A timeless vault

Preserving Runes

Tags: magical

High in the hills or mountains, a pair of massive stone doors are set into the hillside. The markings outside are faded and covered in lichen. The doors aren't locked; one lies a bit ajar. Inside, the vault and its contents are untouched by time, free of dust or mold. Clearly some magic is afoot.

To unlock it, you must:

• find and reveal the hidden runes that anchor the magic;
• spend a few hours copying them, risking an error;
• spend weeks tracing the runes on objects, until they gleam silver and vanish.

Preserving Runes

When you trace the runes along the inside of a room or container, they gleam silver and fade, preserving the contents from dust, spoilage, rust, etc. Lose 1 HP, plus 1 HP for each of the following that are true:

• The container/room is more than a few feet long in any dimension
• The container is portable (else, the effect ends if it is moved)
• The effect lasts indefinitely, as long as the runes are intact (else, it starts when the room/container is sealed and ends when it is unsealed)

Once the runes are in place, roll.

• On a success with a 6, you regain the lost HP normally.
• On a success with no six, you can't regain the lost HP until a season passes or the effect ends, whichever comes first.
• On a bust, you can't regain the lost HP until the effect ends and then a season passes — and don't mark XP.