Guardian

The Shieldbearer

A pure protector who absorbs hits for allies, redirects Darkness Point damage to themselves, and holds the line with unshakable patience and an enormous shield.

Overview

Guardians are walking castles. They're not flashy duelists or glory-chasing heroes — they're the quiet, stubborn shields that never move. When shadows lash out, the Guardian steps in front, holds up their shield, and says, "Nope." Friends feel braver just standing near them. In any fight against The Unwritten, the Guardian's job is simple: make sure no one else goes down. Everything else is secondary.

Stats

Stat	Bonus
Brave	+2
Keen	+1

Proficiencies

Shields (all sizes, tower shields)
Hammers and maces
Medium and heavy armor
Protector tools (signal horns, barrier kits, first-aid charms)

Abilities

Shield Bash

Strike a corrupted creature with your shield, breaking 1 DP. The hit is blunt and resolute — not meant to wound, but to crack the scales of darkness.

Shield Wall

Until your next turn, you and all allies within 5 ft gain +1 Defense.

Take the Hit

Choose one adjacent ally. Until your next turn, the first time they would take DP, you take that DP instead (you may reduce it by 1 if it's only 1 DP).

Steady Voice

Calm a friend; one ally within 15 ft gains +2 to their next Spirit Save and can immediately end the Frightened condition.

Signature Ability (Level 3)

Bulwark Bubble

Create a shimmering shield dome around you and up to 2 adjacent allies. The dome absorbs 3 total DP of damage shared among everyone inside before it fades.

Once-Per-Rest Power

Iron Stand

You plant your shield and become an unshakable wall for 3 rounds: you gain +2 Defense and can't be pushed or knocked prone. Once each round, when an ally within 10 ft would take DP, you may instead take that DP and reduce it by 1 (minimum 0).

Passive Feature

Shieldmate Aura

Allies adjacent to you have +1 Defense as long as you're conscious and not stunned.

Suggested Species Pairings

Turtle — Turtles embody defensive patience with their natural shell, high Brave, and endurance stats; a Turtle Guardian stacking Shell Defense with Shieldmate Aura and Iron Stand is a near-impenetrable fortress of kindness.
Panda — A panda's Calm Spirit, Bamboo Fortitude (+2 Max HP), and Soothing Presence (remove 1 DP from an ally) make them a deeply synergistic Guardian — calm, enduring, and always watching out for the party.