Trueheart's Warding (Magic Armband)

This armband of bronze is etched with a hawk that bears arrows in its talons and four roses upon its breast. Its tale is a twisted web of intrigue and tragedy.
The armband's origins are clouded in mystery to mortal inquirers. Eventually, it passed into the hands of Khantal Krellick "Oathbreaker," who maintained a bloody feud with his brother. At last, weary of war, Khantal bequeathed the armband to his brother Novace to end their feud. Among the ranks of mercenaries, however, Novace's magic armband became coveted by many. A soldier who desired the armband used a peculiar dagger of venom to slay Novace from behind. While the coward looted the body, the warrior Vanderjack who had witnessed the betrayal, confronted the villain with his crime. In the ensuing skirmish, Vanderjack slew the man. Vanderjack swore an oath to one day return the armband to its family.
In the years that followed, Vanderjack's path crossed that of the legendary Gregor Uth Matar. Seeing a similarity in the crests on the armband and Sir Gregor's armor, Vanderjack passed the armband to Sir Gregor, who promised to return it to his relatives, who had that very crest. Whether Gregor ever intended to honor the bargain remains uncertain. Gregor bequeathed the arm band to his daughter Kitiara. She wore it proudly and began her own career as a warrior. As time passed, she bid farewell to her family and gave the armband to her warrior brother Caramon, who still holds it.
This artifact detects only as simple magic, for the depths of its powers are drawn from the spirit bound within the metal: the armband provides its wearer with several enchantments. The wearer receives protection from normal missiles and a +3 bonus to saves vs. magic and special attacks.
Three times a day, the armband lets the wearer automatically avoid a special attack or reduce it to its minimal effect (DM's option).
The armband also works much like a ring of protection +3, improving the wearer's Armor Class by 3. Further, only +2 weapons or belter can strike the wearer for full damage. Other weapons only inflict 1 point of damage plus Strength and magical bonuses.
The armband can heal the wearer of all wounds once per day. With all of these abilities, Trueheart's warding is proof against the blight of age, ill will, and curses, and the wearer is undying.
This artifact is the third in the Circle of Love, created by Sirrion for the goddess Mishakal during the Age of Dreams. To prove the strength of love over deceit, Mishakal drew the girl Mirri to the young enemy warrior Trae. They fell in love. Allied with Trae's brother Heris, the lovers set to establishing peace between their warring nations. The evil god Hiddukel, however, betrayed the lovers, imprisoning each of their spirits in one artifact from the Circle of Love. Trae is bound in the Trueheart's warding. The armband opposes the dagger of vengeance in Hiddukel's Triad of Betrayal.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Armbands