A Magical Spell For Fantastical Travels In Time And Space

Because Leomund's Tiny Hut + Astral Projection + Quest = TARDIS

This idea is inspired by the depictions of travel between worlds in Lewis' Narnia and Perelandra books, Lynne Reid Banks' Indian in the Cupboard series, and various old TV shows like Quantum Leap and Voyagers -- I mean, aside from the totally obvious acronym reference. It's a way to toss yourself into the timestream and pop out in another world at just the right moment to have a fabulous adventure, guided by the unpredictable predilections of God/time/fate/whatever.

Trans-Astral Remote Deployment Initiation Spell
Divine Ritual 6
Range: Touch
Duration: Until completion of quest
Target: 1 large container (chest, armoire, wardrobe, coffin, etc)
Saving Throw: N/A

This ritual takes an ordinary piece of furniture and converts it into a capsule with the ability to travel through the astral plane, a region of interdimensional space that connects different worlds. The enchantment results in the interior of the capsule growing large enough to comfortably house a dozen or so occupants and their belongings, although they will need to enter carefully one at a time. The interior is a large octagonal room with a control station in the center that has a single lever or switch with only two settings. Throwing the switch will result in the entire object (and its occupants) moving through the astral plane to some unpredictable location on a new world, or travel through time to a different era in the same world, or even both at once. It will typically arrive at an inconspicuous location like an alley or warehouse where it will look out of place, although investing in a quality lock and key for the capsule is still advised!

The location in space and time is selected by whatever deity, power or intelligence is responsible for answering the priest's prayers. Generally the intent of transport is to arrive in a situation that requires external assistance for the resolution of some imminent crisis. The exact nature of the crisis will require local investigation. Once it is adequately resolved, the switch may be reversed to permit the capsule's return. The passage of time will be synchronized in both worlds for as long as the spell is in effect.

Voyagers in an astral capsule are affected by the equivalent of a limited tongues spell for the duration of the adventure which augments their language with an equal number of locally equivalent languages; for example, if they speak can orcish in their own world, they'll gain the common language of orcs in the new one. A crystal ball may be mounted on top of the control station, allowing the occupants to view the region outside the capsule. A matched crystal ball placed in the room where the ritual was originally completed will allow communication between the voyagers and their home world (including sound, if the ball is enchanted with clairaudience). Communication between worlds is otherwise impossible.

While traveling between worlds, an astral capsule produces a wheezing, groaning noise reminiscent of the drawing of a resinous bow across a set of dissonant piano strings.