Treasure Chests.pdf

Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons ® Player’s Handbook

Athenaeum Arcane:

Treasure chests

Adventuring PCs can find an ungodly

amount of treasure during their travels.

Some GMs might allow them to just take

whatever they want without worrying about

the realities of weight and encumbrance.

But others are not so lenient, forcing the

PCs to account for the weight of every last

gold piece they wish to swipe. Many a

time, treasure is spread about on the ground

like some bizarre trophy, allowing the char-

acters to easily pick and choose from the

pile. Of course, there are those occasions

when a treasure chest (or two, or three) is

discovered. And why not? Can’t intelli-

gent monsters be tidy too?

Or perhaps it’s not the monsters who are

to blame but rather the GM? Perhaps treas-

ure chests are something either too boring

(“You find a chest with a lock.”) or too pre-

dictable (“You’ve sprung the poison needle

trap. Roll your Fortitude save please.”).

That’s where this accessory comes in.

Detailed below are 10 chests that can be

immediately inserted into your fantasy

game. Full details are given for each

chest’s physical description (dimensions,

description), defenses (locks, traps), and

possible quirks (permanent magical condi-

tions which can be triggered by owner).

Unless otherwise noted, these treasure

chests are opened by way of a hinged lid

and have the standard statistics for their

type: hardness 5; 15 hit points; Break DC

23. This means they are made of wood and

are 1-1/2 inches thick. Standard dimen-

sions for a treasure chest are 3 ft. (long) by

1-1/2 ft. (wide) by 1-1/2 ft. (tall). Unless

otherwise noted, use these dimensions.

A DVENTURING

W ARCHEST

Description: Across the surface and

interior of this chest are symbols of groups

and individuals (identifying a symbol

requires a check of either Bardic

Knowledge DC 22 or Knowledge (local)

DC 25) which belong to the previous own-

ers—all adventurers or adventuring compa-

nies. The face of an open-mouthed horned

demon adorns the front of the chest’s bar-

rel-top lid, its brass chin forming the clasp.

The wooden sides and metal support frame

are always in polished pristine condition,

the magic of the chest keeping it free from

dirt and grime.

Statistics: The 2-inch thick hardwood

has hardness 5; 20 hit points; Break DC 26.

Defenses: There is no lock on the chest,

but a magical trap can be activated at the

whim of the owner. Shocking Grasp Trap:

CR 5; magic device; touch trigger ( alarm );

automatic reset; spell effect ( shocking

grasp , 5th-level wizard, 5d6 electrical);

If the GM is using a published adventure with treasure already provided, simply

disregard any content suggestions listed here. It should also be noted that the descrip-

tion and quirks of certain chests may make for some good adventure hooks in and of

themselves. As with any supplement, the GM should feel free to modify or change

whatever does not suit his campaign. There is a deliberate array of both magical and

mundane chests listed here for maximum usability.

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Athenaeum Arcane:

Treasure chests

Search DC 26; Disable Device DC 26.

Cost: 2,500 gp, 200 XP.

Quirks: Anyone who places a gold

piece into the creature’s mouth and utters

the appropriate password (“loot”) becomes

the adventuring warchest’s owner. He can

cause a sigil representing his party or name

to be scribed into the chest wherever there

is room (or can displace the oldest symbol

present if desired). In addition to this and

the activation of the shocking grasp trap,

the owner can command the chest to

“walk.” The chest immediately grows four

brawny legs with the same hardness and hit

points as the wood they grow out of. The

chest gains blindsight and has a movement

rate of 20 feet. Unless commanded other-

wise, the warchest follows the owner at a

distance of 10 feet. It can be given vocal

commands at no further than 60 feet away

(the same range as its blindsight).

Except for the defenses listed above, the

warchest cannot make any aggressive

moves. However, it can be positioned so

that an enemy might be made to trip over it

if bull rushed properly.

of the barrel-top lid which commonly holds

glass vials for healing, poison, etc. The

antler chest was originally designed to hold

not only animal bits but standard camping

equipment like a hunting knife, a hand axe,

and terrain-specific clothing to aid in cam-

ouflaging the hunter.

