Monday, February 1, 2021

5E Greyhawk: Four Magic Keys

Greeting Greyhawkers! I don't know how I got on this subject, but after some ample research I think I succeeded in my goal of converting a classic artifact, the Silver Key of Portals to 5E rules while also expanding on the theme a bit. Your main sources for the Keys is of course Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure/Maure Castle and Return of the Eight. It seems the Silver Key got more powerful from AD&D to 3rd Edition, and the Bronze Key of Portals, seems like a slightly less powerful version, so much so the authors didn't even bother giving the Bronze Key stats. If anyone else has converted keys like this to 5E I'd be keen to see how mine compare. Until then, enjoy Dalt's work!

SILVER KEY OF PORTALS
Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement)

The Silver Key of Portals was first found in an abandoned chapel during the early adventures of the mage, Mordenkainen. Since this discovery, Mordenkainen learned the Silver Key was created by Dalt, god of portals and locks. He also surmised that Dalt wanted him to find the Silver Key as the god is known to grant boons to those he favors (he has also correctly deduced that Dalt created other keys like this one). The Silver Key is one of Mordenkainen’s most cherished belongings, but following Dalt’s example, he too is known to loan the artifact out to adventurers. If not returned however, there is nowhere in the multiverse to hide from the archmage. 

Random Properties. The Silver Key of Portals has the following random properties.
·        1 minor beneficial property
·        1 minor detrimental property
 
Properties of the Silver Key. While you hold the Silver Key of Portals, at will, you can use an action to cause the artifact to function like a chime of opening when it is touched to a non-magical object such as a door, lid, lock, or shackles. On each action, one lock, latch or portal will slowly swing open.
 
Spells. The Silver Key has 7 charges and regains 1d4+3 expended charges daily at dawn. If you control the Key, you can use an action and expend 1 or more charges to cast the following spells from it: passwall (1 charge), etherealness (3 charges), or word of recall (2 charges). You can also automatically dispel any arcane lock by touch (1 charge).
 
Destroying the Key. The Silver Key is light (1 lb.), but is impervious to most physical damage, including magical spells. A disintegrate spell or a strong blow from a legendary or greater weapon is sufficient to destroy the key however.
 
BRONZE KEY OF PORTALS
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)
 
Rumor has it the Bronze Key of Portals was created by the archmage Tenser in the style of the more powerful Silver Key of Portals. Others including Mordenkainen believe differently, that this key was actually created by the god Dalt for its own special purpose long before Tenser came to possess the Fortress of Unknown Depths.
 

The Bronze Key has 10 charges and regains 1d4+3 expended charges daily at dawn. While you hold the Bronze Key of Portals, you can use an action to cause the key to function like a chime of opening when it is touched to an object such as a door, lid, lock, or shackles. For each charge, one lock, latch or portal will slowly swing open. Magical wards like arcane lock are only suppressed for 10 minutes. Additionally, you can use an action to expend 1 of its charges to discover and open one secret door within 30 feet of you.
The Bronze Key of Portals is specially attuned to the Fortress of Unknown Depths. As such, using the powers of the Bronze Key does not expend charges there.
 
OTHER KEYS OF DALT
 
The Suel deity Dalt is barely known in the Flanaess today, but when not pursuing his personal quest to locate and free his imprisoned brother Vatun, the god of portals is methodically spreading awareness of his religion. Dalt is always looking out for strong allies to his cause, even among mortals, and one way he does this is by subtly loaning out his magical keys. Those who have possessed a Key of Dalt never take it for granted because Dalt can take his Key back as easily as he leaves it. No one knows how many keys or variations Dalt has created. Here is two more Keys that have not seen circulation in Flanaess to date.
 
BRASS KEY OF PORTALS
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)
 
The Brass Key has 10 charges and regains 1d4+3 expended charges daily at dawn. While you hold the Brass Key of Portals, you can use an action to cause the key to function like a chime of opening when it is touched to an object such as a door, lid, lock, or shackles. For each charge, one lock, latch or portal will slowly swing open. Magical wards like arcane lock are only suppressed for 10 minutes.
Additionally, you can use an action to cast the following spells from it: passwall (2 charges), or dimension door (1 charge).
 
COPPER KEY OF PORTALS
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)
 
The Copper Key has 10 charges and regains 1d4+3 expended charges daily at dawn. While you hold the Copper Key of Portals, you can use an action to cause the key to function like a chime of opening when it is touched to an object such as a door, lid, lock, or shackles. For each charge, one lock, latch or portal will slowly swing open. Magical wards like arcane lock are only suppressed for 10 minutes.
Additionally, you can use an action to find and automatically disarm mechanical traps (1 charge), or find and automatically dispel harmful glyphs and runes (2 charges).


4 comments:

grodog said...

Well-done, as always, Mike!

Allan.

Jay S said...

I love this Mr. Bridges. Please keep the Greyhawk content coming.
Jay Stypinski

casl Entertainment said...

Love it! One can only wonder at the powers of the Gold and Platinum Keys.... :o

Mike Bridges said...

Carlos: I'm glad you mentioned that. I felt uneasy trying to make a key MORE powerful than the silver key, and then I thought electrum, iron, etc. I ran out of ideas haha.