The Last Standard

Weapon (glaive, halberd, or pike), legendary (requires attunement)

This glimmering battle standard stood tall at the very end of a kingdom's final battle before it fell to the forces of evil. You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. As a bonus action, or if you aren't holding the weapon when you roll initiative (no action required), you can cause it to magically teleport to your open hand if it's on the same plane of existence as you. You can use the following properties while you hold it.

Aura of Readiness. The weapon creates an aura in a 10-foot radius around you. You and all creatures friendly to you in the aura gain a +3 bonus to initiative rolls and can't be surprised. If you have 17 or more levels in the paladin class, the radius of the aura increases to 30 feet.

Circle of Protection. You can use an action to cause a radiant, 20-foot-tall illusory copy of the standard to appear and stand at a point of your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you. The illusory standard recreates the effects of the magic circle spell, centered on itself (save DC 17, normal direction only); you choose the affected creature type each time. The illusory standard remains for 1 hour or until you end the effect (no action required). Once this property has been used, it can't be used again until the next dawn.

Unyielding Rally. You can use a bonus action to bellow a magical rallying cry. Up to ten creatures that you can see within 60 feet of you gain the following benefits until the end of your next turn, provided that they can hear you; an unconscious creature can still gain these benefits. Once you use this property, it can't be used again until the next dawn or until you roll initiative again.

• Its speed is increased by 10 feet, and it doesn't provoke opportunity attacks as a result of moving.

• It gains a +3 bonus to any saving throw it makes.

• It gains resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

• If it's unconscious, it regains 1 hit point, is no longer unconscious, and can stand up using its reaction.

• If it's within your Aura of Readiness gains 10 temporary hit points.

His hooves clattered softly on the moss-covered stone of the castle path. Standing before its walls, his gaze passed over what remained of its now-tattered banners. He knew not the names of the people who once held them—only what they once stood for, in stories. He hoped to learn more of them—and what called him here—within their empty halls.

Through the castle's crumbling gate stood the ruins of a once great hall. Dust hung idly in the air, but shimmered in gold amidst the streaks of sunlight which crept through the crumbling walls. Resting beside a dusty throne—as if still to guard it—was the only banner that had been touched by neither time or decay: its royal crest hung from a glaive like none other.

The metal weapon grated against stone as he lifted it, though he hardly heard it. Instead, he felt only the shocking weight of the blade's banner: of the burdens, dashed hopes, and heartache that had long rested on this long-abandoned crest. He felt a tear in his eye, though he know he didn't summon it.

This was the path forward for a knight—his knight. He knew already the burdens that the old warrior faced, and regretted that he must too pass this weight unto him. But, he knew that they would stand beneath this heavy banner together, and that was a weight that they could carry.