Rules for Crafting Tuning Forks

==Prerequisite==
In order to begin crafting a tuning for for the plane shift spell, a creature must know the plane shift spell, and must have proficiency in the Arcana skill.
==Step 1: Craft the Fork==
The physical tuning fork must be crafted from platinum by a skilled craftsman. The crafting takes 8 hours of work and 500GP worth of platinum (i.e. 50 platinum pieces). The process also requires some sort of material from the target plane. The material doesn't need to be anything particular; could be as simple as dirt or plant life, etc.
The crafting session must be completed by a creature with proficiency in either Smith's Tools, Tinker's Tools, or the Jeweler's Kit. The creature must make a DC 22 ability check using their tool proficiency. A conjuration wizard with access to the plane shift spell and proficiency in Arcana can help with this crafting session, granting advantage to the ability check.
On a success, the physical component is completed. On a failure, the process will have to start over, and some platinum may be lost in the process, as follows:
Platinum Loss on a Failed Crafting Check
Result 	Lost Platinum
5 or lower	500GP worth
6-10 	250GP worth
11-15 	100GP worth
16-21 	None
==Step 2: Engrave the Fork==
Once the fork is crafted, it must be engraved with the appropriate glyphs and sigils to make it suitable for the plane shift spell. Only a creature with access to the plane shift spell and proficiency in Arcana can attempt this process.
The engraving process is accomplished in crafting sessions that each take 8 hours, and each cost 100GP worth of arcane reagents (powdered gems, etc.). For each of these session, the creature must make a DC 30 Arcana check, and record whether the check was a success or failure.
Once a creature succeeds on 3 such checks, the fork is complete. If a creature fails 3 such checks before succeeding on 3, the physical component is irreparably damaged, and the process must be started over.
===Lowering the DC===
By spending time in the appropriate plane studying and researching, the DC of the engraving ability checks can be reduced (to a minimum of 20).
In order to lower the DC of engraving the fork, a creature must spend at least 2 hours in the appropriate plane of existence, during which time they must be focused on researching the plane. Research includes testing the mechanics of spellcasting on the plane, taking notes, gathering data, etc. It cannot be accomplished while simultaneously accomplishing other tasks, such as travel, combat, or survival. At the end of this period of research, the creature makes an Intelligence (Arcana) check. The result of the check determines the reduction in the DC of any future tuning fork engraving ability checks that the creature makes, as detailed in the table below.
Only one such research session can be safely completed by a creature each short rest. If a creature completes multiple research sessions without a short rest, it takes a level of exhaustion for each session it completes after the first.
Research Results
Ability Check Result	Engraving DC Reduction
19 or lower 	No reduction
20-25 	-1
26-30 	-2
31 or higher 	-3
===Note on the Star Road===
The DC to engrave a fork for the Star Road is 35 instead of 30. The minimum DC if reduced by research is 25.
== Malkoth Progress Tracker ==
Ethereal Plane
Fork Crafted?	Successful Engraving Sessions	Engraving DC
Yes 	3 / 3 	21
Feywild
Fork Crafted?	Successful Engraving Sessions	Engraving DC
No 	3 / 3 	21
Limbo
Fork Crafted?	Successful Engraving Sessions	Engraving DC
No 	0 / 3 	24
Astral Plane
Fork Crafted?	Successful Engraving Sessions	Engraving DC
No 	0 / 3 	23
Hades
Fork Crafted?	Successful Engraving Sessions	Engraving DC
No 	0 / 3 	26
Category:House Rules