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First Scenario:

You, the PCs, have followed the Villainous Mage to his tower.
He enters the front door and closes it behind him.
You approach the door and hear him speak a Password on the other side.
You open the door and find a small stone room, with two doors opposite the one you entered.
Between the two doors, there appears to be a crude animated Face made out of the stone wall.
The Face regards you as you enter and close the door behind you.
The Face speaks:
”Greetings, visitors. Speak the password while touching the handle of the correct door and you may then enter unharmed.”

>What do you do?

Ask face: "May we ask questions to determine the right door and word?"

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>>2083171
>Ask face: "May we ask questions to determine the right door and word?"

The Face replies, "You may confirm the Password. The right door is on the right."

>>2083143
>And what exactly would happen if we speak an incorrect password, or if we get the password right but the door wrong?

>>2083193
>>And what exactly would happen if we speak an incorrect password, or if we get the password right but the door wrong?

The Face replies, "If you do not speak the correct Password, or if you do not touch the handle of the correct door, then nothing will happen you may not enter unharmed."

>>2083215
>How many doors are connected to this room?

(By the way, what level of interaction are you looking for here, should we rollplay as full characters, or simply be a faceless mass of anons asking questions and posing suggestions?)

>>2083236
>>How many doors are connected to this room?
The Face replies, "There are three doors connected to this room, the right door, the left door, and the entrance door that you just stepped through."

>(By the way, what level of interaction are you looking for here, should we rollplay as full characters, or simply be a faceless mass of anons asking questions and posing suggestions?)
You should roleplay as actual characters in the room. How full they are is entirely up to you, as is their capabilities. How relevant that is varies with each door.
(The evil antagonist wizard had the forthought to forge his tower out of Unobtainium and Plot Armor)

>>2083267
"Assuming Stoneface over there is telling the truth, picking the right door should be easy. Well, for me at least," Mereth announced smugly, a cat like grin on her face to match the furry ears atop her head. As a demi-human, she had an accute sense of smell which had been helpful in tracking the wizard thus far. It stood to reason that her senses could help the adventurers through this conundrum as well.

"All's I need to do is sniff the handles and whichever smells most strongly of that crazy magic man is the one he went through!"

With that Mereth approached each door in turn and closed her eyes, concentrating on the smell emanating from each door's handle.

>>2083306
>With that Mereth approached each door in turn and closed her eyes, concentrating on the smell emanating from each door's handle.

You are able to sniff the familiar scent of the Villainous Mage quit clearly in the small room.
Sniffing the door handles, you can clearly smell his scent on the entrance door.
However, his scent on the left and right door handles was so faint that at first you didn't even detect it.
Either he hasn't touched either of those handles recently or has cleaned them in some manner you can't imagine or detect.

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>>2083306
>>2083328

>>2083328
"Nnn..." Mereth growled with annoyance at the less than decisive results of her investigation. She didn't get it. Could it be that the mage hadn't used either of the two doors? Or maybe he'd masked his scent somehow.

"Hey, Stoneface, is any door in this room a valid option? Including the entrance we entered from?"

>>2083343
>"Hey, Stoneface, is any door in this room a valid option? Including the entrance we entered from?"

Ignoring your name for it, the Face repeats, Speak the password while touching the handle of the correct door and you may then enter unharmed.”

>>2083350
"That doesn't answer my question," Mereth grumbled, but she left it at that. There was very little to be gained from literally arguing with a wall.

Mereth turned her attention to investigating the rest of the room, examining the walls and floor.

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>>2083376
>Mereth turned her attention to investigating the rest of the room, examining the walls

The walls of the small room were made of the same dense stone as the rest of the tower.
There were no markings or anything of interest to found there...

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>>2083376
>>2083386
>...and floor.

The floor was one large slab of the same stone.
There is ample dust and grit to provide tracks, but none are there to be found, even your own.
After some experimentation, it is clear there is a mild enchantment on the floor that disturbs tracks.
It would be effortless to dispel it, but doing so would not return any tracks already removed.

>>2083403
"Hmm..." Mereth considered, quirking her head as she consider the floor beneath her and watched the footprints she'd made gradually erase as the dust shifted. Perhaps there was something covered by the dust? Of course, someone would need to deal with the enchantment before that could be verified. That was beyond her area of expertise.

