Shivering from the cold, Gavin stared through his spyglass, looking over the cultist’s compound. They worshiped an ice demon, but that didn’t stop them from staying inside. Judging from the smoke that spiralled up from the chimney, the cultists were keeping themselves very warm.
“Hypocrites,” Gavin spat.
Gavin reached for one of his trail rations. He needed to keep his strength up, but the frigid lumps of food weren’t very appetizing. Gavin had to restrain himself from throwing the ration away. That wasn’t in his best interest, and he always kept that in mind.
“I just want a hot meal,” Gavin muttered.
Starting a fire would give his position away but there must be something he could do. An idea came to him. He took a look at the pale sun above and positioned his spyglass just right. He filled an empty potion vial with some snow and wrapped his bedroll around the vial. It would take awhile, but the snow would melt, then the water would boil, and the steam would heat his ration. Then he would have his hot meal.
A trap is nothing more than a contraption, and those can be used for good or bad. Traps used for good are often called boon traps.
Steamer Trap CR 1
Type mechanical; Perception DC 20; Disable Device DC 20
Trigger location; Reset manual
Effect warmed ration (treat as a prestidigitation like effect)
The market for boon traps is quite limited, and patrons are more interested in baneful effects. Substituting the snow with something more explosive, such as alcohol, and adding something that can function as shrapnel, such as caltrops, turns the steamer trap into something dangerous.
Tripping the trap swings the spyglass and its hot beam of light to the container, igniting the alcohol and sending caltrops flying everywhere.
Shredding Shrapnel Trap CR 2
Type mechanical; Perception DC 20; Disable Device DC 20
Trigger location; Reset none
Effect conflagration (2d6 fire damage; succeed on a DC 17 Reflex save to avoid); multiple targets (all targets within 10 ft.)
Effect shrapnel (attack +10 ranged, 2d4 damage); multiple targets (all targets within 30 ft.)
Next Installment
What can Gavin do with a cauldron, a compass, some glue paper, and a waffle iron?
The Challenge
Name four adventuring items and receive a murderous trap in return.
What can you do with caltrops, a rope, some alchemical silver, and a candle?
Your items have been noted.