Mageguard Sphere

A mageguard sphere is a small floating device designed to absorb harmful spells that target its ward. The sphere is most often made from wood, steel, brass, or other mundane materials.
Mageguard spheres are most often found in the vicinity of non-adventuring wizards who fear the surreptitious magic of rival wizards over the fangs and claws of marauding monsters.
A mageguard sphere bears a rudimentary intelligence that allows them to emit sounds, speak, and understand written or verbal commands. They normally respond to simple questions with monosyllabic answers and give only nonsensical replies to complex questions that require deeper thought or nuanced responses.
Vain or cunning creators sometimes disguise a mageguard sphere as something else, either to fool potential enemies or to impart an air of mystery or style. Roll or choose from the Mageguard Sphere Appearance table to determine how a creator might disguise their mageguard sphere.

Wizards have a long history of using other creatures, including magical constructs, for protection and assistance. Familiars are the most common magical assistants, and shield guardians are among the most common magical bodyguards. However, rarer creatures exist as magical protectors or companions.
The means of creating, controlling, or bonding with more unusual creatures are often heavily guarded secrets only passed along to trusted allies. Magic-users might learn such secrets as members of a magical organization or faction, but usually only the most powerful, influential, or wealthy members are entrusted with this knowledge.
Bonding with these unique magical bodyguards is not as simple as attuning to a magic item or summoning a familiar. It can take months to create and days to forge a bond with these magical bodyguards. This bonding process requires an expenditure of magical and physical energy that can weaken the creator for many days.