Leaving the floor for later, Mereth began tapping and pushing on various stones in the wall to see if anything happened.

Having fun with this. Going to bed now, laters.

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>>2083423
>Perhaps there was something covered by the dust?
The layer of dust seems far too thin to hide anything.

>Leaving the floor for later, Mereth began tapping and pushing on various stones in the wall to see if anything happened.
Pushing and tapping on the stones of the wall, you leave no stone unmolested.
You learn nothing of value but have determined that, aside from the stones of the moving Face which seems to be a powerful permanent enchantment, none of the stones move or shift at all.

Good night! I will keep running this and replying when I can.

>>2083441
"What happens if I speak the password while touching both handles? Also what's the password?"

>>2083477
>"What happens if I speak the password while touching both handles? Also what's the password?"

>The Face repeats, "Speak the password while touching the handle of the correct door and you may then enter unharmed.”
It seems to not be inclined to answer those questions.
You suppose you could always try it and find out.

(You did hear the Villainous Mage speak the Password from the other side of the door as you approached.)

>>2083502
"This makes no sense. Face, why are you here? What is your purpose in being here?"

What level of power should we assume ourselves and our quarry to be at?

>>2083520
>"This makes no sense. Face, why are you here? What is your purpose in being here?"
The Face replies, "I am here to greet guests and instruct them on how to enter. Authorized guests will have the Password."

I tried to make getting past the doors to be independent of power level.
Surviving the worst outcomes of some of the scenarios would require higher levels or many "identical sibling" replacements.
You are skilled and experience adventurers with whatever gear you consider appropriate.
Your quarry is a very high power level Magic User capable of constructing BS Towers with PlotArmor.
The Villainous Mage is capable of crafting powerful permanent enchantments.
Basically, you can't just *poof* past or through the doors because "magic".
Otherwise, I am fine with you declaring yourselves to have any reasonable skill, power, or ability.
Such as the ability to track scents.

>>2083564
"Then you claim that you are a safeguard to prevent guests from harming themselves through misaction; that guests may confirm the procedure for entry before attempting it themselves.

"How are we to know that your word may be trusted, or that you know the correct procedure to begin with?

"Would not one as powerful as your master have the means to apprise guests of how to enter his tower without placing you here and potentially allowing intruders to pass unharmed?"

I would think we first have to determine that everything here isn't actually just a ruse placed to mislead us.

Also, should we assume ourselves to be working individually (and hence do not know things other characters have learned) or as a party (in which case we assume ourselves to be sharing information)?

>>2083595
Stepping past Mereth as she taps on the walls, you ask, "How are we to know that your word may be trusted, or that you know the correct procedure to begin with? "Would not one as powerful as your master have the means to apprise guests of how to enter his tower without placing you here and potentially allowing intruders to pass unharmed?"

The Face seems to regard and consider your questions for a short time and then replies, The Face repeats, "Speak the password while touching the handle of the correct door and you may then enter unharmed.”
Further questioning and validation confirms that the Face is incapable of deception and has not been placed as a ruse.

Your second question is a great point and exactly why I originally scrapped the idea of this door because it didn't make sense for the villain, as I mentioned in the OP. Still, I like the puzzle.

You should assume yourselves as working as a party (strangely independent of each other, heh)
There is no reason to have each character work out information again that the players already know.
If all the party dies? A wizard scryed it and told the next batch. Sure, that's the ticket.

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>>2083633
Oops, dropped my name.

>>2083633
"So be it; I accept that you are what you claim to be. Then, I shall need your aid in recalling the precise entry procedure:

"What is the scope of questions and statements to which you are permitted to give non-standard replies to (that are not merely "Speak the password while touching..." and so on)? This, I ask merely to forestall myself futilely reciting my full vocabulary to you in an attempt to confirm the password."

>>2083656
The Face seems to ponder your query for a moment and then replies, "If you wish to confirm that you have the correct Password, you may state it and ask if it is the correct Password and I can confirm it."

You did overhear the Password through the door as you approached the entrance.

>>2083673
We actually heard exactly what the password was? I assumed we'd just heard some him say something indistinct, and the puzzle is working out what he said and which door he entered by.

