceptions of High Rock and the Imperial Province.

Auriel's Shield can be equipped by the following classes:

• Bard
• Rogue
• Barbarian
• Knight
• Ranger
• Warrior
• Spellsword

Auriel's Shield cannot be equipped by the following classes:

• Acrobat
• Assassin
• Burglar
• Thief
• Archer
• Monk
• Battlemage
• Healer
• Mage
• Nightblade
• Sorcerer

Quest Dialogue

Quest-starting Rumors

• "Were you ever told stories about Auriel when you were a little [PC race]? There's this guy [Direction] of here at the [Tavern name] who says he knows how to get Auriel's Shield, which apparently gives you some of Auriel's powers to resist spells and heal. He wants a few hundred gold pieces more than I have for his information, but if you have the money, you really shouldn't pass up this opportunity."

• "Just between the two of us, I know how to get Auriel's Shield. Actually, I know how to get to the guy who can sell you information about where to go to find the map to find the shield, if you follow me. He's a little [Direction] of here, in a tavern called the [Tavern name]. Tell him I sent you, and bring plenty of gold. He's not giving his information away."

• "Somebody ought to open up an Auriel Shoppe for tourists, he'd make a million. Now there's some chap [Direction] of here who says for a couple hundred gold, he'll tell you how to find the map to the new locale of Auriel's Shield. If he's honest, it's the find of the year. If not, he's just one more con man in the [Tavern name]. I wouldn't risk it."

Tavern Encounters

• "You don't look like a museum curator," says the man next to you. "You must have a practical interest in Auriel's Shield. My name is [NPC name], if you want to know. You probably know the story of how Cormelik made a map of all of his expeditions to the Shield, right? Well, I know where one of his maps is, and so can you for a mere [Amount of gold] gold pieces. Do we have a deal?"

• "You're an ambitious [PC race], ain't you?" says a voice behind you. You turn to see a figure, his thick [Province] accent low and conspiratorial. "I like that. You can call me [NPC name]: I was one of Cormelik's followers years ago, when he was tracking all of the returning points of Auriel's Shield, and I know where he put one of his maps. I'd go get it myself and sell it, but then I'd be asking a lot more than [Amount of gold] gold pieces. Surely you can afford that much to recover Auriel's Shield?"

• A shady-looking character leaves his table and joins you at the bar. "I overheard you mention Auriel's Shield, [PC race]. If you're serious, I should introduce myself, [NPC name], former follower of Cormelik the Elder, the man who prophesized [sic] all the Shield's returning points. You've heard he was unable to enter the true place himself, mighty a warrior as he was? So do not think it is enough to get the map I know of. In addition, I need [Amount of gold] gold to justify telling you how to find the map itself. Do we understand one another?"

Negotiation:

• "Forget it, pal. You're going to have to do a lot better than that."

• "If that's the best you can offer, just say goodbye. Otherwise, you're going to have to make it more, [PC race]."

• "I assume that was a joke. Please make me a legitimate offer, [PC race]."

• "Sorry we couldn't help one another, [PC race]. I'm staying here at [tavern] for [number of] more days, so if there's a change in your courage or your purse size, look me up. Goodbye."

• "Oh well. I'll probably still be at [tavern] for [number of] days with my offer standing. Fare thee well, young [PC race]."

• "Fine. Please excuse me while I look for truly adventurous parties. The offer and I will be here for [number of] days and then we're leaving fair [Settlement name]. Free advice: come back with gold."

• "That's a fair offer, but [Amount of gold] gold pieces is an even more fair offer."

• "I can't accept that, I'm afraid. I'd take [Amount of gold] gold, though." "I'd like to, but I can't accept that. Would you agree to [Amount of gold] gold?"

New encounter after rejecting the quest:

• At the mention of Auriel's Shield, the familiar figure of [NPC name] appears next to you. His hearing is apparently exceptional. "Back again, [PC race]? Well, lucky for you the offer still stands. I will tell you everything I know about the location of Auriel's Shield for [Amount of gold] gold pieces. No credit, naturally."

• You feel a tap on your shoulder. [NPC name] stands behind you. "I knew you'd be back. I assume you're now prepared to give me [Amount of gold] gold pieces to learn how one may find Auriel's Shield?"

• The innkeeper lets out a whistle. "[NPC name]! The [PC race] is back to talk with you!" [NPC name] emerges from across the room. "You've reconsidered, "he says. "Marvelous. Now if you have the [Amount of gold] pieces of gold I requested, I'll tell you exactly how one might find Auriel's Shield. Agreed?"

Location

• "Ah, I hope you know what fortune you've found today. It is in the nature of people not to know how lucky they are. Take the case of a small group of acolytes who journeyed across the province of High Rock. They stumbled upon a cave that seemed to lead to deeper, darker depths. One of them read an inscription in the entrance which indicated this place as the new resting place for a map to Auriel's Shield. Imagine still their greater surprise when they told me, hoping that as a follower of Cormelik the Elder, I could answer their neophytical questions. I answered them indeed. Their blood now adorns this city's sewers, as does their silence. I have no need of something such as this Shield, said to be able to protect the user from any attack. You have provided me with the money I require for arcane activities. Still, a deal is a deal. The cave is called the [Dungeon name]. Here, I have inscribed it onto your map of the continent. Within its depths should be the map that will lead you to Auriel's Shield. I wish you well on your journey..."