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Dust of Dryness

Dust Of Dryness
  • Category: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Uncommon

This small packet contains 1d6 + 4 pinches of dust. As a Utilize action, you can sprinkle a pinch of the dust over water, turning up to a 15 -foot Cube of water into one marble-sized pellet, which floats or rests near where the dust was sprinkled. The pellet's weight is negligible. A creature can take a Utilize action to smash the pellet against a hard surface, causing the pellet to shatter and release the water the dust absorbed. Doing so destroys the pellet and ends its magic.

As a Utilize action, you can sprinkle a pinch of the dust on an Elemental within 5 feet of yourself that is composed mostly of water (such as a Water Elemental). Such a creature exposed to a pinch of the dust makes a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 10d6 Necrotic damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Devastating against water elementals (10d6 damage) and incredible utility for water manipulation. Can store massive amounts of water in tiny pellets for transport or tactical use.

Class Synergies:

  • Any Class: Universal utility for water manipulation and elemental combat
  • Druids: Excellent for environmental control and dealing with water-based threats
  • Rangers: Perfect for survival in desert environments or water crossing
  • Spellcasters: Complements water-based magic and provides elemental combat options

Build Considerations: Essential for desert campaigns, nautical adventures, or any setting with water elementals. Each pinch is precious - plan usage carefully.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires essence of desert winds, powdered gypsum, and salamander scales. Alchemical process takes 1 week and costs 500-800 gp in materials.

Common Sources:

  • Desert trading posts and oasis settlements
  • Alchemical suppliers specializing in elemental materials
  • Treasure hoards of fire or earth elemental cults
  • Rewards from water elemental combat encounters
  • Found in ancient desert ruins or dried oasis sites

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes traded by Genasi or elemental-touched individuals, or discovered in the belongings of desert explorers.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 800-1,500 gp, with higher demand in desert regions and coastal areas prone to water elemental threats.

Trade Considerations: Highly valued by desert explorers, nautical expeditions, and anyone dealing with water elementals. Popular in desert trading posts.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with desert survival, water management, or elemental combat. May indicate desert heritage or specialized training.

Character Concepts:

  • Desert guide or explorer specializing in arid environments
  • Sailor or ship's officer responsible for water conservation
  • Elementalist focused on combating water-based threats
  • Survival expert trained in extreme environment techniques

Adventure Hooks​

The Desert Crossing: Critical water management becomes essential when crossing vast deserts or when oasis sources are compromised.

The Elemental Threat: Water elementals have taken control of a vital water source, requiring specialized tools to combat them effectively.

The Flood Control: Using the dust to manage flooding or store emergency water supplies during natural disasters.

The Siege Supply: Transporting large quantities of water in compact form during military campaigns or extended sieges.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Dust of Dryness (Rare): Contains 2d6+6 pinches and deals 15d6 damage to water elementals (DC 15 save).

Selective Dust of Dryness (Uncommon): Can target specific water sources while leaving others untouched in the same area.

Essence Dust of Dryness (Rare): Water pellets maintain magical properties of the original water source.

Specialized Variants:

  • Military Grade: Enhanced capacity for siege warfare water transport
  • Explorer's Formula: Extended shelf life and resistance to humid environments
  • Combat Dust: Faster activation time for elemental combat encounters

Lore & History​

Origins: Developed by desert civilizations facing constant water scarcity and frequent water elemental incursions from oasis spirits.

Historical Significance: Enabled the great desert expeditions and allowed settlements to survive prolonged droughts by efficiently storing water.

Cultural Impact: Revolutionized desert travel and trade, making previously impassable routes viable for commercial expeditions.

Magical Craft: Represents mastery of transmutation magic focused on environmental survival and elemental interaction.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 3-7 when environmental challenges and elemental threats become significant campaign elements.

Campaign Impact: Essential for desert or water-focused campaigns. Limited charges prevent overuse while maintaining utility value.

Resource Management: Each pinch is valuable - encourages strategic planning and careful resource allocation.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Water elemental encounters where direct damage is crucial
  • Desert survival scenarios requiring water conservation
  • Flood control situations needing rapid water removal
  • Naval encounters involving water-based magical threats

Tactical Adjustments: Water elementals may retreat when they detect the presence of this dust, creating interesting chase scenarios.

Environmental Survival Equipment: Bag of Tricks, Folding Boat, and other items that address environmental challenges.

Elemental Combat Tools:

  • Items that provide advantages against specific elemental types
  • Fire-based weapons effective against water creatures
  • Equipment that manipulates environmental elements

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance desert survival or provide backup water sources when pellets are depleted.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Environmental Mastery: Characters develop expertise in environmental control and resource management.

Cultural Exchange: Interactions with desert peoples who rely on such items for survival.

Moral Choices: Deciding whether to use precious water storage for combat versus survival needs in desperate situations.