Feather Token - Bird

[pvandyck]

Feather Token: Each of these items is a small feather that has a power to suit a special need. The kinds of tokens are described below. Each token is usable once.

Bird: A token that can be used to deliver a small written message unerringly to a designated target as would a carrier pigeon. The token lasts as long as it takes to carry the message.

So, how about I put explosive runes on it and send it off to someone I don't like? How about a Symbol of Death? How about locating someone who has hidden himself away by following it, or casting locate object to find the unique note I wote?

Anyone try any of this in a game?

pvandyck

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Great ideas!

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Yoink!



P.S. Kudos to you!

J from Three Haligonians

 

[Mistwell]

Wow.

1) Points for reposting the text of what you are asking about. I really wish more people would do that.
2) Very nice ideas!

 

[Jack Simth]

Explosive runes could work, provided they read it. Not that, you know, the 6d6 or whatever damage is going to be fatal when you can't reach them by other means to continue the pounding.

A Symbol (of any stripe) lists that it must be placed in a prominent position to work. A note tied to a bird doesn't really count, even though they stop and look at the thing. Also, it the Symbol line specifically lists that it can't be used offensively (and gives an example - touch-triggered Symbol doesn't go off if it's on a sword used to hit someone).

Locate Object has a range of Long - great when you happen to know someone will be carrying any correspondence you give them, and that they'll be in the area; great when the target is going to be close by while carrying your note. Not so great otherwise.

Might be able to follow it, provided you have an appropriet Move. How fast does a carrier pidgeon fly?

However....

Tell me - how do you designate a target? Targetted spells require you to already know where your target is.

"... as would a carrier pidgeon ..." carrier pidgeons usually go to locations, not people; you'd have to know where you're sending it.

Do keep in mind that even if the above tricks work, your DM learns too. Always nice to not know in advance whether or not that note you received is legit or a trap.....

 

[Mistwell]

Explosive runes could work, provided they read it. Not that, you know, the 6d6 or whatever damage is going to be fatal when you can't reach them by other means to continue the pounding.

A Symbol (of any stripe) lists that it must be placed in a prominent position to work. A note tied to a bird doesn't really count, even though they stop and look at the thing. Also, it the Symbol line specifically lists that it can't be used offensively (and gives an example - touch-triggered Symbol doesn't go off if it's on a sword used to hit someone).

Locate Object has a range of Long - great when you happen to know someone will be carrying any correspondence you give them, and that they'll be in the area; great when the target is going to be close by while carrying your note. Not so great otherwise.

Might be able to follow it, provided you have an appropriet Move. How fast does a carrier pidgeon fly?

However....

Tell me - how do you designate a target? Targetted spells require you to already know where your target is.

"... as would a carrier pidgeon ..." carrier pidgeons usually go to locations, not people; you'd have to know where you're sending it.

Do keep in mind that even if the above tricks work, your DM learns too. Always nice to not know in advance whether or not that note you received is legit or a trap.....

Pretty sure it's supposed to be able to find your target even if you are not sure where they are. Otherwise, it's use for normal message delivery are pretty nil as well.

 

[Jack Simth]

Pretty sure it's supposed to be able to find your target even if you are not sure where they are. Otherwise, it's use for normal message delivery are pretty nil as well.

Quite possibly.

I was mostly listing off possible counters/repercussions. And it's still quite useful for delivering messages; you just tell it to go to a person who'll be at a particular location - the guard to the throne room, say - who is a presumably trustworthy individual for forwarding the message to whoever needs to get it.

 

[CherubKid]

Bird: A token that can be used to deliver a small written message unerringly to a designated target as would a carrier pigeon. The token lasts as long as it takes to carry the message.

pvandyck

I routinely used (=abused) the bird-tokens in one campaign... once I delivered a message covered in sovereign glue to an enemy (just out of spite).

But mostly I used the bird-tokens as a tracking device to find missing companions or escaped villains who teleported away: We just let the bird fly and "unerringly" deliver its message... as we followed close behind!

Admittedly, it was a bit of a cheat, taking advantage of the vague item description in the DMG, but our DM was fairly tolerant and found ways to thwart such mischief when it threatened to circumvent the entire adventure!

I never thought to deliver a message to an invisible foe, though. Hmmm...

 

[Jack Simth]

I never thought to deliver a message to an invisible foe, though. Hmmm...

Well, let's see....

A scroll of See Invisibility costs, what, 150 gp?, and lets you actually see the target, for a cost of a single standard action.

A bird feather token can concieveably locate an invisible foe just long enough to deliver a message; after which, it vanishes/dies/whatever. Let's see.... first, you need a message. Second, you need to activate the token. Then, the bird has to go to the target......how long does that all take? Granted, it gives away the location for everyone (Glitterdust, anyone?) but does not, in and of itself, tell you exactly where it is (total concealment), unlike See Invisibility.

 

[Whimsical]

The bird token is the cheapest way to establish a global communications network in D&D.