Statistics: Standard except size is twice

as large (6 ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft.)

Defenses: Good lock (Open Lock DC

30). Summon Monster I Trap: CR 3; magic

device; touch trigger ( alarm ); no reset;

spell effect ( summon monster I , 2nd-level

wizard), Search DC 26; Disable Device DC

26. Cost: 100 gp, 8 XP.

Quirks: One of the most infamous mon-

ster hunters of the last century, a half-elf

named Talon, used an antler chest during

his outings. When he met his match in the

form of a half-dragon sorcerer, his body

was shoved unceremoniously into the chest

and sent back to his residence. Several ser-

vants received quite a shock that morning

when their employer’s dismembered corpse

spilled out upon opening it. When word got

out about this grisly find, some demented

spellcasters decided to add their own little

twist to the antler chest. There is a 10%

chance that any given antler chest has a

summon monster I trap attached to it which

activates when the lid is opened (emulating

the corpse of ill-fated Talon). The monster

summoned attacks the closest person to the

chest until it is slain.

A NTLER C HEST

( ALSO CALLED

“H UNTERS ’

C HEST ”)

Description: Named for the antlers

etched into the chest’s sides and lid as well

as the carved deer antler handles at the

sides, the antler chest is the property of a

big game hunter. Whether the owner is

storing weapons or trophies, the fur-lined

interior is a good place to do so. The gen-

uine yeti fur has a pocket on the underside

C AMOUFLAGE

C HEST

Description: The best way to describe

the exterior of a camouflage chest is to say

nothing at all. This is because the chest is

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Athenaeum Arcane:

Treasure chests

magically able to reproduce the look and

texture of its immediate environment, look-

ing like an odd extension of the ground or

wall. The chest is flat-topped, has rounded

edges, no handles or clasps, and is divided

into two equal sections (with a lid for each

on the top opened via small indentations

that can be grabbed with two fingers). The

wooden divider inside is removal for maxi-

mum use of space.

Statistics: Standard

Defenses: Average lock (Open Lock DC

25)—located inside the keyhole to mini-

mize outside blemishes while camou-

flaged—and camouflaging (see below).

Quirks: The reason behind this chest’s

camouflage ability lies with the magical

adaptation of a mimic hide. Because of this

ingredient, the chest’s chances of hiding are

just as good as that creature. A creature

attempting to detect the ruse must succeed

a Spot check against the chest’s Disguise

check (to which it adds a +8 enhancement

bonus).

crimson leather covering a green crystalline

surface.

Statistics: Smaller and stronger than a

typical treasure chest, the 2-inch thick steel

element box is 2 ft. x 1 ft. x 1 ft. and has

hardness 10; 60 hit points; Break DC 30.

Defenses: Fire Trap : CR 5; spell; spell

trigger; no reset; spell effect ( fire trap , 7th-

level wizard, 1d4+8* fire, DC 16 Reflex

save half damage); Search DC 29; Disable

Device DC 29. Cost: 305 gp.

* The tyrax crystal also enhances this

trap, increasing the damage by +1 (includ-

ed).

Quirks: The creator of the element box,

a human evoker named Aldais Montrose,

conceived it as the perfect container for his

small collection of wands. The special

crystalline interior is called “tyrax” crystal

and is only found deep inside the lava tubes

of inactive volcanoes. After some experi-

mentation, Aldais discovered a beneficial

effect of tyrax—enhancement of elemental

magics. Wands (or indeed any magic

items) that produce elemental effects that

are kept in the box for over 24 hours are

strengthened—the damage is increased +1

per die of damage for the first 1d4+1 uses

after removal from the box. That particular

item cannot benefit from the crystal’s

effects for another 2 days after the

increased damage uses are expended.

