Legendary Strongboxes

by Jerry Joe Seltzer

Sylvan Strongbox

Description: This locked box looks like a sawed
log, roughly two-feet-long. There are three steel dials
set into the log. In the center of each dial is a very
shallow depression of a leaf, and encircling the dial
are various druidic and elemental symbols.
Uses: This strongbox was most likely used by a
powerful druid or ranger to protect important
documents, scrolls, or artifacts.
Mechanism: Three dials are turned to the correct
positions to unlock the strongbox. A leaf-shaped key
is inserted in the shallow depressions of each dial to
make turning them easier.
Bypassing the lock: INT[thieves’ tools] check
DC 22. Each attempt requires half an hour. There is
no penalty for failed checks. Once the lock is opened,
the trap is disarmed. Druids and rangers understand
the symbols on the dials and have advantage to open
the lock. They could also give advantage to someone
else by assisting them.
Traps: DC 16 INT[thieves’ tools] to disarm the
trap. The trap is triggered if someone tries to force the
box open or if an attempt to disarm the trap fails by 5
or more.
Tier 1 trap: Poison gas shoots out of hidden holes.
All within 15 feet take 2d8 poison damage, DC 13
Constitution saving throw for half damage.
Tier 2 trap: An entangle spell is triggered, centered
on the box (DC 15 saving throw). A cloud of poison
gas shoots out of hidden holes in the box and fills
the entangled area. Each round, everyone in the
area takes 2d8 poison damage, DC 15 Constitution
saving throw for half damage. The entangle spell and
the cloud both end after 1 minute.
Tier 3 & 4 trap: Same as tier 2 but DC 18 saving
throws and 3d8 poison damage.

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ready to insert into any campaign setting to add a spark to your game session.

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Legendary Strongboxes by Jerry Joe Seltzer

Necrotic Strongbox

Description: This cylindrical iron container is
roughly three feet long. Both ends are capped with
humanoid skulls and between them are four rings
made from spinal columns. Each vertebrate is marked
with a symbol. The four rings can be turned, creating
a four-digit combination lock.
Uses: This strongbox was most likely used by a
powerful necromancer or death priest to protect
important documents, scrolls, or artifacts.
Mechanism: Four rings of vertebrate are turned to
the correct positions to unlock the strongbox.
Bypassing the lock: INT[thieves’ tools] check
DC 22. Each attempt requires half an hour. There is
no penalty for failed checks. Once the lock is opened,
the trap is disarmed. Necromancers and death
priests understand the symbols on the rings and have
advantage to open the lock. They could also give
advantage to someone else by assisting them.
Traps: DC 16 INT[thieves’ tools] to disarm the
trap. The trap is triggered if someone tries to force the
box open or if an attempt to disarm the trap fails by 5
or more.
Tier 1 trap: Toxic gray gas shoots out of hidden
holes. All within 15 feet take 2d8 necrotic damage,
DC 13 Constitution saving throw for half damage.
Tier 2 trap: An evard’s black tentacles spell is
triggered, centered on the strongbox (DC 16 saving
throws).
Tier 3 & 4 trap: An evard’s black tentacles spell
is triggered, centered on the strongbox (DC 17
saving throws). At the same moment, the strongbox
teleports away to a predetermined location.

You might also like my book, Traveling Encounters volume 1. 47 inventive scenarios
ready to insert into any campaign setting to add a spark to your game session.

Link to the book on Amazon Link to the PDF on DrivethruRPG

Legendary Strongboxes by Jerry Joe Seltzer

Serene Strongbox

Description: This cylindrical bamboo container Bypassing the lock: INT[thieves’ tools] check
is two-feet-long and eight inches in diameter. There DC 25. Each attempt requires one hour. On a
are bamboo tubes wrapped around it, twisted to failure, a discharge of 2d8 lightning shocks the holder,
form a monastic symbol. There are no keyholes or but they may try again. A monk has advantage to
mechanisms to unlock the container. open the lock with thieves’ tools. They could also give
advantage to someone else by assisting them.
Uses: This strongbox was most likely used by a Using thieves’ tools on this box means listening to
powerful monk to protect important documents, the box while moving it. Perhaps they are drilling
scrolls, or artifacts. tiny holes in it. They may also be using a magnet or
lodestone to move some of the spheres. It is incredibly
Mechanism: Spheres of different sizes and materials difficult, which is why the DC is so high.
move freely through the tubes. Each sphere fits into
a socket within the device. If all the spheres are in
place, the box will open. To manipulate the spheres,
the strongbox must be twirled in a specific pattern
while Ki is channeled into it.
A character with levels of monk can attempt to
open it by spending thirty minutes and 1 Ki point.
Then roll an Insight check DC 14. On a success, the
box opens. On a failure, a discharge of 2d8 lightning
shocks the holder, but they may try again.

I have built 89 incredible encounters over the years by spending way more time
on them than any DM could reasonably be expected to. You can insert them
into your D&D campaign by clicking one of the links below.