>>2083683
Yep, sorry.
The idea was to overcome the hurdle of discerning the password, and get right to the puzzle of the door. Instead of overhearing it, you could have divined it some other way.
But I didn't explicitly say that the puzzle isn't figuring out what the Password is, because I wanted there to be a lot of trial and error, because everything I directly state can guide you where to look or not look.
I apologize for the confusion.

>>2083694
>everything I directly state can guide you where to look or not look.
I can absolutely appreciate this fact. Though, this specific thing seems like something we, as players, ought to know that we already know in-character.

So, I'll take it for granted that we already know the password (or at least a password), and that the exact word itself is of little importance.


"______. Is that the correct password?

"Now, Face, can you tell me what lies behind these doors?"


I'll have a think about the doors if no one's gotten past it when I get back in a few hours.

>>2083711
>"Is that the correct password?
"Yes, that is the correct Password."

>"Now, Face, can you tell me what lies behind these doors?"
The Face replies, "I cannot tell you what lies behind these doors. I am forbidden to ever speak of it."

Your vile misdirections wont stop us for any longer, demon.

>Touching the handle of the entrance door, the knight speaks the Password

>>2083752
>>Touching the handle of the entrance door, the knight speaks the Password

Having cleverly selected the correct door handle, the Face opens its mouth wider and wider until it is as large as a doorway.
You have found the solution to the door and may enter unharmed.

Upon entering the tower, however you discover only a myconid lackey who informs you that the Villainous Mage is in another castle.

Congratulations on completing the first scenario!

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>>2083760

Apologies for the delay.
I must switch posting method, which might delay my responses, but rest assured that I will answer.

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Second Scenario:

Having chosen to enter through the back door in the cavern underneath the mage’s tower, you have discovered what seems to be a seldom, if ever, used route.
Possibly an escape path for emergencies, it is just one large chamber.
At point A is the cavern entrance that you entered through.
At point C is a stone door marked with sigils and wards.
At point B is a large, incredibly dark pool of water with a single wooden bridge crossing the pool.

What do you do?

>>2083785
We haven´t got a second to lose if we want to catch that evil wizard. Onward toward glory!

>Sir Guldyn rushes through the bridge in his heavy armor.

>>2083820
>Onward toward glory!

"Onward toward drowning sounds more likely!" Mereth called warningly after the overzealous knight.

>>2083820
>>Sir Guldyn rushes through the bridge in his heavy armor.

The bridge seems well made under your thunderous feet and capable of bearing the weight of heavily laden carts.
The water seems to have not worn the supports at all, although you cannot see more than an inch or so into the water as you run past.
The bridge should bear your weight with no trouble, but it is only a small cart’s width wide.
The length of the bridge is such that it takes you several rounds to cross it at a full run.
You quickly reach the other side after several rounds.
Nothing seems to have been disturbed by your crossing.

You are on the other shore and still a good distance from the magic door.
It is covered with magical runes and a circle of warding extends around it further than arm's reach, which would force you to step into it to open the door.

>>2083952
"This cavern, too, must have been shaped to that damned wizard's will. This bridge, and this pool, must be here for a reason."

Picking up a few stray stones from the ground, Devon tosses one of them into the water below.

>>2083952
Seeing that the knight had made it to the other side was slightly encouraging, but Mereth still eyed the water below warily. She had a dubious relationship with water at the best of times, thanks to her more feline instincts. Closing her eyes and sighing resignedly Mereth approached the bridge as well, preparing to cross, albeit at a less reckless pace than Guldyn.

"Don't think of getting wet, don't think of getting wet..."

Despite her discomfort, Mereth tried to pay more attention to the bridge as she cautiously made the crossing.

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>>2084021
>Closing her eyes and sighing resignedly Mereth approached the bridge as well, preparing to cross, albeit at a less reckless pace than Guldyn.

>>2084006
>Picking up a few stray stones from the ground, Devon tosses one of them into the water below.
The makes a quiet splash as it immediately disappears underneath the dark surface...

