**Aegis Domain** characters are the shield-thanes, bodyguards, and patient duelists who win fights on *other people's* turns. They plant their feet, watch the whole battle, and move only when it matters: a shield thrown up before a friend, a blade that finds the gap when an enemy overreaches. An Aegis character might be a village guard who never lets anyone past the gate, or a sworn protector who would rather take a wound than see one land on their charge. ::: wrap tip 🛡️ Aegis is a **Reaction Domain**. Read [Reactions & Off-Turn Actions](/rules/reactions/) first: every reaction costs **Action Load**. ::: ## Tier 1 Base Card: Aegis Initiate At Tier 1, Aegis characters learn the discipline of waiting. They hold Action Load in reserve and spend it guarding others. **Aegis Aspect:** Choose **Fortitude** or **Agility**. This Aspect powers your Aegis Features. ### Core Feature: Guard Stance If you end your turn having added **1 or less Action Load** on that turn, you gain **+1 Evasion** until the start of your next turn. This Domain leans on **multiple reactions** more than most. Keep Action Load in reserve on your turn so you can spend it on other people's. Choose **two** Domain Feature Cards from Tier 1. ### Requirements to Advance to Tier 2 (complete 3): - Prevent an ally from taking **HP damage** with a reaction - Go a full combat round spending **all** your Action Load on reactions - Stand your ground in a doorway, bridge, or gap while allies retreat or regroup - Talk an angry crowd or rival down without anyone drawing a weapon - Spot an **ambush or trap** before it springs - Any one **Shared Milestone** (see [Domains](/rules/domains/)) ## Tier 1 Feature Cards ### ⚡ Shield Wall (Team Action – Reactive) **Action Load:** 1 When an ally within **5 feet** is targeted by an attack, add your **Aegis Aspect** to their Evasion against that attack. Requires a shield or a held weapon. ### ⚡ Opening Strike (Combat – Reactive) **Action Load:** as a normal weapon attack When an enemy within your reach **misses** any creature, you may make a weapon attack against it. - You may **mark 1 Stress** to reduce this Feature's Action Load cost by **1**. ### Hold the Line (Combat – Active) **Action Load:** 1 Until the start of your next turn, enemies that **enter your reach** must stop moving. ### ⚡ Interpose (Team Action – Reactive) **Action Load:** 1 When an ally within **10 feet** is hit, you may **move to them** without provoking reactions and take the hit yourself. Use your own thresholds. ### ⚡ Watchful Step (Exploration – Reactive) **Action Load:** 1 (in combat); none outside combat When a trap, hazard, or ambush is triggered near you, you may move **10 feet** and pull **one ally** with you out of harm's way. Outside combat you roll with **Advantage** to notice danger while on watch. ### Steadying Presence (Roleplay – Passive) **Action Load:** — (Passive) People feel safe near you. Frightened or nervous people you speak with have **Disadvantage** to panic, and you roll with **Advantage** to calm, reassure, or escort them. ## Tier 2 Base Card: Aegis Adept At Tier 2, your guard widens. You protect more than the person beside you. ### Core Feature: Wider Guard The range of your **Shield Wall** and **Interpose** increases by **5 feet**. *Guard Stance* now grants **+1 Evasion to one adjacent ally** as well. Choose **two** Domain Feature Cards from Tier 2. ### Requirements to Advance to Tier 3 (complete 4): - Protect **two different allies** in the same round - Take a **Serious or Critical** wound meant for someone else - Escort someone vulnerable safely through a dangerous journey - Earn an oath, title, or thanks from someone you protected - Combine an Aegis reaction with an ally's **Team Action** - Any one **Shared Milestone** (see [Domains](/rules/domains/)) ## Tier 2 Feature Cards ### ⚡ Riposte Chain (Combat – Reactive) **Action Load:** 1 After you protect an ally with *Shield Wall* or *Interpose*, make a weapon attack against the attacker. ### ⚡ Brace (Combat – Reactive) **Action Load:** 1 When you are hit, reduce the wound severity by **one