Runepowder Barrel

Not to be confused with Runepowder Bomb and Runepowder Vial

Runepowder Barrel is a very rare Consumable that can be  thrown and explodes when broken, dealing devastating damage.

A secret concoction of smokepowder and gnomic mysticism, a single vial of Runepowder is more volatile than a whole barrel of smokepowder. Who knows what this much could do...

Properties

•  Consumables
•  Single Use
•  Rarity: Very rare
•  Weight: 16 kg / 32 lb
•  Price: 2500 gp
•  
  UID

  UNI_UND_Runepowder_Barrel
  UUID

  79dfb371-cd87-48f3-b542-26db2d39cfe2
  Stats

  UND_OBJ_Runepowder_Barrel

Effect

 Action -  Throw a barrel

•  Range: 18 m / 60 ft

• If broken, the barrel explodes
  •  4 hit points
• On explosion
  •  AoE: 18 m / 60 ft (Radius) (Much larger than indicated in-game)
  • 10d8 + 40 (50~120) ⁠Force
    (DC 12  Dexterity saving throw to halve)
  • Automatically Critically Hits objects and environments
  • Creatures caught in the blast are knocked back 6 m / 20 ft (no saving throw)

Where to find

• Next to  Philomeen in ⁠Grymforge - 1x
• In ⁠Angleiron's Cellar - 2x

Notes

• This item is unique, and cannot be bought or crafted via Alchemy.
• Acquisition:
  • The barrels in Angleiron's Cellar are there regardless of whether the party steals the initial barrel from Philomeen or not.
    • Angleiron's Cellar is only accessible if the quest ⁠Rescue Wulbren is completed.
  • Philomeen never willingly parts with the barrel in her possession.
  • When approached, Philomeen engages the party in dialogue, and depending on the choices made, ignites the barrel. To avoid this:
    • Select a speaking and a thieving party member, and unlink them.
    • Initiate the dialogue with the speaker.
    • There is a critical threshold just past the top of the stairs. If Philomeen spots the theiving party member crossing it, she ignites the barrel.
    • Once across the threshold the barrel can be safely stolen. Being spotted at this point has no consequences.
    • Being caught stealing the barrel or pick-pocketing Philomeen turns her temporarily hostile. However, she does not ignite the barrel even if it is present.

• Usage:
  • The barrel is inert unless destroyed.
    • Unless its hp are exhausted, the barrel can be placed on a fire surface or thrown off a cliff without exploding.
    • Given its mass, it only takes 1-4⁠⁠Bludgeoning damage from being  thrown.
    • For Falling damage to deal the remaining 3⁠⁠Bludgeoning damage, a height of roughly 13 m / 43 ft is required.
  • Damage to a character caught in the blast is 85⁠⁠Force on average, or half that on a successful saving throw. Link to statistical distribution.
  • If used in place of the  Runepowder Vial to clear the rockfall trapping  Nere, the barrel's explosion kills  Barcus Wroot and his gnome companions.
  • An active  Globe of Invulnerability spell will negate damage from this and other exploding barrels. It can be challenging to position the party outside the blast radius due to its size.
  • This and other barrels can be used atop the  Netherbrain. If positioned well, they can kill all the illithids.
• Trivia:
  • According to the Narrator's dialogue, Runepowder has an ashen scent that is acrid, "as if contaminated somehow" or "much, much more concentrated."
  • Philomeen claims "any true Ironhand would trade their life for a 'grain' of this stuff."