Jester Jars

[Polyedit2000]

Jester Jars/Pots appear as normal jars, usually 2 or 3 feet tail.  When approached, the jars will extend a spring-like tube from the top and attempt to suck up the adventurer.  In DnD terms, it is possible to negate this trap with a Strength check, making the jar roll away if successful.  Failure to escape the trap, though, and the jar will capture the adventurer; it grows hands on its sides and literally holds its victim's face in the front upon completion.

Once filled, these jars usually camp in front of doors and passages.  When another adventurer approaches them, a "Jester" will pop out of the jar; these Jesters have the appearance of the captured adventurers, though smiling, armless and with a bit of flair.  The Jester will ask the adventurer one or several riddles, and if guessed correctly, the jar will move aside for them.  It is not possible to actually talk with the Jesters, though they are aware of their surroundings.

It is also possible to free the victims of the jars.  Outside of high-tier magic, however, the only way to free them is to take their place.  Once offered, the jar will spit out the previous victim and swallow up the new volunteer, replacing the face on the jar.  However, the released victim will not regain any previously lost equipment and will only be gifted a 0-Armor jester suit for their time served.  They will, however, retain their memories from their servitude of the jar.

Jester Jars come in different materials, which can affect the difficulty (and retort) of the Jesters, not linked to the intelligence of the victim.  For example, a clay Jester Jar would ask a simple riddle and would giggle otherwise.  A golden Jester Jar, though, can ask multiple questions and even answer the adventurer's questions or taunt them.

[Polyedit2000]

This is a clarification of the Jester Jar's "normal" appearance.  Nothing does stand out about the jar at first.  It's insides, however, consists of this spring-like tube to suck up adventurers as well as a number of ribbon-like appendages for movement and grappling.

It's important to note because some scholars believed that the jars suck up their victims like a genie to a bottle, which caused some adventurers to misidentify potential jars before their capture.