A hardtop wooden wagon that doubles as a backpack.
Originally designed as a normal everyday wagon, this vardo has been magically enchanted with a command word to transform into a spacious trunk, able to fit as much space as a large backpack and able to be carried on the average humanoids back.
Durable
Built to ford rivers and cross mountains, the vardo has 100 hit points, 15 AC, and Resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, and Fire damage. If reduced to 0 hitpoints, the vardo ejects all cargo into unoccupied spaces in a 30 foot circle around itself and reverts back to backpack form. Until repaired, the backpack cannot act on its enchantment to transform into a caravan. It automatically regains full hitpoints at the party's next Stopover (long rest in a town or city.)
Well-Lit
The vardo's exterior is fitted with several carriage lamps that cast warm amber light up to 30 feet in all directions. The lanterns can be dimmed or brightened via mental command with the attuned person/s, never need refueling, and cannot be removed.
Beast's Burden
This caravan cannot be moved without attunement. If a creature who is unattuned to the caravan and would otherwise be able to move another object of similar weight, the caravan feels as if it weighs 10x as much. However, to creature/s attuned to the caravan with a Strength score of 16 or higher, the caravan feels about half as heavy as what it actually may be, allowing them to pull it along with ease.
Home Wherever You Are
The vardo is fitted with a standard demiplane enchantment, making its interior twice the size of its exterior. However, the enchantment only functions while the vardo is encamped, with brake-arms applied and wheels chocked.
Preparing the vardo to encamp or disembark is an involved process that typically takes about half an hour.
Creature Comforts
The vardo is filled with a number of domestic amenities. Some are available on the move, including a pantry, dining table, cook-stove, and one bed. Others are stowed magically inside the walls and only become available while encamped; these include (but are not limited to) a desk/workbench, full oven, claw-foot tub, and additional beds.
Generally speaking, the vardo is best suited to short rests while moving, and long rests while encamped.
Hard to Spot
While left unattended, the vardo magically hides itself. While hidden, the vardo takes a form befitting its surroundings and emits an aura that discourages curiosity. Any creature who has seen it before may find it unfamiliar, and it is very unlikely to be chanced upon by accident, e.g. by bandits.
Built for Versatility
Upon speaking the command word, the vardo will safely eject all living creatures outside of its boundary, and begin transforming. This process takes about a minute, and appears to become an almost malleable liquid while shrinking down in size to the shape of a backpack, styled with similar wood-finishing's to the vardo's form. Once the process is complete, the backpack can safely be worn, weighing about 15 pounds regardless of what may be stored inside.
Because of the demiplane enchantment, the backpack can fit larger items than the backpack itself inside of it, however said items would not be able to be extracted until the vardo is returned back to its full form. Regular size items that could reasonably fit into a large backpack can still be extracted in this form.
The vardo needs to be encamped in order for the command word to work. When turning the backpack back into the vardo, it will still be encamped.
The vardo may also be upgraded over time or as the situation demands, adding additional features or enchantments such as all-terrain wheels, reinforced armor, arrowslits, river pontoons, sleigh rails, etcc.
Notes: (requires attunement)
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