Pouch of the Courier
This is a well-made leather pouch, measuring approximately 10" wide by 12" tall, and 3 1/2" thick. It has a long flap over the top and front, with six stout thongs hanging from the front top edge (along the pouch, not the flap), and six thongs along the bottom. The pouch weighs 10 pounds, regardless of what it contains. However, if the thongs are knotted in a particular order, the interior space expands and functions similar to a bag of holding. Depending on the knots and pattern used, different internal spaces come into existence.
The pouch has a maximum holding capacity of 50 cubic feet, and up to 500 pounds of weight beyond the items it always contains. Items placed in a particular internal space use only the space and weight necessary to hold those items.
Several internal spaces contain items useful to those traveling through the wilder regions of the world, and consumables replenish themselves once a day (at dawn). Non-consumables that are kept in the appropriate space will be mended if necessary.
bedroll*
tinderbox*
small axe & sheath*
messkit*
two iron pots*
wool blanket
pitons (12)
climber's kit*
hammer*
sack of peppercorns (1#)
sack of nutmegs (1#)
sack of cinnamon bark (1#)
sack of ginger (1#)
sack of cloves (1#)
sack of garlic (1#)
mortar & pestle*
spice grater*
chef's knives (in canvas roll)*
salve of healing (2d4+2 hp, 5 uses)
vial of ink
sealing waxes (red, white, black)
5 sheets of paper
5 sheets of parchment
When an item is placed in the pouch, it can only be accessed again by tying the same pattern of knots as used when the item was originally placed inside. When all of the thongs are left untied, the pouch acts as a normal, nonmagical, pouch (weighing 10 pounds, plus the contents within, and with an internal volume of ~1/5 of a cubic foot (enough space to hold two or three normal sized books and incidentals). Another extra-dimensional device (such as a bag or holding or portable hole (a Heward's Handy Haversack would not fit)) can be placed inside only so long as none of the thongs are knotted or tied.
If the pouch is ever overloaded, another extradimensional container is placed within while the thongs are knotted, or something punctures the pouch, items within have a 50% chance of being thrown into the Astral Plane automatically, along with anyone within 10 feet of the pouch (save vs. Dexterity(Acrobatics) to escape (A person wearing the pouch saves with disadvantage)). Items thrown out have a 50% chance of being sucked back in to a random spot on the Astral Plane. Each pocket should be checked for separately. This gateway is one-way and cannot be reopened.
A blanket is worth 5 sp.
The value of the rope and pitons is worth ~ 3 gp.
The value of salt and all spices in the pouch is worth 12.5 gp.
A healers kit is worth 5 gp.
The ink, sealing waxes, paper & parchment in the pouch is worth 8 gp.
If all of the replentishable items in the pouch were to be sold, the total value is worth roughly 19 gp.
Note Well: The healing salve jar and the ink vial themselves are non-consumable items, and will not replentish themselves if not placed in the appropriate pocket.
The healing salve will lose potency within 10 minutes if removed from the jar and not used.
Couriers are taught the values of the various consumables within the pouch, and recommend the use of barter whenever possible and necessary. They also are taught the knot patterns to access each compartment, which are not automatically discovered when using spells such as identify. One knot pattern at a time can be discovered by using a spell such as legend lore or speak with dead.
Couriers have several knot patterns they regularly use for holding specific types of items. These item types include:
- Royal dispatches & communiqués
- Emissarial documents & gifts
- Diplomatic papers & travel documents
- Diplomatic travel funds
- Espionage goods (procured)
- Espionage goods (to be delivered)
- Personal items
- Personal coinage
- Miscellaneous Courier items
- Miscellaneous personal items
- Camping
- Climbing
- Cooking
- Healing
- Writing
It is possible to use any pattern of knots to create a unique pocket (so long as the pouch has at least 1/2 ft3 / 10 # of available capacity), but nothing short of a wish can uncover all knot patterns that have been used to hold items. (The Couriers do have such a spell, but it is jelously guarded, and is only taught to select members.)
Special Pouches of the Courier have been made for important or high-ranking couriers. These pouches will contain an additional space or two for holding specialty items or tools (a net and pole for a courier who fishes, or artisan tools for example). Generally speaking, these items will be non-consumables that will be mendable, and will not contain any sort of replentishables.
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