Wooden Shield

“Squires see to their knight’s horse, armor, and weapons. They help their lords don their armor before battle, and help remove it again afterwards. They must take care to check shields for damage, and quickly make necessary repairs.”
— Excerpt from Squire’s Tenets, a book of instruction for young squires in the Northmarches

The classic wooden shield is round and edged in steel. They are often made from boards, but also may be made from a thin cross-section of a tree’s trunk.

The wooden shield’s grip is either a thick leather strap or a wooden or steel handle. Shields with leather grips may be suspended passively from the hand without undue discomfort. On the front of the shield, a shield boss (a sort of metal cap made from copper, iron, or steel) protects the hand. Most wooden shields are relatively small and primarily for personal defense rather than for use in shield walls or other area defenses. They are robust and suitable for shield bashes and maneuvers that require great mobility.

“I thank Rondra for this invention. Without shields, there would be many more injuries in the world.”

— Brother Hilbert of Auen, Blessed One of Peraine