Coquille

For most people, this will be a rather normal steel magical shield, though the form may appear rather odd.
However this magical steel shield shows many faced behavior due to the fact that this shield is said to have a connection with Athena herself.
Some say that the shield was crafted and enchanted for her, others even think that it was Athena herself that crafted and enchanted this shield to help her hero fight a battle, while protecting the peasants working the field.

Coquille first made itself known in a battle that was fought during the month of harvest. The battle was fierce and harsh and did not stay in one place. Slowly the battle moved into a cornfield where the farmers where trying their best to save as much grain as possible from the trampling feet. It was at this moment a Paladin of Athena was handed a shield by his page.
After the Paladin had fastened the shield to his arm, none of the nearby farmers where hit by arrows or other missiles, as all of the missiles turned and targeted the shield. It is needles to say that after the battle, the farmers celebrated the Paladin and carried him into the village. During the festivities, some of the villagers wanted to hang the shield from a higher place, for everybody to see their savior. The paladin struggled, but the villagers removed the shield none the less and the paladin was instantly slain.

Long since has the shield been in and out of sight, usually turning up on the arm of a paladin and hardly ever leaving his side, before his days where counted.


Magical Properties:

The shield shows many faces, which depend on the person picking it up.
Ordinary people find nothing special about this shield, save that it is a normal (low) magical shield. (D&D +1)

For true followers of Athena, the shield grows stronger (D&D +2), negating the entire armor check penalty and functioning as a shield of arrow attraction, but doubling the magical bonus another time for flying missile items. (D&D +4)
Any sharp missile entering a twenty foot radius around the shield and weighing as much or less as a short spear (the favored weapon of Athena) does not target the intended target, but the wearer of the shield.
If the shield is taken from the possession of a follower of Athena, this follower takes damage for 75% of his hit points. (D&D terms: fortitude save DC 20 for half damage)

For followers of Ares (The god who opposes Athena), the shield is cursed, as the wrath of Athena strikes the wearer. It gives no armor bonus, but can not be loosened either, while the armor check penalty is doubled. Since this person may not loose the shield, it is impossible to wield a two-handed weapon.
The shield may only be removed by casting a "remove curse" on the wearer, but this must be done by a cleric of Ares.