When a humanoid creature dies by an attack you made within 15ft of you while carrying this shield, you can use your reaction to absorb its spirit. The name of the creature is carved on the shield, for a maximum of 10 names. When found the shield has 1d10 names on it.
When you take damage while using the shield, you can use a reaction to call forth any number of the spirits named on the shield and reduce the damage by 1d10 +1 per spirit. Alternatively, you can use the spell speak with dead on one of the names, without needing the body. After using either of this effects, the name disappear and the spirit is gone.
Cursed: if you die and less than 10 names are written on the shield, your spirit is trapped in it, your name appears on it, and you can't be resurrected in any way unless the shield is cleansed by a greater restoration spell, and hence losing it's magical properties.
A shield is made from wood or metal and is carried in one hand. Wielding a shield increases your Armor Class by 2. You can benefit from only one shield at a time.