Enc.:	IS:	-	XP: 7k	GP: 27,500
Miscellaneous Magic	-	Magic Items	-	DMG

This metal cube is of small size, but when activated
it grows to form a metal tower 20' square and 30' high, with arrow
slits on all sides and a machicolated battlement atop it, the metal extending
10' into the ground. It has a small door which will open only to the
command of the owner of the fortress, knock spells notwithstanding.

The
adamantite walls of Daern's Instant Fortress are totally unaffected by
normal weapons other than those of catapult type. The whole can take 200
paints of damage before the tower collapses. Note that damage sustained
is cumulative. The fortress cannot be repaired, although a wish will restore
10 points of damage sustained. It requires but 1 round to cause the fortress
to spring up, but the person or persons nearby must be careful not to be
caught by its sudden growth, or else they will sustain 10-100 hit points of
damage. The door will always be facing the owner of the device when i t
becomes a fortress, and i t will open and close instantly at his command.

WSG: This structure is impervious to a hurricane
or a tornado (or, obviously, any wind of less strength) - but
it is not climate-controlled, so that the effective temperature inside
will be the same as the actual temperature outside, not considering
the effect of any wind that might be blowing.


Q. If someone or something entered 
Daern's Instant Fortress, and the 
command to shrink was given, would 
those inside take 10-100 HP of 
damage, die, or cause the command 
to malfunction and thus be safe? 
A. The description of this magick item in 
the DMG (p 142) makes no mention 
of what happens in this case.  However, 
nearby people must be careful 
when the thing expands or they take 
10-100 damage, so it seems perfectly 
reasonable for the equivalent to 
happen if someone is caught within 
the Fortress when it shrinks. 
(Imagine #9)
 

Quote:
Originally posted by Henry
Gary, if you would -

This question came up elsewhere on these boards, and I had never thought about it before -

in 1st Edition AD&D, was the magic item known as Daern's Instant fortress meant to expand AND contract?

or

was it meant to be a single-use item only?

What's the matter with you, Henry?:! I know what I had in mind, and just because I neglected to put down that one small detail, there is confusion!
USe your psionic power of mind reading for goodness dake.

Heh, and sorry. The item, Daern's Instant Fortress, was meant as a multi-use object, anbd upon command it would contract after being activated.

The devil is in the details, and it seems that I oft shun the devil, eh?

Gary