Turtle Power

September 3rd, 2015

Turtles. Majestic creatures of the land and sea. Ancient relics of a bygone epoch that still survive to the current day. They are many things to many people. Today, to us, they are the inspiration of a collection of magic items, all of which have a decidedly “turtle” theme. Enjoy!

CHELONIAN BELT PRICE 32,000 gp

Slot belt; CL 5th; Weight 2 lbs.
Aura faint transmutation

These belts are made of turtle skin, and feature a buckle of carved tortoise shell bone. As long as the belt is worn, the wearer gains a +9 armor bonus to AC, but is constantly under the effects of a slow spell. Anything that ends the slow effect also removes the circumstance bonus to AC.

Construction Requirements Cost 16,000 gp

Craft Wondrous Item, mage armor, slow

SHIELD OF THE TORTOISE PRICE 130,170 gp

Slot shield; CL 13th; Weight 15 lbs.
Aura strong transmutation

These +5 heavy steel shields are patterned so as to resemble the shells of giant tortoises, and in a few rare cases, are even made of tortoise shells, instead of steel.

As long as they are held in hand, these shields render the wielder immune to magical aging, as well as to the spell slow. Additionally, whenever the wielder is fully submersed in water, the shield melds onto the wielder’s back, continuing to provide its shield bonus to AC, but freeing his hands and negating the shield’s armor check penalty to Swim checks the wielder makes. This property of the shield only functions while underwater. Finally, as long as the shield of the tortoise is worn (or melded into its wielder’s back), the wielder gains spell resistance 25.

Some of a shield of the tortoise’s unique abilities count as an enhancement bonus equivalent, and it is treated as a +10-equivalent shield for the purposes of the cost of further improving its magical abilities.

Construction Requirements Cost 65,170 gp

Craft Wondrous Item, beast shape II, greater age resistance, haste, spell turning

TURTLE SHELL ARMOR PRICE 121,650 gp

Slot armor; CL 13th; Weight 50 lbs.
Aura strong conjuration

These suits of +5 heavy fortification full plate are lacquered with green enamel and engraved with patterns reminiscent of a tortoise shell, or, in some cases, with depictions of tortoises in various poses. Three times per day, the armor’s wearer can activate its magical power as a standard action to draw his entire body inside an extradimensional pocket created within the armor, apparently leaving only an empty breastplate on the ground where he once stood.

While within this extradimensional space, the armor’s wearer cannot be harmed by creatures on the outside. The extradimensional space has enough air to breathe, but is completely dark and is only just big enough to accommodate the wearer’s body, leaving much to be desired in the way of comfort. The wearer can exit the extradimensional space with another standard action. If he does not, he is automatically ejected after 1 minute. The wearer is also ejected from the extradimensional space if a dispel magic spell, or similar effect, is cast on the remaining portion of the armor left behind. Regardless of the means by which the wearer returns to the Material Plane, he is prone, and returns in whatever square is currently occupied by the remaining portion of the armor he left behind.

None of a turtle shell armor’s unique abilities count as an enhancement bonus equivalent, and it is treated as a +10-equivalent armor for the purposes of the cost of further improving its magical abilities.

Construction Requirements Cost 61,650 gp

Craft Wondrous Item, lesser create demiplane and either limited wish or miracle