The Astral Briar

The Astral Briar is a shield forged not of metal, but woven from a living, dark-grained ironwood that feels warm to the touch. It is completely overgrown with a strange, bioluminescent moss that gently pulses with faint pinpricks of light. In the dead center of the shield is a prominent, diamond-shaped star symbol, naturally grown into the wood grain and glowing with a deep, emerald-green druidic light. Protruding from the front of the wood are vicious, curved thorns that seem to actively writhe and stretch outward, as if hungering to move forward and grasp what is just out of reach rather than simply defend against blows.