The Sound Barrier (Patreon)

Armor (shield), rare

A brass gong fitted to be worn as a shield ringed with musical runes. While holding this shield you and creatures within 5 feet of you have resistance to thunder damage.

Resonance. This shield can hold up to 5 points of vibration. If you have proficiency with drums, it can hold up to 6 instead. When you take 10 or more bludgeoning or thunder damage from a single source (before applying the resistance), this shield gains a point of vibration for every 10 points of damage dealt. If this shield does not gain any more points of vibration for 1 hour, it loses all points of vibration.

As an action you can spend any number of points of vibration and slam the back of this shield to unleash a cone of tremendous noise. The size of the cone is increased by 15 feet for each point spent. Each creature in the area must make a Constitution saving throw where the DC is equal to 13 + the number of points spent. On a failed save the creature takes 1d12 thunder damage per point spent and is deafened. A creature that fails its save by 5 or more is also stunned until the end of your next turn. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and suffers no other effects. The thunderous sound can be heard up to 100 feet away per charge spent.

Gortz was many things; friendly, hard-working, and loyal to a fault. But music was something a touch too complex for the goliath, requiring a musical ear and level of dexterity he did not have. Though the troupe accepted him nevertheless, being unable to contribute to their performances saddened the giant until he was granted the prestigious role of the Gongman. From that moment onward Gortz would signal the beginning and end of every show, beaming alongside his friends.