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#Post#: 427--------------------------------------------------
Relic: Portable Threshold (orig D&D 3.0/3.5)
DIR By: jrnewton
Date: March 11, 2018, 5:52 pm
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I've been using Relics in most of my D&D games for quite a
while, although I always called it a "Growing Item". This is
probably the most through write up I have for one of these, most
of the others were just notes in spreadsheets, etc. I'll post
more as I find them, if people are interested.
This item was from my Forgotten Realms - Heroes' Guild: Ground
Floor campaign. The player was a Bard who wanted a more utility
item, and was very finicky about keeping clean. It goes without
saying that her character was from the Starfire clan (see item).
Humorously though, this was recovered from a group of goblins
that had invaded the sewers. This item was written for D&D
3.0/3.5.
Portable Threshold
Description: The item is a wooden board about 6 inches wide, 1
inch thick, and 3 feet long. The long side of the board has
signs and words carved into it in relief, such that if the board
is placed flat on the ground, it could be read by someone
standing next to it. The center of the board has a large symbol
of a sweeping mountain spewing fire and a small glowing orb.
Near the edges of the board are a myriad of mystic symbols.
Framing the center symbol are the words “Well Come” and “Fare
Well” in Elvish.
Use: When someone (referred to as the User) places the threshold
on a stable and relatively flat and level surface, they can
cause a shelter to appear. This is done by standing on the
threshold and speaking the command word “Well Come”. The shelter
will only disappear after sufficient time, or if the User stands
upon the threshold and speaks the command word “Fare Well.”
Several effects of the threshold are based upon the level of the
User.
The shelter produced by the threshold will remain for 8 + User’s
Level in hours. At the end of this time, the shelter will
vanish, depositing anyone or anything still inside on the
ground. This time period can be renewed if the User performs
another activation before the normal expiration. This can done
without causing the shelter to disappear first.
The shelter takes a form appropriate to its surroundings and the
User’s choice. This can be anything from a “lean to” to a tent,
to a cottage or small building. It will also be constructed of
materials appropriate for its surroundings. These materials are
for all intents normal, and the structure will resist damage as
a normal structure constructed of these materials. Destroying
the shelter will simply cause it to vanish as if the duration
had expired or the command word was spoken.
The shelter has doors and windows as appropriate and desired by
the User which are secured with simple cross bar latches. There
is also some form of fireplace and smoke-hole/chimney (although
fuel is not provided). For each 10 foot square of floor space,
the shelter will also provide chairs, stools, or benches, a
table, and sleeping accommodations, in the form of tick,
blankets, furs, bunks, or hammocks, for two individuals. The
shelter is normally a single room, but can be subdivided into
separate rooms upon activation if the User desires it.
The structure is generally utilitarian in nature, and will
generally appear as a typical example of its form. As a User
becomes more familiar with using the threshold, however, they
can begin to impart their own personality to the shelter,
causing it to exhibit architecture or style familiar or pleasing
to them.
The shelter produces a number of effects based on the level of
the User. A User can always activate at least one of the
following effects, and may activate one additional effect for
every two character levels:
- Size: The shelter fills a 10 foot square. This effect may be
activated more than once to generate a larger shelter, up to the
available ground space and a maximum of a 20’x30’ shelter.
- Security: This effect will arcane lock and alarm all entrances
and exists to the shelter, including doors, windows, and
smoke-hole/chimney. In the case of the smoke-hole/chimney, it
also provides a grate of appropriate material over the opening.
- Assistance: This effect provides an Unseen servant within the
shelter. This functions as the spell, and will take commands
from anyone in the shelter. In the case of contradictory
commands, the servant will do nothing, and the User’s commands
always have priority.
- Strength: This effect provides additional strength to the
material the shelter is made from. While it will still appear to
be made of leather, wood, earth, sod, stone, etc, the material
will be much stronger. This effect can be used multiple times to
further increase the strength of the shelter. Start with the
material the shelter would normally be, and move once to the
right each time the effect is applied: leather/cloth; earth/sod;
wood; stone; metal/iron; metal/steel.
- Protection: The shelter provides typical protection against
the elements, based on its form and composition. This effect
provides additional protection against the elements,
specifically temperature. Each application of this effect will
provide up to a 30 Deg. F. shift in temperature toward a
comfortable temperature.
- Camouflage: This effect will camouflage the shelter with its
surroundings, requiring a DC 10 spot/perception check to notice
the shelter. Each additional application of this effect gives
+4 to the DC.
Additional Effects for Starfire Clan Users: The portable
thresholds were originally made by the Starfire Clan, and bear
their mark. The first of these were personal items made for
family members who traveled frequently, and had additional
special effects that could only be activated by a member of the
clan. One of these “Family” thresholds has the following
additional uses and effects. These effects cannot be discovered
by use of identify, unless it is being cast by a member of the
Starfire Clan.
A Starfire Clan member can deactivate the threshold activated by
a non-Starfire Clan User.
The threshold is always considered attuned to a Starfire User
from an architecture and appearance perspective.
The portable threshold can act as a Type IV Bag of Holding,
allowing up to 1500 lbs of gear to be stored in the shelter
permanently. This gear will increase the effective weight of the
portable threshold by 1/25 the weight of the items inside (max.
60 lbs). Placing an item within the shelter to be stored this
way requires the User to stand on the threshold and mentally
command the threshold to keep the object. Once this is done, the
object will always be contained, until the object is taken out
of the shelter. Taking a bag of holding or portable hole into
the shelter causes no adverse effects (as the shelter is in
“real” space). Placing a threshold that is carrying items within
it into a portable hole or bag of holding will result in the
same effect as if the threshold was a normal bag of holding.
Having a threshold “store” a bag of holding or portable hole
will also cause a similar effect, once the shelter is
“collapsed.”
A Starfire Clan member can activate twice the normal number of
effects per level (i.e. One plus One per level).
The following additional effects are available at the indicated
levels. Activating them requires the use of an effect:
- Bath (6th Level): A separate bathing room is included in the
shelter. This adds an additional 10 foot square to the layout of
the shelter, and requires sufficient ground space. This room
will have the necessary facilities to allow the User to bathe,
based on their style and predilections. This can include a bath
of some sort (sunken pool; raised tub; etc), a shower facility
(mechanical; waterfall; etc), an enclosed sauna, massage tables,
etc. Each facility requires an additional effect to activate.
This room also has a dedicated Unseen servant. The water used in
the room will circulate and cycle clean, and can be adjusted in
temperature at an occupants command.
- Fuel (2nd Level): Fuel for the fire will be available. For
each effect used, 3 hours of normal fuel use will be provided.
This is enough for basic cooking and heating during the period.
- Food (8th Level): This effect will provide food-stuffs for one
day for two people for each effect used. This is uncooked food,
and it cannot be taken outside of the shelter, but is normal
food in all other respects.
- Water (6th Level): This effect will provide water for one day
for two people for each effect used. The water will be located
inside a barrel, bucket, waterskins or other appropriate type of
container.
#Post#: 430--------------------------------------------------
Re: Relic: Portable Threshold (orig D&D 3.0/3.5)
DIR By: Chris B
Date: March 14, 2018, 7:57 am
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Wow. Impressive and well thought out.
#Post#: 462--------------------------------------------------
Re: Relic: Portable Threshold (orig D&D 3.0/3.5)
DIR By: GothPegasus
Date: March 27, 2018, 9:41 pm
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I really like this Portable Threshold! I may very well casually
steal it for my game. ;)
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