Link to the book on Amazon Link to the PDF on DrivethruRPG

Legendary Strongboxes by Jerry Joe Seltzer

Sacred Strongbox

Description: This gold-plated cylindrical strongbox
is one foot long and 6 inches in diameter. Celestial
writing is etched into the gold cylinder. Four silver-
plated dials can be turned to complete a phrase in the
Celestial language.
Uses: This strongbox was most likely used by a
high priest or celestial agent to protect important
documents, scrolls, or artifacts.
Mechanism: The etchings, written in Celestial,
are a lesser-known scripture from a religious text or
prophesy. The dials can be turned to complete the
missing part of the text, unlocking the container.
Solving: Someone who knows Celestial and makes a
DC 17 Religion check can solve it and open the box.
Traps: DC 16 INT[thieves’ tools] to disarm the
trap. The trap is triggered if someone tries to force the
box open or if an attempt to disarm the trap fails by 5
or more.
Tier 1 trap: Brilliant energy erupts from the box.
All within 15 feet take 2d8 radiant damage, DC 13
Dexterity saving throw for half damage.
Tier 2 trap: A spirit guardians spell is triggered,
centered on the box (DC 15 saving throws, 3d8
radiant damage). The spell lasts for 10 minutes.
Tier 3 trap: Same as tier 2 but DC 18 saving
throws and the spell deals 4d8 radiant damage.
Tier 4 trap: A symbol spell is triggered and inflicts
the ‘death’ effect. The strongbox then plane shifts to
a plane friendly to the religion’s deity.

Bypassing the lock: INT[thieves’ tools] check

DC 18 to listen to the dials and crack the lock. Each
attempt requires ten minutes. On a failure of 5 or
more, the trap is triggered.

I have built 89 incredible encounters over the years by spending way more time
on them than any DM could reasonably be expected to. You can insert them
into your D&D campaign by clicking one of the links below.

Link to the book on Amazon Link to the PDF on DrivethruRPG

Legendary Strongboxes by Jerry Joe Seltzer

Musical Strongbox

Description: This cylindrical box made of wood
and brass appears to be half musical instrument and
half wooden container. It is two-feet-long and one foot
in diameter, with pipes running around and through
it. It even has a brass mouthpiece to blow in and
finger holes to play notes.
Uses: This strongbox was most likely used by a
legendary bard or famous composer to protect
important documents, scrolls, or artifacts.
Mechanism: Playing the right notes pushes open the
internal lock pins. Four specific notes must be played
perfectly and in the correct order.
Opening the lock: WIS[Musical Instrument]
check DC 22. Failure by 10 or more sets off the
trap. The character playing the ‘instrument’ will be
listening closely to hear very subtle changes in the
sound, indicating that they have stumbled upon a
correct note. A character who is proficient in thieves’
tools has advantage on this check.
Traps: DC 16 INT[thieves’ tools] to disarm the
trap. The trap is triggered if someone tries to force the
box open, or if the Musical Instrument check fails by
10 or more, or if an attempt to disarm the trap fails by
5 or more.
Tier 1 trap: Anyone touching the box takes 2d8
lightning damage. No saving throw.
Tier 2 trap: Anyone touching the box takes 2d8
lightning damage. No saving throw. Also, a painful
blast of sound erupts from the box dealing 4d8
thunder damage to all within twenty feet. DC 13
Constitution saving throw for half damage.
Tier 3 & 4 trap: Anyone touching the box takes
4d8 lightning damage. No saving throw. The box
become invisible for ten minutes and teleports to a
place on the floor ten feet away.

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Legendary Strongboxes by Jerry Joe Seltzer

Dragon Strongbox

Description: This two-foot-long cylindrical
strongbox is divided into five rotating sections. Each
section is encased in the hide of a different dragon
hatchling, judging by how small the scales are. Each
of the five sections also shows the shape of one part of
a dragon’s body. By rotating the sections, you can mix
and match heads, upper bodies, lower bodies, tails,
and tail tips.
Uses: This strongbox was most likely used by an
emperor or other powerful ruler to protect important
documents, scrolls, or artifacts.
Mechanism: Six different dragons can be made by
correctly matching the corresponding body shapes.
One of those six will unlock the case.
Solving: There are 3,780 possible combinations.
Trying every combination is not the solution. A
knowledge of dragons is needed. Have the solver roll
an INT[A rcana] or INT[Nature] check. Proficiency
in Three Dragon Ante grants advantage on this
check.
Bypassing the lock: INT[thieves’ tools] check
DC 18 to listen to the dials and defeat the lock. Each
attempt requires ten minutes. On a roll of a 1, one of
the trapped combinations is selected and the trap is
triggered.
Traps: DC 16 INT[thieves’ tools] to disarm the
trap. The trap is triggered if someone tries to force the
box open, rolls a 1 while attempting to crack the lock,
or fails to disarm the trap by 5 or more.
Tier 1 trap: Anyone touching the box takes 2d8
lightning damage. No saving throw.
Tier 2 trap: The box polymorphs into a gold
dragon wyrmling and attempts to flee. It will fight if
cornered. After one hour, or if killed, it reverts back
into the strongbox.
Tier 3 & 4 trap: The box polymorphs into 5
wyrmling dragons (gold, white, red, green, bronze)
who fight to the death.
When killed, they vanish,
except the last one which
reverts back into the
strongbox.

If you have already bought my Traveling Encounters book, please consider

leaving a five star review by clicking one of the links below.

Link to the book on Amazon Link to the PDF on DrivethruRPG