It's All Greek to Me
The Greeks and Romans both dominated the Mediterranean with mighty warriors, disciplined armies, and exceptionally well-equipped troops. This week’s Magic Market pays homage to those honorable men of battle with some of the most iconic battle gear poised by those armies, rounded out by an artifact from antiquity. So, armor up and get ready to fight!
HOPLITE SHIELD PRICE 12,180 gp
Slot shield; CL 1st; Weight 45 lbs.
Aura faint abjuration
This full-body tower shield is made from composite woods and coated in a thick layer of sturdy bronze. It looks as though it has seen countless battles, but is no worse for the wear. Though heavy on its own merits, it seems also to burden you with the weight of the countless thousands depending on its bearer.
In addition to functioning as a +1 tower shield, a hoplite shield offers additional protection to the bearer’s allies. Adjacent allies gain a +1 shield bonus to AC, and this bonus is doubled against ranged attacks. Additionally, whenever the bearer of a hoplite shield uses the hoplite shield to gain cover, adjacent allies also benefit from this cover, as long as they are not on the opposite side of the edge of the square the bearer chooses to gain cover from.
Create Magical Arms and Armor, shield
LEGIONNAIRE’ S BREASTPLATE PRICE 25,350 gp
Slot armor; CL 7th; Weight 30 lbs.
Aura moderate transmutation
This beautiful bronze breastplate is sculpted to resemble the torso of demigod, with rippling muscles and generous proportions. The armor itself is exceedingly comfortable and is enchanted to protect the empire’s soldiers from their deadliest foes.
In addition to functioning as a suit of +3 breastplate, a legionnaire’s breastplate grants its wearer an additional +3 bonus to AC against attacks made by metal weapons. For this purpose, a metal weapon is any weapon whose point, edge, or bludgeon is made of metal, including most swords, axes, and spears, as well as warhammers and some maces.
Create Magical Arms and Armor, rusting grasp
CAP OF HADES (MINOR ARTIFACT)
Slot head; CL 20th; Weight 1 lb.
Aura overwhelming illusion
Also known as the invisibility cap, the cap of darkness, and the helm of Pluto, this black cap is darker than even a moonless night and it always perfectly fits the wearer. A character wearing this hat is rendered invisible to even supernatural senses and entities, as well as mortal eyes and arcane workings, hiding the wearer’s presence from the very gods themselves. The property of the lord of the underworld, this magical cap is often gifted for a time to divine messengers, goddesses of love, and mortal heroes whose success or failure are of dire importance to the machinations of the divine.
When donned, the cap of Hades renders the wearer immune to any form of divination, preventing him from being scryed upon. Any scrying spell or similar magic that might include him either fails outright, or is obscured by a thick haze that hides the wearer’s presence for so long as he would remain invisible. While the cap is worn, the wearer’s thoughts cannot be read in any way, nor can the truth of his words be determined, effectively granting him a +40 bonus on Bluff checks. Additionally, the wearer of the cap cannot be seen at any time by non-humanoid creatures, as though he were constantly under effects of greater invisibility. Finally, the wearer can choose to hide his presence from all creatures by becoming invisibleas the spell invisibility.
The methods of creating this cap are known only to the lord of the underworld, and thus its replication or duplication is impossible by mortal hands, and even wish and miracle spells, except those granted by Hades or a similar entity, cannot create one. The cap of Hades is only ever given in person by Hades or a similar deity to those who would wear it, and possessing such a cap is considered a mark of his favor.
DESTRUCTION
In order to destroy the cap of Hades, it must be struck by a lightning bolt while in direct sunlight. Under such circumstances, the cap catches fire, which must then be extinguished by salt water. When the fire goes out, the cap of Hades will vanish forever with the flames. Destroying the cap is sure to anger the god of the underworld, and he is swift to bring retribution.