Arena:Skeleton's Key

Artifact: Skeleton's Key (lore page)
Shares Appearance With	Nothing, it has no appearance
Statistics
Weight	0 kg
Enchantment
Opens a door/chest once per day

"The power of the Skeleton's Key is very simple, indeed. With it, any non-magically locked door or chest is instantly accessible to even the clumsiest of lockpickers. A particularly skillful lockpicker may even open some magically barred doors with the Key. The two limitations placed on the Key by wizards who sought to protect their storehouses were that the Key could only be used once a day and it would never be the property of one thief for too long. Some of those who have possessed the Key have made themselves rich before it disappeared, others have broken into places they never should have entered ..."—Codex Scientia

The Skeleton's Key is an artifact that can be obtained by taking part in an artifact quest. Per the Codex Scientia, this quest can be started anywhere but Valenwood. The artifact itself will be found in the Summurset Isle

Quest Dialogue

Quest-starting Rumors

• "[Provincial exclamation], some character just asked me if I were [sic] willing to pay for information regarding the wherebouts of the Skeleton's Key. As if I'd like it to be found! You want my opinion, a key capable of opening any lock or portal would make all [Province] unsafe. I told him to get lost and he headed over [Direction] to the [Tavern name]. I hope no one takes his offer."

• "Yeah, this was a little odd. My grandmother told me stories when I was young about a magical key called the Skeleton's Key with which one could open anything. I never believed her, but just today, [Direction] of here, this man offered to sell me information to the location of the Skeleton's Key. He was over in the [Tavern name]."

• "I don't know if I believe it, but there's a gentleman in [Settlement name] who says he knows how to find the magical key of Arrovan, the master thief. He wants money for the information - a lot of money - but if you'd like to be able to break into anything you might want to head [Direction] to the [Tavern name] and talk to him."

Tavern Encounters

• "What kind of [PC race] are you?" snorts the man to your left. "You [sic] a thief or just thinking about becoming one? Doesn't matter to me anyhow. The Skeleton's Key is not easy to find, mate, but the right person with the right information will be able to do it. I don't know if you're good enough for it, but I can sell you the right information for [Amount of gold] gold. What do you say?"

• The bartender looks at you suspiciously and then motions to a man in the shadowed corner of the [tavern name], who steps forward. He is a young gentleman dressed in dark clothing. "Name's [NPC name], [PC race]. No one wants the Skeleton's Key to be found, except maybe a few loner thieves. Nothing would be safe from the clutches of the person who holds the key, you understand. I don't care, myself. All I need is [Amount of gold] gold to tell you exactly how to get the key yourself."

• "I make it my business to know where things are," the young man to your left turns to you, his breath stinking of many ales. "And I can tell you how to get the Skeleton's Key yourself. I won't ask why you wish to have the power to open any lock or portal you're probably no more nosy and covetous than I. In this case, I'll only ask for [Amount of gold] gold for the information that will lead to the Skeleton Key. You have that much money to spare, eh?"

Negotiation:

• "Forget it, pal. You're going to have to do a lot better than that."

• "Please don't insult me with pitiful offers. Tell me what you'll really pay for the information, [PC race]."

• "Ha. Make me a less amusing offer or stop wasting my time, [PC race]."

• "I've wasted enough time already. You can find me here for [number of] days if you get the money or change your mind. Leave me now."

• "I was prepared for reasonable haggling. I must say I'm disappointed. Come back within [number of] days if you're willing to negotiate. Goodbye."

• "You don't even know what an excellent price I was offering. Ah well, I'll be here for [number of] more days if you change your mind. Pardon me now."

• "I can't accept that, I'm afraid. I'd take [Amount of gold] gold, though."

• "I understand your position, trying to get the best price you can. Let's say [Amount of gold] gold, shall we?"

• "That's a fair offer, but [Amount of gold] gold pieces is an even more fair offer."

New encounter after rejecting the quest:

• "Hello again, [PC race]," [NPC name] joins you at the bar. "Good to see it didn't take you long to change your mind about the Skeleton's Key. I assume you're ready to pay the [Amount of gold] gold I mentioned before?"

• You hear a cough behind you and [NPC name] appears, looking somewhat dejected. "Good to see you, [PC race]," he says. "I haven't had any luck yet. Seems anyone who believes the Skeleton's Key exists doesn't have the gold to pay for my information. Are you ready to pay the [Amount of gold] gold we agreed upon?"

• "I wasn't sure I'd see you again, [PC race]," says [NPC name], coming to the bar at the sound of your voice. "I haven't had any other takers yet, but my offer for showing you the way to the Skeleton's Key stands at [Amount of gold] gold. Are you prepared to pay me the amount?"

Location

• "Ah, yes, my purse likes the sound of that. You'll find the Skeleton's Key in a particularly unpleasant dungeon. Of course, no one except a few know where it is, for the Key always chooses inaccessible places to hide. For benefit [sic] of the historians, the first holder of the Key, Arrovan, made a map to each of the Key's resting places, but for many years no one could find this one. My contacts say the map is in a place called the [Dungeon name]. I have inscribed the location onto your map of the continent. I must leave you. Good luck, my [PC race] friend..."