🧳 Caches of Midkemia

“Not all treasure is buried. Some waits in silence, some vanishes with the dead, and some—some were never meant to be found.” —Excerpt from the Ishapian Codex of Forgotten Things

In the world of Betrayal at Krondor, caches are more than containers—they are echoes of conflict, memory, and consequence. Whether hidden in tavern barrels, buried beneath ancient roots, or left behind on the battlefield, caches shape the rhythm of survival and the emotional weight of exploration. They fall into three primary categories: single-use, temporary, and permanent, each with its own rules, risks, and narrative implications.

🗝️ Single-Use Caches

These caches are fleeting—once opened, they vanish from the world, leaving only memory and consequence. They often contain story-critical items or one-time rewards, and their disappearance can be triggered by interaction, proximity, or chapter progression.

Examples:

A chest containing 10 sovereigns, sealed with a merchant’s last breath
A tavern barrel with a few royals hidden in its silt—forgotten by a drunk, remembered by fate
A niche in the Naphtha Caverns, flooded with sickening fumes and cursed coin
The well that yields the Knights Piece—once drawn, never again

Narrative Function: Single-use caches reinforce urgency and scarcity. They reward curiosity but punish indecision. Their disappearance often mirrors emotional closure, loss, or irreversible change.

⏳ Temporary Caches

These caches are transient, tied to the living and the recently dead. Most commonly, they appear as the bodies of defeated enemies, each with a limited inventory. Items left behind can be retrieved—if the player returns in time.

Mechanics:

Enemy corpses persist for several in-game days
After decay, all items vanish permanently
Bags placed manually remain until emptied or looted, then disappear

Risks:

Leaving key items on corpses can soft-lock progression
Bags are vulnerable to theft—even when the party camps beside them

Narrative Function: Temporary caches embody impermanence. They reflect the cost of battle, the fragility of memory, and the tension between haste and caution. They are ideal for pacing, forcing players to choose between looting, healing, or pressing forward.

🪵 Permanent Caches

These are the world’s enduring repositories—places where memory lingers and items remain. They include natural and manmade containers, as well as the bodies of those who died before the party arrived. Unlike temporary caches, these do not vanish and can be revisited throughout the game.

Examples:

Chests, Mounds of Dirt, bushes, stumps, graves
Buildings, burrows, and holes visible on urban and rural map views
Persistent corpses of NPCs and animals

Security Notes:

Locked and riddle chests are generally secure
Some chests change contents between chapters—retrieve essentials early

Narrative Function: Permanent caches serve as anchors in a shifting world. They offer continuity, strategic depth, and emotional resonance. A grave looted in Chapter II may still hold its secrets in Chapter VII—or reveal new ones.

🔐 Security & Theft

Not all caches are safe. Bags and unlocked chests are especially vulnerable to theft, even when the party is nearby. Items may disappear overnight, stolen by unseen hands or lost to time. Locked chests and riddle chests offer better protection, but even they are subject to chapter-based shifts.

Security Tiers:

🔓 Bags: Least secure; items may vanish overnight
🔓 Unlocked chests: Moderate risk; vulnerable to theft
🔐 Locked/riddle chests: Secure, but may change contents between chapters
🪦 Graves and permanent corpses: Secure and persistent

Narrative Function: Security mechanics reinforce realism and tension. They reward foresight and punish complacency. A missing item may not just be a gameplay loss—it may be a story beat, a mystery, or a regret.

🔄 Item Transfer & Strategic Use

Caches are not just storage—they are tactical tools. Players can use them to stage equipment, manage weight, or prepare for future encounters. A stump near a temple may hold healing herbs for a later return. A grave near a battlefield may hide a blade meant for vengeance.

Design Implications for Fables.GG:

Caches can be used to pace quests, hide lore fragments, or trigger environmental events
Temporary caches can decay into corrupted zones or spawn scavenger NPCs
Permanent caches can evolve—unlocking new layers based on player choices or divine favor
Riddle chests can be tied to faction alignment, requiring emotional or moral insight to open

🧭 Closing Note

In Midkemia, even the smallest cache tells a story. A coin in a barrel may be a beggar’s last hope. A sword in a grave may be a promise unkept. Caches are not just containers—they are memory, consequence, and choice.