step**. Once per round. ### Sentinel's Rest (Exploration – Passive) **Action Load:** — (Passive) While you keep watch, the camp **cannot be surprised**, and allies who rest under your watch reduce **1 extra Stress**. ### Rally Point (Team Action – Active) **Action Load:** 1 Plant your shield or banner. Allies who start their turn within **10 feet** of you gain **+1 Evasion** until the end of the scene or until you move. ### Sworn Protector (Roleplay – Passive) **Action Load:** — (Passive) Name one person as your **charge**. You gain **Advantage** on any roll made to protect, find, or speak for them. You may change your charge after a Full Rest. ### ⚡ Challenge Step (Combat – Reactive) **Action Load:** as a normal melee attack When a creature within your reach **moves away from you**, you may make a melee weapon attack against it. If it hits, the target has **Disadvantage** on its next attack before the end of its next turn. > *Same idea as Weapon Master's* Punish Withdrawal, *with a rider. If you already have* Punish Withdrawal, *you may take this instead (or choose another card).* ## Tier 3 Base Card: Aegis Expert At Tier 3, you are a wall the enemy must plan around. ### Core Feature: Unmoving You cannot be **pushed, knocked down, or moved** against your will unless you choose to be. Choose **three** Domain Feature Cards from Tier 3. ### Requirements to Advance to Tier 4 (complete 4): - Hold a position alone against **many foes** for a full round - Protect a group through a disaster (collapse, storm, stampede) - Teach someone to stand guard the way you do - Turn a battle by protecting the right person at the right time - Refuse a reward or order that would put the innocent at risk - Any one **Shared Milestone** (see [Domains](/rules/domains/)) ## Tier 3 Feature Cards ### Zone Denial (Combat – Active) **Action Load:** 2 Until the start of your next turn, any enemy that moves within your reach provokes a reaction attack (as *Opening Strike*) that costs **0 Action Load**. ### ⚡ Guardian's Leap (Team Action – Reactive) **Action Load:** 1 When an ally within **30 feet** is targeted, move up to 30 feet to stand beside them, then use *Shield Wall* or *Interpose* for its normal cost. ### ⚡ Shield of Many (Team Action – Reactive) **Action Load:** 2 When an area effect hits allies near you, all allies within **5 feet** of you reduce the wound severity by **one step**. ### Hold the Pass (Exploration – Passive) **Action Load:** — (Passive) Choose a gate, bridge, or narrow route. While you hold it, the party has **Advantage** to delay pursuers or keep travelers safe there. ### Iron Oath (Roleplay – Passive) **Action Load:** — (Passive) Your promises are believed. Once per session, an NPC accepts your word **without a roll** as guarantee of safe conduct, payment, or truce. ## Tier 4 Base Card: Aegis Master At Tier 4, you are a legend of protection: the one who never fell and never let anyone through. ### Core Feature: Bulwark Your first reaction each round costs **1 less Action Load** (minimum 0). *Guard Stance* now grants **+2 Evasion**. Choose **three** Domain Feature Cards from Tier 4. ## Tier 4 Feature Cards ### ⚡ Last Wall (Team Action – Reactive) **Action Load:** 2 (once per scene) Once per scene, when an ally would drop to 0 HP, they stay at 1 HP and **you** take the wound instead. You mark **1 Stress**. ### ⚡ Perfect Counter (Combat – Reactive) **Action Load:** 1 When an enemy misses you, they **mark 2 Stress** and you may push them **10 feet**. ### Living Fortress (Combat – Active) **Action Load:** 2 Until your next turn, every ally within **10 feet** of you adds your **Aegis Aspect** to their Evasion. ### Warden of the Hall (Exploration – Passive) **Action Load:** — (Passive) A place you have defended (hall, village, ship) is **under your protection**: you always know when it is threatened, if you are within a day's travel. ### Shield-Elder (Roleplay – Passive) **Action Load:** — (Passive) Warriors and guards across the land know your name. You may call on a **troop of defenders** once per adventure to hold a place for a day.