E LEMENT B OX

Description: Arcane symbols dot this

steel chest’s exterior. The barrel-top lid

bears the evocation sigil which anyone suc-

ceeding a DC 5 Knowledge (arcana) check

can identify. A similarly easy DC 10

Knowledge (arcana) check can identify the

four side symbols: wavy lines (air), a rock

(earth), a flame (fire), and an ocean wave or

snowflake (water). The water design varies

from box to box but the ocean wave is

believed to be the first (DC 15 Bardic

Knowledge check). The snowflake is sim-

ply the more aesthetically pleasing symbol.

There are no handles as the box can be eas-

ily carried. The interior sports a layer of

F OOTLOCKER

Description: The soldier’s all-purpose

storage container, this footlocker has seen

its share of use. Hardwood covered by

black leather, the exterior shows numerous

scuffs and scrapes. The flat lid is particu-

larly scarred, having at least a dozen fur-

rows where a knife was stuck into it.

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Treasure chests

Statistics: The footlocker is slightly less

sturdy than the standard treasure chest. Its 1-

inch thick exterior has hardness 5; 10 hit

points; Break DC 20. Standard dimension

apply.

Defenses: Average lock (Open Lock DC

25).

Quirks: There is a 20% chance for some-

thing to be carved important into the inside

bottom of the locker. This could be a person’s

name (owner, family member, friend, lover),

a location (home, troop headquarters, next of

kin), a set of numbers (combination or pass-

word), or a cryptic message (no longer than

20 letters).

Statistics: This chest is twice the size of

a standard chest (6 ft. by 3 ft. by 3 ft.) and

is made of 1 inch mithral: hardness 15; 30

hit points; Break DC 30. The ark weighs 60

pounds when empty.

Defenses: A lock occupies each length

of the ark. Both are of good quality (Open

Lock DC 30) and need to be unlocked

simultaneously in order to remove the lid.

Otherwise, two hidden locks inside the

chest’s ends activate and prevent further

unwanted tampering. This precaution isn’t

overly complicated for authorized persons

with keys, but for two rogues to unlock the

locks at the same time might make for quite

a challenge (especially if rushed).

Quirks: The great ark is the treasure

container for sultans and other desert mon-

archs and princes. Besides being able to

hold a lot of loot, the great ark is a status

symbol. Anyone who sees the ark for the

first time and recognizes it with a DC 15

Knowledge (nobility and royalty) check is

initially awed by the owner. This translates

into a +5 morale bonus for the owner when

using Diplomacy and Intimidate against the

creature who recognized the ark. This

bonus only lasts for the first encounter but

might be just the edge a character needs in

a tough negotiation.

G REAT A RK

Description: This treasure chest has two

separate pieces—the trunk portion and the

removable lid. The lid bears a small replica

of a luxurious porcelain palace of “eastern”

flare (whatever passes for an Arabian culture

in your campaign). Several small minarets

stand at the four corners of the palace’s walls

with a taller column representing the royal

quarters at the center. Even this tallest struc-

ture is only 2 inches in height, the others

reaching 1-1/2 inches. Several shorter struc-

tures are scattered within the green palace

grounds. All aspects of this representation are

expertly painted and are securely fastened to

the ark’s cover. A brass ball clings to each

corner of the lid. These can be extended with

a pull to reveal four 3-ft. long polls which

creatures can use to move the heavy ark.

The base of the ark is marble in appear-

ance (although the composition is mithral).

Curled brass extensions on the corners allow

the ark to stand on its own “feet.” A desert

scene with a blue sky is painted across the

exterior.

M OON C HEST

Description: Made of pure white mar-

ble, this squat rectangular chest seems to

soak in ambient lighting and magnify it so

that it is the first item one sees when walk-

ing into a room. The lid and base are two

separate pieces. Both are decorated with

every phase of the moon running in pro-

gression across the exterior. These carved

images are plain but graceful and serve as

the only decoration for the moon chest.

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