>>2084021
>Despite her discomfort, Mereth tried to pay more attention to the bridge as she cautiously made the crossing.
The bridge seems artificially enchanted for strength and durability, similar to the inside of a cask intended to hold terribly toxic or caustic materials.
While scrutinizing the bridge, your keen senses are able to instantly notice the thousands of tiny ripples in the dark pool's surface the moment Devon's stone dropped in.
This provides you with several seconds of advanced notice before there is a horrible splashing and clacking sound as many dozens of muck skeletons rush out of the pool.
Most of the filthy, rot covered skeletons seem focused on converging on Devon's position on the shore by the entrance, but several are clamboring onto the bridge and several more are approaching Sir Guldyn upon the other shore.
Yet more move beneath the surface of the pool.

>>2084120
Tired of hiding, foul things? Have at thee!

>The knight attacks the group of skeletons with his greatsword.

>>2084120
"This way, before they surround you!" Mereth shouted to Devon in alarm, pointing to the opposite end of the bridge where Guldyn was.

With that she turned her attention to the shambling skeletons that were pulling themselves onto the bridge. She unslung her bow from her back, but didn't knock an arrow as they would be wasted on the bony creatures. Instead she began to advance towards the far shore at a hurried pace, avoiding the skeletons where she could and clubbing any that came to close with her bow.

>>2084120
Frowning, Devon steps once backwards across of the cavern's threshold, watching to see if the skeletons would follow him still out of the wizard's domain.

Not expecting it to be quite so easy, Devon also begins unburdening himself of excess weight, leaving largely the essentials - some weapons, a length of rope, and several vials of alchemical concoctions chiefest among them.

>>2084141
"Sir Guldryn! There are too many to fight off! Have a look at the ward about the door - the solution may lie there!"

At least, he hoped it did; the alternatives were rather less palatable.

>>2084141
>Tired of hiding, foul things? Have at thee!
>>The knight attacks the group of skeletons with his greatsword.
Standing your ground, you cleave two skeletons with the first pass of your greatsword, the metal of the blade pitting slightly after contacting the toxic sludge.
Several more step forward with countless more emerging from the pool behind them.
You are not certain you can fight off this many, but the path to the bridge is still largely unimpeded.

>>2084145
>"This way, before they surround you!" Mereth shouted to Devon in alarm, pointing to the opposite end of the bridge where Guldyn was.
>She unslung her bow from her back, but didn't knock an arrow as they would be wasted on the bony creatures. Instead she began to advance towards the far shore at a hurried pace, avoiding the skeletons where she could and clubbing any that came to close with her bow.
As you approach the shore, you club the skeletons and easily knock them back into the pool.
But you see that more skeletons are amassing on the shore near Sir Guldyn.
Glancing back, you see the the skeletons attacking Devon have thinned their ranks in a line extended to the entrance, you may be able to slip past them.

>>2084165
>Frowning, Devon steps once backwards across of the cavern's threshold, watching to see if the skeletons would follow him still out of the wizard's domain.
Not expecting it to be quite so easy, you are surprised to see the skeletons turn away in disinterest as soon as you left the cavern.

Sorry about the erratic posting, but I gotta grab a couple hour nap.

>>2084197
I shout to Sir Guldyn, telling him to throw or lure some skeletons into the wards of the door, as a crude test to see if it is booby trapped.

>>2084197

>Seeing a path that doesn´t lead to sure dead and not wishing to honor his title Sir Guldyn grabs a skeleton by the neck and throws it at the gate.

>Then, he valiantly flees towards the exit.

This is not the last time you will hear the name of Sir Guldyn the Short-Lived, dire vermin!

>>2084197
About to relieve himself of his just-unclasped cloak, Devon pauses in confusion, watching the skeletons turn their backs to him.

"They do not seem enchanted to follow when I leave the cavern. Sir Guldryn, if you can get that door open, you may be out of their reach! Else... how are they attacking you? What seems to be their function?"

For instance, striking blows; grabs; not actually taking any aggressive action apart from surrounding you like imposing thugs.

Wrapping his cloak around his arm to protect himself from whatever substance still coats the skeletons, Devon reaches out in a quick motion to grab one of them and yank it out of the cave - his eyes watching carefully for the horde's reaction to his sudden intrusion-into-and-departure-from their domain.

He then turns his gaze to the captured skeleton, observing its response to being forcibly removed from its territory.

>>2084197
>>2084313
Seeing Sir Guldyn making his way towards the bridge, Mereth stays her ground, trying to clear a path for him so that they can retreat down the bridge together.

