Bag of Holding
A humble satchel containing infinite space for the weary adventurer.
The Bag of Holding stands as one of the most iconic wondrous items in the multiverse, recognized instantly by adventurers from the Sword Coast to the Dragonlance realms. It appears deceptively simple, often resembling a worn leather satchel with drawstrings, yet it conceals a vast extradimensional space within its humble folds. This artifact serves as the quintessential solution for logistical nightmares faced by traveling parties. By allowing travelers to carry immense quantities of loot, supplies, and equipment without suffering from encumbrance, it fundamentally shapes how campaigns are played and how heroes approach dungeon delving.
- Item Type
- Wondrous Item
- Weight
- 15 pounds
- Material
- Leather with drawstrings
- Critical Risk
- Astral Plane Rift
Lore & Background
While specific origins vary across different campaign settings, these bags are generally attributed to skilled artificers or high-level wizards who mastered the manipulation of spatial planes. They are rarely found in nature and usually appear as rewards from ancient ruins or purchased from specialized magic item dealers in major cities. The magic sustaining the bag is volatile. It exists partially outside the Material Plane, which explains why its interior volume exceeds its exterior dimensions. This connection to other planes makes it susceptible to interference from similar artifacts. The most famous danger involves combining a Bag of Holding with another extradimensional storage device, an act that destabilizes reality locally. Despite the risks, the item remains ubiquitous among thieves' guilds and adventuring companies alike. Its reliability has made it a standard part of a hero's inventory, often passed down through generations or recovered from fallen foes who underestimated its value.
In Their Own Story
Kaelen knelt by the campfire, the flames casting long shadows against the cave wall. He pulled the leather drawstrings tight on his satchel, listening for the familiar hum of magic. Inside lay three days' worth of rations, a shovel, and enough gold to buy a small village. Yet, when he lifted it, the bag felt light as a feather. He smiled, knowing that tomorrow's climb up the Spire would be easier because his burden was already hidden in another world.
Reader's Guide
This wondrous item creates a pocket dimension accessible through a simple leather satchel. While the bag itself weighs fifteen pounds, its interior space defies normal geometry, holding up to five hundred pounds of gear or sixty-four cubic feet of volume. Adventurers rely on it for transporting loot without encumbrance, as items inside do not add weight to the bearer beyond the bag's own mass. However, misuse carries catastrophic risks. Placing another extradimensional object, such as a Portable Hole, inside this bag tears open a rift to the Astral Plane. This event destroys both items and sucks anything nearby into the void. Careful inventory management is required, especially when dealing with other magical containers. The opening remains accessible even if the bag is inverted or buried in debris, provided it is not sealed tight against the interior space. Retrieving items requires reaching inside manually; they cannot be summoned magically from within unless specific spells are used. The interior remains dry and odorless regardless of external conditions, making it ideal for preserving food or sensitive components. However, living creatures placed inside will suffocate quickly due to limited air circulation.
Did You Know?
- Combining this bag with a Portable Hole creates an interplanar rift that destroys both items.
- The interior space remains dry and odorless regardless of external weather conditions.
- Living creatures cannot survive inside the bag for long periods due to lack of air.
- It is one of the few magic items that does not typically require attunement.
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