Altar to Nature
The altar is made of wood and carved with thorns and flowers that glow with an eerie violet light. Atop the altar are 14 tarnished silver coins and a golden chalice.
Removing an item from the altar, or knocking an object off with a weapon, pole, or similar item, triggers a Critical Failure.
Exploration. A Religion check reveals that many altars are enchanted to punish interlopers. An Investigation check, or an examination of the coins, reveals that the coins are also stamped with the god’s symbol. The golden chalice is worth 100 gp.
Magical Effect. This is a magical effect created by evocation magic. Casting remove curse or a successful dispel magic on the altar triggers a Critical Success.
- With a Religion check, a creature can perform a 10-minute ritual to purify the altar, with a success triggering a Critical Success.
- A creature can make a ranged attack to knock the coins or the chalice off the altar. The chalice has AC 10, but the coins have AC 14.
Potential Outcomes
Critical Failure. A humanoid creature that triggers the trap must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or begin to glow, as if affected by the faerie fire spell. The effect lasts 1 hour or until a dispel magic or remove curse spell ends the effect.
Failure. The altar and the items on it dissolve into smoke, and the magical effect ends.
Success. An item is knocked off the altar, and the trap isn’t triggered. The magical effect ends once all the items are knocked off the altar.
Critical Success. A successful ritual ends the magical effect, allowing items on the altar to be removed safely. A Critical Success with a ranged attack knocks 1d4 + 1 items off the altar.