>>2084273
>I shout to Sir Guldyn, telling him to throw or lure some skeletons into the wards of the door, as a crude test to see if it is booby trapped.
>>2084313
>Sir Guldyn grabs a skeleton by the neck and throws it at the gate.
As soon as the skeleton crumbles against the door, the wards glow a soft purple, a loud chime is heard, and every skeleton turns their head to look at the door and then attack the nearest living creature in the cavern.
Many focus on Sir Guldyn.

>>Then, he valiantly flees towards the exit.
"This is not the last time you will hear the name of Sir Guldyn the Short-Lived, dire vermin!"

>>2084334
>ow are they attacking you? What seems to be their function?"
They seem to be attacking by clawing and desperately trying to grasp the others, you are left to imagine what they would do after getting a firm grip, as the others seem reluctant to let them.

>>2084334
>Devon reaches out in a quick motion to grab one of them and yank it out of the cave - his eyes watching carefully for the horde's reaction to his sudden intrusion-into-and-departure-from their domain.
The skeleton snaps at your hand as it approaches. The others turn, but turn away after you pull the skeleton out.

>He then turns his gaze to the captured skeleton, observing its response to being forcibly removed from its territory.
Upon being removed from the cavern, it turns to return to the cavern.
Upon finding itself restrained, begins violently attacking you!

>>2084384
>Seeing Sir Guldyn making his way towards the bridge, Mereth stays her ground, trying to clear a path for him so that they can retreat down the bridge together.
Your agility and position affords you the ability to keep the bridge clear as Sir Guldyn joins you and you both bravely run away.

>>2084636
Ducking under the skeleton's swipe, Devon pushes it away from him and whips the cloak off his arm - sparing a quick glance for the effects of contact with the liquid coating the skeleton.

With his newly-freed arm, he grasps at his belt for an alchemical weapon - in this case, a Flask of Alkali - before unstoppering and emptying it over the skeleton.

Devon then dashes back into the cavern to support his comrades' retreats.

>>2084636
Mereth's ears perked up upon hearing the chiming sound, but her attention was immediately drawn to the now redoubled efforts of the skeletons to get a hold of her and the others. With skeletons now gathering in to a larger group she finally pulled several arrows from her quiver and knocked them. Since skeletons were crowding together there was less need to worry about her arrows just slipping between the gaps in their bones.

"Let's go!" She shouted to sir Guldyn as she began to fire into the skeletons ahead of them.

>>2084720
>Devon pushes it away from him and whips the cloak off his arm - sparing a quick glance for the effects of contact with the liquid coating the skeleton.
Your cloak resembles an ogre's toilet rag in both sight and smell and several small holes have been burned away.

>With his newly-freed arm, he grasps at his belt for an alchemical weapon - in this case, a Flask of Alkali - before unstoppering and emptying it over the skeleton.
The skeleton crumbles slightly several key joints collapse in the ensuing violent chemical reaction.
It flails ineffectively at you as you dash back into the cavern to support your comrades' retreats.

>>2084785
>"Let's go!" She shouted to sir Guldyn as she began to fire into the skeletons ahead of them.
Your arrows don't seem to be doing much damage but the force of them knock the skeletons back well enough.
The two of wade through the skeletal onslaught, making your way onto the shore, where you find Devon, trying to beat back a path to the entrance.
As three skilled warriors working together, you are all able to defend yourselves againot the grasping skeletons and emerge from the cavern.
As soon as every living being is out of the cavern, the skeletons calmly turn and return to the pool.
Several of them gather the larger chunks of skeleton as they go.
After a few minutes, there are only scraps of bone on the shore to indicate your battle took place.

>>2084928
Watching from the entrance as the skeletons return back beneath the water's surface, Devon finishes refastening the few bags and pouches he had abandoned during his short and aborted retreat.

Cautiously, he extends a foot across the threshold to determine if the enchantment had truly reset to passivity.

"Alright. It's clear we won't be fighting past that entire horde with just the three of us. The key should likely be in disabling the ward about the door, which the skeletons are tied to."

Turning back to his allies, he asks: "Sir Guldryn, you had a decent look at the runes. Did you notice any-

"Wait - your sword. The liquid ate through /that/? Will you still be able to fight if the need arises again?"

