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Bead of Nourishment

Bead Of Nourishment
  • Category: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Common

This flavorless, gelatinous bead dissolves on your tongue and provides as much nourishment as 1 day of Rations.

Tactical Applications​

Survival Strategy: Essential for extended expeditions where food supplies are limited or compromised. Ideal for stealth missions where cooking or food preparation would reveal position.

Class Synergies:

  • Rangers and Druids: Natural fit for wilderness survival and exploration builds
  • Any Class: Universal utility that benefits all characters equally during extended adventures
  • Stealth Characters: Valuable for infiltration missions where normal food preparation is impossible

Build Considerations: Most valuable during lengthy wilderness expeditions, siege situations, or any scenario where traditional food sources are unavailable.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires alchemical knowledge, nutritional essence extraction, and basic enchantment. Typically costs 10-25 gp per bead in materials.

Common Sources:

  • Alchemist shops and apothecaries
  • Military quartermasters for emergency rations
  • Traveling merchants specializing in adventuring supplies
  • Survival gear suppliers in frontier towns

Alternative Acquisition: Some organizations provide these as part of emergency kits or long-term expedition supplies.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 25-50 gp per bead, with bulk discounts available for larger quantities.

Trade Considerations: Steady demand from adventurers, military units, and long-distance travelers. Often sold in sets of 10-30 beads.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests practical thinking and preparation for harsh conditions. Characters may become known for their survival expertise.

Character Concepts:

  • Experienced wilderness guide who understands the value of emergency supplies
  • Military veteran accustomed to field rations and emergency provisions
  • Practical adventurer who prioritizes survival preparedness
  • Scout or explorer specializing in extended expeditions

Adventure Hooks​

The Lost Expedition: A research team has gone missing in hostile territory, and the party must track them down with limited supplies, making nourishment beads essential.

The Siege Supplies: A city under siege is running low on food, and the party must smuggle nourishment beads to sustain the defenders.

The Desert Crossing: A crucial mission requires crossing a barren wasteland where traditional food sources are impossible to find or carry.

The Underground Journey: An extended exploration of cave systems or underground ruins requires lightweight, long-lasting nutrition sources.

Variants & Customization​

Enhanced Nourishment Bead (Uncommon): Provides nutrition for 3 days and includes beneficial vitamins that grant temporary hit points.

Flavored Nourishment Bead (Common): Available in various flavors to improve morale and provide psychological benefits during difficult journeys.

Medicinal Nourishment Bead (Uncommon): Includes healing properties or disease resistance along with basic nutrition.

Specialized Variants:

  • Combat Ration Bead: Provides temporary energy bonuses along with nutrition
  • Fasting Bead: Provides nutrition while maintaining religious or magical fasting requirements
  • Digestive Bead: Easier to consume for characters with dietary restrictions or stomach problems

Lore & History​

Origins: Developed by military alchemists seeking to reduce the logistical burden of feeding armies during extended campaigns.

Historical Significance: Has enabled several famous expeditions and military campaigns that would have been impossible with traditional supply lines.

Cultural Impact: In frontier societies, nourishment beads represent the difference between successful exploration and starvation in hostile territories.

Scientific Advancement: The techniques developed for these beads have advanced understanding of nutrition and magical food preservation.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Can be introduced at any level as basic adventuring equipment. Most valuable during survival-focused campaigns.

Campaign Impact: Reduces the complexity of food management during extended adventures without eliminating survival challenges entirely.

Resource Management: Affordable enough to use regularly but not so cheap as to trivialize all food-related challenges.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Extended wilderness expeditions where food weight matters
  • Stealth missions where cooking would compromise secrecy
  • Survival situations where traditional food sources are unavailable
  • Time-sensitive missions where stopping to hunt or forage is impossible

Tactical Adjustments: Enemies may target food supplies specifically, making backup nutrition sources crucial for survival.

Survival Equipment: Other items that provide basic necessities like water, shelter, or warmth during extended adventures.

Preservation Magic:

  • Items that preserve or create food and water
  • Equipment that enhances survival capabilities
  • Tools for wilderness navigation and resource management

Complementary Equipment: Items that work well with extended expeditions, such as weather protection or navigation aids.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Survival Expertise: Characters can demonstrate practical knowledge and preparation through appropriate use of survival resources.

Resource Sharing: Decisions about distributing limited emergency supplies can create meaningful party dynamics and moral choices.

Cultural Exchange: Different characters may have varying comfort levels with magical food substitutes based on their backgrounds and beliefs.