The Shield of the Gorgon is a shield from The Empire. Upon it is painted the image of a Gorgon, a hideous creature said to dwell in the deserts of Araby. It is rumoured that an enemy, should he look into the eyes of the face painted on the shield, will be turned to stone. This has never happened in recent memory, but the reputation of the shield is great enough that adversaries disadvantage themselves attempting to avoid the gaze.[1a]