>>2085194
"Clearly, something happened when he shoved that skeleton into the door, right? For all we know it might have been unlocked."

>>2084928

Ava clicked her tongue dissaprovingly as she walked toward the band of valiant heroes.
"Honestly, you should have ran as soon as those dreadful abominations removed themselves from the water. The dead always have trouble remaining where they belong. I will see if I can remind them of their place."
Smiling to herself, as she was quite proud of her impromptu speech, Ava pulled her holy symbol from her thin white robes and began mumbling a short prayer. Walking forward and across the already determined line of aggression, she pointed her symbol, a statuette of a dragon breathing fire, toward the water.

>>2084928
>>2085659

By the way, as some quests use dice rolls to determine the effectiveness of attacks, I guess it's proper to ask. OP, do you prefer to use or not use that technique?

Sorry for my absence.
I should be able to reply rather quickly form here on out.

>>2085723
As I designed the doors to be able to be overcome without regard to level, I had not thought of implementing a roll system and had been handling the encounters narratively.
As in, when Sir Guldyn chose to attack the skeletons, it was assumed that a Capable Adventurer would be able to cleave.
If you wish to cast a spell you feel your character would be able cast, then you can cast it with no random chance of failure.
The idea being that the skeletons are intended as obstacle and threat of a countless horde attacking, rather than an actual force intended to be fought.

That said, bringing in a cleric experienced with undead to eradicate them is a valid method to attempt to get past the door.
If you're going to attempt to turn them or attack them, I suppose I should actually count them...

>>2085659
As you approach the wretched and befowled water, your connection with your dragon god helps you sense the depth of the undead taint before you.
At first, the horde seems countless, but your senses swim and finally settle on a number.

Apparently, there are just over two thousand skeletons submerged in the murky depths of the water.

>>2086089

Ava blinked a few times, this number being far over what she had initially estimated. However, she already had a healing spell set up and ready. She was well versed in this one, which could effortlessly destroy the average everyday zombie, or heal a recently broken arm to better condition than before. She made a few adjustments, however, and hoped that the last minute modifications would actually work.

Finishing her prayer, Ava thrust her holy catalyst forward with a righteous shout, as if she were thrusting a rapier deep into the ribcage of a poorly armored adversary. The stattuete writhed and warped as the dragon turned it's open mouth toward the water and let loose an outstanding beam of red light. The temperature of the room rose a few degrees, and heat waves exploded outward from the beam.

A shockwave echoed throughout the room as the molecules of air cracked into plasma for the few seconds that her spell lasted.

Rolled 68, 48, 44, 58, 100, 54, 8, 44, 7, 68, 59, 34, 1, 6, 68, 48, 25, 55, 32, 25, 62, 5, 92, 67, 100 + 200 = 1378 (25d100 + 200)

>>2086171
The average skeleton is vulnerable to fire, so wielding fire when facing one only makes sense.
Then too, if one were to face a swarm of thousands, wielding concentrated divine dragon fire only makes sense.

Your powerful spell devastated the force of the skeletons and filled the cavern with an unpleasant aroma of scorched rot.
A few straggling skeletons crawl forward, having been protected by the sheer number of undead between them and your spell.

Decided to roll to see how many skeletons would have been destroyed had I rolled for it.

>>2086238

Ava stepped back, replacing her holy relic in its safe little button-up pocket.

"There. That is much better, I do hope all of you can take care of the rest."

In the meantime, Ava sat down behind the line of safety and took a few scrolls from her bag. Though becoming a cleric required her to study the arcane and all things god-related, it didn't hurt to brush up on her memory of runes. It was something she always struggled at. Most importantly, however, she didn't recognise the runes on the door from the quick glance she managed to get.

The rest of the items in her enchanted bag, which could hold much more than outwardly obvious, were the usual adventuring provisions; a flint, food and water, a worn bedroll, a small amount of gold coins, some rope, parts to set up a tent, and an entire library of various religious texts and arcane books. Most too esoteric and ridiculously focused to be of much use anywhere except for providing tinder that would burn with brightly colored flames of crimson.

>>2086238
"Leave the rest to me."

Edg uses Nipponomancy to make himself resist status, he has dealt with the Japanese Cold before, much worse than toxic.

Edg then uses Nipponomancy to construct two bone katanas from fallen skeletons and rushes in to slaughter the skellies.

