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Eversmoking Bottle

Eversmoking Bottle
  • Category: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Uncommon

As a Magic action, you can open or close this bottle.

Opening the bottle causes thick smoke to billow out, forming a cloud that fills a 60 -foot Emanation originating from the bottle. The area within the smoke is Heavily Obscured.

Each minute the bottle remains open, the size of the Emanation increases by 10 feet until it reaches its maximum size of 120 feet.

Closing the bottle causes the cloud to become fixed in place until it disperses after 10 minutes. A strong wind (such as that created by the Gust of Wind spell) disperses the cloud after 1 minute.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Creates heavy obscurement in a 60-foot radius, providing concealment for tactical repositioning and breaking line of sight. Smoke persists until dispelled or the bottle is corked.

Class Synergies:

  • Rogues: Perfect for creating hiding spots and enabling sneak attacks
  • Spellcasters: Breaks line of sight to prevent targeting from enemy casters
  • Tactical Teams: Enables coordinated repositioning and flanking maneuvers
  • Any Class: Universal utility for battlefield control and escape scenarios

Build Considerations: Smoke affects allies as well as enemies. Requires coordination to avoid hindering your own team's effectiveness.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires bottling elemental air, binding smoke elementals, and sustained enchantment magic. Creation cost 2,000-4,000 gp and takes 1 month.

Common Sources:

  • Alchemical workshops specializing in atmospheric magic
  • Treasure hoards of illusionists and battlefield tacticians
  • Military supply caches and siege equipment stores
  • Commission from specialized enchanters focusing on area effects
  • Found in the belongings of professional infiltrators

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes discovered in abandoned fortifications or obtained from air elemental encounters.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 3,000-6,000 gp, with higher demand among military tacticians and infiltration specialists.

Trade Considerations: Popular among siege warfare specialists and anyone needing reliable area denial. May be regulated in some jurisdictions due to potential for abuse.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with siege warfare, tactical combat, or specialized infiltration training.

Character Concepts:

  • Military engineer or siege warfare specialist
  • Professional infiltrator or espionage operative
  • Tactical combat instructor or battlefield coordinator
  • Character experienced in area denial and battlefield control

Adventure Hooks​

The Siege Defense: Defending fortifications where smoke screens provide crucial tactical advantages against superior enemy forces.

The Infiltration Mission: Breaking into heavily guarded facilities where concealment is essential for mission success.

The Battlefield Coordinator: Leading military operations where area denial and tactical repositioning determine victory.

The Smoke Signal: Using the bottle for long-distance communication or distraction during complex heists.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Eversmoking Bottle (Rare): Larger smoke area (120-foot radius) with enhanced duration and resistance to dispelling.

Colored Smoke Bottle (Uncommon): Produces colored smoke for signaling or identification purposes.

Toxic Smoke Bottle (Rare): Smoke causes poison damage to creatures within the area.

Specialized Variants:

  • Military Grade: Enhanced for siege warfare with extended duration
  • Silent Smoke: Produces no sound when activated for stealth operations
  • Directional Bottle: Can focus smoke in specific directions rather than radius

Lore & History​

Origins: Developed by military engineers during ancient siege warfare to provide defensive advantages against overwhelming enemy forces.

Historical Significance: These bottles have changed the outcome of numerous battles by providing concealment for strategic repositioning.

Cultural Impact: Revolutionized siege warfare tactics and led to development of new battlefield coordination techniques.

Magical Craft: Represents mastery of atmospheric manipulation and sustained area-effect enchantments.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 6-12 when tactical battlefield control becomes important for complex encounters.

Campaign Impact: Provides significant tactical advantage without overwhelming combat. Affects allies as well as enemies, requiring strategic use.

Environmental Consideration: Creators should consider how smoke affects the entire encounter, not just player advantages.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Large-scale combat where repositioning and concealment matter
  • Siege warfare scenarios requiring defensive area denial
  • Infiltration missions where breaking line of sight is crucial
  • Multi-level encounters where smoke can affect different elevations

Tactical Adjustments: Enemies may retreat from smoke areas or use area-effect attacks to compensate for lost visibility.

Area Control Items: Decanter of Endless Water, Bag of Tricks, and other items that manipulate battlefield conditions.

Tactical Equipment:

  • Items that enhance battlefield control and positioning
  • Equipment that provides concealment or area denial
  • Tools for military and siege warfare applications

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance vision through smoke or provide alternative targeting methods.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Tactical Leadership: Characters develop skills in battlefield coordination and strategic thinking.

Military Connections: Using the bottle effectively earns respect from military organizations and siege warfare specialists.

Environmental Awareness: Players learn to consider how area effects impact entire encounters, not just immediate tactics.