Secret Chest
- Level: 4
- School: Conjuration
- Class: Wizard
- Casting Time: Action
- Range: Touch
- Components: V, S, M (a chest, 3 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet, constructed from rare materials worth 5,000+ GP, and a Tiny replica of the chest made from the same materials worth 50+ GP)
- Duration: Until dispelled
You hide a chest and all its contents on the Ethereal Plane. You must touch the chest and the miniature replica that serve as Material components for the spell. The chest can contain up to 12 cubic feet of nonliving material (3 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet).
While the chest remains on the Ethereal Plane, you can take a Magic action and touch the replica to recall the chest. It appears in an unoccupied space on the ground within 5 feet of you. You can send the chest back to the Ethereal Plane by taking a Magic action to touch the chest and the replica.
After 60 days, there is a cumulative 5 percent chance at the end of each day that the spell ends. The spell also ends if you cast this spell again or if the Tiny replica chest is destroyed. If the spell ends and the larger chest is on the Ethereal Plane, the chest remains there for you or someone else to find.
Tactical Usage
Secure Storage Solution. Secret Chest provides virtually unbreachable storage for valuable items by hiding them on the Ethereal Plane away from physical threats.
Portable Vault System. The spell creates mobile secure storage that follows the caster, enabling safe transport of critical items without weight or space limitations.
Extended Duration Value. The spell lasts until dispelled, providing permanent storage solutions that justify the substantial component investment.
Spell Combinations
Wealth Management. Combining with treasure-finding magic or economic spells maximizes the value of secure storage capabilities.
Planar Safety. Using alongside planar protection or detection magic helps ensure chest security and prevents unauthorized access.
Emergency Preparation. Pairing with contingency magic or emergency protocols enables rapid access to critical supplies during dangerous situations.
Material Component Details
Substantial Investment. The 5,000+ gold piece chest plus 50+ gold piece replica represents major monetary commitment for permanent magical storage.
Rare Material Requirements. The chest construction from rare materials ensures magical compatibility and ethereal plane transportation capability.
Replica Connection. The miniature replica serves as both component and control mechanism, requiring careful protection and management.
Creator Notes
Wealth Management Tool. Secret Chest provides excellent mechanics for managing party treasures, protecting valuable items, and enabling complex heist scenarios.
Ethereal Plane Interaction. The spell introduces ethereal plane mechanics that can create interesting complications and adventure opportunities.
Risk-Reward Balance. The substantial cost and potential loss risks create meaningful decisions about storage priorities and security measures.
Environmental Interactions
Ethereal Plane Storage. The chest exists on the Ethereal Plane, making it immune to most physical threats but potentially vulnerable to ethereal creatures.
Dimensional Stability. The spell requires dimensional stability and might be affected by planar anomalies or dimensional magic interference.
Space Requirements. Recalling the chest requires 5 feet of clear ground space, creating tactical considerations for retrieval locations.
Common Rulings & Clarifications
Storage Capacity. The chest holds 12 cubic feet of nonliving material with specific dimensional limits that determine storage possibilities.
Retrieval Mechanics. Touching the replica with a magic action recalls the chest, while touching both sends it back to the Ethereal Plane.
Deterioration Risk. After 60 days, cumulative 5% daily chances create increasing risk of spell failure and potential permanent loss.
Replica Vulnerability. Destroying the tiny replica chest permanently ends the spell and may strand the larger chest on the Ethereal Plane.
Alternative Applications
Archaeological Storage. Preserving valuable artifacts or research materials in secure otherworldly storage away from environmental threats.
Military Logistics. Storing emergency supplies, strategic resources, or critical equipment that can be accessed during campaigns or missions.
Diplomatic Security. Protecting important documents, treaties, or state secrets through magical storage that prevents theft or espionage.
Related Spells
Storage Magic Comparison. Magnificent Mansion provides temporary extradimensional space, while Secret Chest offers portable long-term storage.
Planar Magic. Various spells interact with other planes, though few provide practical storage solutions with equivalent security.
Protection Magic. Different spells protect items through various means, while Secret Chest offers complete physical separation from threats.
Scaling Analysis
Permanent Utility Value. Secret Chest provides consistent utility throughout character progression as secure storage remains valuable regardless of level.
Investment Recovery. The substantial component cost is justified by permanent storage capability that serves throughout entire campaigns.
High-Level Campaign Integration. The spell becomes increasingly important for managing powerful artifacts, expensive components, and critical strategic resources.
Narrative Flavor
Ethereal Transition. The spell should emphasize the otherworldly nature of transporting items between planes through magical dimensional manipulation.
Replica Control. The miniature chest serves as both key and gateway, with touching it creating mystical connections that bridge dimensional boundaries.
Secure Manifestation. When recalled, the chest should appear with appropriate dimensional effects that emphasize its otherworldly storage origin.