>>2086238
>>2086272
"We'll have had them in no time at all, my dear," exclaims Bill as he turns on his Ghostbusters Power Pak™, "I don't suppose you would have a mirror in there, would you? I have an idea on how we can turn these bonebags into, well, fried bonebags!"
Bill continues preparing himself for the oncomig assault, ready to spring into action whenever the waves of undead crash into the shore.

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Against the rising onslaught of Capable Adventurers, the remaining skeletons are eventually dispatched, ending the threat from beneath the pool.

>>2086357
Edg uses moon runology to see what the runes say.

>>2086357
"Well, we seem to have sent those buggers back to where they belong, didn't we? I'll let you two go on ahead, I need to take care of a few things elsewhere. See you next time, as they say!"
Bill opens a man sized blue portal with his Ghostbusting™ gear and steps inside before the portal closes behind him with a loud pop.

I really like this quest idea and this character, but unfortunately I need to go to bed. I'll just portal back in when it looks like I'm needed and I'm actually awake. Good job so far!

>>2086272
>Though becoming a cleric required her to study the arcane and all things god-related, it didn't hurt to brush up on her memory of runes. It was something she always struggled at. Most importantly, however, she didn't recognise the runes on the door from the quick glance she managed to get
>>2086361
>Edg uses moon runology to see what the runes say.

You are eventually able to discern, from a safe distance, that the outer circle runes must be dispelled first, that will prevent alerting nearby "undead guardians".
Then you can safely dispell the layers of locking and protection spells on the door.
Now that the runes have been deciphered, it would be short work for one skilled in magery, or one in possession of a Wand of Dispel Magic.

>>2086366
Thanks, I'm glad you like it.
It's been fun running a quest like this.
I might try the format again with a more open-ended idea.
This one ends one way: with three opened doors.

>>2086387
And so, you manage to successfully dispelled the magic runes, wards, and locks upon the door.
Inside you find yet another myconid lackey who informs you that the villainous mage is in another castle.

Up next: the REAL front door.

>>2085257
"Perhaps, but I'd rather not risk inciting the-"

>>2085659
>>2086238
>>2086387

>>2086580
"...Well. I suppose that takes care of that."


What was the intended solution?

I assume the intention was that we figure out a way to dispel the ward around the door without attracting the implacable-but-ultimately-avoidable skeleton horde, rather than brute-forcing our way through; and that (like the first puzzle) all the necessary components for a non-specialized character to solve this puzzle are contained within the scenario, if only the player can figure out how to use them - either by trial and error or by applying their character's skill set.

My working guess was that we could have used the acid from the pool to damage the sigils or the door's hinges, and so either disable the ward or remove the door entirely.

>>2086663

You pretty much nailed it.
Without the runes, the door is not that special.
The idea was that, usually, triggering the skeletons gets you dragged down into the water and joining them.
A simple door with an alarm that triggers death.
That long ass bridge is a far way to go to escape.
I probably should have had the other two get killed to really sell it, but went soft for some reason.

Next door in a moment!

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Third Scenario:

This third door was created to be the actual entrance to the Villainous Mage's tower, used for him to enter his home, receive guests, and defend against would-be intruders.


You enter the front door of the Tower and step into a grand hall.
Four pillars stand flanking the path towards a large double door in the back of the tiled hall.
On either side of each pillar stands a simple clay sculpture of a robed figure, the sculpture is too simple to make out any recognizable features.
There are two very large suits of armor standing on the left and right walls.
There are three doors on the back wall: a simple wooden door on the left and right, with a central door that is bolted closed with four seals and marked with four symbols.
Upon the walls are some tapestries and a bear fur with a singed rear left paw.
Upon each pillar is one of the symbols marked upon the door.

What do you do?

>>2086727
Devon gazes about the hall, paying particular consideration to the symbols atop the pillars and their associated meanings.

This entrance hall, he reasons, must have some passive state so as to receive guests - meaning intruders like them ought to be safe as long as that state isn't deactivated. So thinking, he testingly walks up until just before the first row of pillars, examining the sculptures in closer detail.

To be clear, when you say "There are two very large suits of armor standing on the left and right walls", you mean that there are two on each wall (as in the image) - meaning four in total, right?

