Shield Of Scales

Item

Image
Description	Although its design is old-fashioned, this shield is marked with a shimmering pattern of scales that almost has to be holographic in origin. It even moves like you're looking at it through a portal, sliding along like you're looking at a massive snake. It's almost crazy enough to make you think you're just hallucinating it, but the shield itself seems to be solid enough.
Type	Offhand (hidden: shield)
Effects	+2 Melee Defense Applies half your Melee Defense to Etheric Defense (hidden: Gives +1 Evasion Power and Melee Defense for every serpent suit part equipped)

Sources

Zack's House of Coins - Originally available in season 4 for 1 unearthly coin; see House of Coins page for current rotation

Notes

If your Melee Defense is negative, it does not remove Etheric Defense. Melee Defense is rounded down if an odd number.

Blocking an Etheric attack with Shield Block sometimes gives the Striking Shield technique:

You raise your scaled shield to block.
<Opponent uses an Etheric attack>, but your shield absorbs <x> of the damage. Its scaled patterns shimmer with green energy.

Blocking a (melee?) technique using Shield Block with this item equipped can occasionally give you the Sudden Bash technique:

You raise your scaled shield to block.
<Opponent attacks>, but your shield absorbs <x> of the damage. It chimes like a struck bell.

Making a chain of Serpent Pattern, Striking Shield, Shield Block, Sudden Bash, and Serpent Strike while etheric with this item equipped gives 5 energy of the Shield of Scales effect.

Summary of techniques

Techniques affected by the shield (Sudden Bash and Striking Shield are new to the shield of scales; the other techniques are newly modified):

Technique	Chain	Type	Attribute	Power	Notes
Serpent Strike		Stealth	Will	4	(+5 Power as Closer) With shield of scales, extra damage following Striking Shield, Shield Block and/or Sudden Bash
Sudden Bash		Stealth	Strength	2	With various shields, increased damage. Following Striking Shield and/or Shield Block, increased damage.
Shield Block		Evasion	Strength	4	With shield of scales, blocks Etheric attacks. Extra defense following Striking Shield
Striking Shield		Etheric	Will	8	(with Eclipse) With shield of scales and Serpent Venom, increased damage and gives ~dam/8 turns of Numbing Neurotoxin to your opponent
Serpent Pattern		Etheric	Will	15	(with Eclipse)

(Kinak said in one podcast that there are more technique(s) that are affected by the shield, including one(s) that have not been discovered - however Serpent Pattern was not known at the time.)

Uses

This item is not a component for any kind of crafting.

This item cannot be salvaged.

This item cannot be added to a gang stash.