Tuesday Magic Item – Grocer’s Chest

“My compliment to your cook,” said the King of Vekonia, guest of the Royal Court of Navir.  “A truly spectacular meal with everything as perfect as you ask for.  Truly a marvel.”

“My chief has agents scouring near and far to find the best and most delicious ingredients for our table,” said the Queen of Navir.  “They have never failed to amaze and impress.”

“Count me among those amazed and impressed, your majesty,” said the Vekonian King.

“We shall assign the chief’s services to you while you are our guest,” smiled the Queen.

Grocer’s Chest

These carefully made chests fit together perfectly, the seams sealed and the rims scribed with protective runes.  The hinges are etched with runes and oiled.  Each has a lock built into the frame which is carved with sigils but inside and out.  When it is closed, one of these chests is cold to the touch.

When the chests are closed, any items inside are held safe and kept from spoiling for some time (lasting ten times as long).  It depends on the size of the chest how much can be held within:

•    Small, holds 2 cubic feet, weighs 25 lbs empty.
•    Medium,  holds 4 cubic feet, weighs 50 lbs empty
•    Large, holds 6 cubic feet, weighs 100 lbs empty
•    Huge, holds 8 cubic feet, weighs 250 lbs empty

Each chest is kept sealed by an arcane lock effect as well as by the installed lock, the keys enchanted as the same time as the chest can be turned to open both lock and the arcane lock when used.

Aura moderate abjuration and transmutation; CL 7th
Slot none; Price 1,250 per cubic foot plus cost of the lock; Weight see above
Construction Requirements
Craft Wondrous Item, arcane lock, mage hand, slow, wall of ice; Cost 625 per cubic foot plus the cost of the lock

Notes: Yes, a bit of ‘magic as technology’ but useful for the wealthy or those gathering rare herbs or other perishables.  And it explains the safe consumption of exotic foods at a feast.  Grocers are rather a big deal in the pre-industrial age, in fact the Worshipful Company of Grocers of London (established in 1345) is one of the original Great Twelve City Livery Companies and ranks second in their order of precedence.

Photo by Veronika Brazdova and used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.