Tower shield

Tower shields, also known as body shields or large shields, were a large-sized style of shield in the Realms that were sometimes conflated with kite shields.Some sources, such as the Baldur's Gate series and Icewind Dale series, refer to kite shield as being another name for tower shields. Other sources, such as Player's Option: Combat & Tactics, contradict this claim. Because the two are distinct types of shields out-of-universe, it is assumed the two were lumped together due to being similarly large shields.
==Description==
Tower shields were big in size and heavy, reaching from the chin down to the toes of a wielder. For many races this meant an average height of around , width of , and weight of . They were typically made of either metal or wood. Ironwood saw usage throughout much of the Sword Coast, as the material made for very durable and lighter weight tower shields.
Due to the massive size relative to their users, wielding a tower shield required fastening it to one's forearm and firmly gripping it with the shield hand at all times.
==Availability==
* A number of merchants in Athkatla's market Waukeen's Promenade commonly sold tower shields, including the armorer Arnolinus, the fruit merchant Enge, the merchant Mira, and Ribald Barterman from his store Adventurer Mart. In the Bridge district, one could find them for sale from the innkeeper of Delosar's Inn and at the street-side stalls of Bel Dalemark and Sio'chaire. And in the Wave District, one could find them for sale by the merchant Jahaboam.
* A number of general stores in the southern districts of Baldur's Gate sold tower shields.
* Candlekeep Inn.
* Conlan's smithy, a blacksmith shop in Kuldahar, sold tower shields.
* The inn within the hamlet of Friendly Arm sold both mundane and +1 tower shields alongside a variety of armor and weapons.
* A small armaments store in Nashkel was known to sell tower shields.
* Pomab's Emporium, a general store in Easthaven, sold tower shields.
* The Tankard Tree, a tavern in Saradush, sold both mundane tower shields and ones with generic +1 or +2 enchantments.
* Thunderhammer Smithy, a blacksmith shop in Beregost, sold tower shields.
* The Ulgoth's Beard inn's owner sold tower shields on the side, alongside a variety of general adventuring equipment.
* The Zephir's owner Zakee Rafeha sold tower shields in his inn on the side, alongside a variety of general adventuring equipment.
===Beyond Faerûn===
* In the many bazaars of Zakhara, body shields could generally be bought for around 7 to 15 gold pieces.
==Notable Tower Shields==
* Blightguard, a tower shield enchanted by the Wood Man of Rashemen.
* Bulwark of the Great Dragon, an enchanted tower shield made from the bones and scales of an ancient dragon.
* Flame's Forge, a particularly large tower shield with fire resistance enchantments.
* Gorm's arm, a variety of enchanted tower shields.
* Mage protector, a variety of tower shields enchanted by Imaskari artificers for use by their elite warriors.
* Rhino beetle shield, a variety of enchanted tower shields made from the carapaces of giant rhinoceros beetles.
* Shield of dawn, a variety of enchanted tower shields that were created by Lathander to arm good clerics against the undead.
* Shield of the Dragonslayer, a variety of enchanted tower shields that were designed for combat against dragons.
* Shield of the falling stars, an enchanted tower shield blessed by Ilmater.
* Shield of lightning protection, a variety of enchanted tower shields that repelled lightning.
* The Wall, a holy relic of Helm that was arguably one of the most powerful enchanted tower shields in the Realms.
==Notable Owners==
===Individuals===
* Beresh, a werewolf on the Isle of Balduran, wielded a tower shield.
* Charissa Maernos, a priestess of Tyr, wielded the enchanted Shield of the Maimed God.
* Hastsezini, a law-abiding mercenary from Riatavin, wielded the enchanted Hastsezini's shield.
* Lazaapz wielded an adamantine tower shield.
* Mulahey, a Cyricist cleric, wielded a tower shield.
* Thibbledorf Pwent.
===Races & Sentient Creatures===
* Helmed horrors were sometimes equipped with tower shields.
===Regions & Settlements===
* Some of the city guard of Mirabar wielded tower shields emblazoned with the city's royal badge.
==Appendix==
===Notes===
===Appearances===
===Gallery===
Tower shield.png|A tower shield from the Frozenfar.
Zhent tower shield.png|A tower shield carried by the Zhentarim troops circa 1374 DR.
Helm tower shield.png|A tower shield adorned with the holy symbol of Helm.
Giant scorpion.jpg|In the Land of the Dead in Mulhorand, a humanoid defends against a giant scorpion by using a tower shield.
===External Links===
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===References===
Category:Shields
Category:Items from Amn
Category:Items from Athkatla
Category:Items from Baldur's Gate
Category:Items from Beregost
Category:Items from the Frozenfar
Category:Items from Icewind Dale
Category:Items from Imaskar
Category:Items from Kuldahar
Category:Items from Mirabar
Category:Items from Tethyr
Category:Items from the Sword Coast
Category:Items from Faerûn
Category:Items from Zakhara
Category:Items from Toril
Category:Ironwood items
Category:Wooden items
Category:0-24 gold pieces
Category:25-49 gold pieces