And the clay sculptures total to eight?

Out of nowhere compare a sorcerer unseen and unheared
It seems that want to help ya
But strangely all the armor(that seamed pretty valiable)
Disapeared

*valuable

>>2086727
Mereth strode further into the hall and ambled over towards the wooden door on the left. Assuming the central door was the true entrance to the wizard's inner sanctum, she was curious what lay behind the two less glamorous doors. She kept a wary on the suit of armor nearest her. There was always a chance they could become animated and attack.

>>2086787
>Out of nowhere, comes a sorcerer, unseen and unheared
>It seems that they want to help you
>But strangely all the armor(that seamed pretty valuable)
>Disapeared
Unfortunately, the undetected wizard's spell failed as the magical energies directed at the 4 armors are deflected by 4 magical barriers.

>>2086771
Four Armor & Eight Statues, right.

>So thinking, Devon testingly walks up until just before the first row of pillars, examining the sculptures in closer detail.

The only interesting thing about the sculptures is that they appear to be made of realtively fragile ceramics. You wonder how they managed to be transported here they look so fragile-
But as you step onto the tile floor to look closer, all four suits of armor begin to animate, lifting their swords as they approach you menacingly.

>>2086854
Mereth strode further into the hall and ambled over towards the wooden door on the left... She kept a wary on the suit of armor nearest her. There was always a chance they could become animated and attack...

As you step onto the tile floor, all four suits of armor begin to animate, lifting their swords as they approach you menacingly. Your caution assures that you have full initiative.

>>2087165
>But as you step onto the tile floor to look closer, all four suits of armor begin to animate, lifting their swords as they approach you menacingly.

Reflexively glancing down, Devon quickly withdraws his foot and steps backwards out of the hall, inwardly wondering if the same thing would work twice.

Do we know what the symbols mean? Bottom left is clearly a snowflake, and top right looks like fire, but I'm not sure what exactly the other two are supposed to depict.

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>>2087165

>Be Thugthug
>Enter room with small men
>See metal men
>If metal men keep do walk Thugthug swing clubclub

>>2087165
A blue portal opens on the ceiling of the room, and Bill Murray's upper body pops out, seeming not to care about being on the ceiling. His newly acquired top hat seems to disregard physics, too.
"Hello again chums! I see we've gotten ourselves into a right pickle, haven't we? I wonder if I have something for this. Hrrrmm."
Bill dips back into the portal again before pulling out a perfectly ordinary set of golf clubs. He ponders for a moment, selects a 9 iron, reaches down and takes a swing at the knights' helmets, hoping to score a hit.
"Stand clear chums! Fore!"

>>2087261
The ones I'm confident about are Ice, Fire, and Lightning (top left). Maybe the last one is Earth, Radiation, Poison, or some magical symbol?

>>2087165
Mereth's eyes narrowed as the suits of armor began to advance. She moved herself to be along the central axis of the room, an equal distance from the two nearest armors. She didn't step off the tile yet, waiting to see what they would do and preparing to leap backwards to safety as Devon did should they get too close for comfort.

>>2087261
>Reflexively glancing down, Devon quickly withdraws his foot and steps backwards out of the hall, inwardly wondering if the same thing would work twice.
As you step back out, the suits of armor return to their original positions.
(Or at least they would if you were the only one who stepped forward.)

Using your Knowledge(Symbols), you determine the symbols are either obscurely arcane or of the villain's devising.

>>2087277
>>If metal men keep do walk Thugthug swing clubclub
Metal men keep do walk.
Thugthug swing clubclub.
Clubclub bounce off AirWall.

>>2087305
>He ponders for a moment, selects a 9 iron, reaches down and takes a swing at the knights' helmets, hoping to score a hit.
>"Stand clear chums! Fore!"
Regrettably, the well fashioned club really ounds off an unseen wall of force in a field around the suit of armor, a "force field", as it were.

>>2087327
>Mereth's eyes narrowed as the suits of armor began to advance. She moved herself to be along the central axis of the room, an equal distance from the two nearest armors. She didn't step off the tile yet, waiting to see what they would do and preparing to leap backwards to safety as Devon did should they get too close for comfort.
The suits of armor slowly advance towards those they are closest to.
The two on the left favor you, the two on the right favor Thugthug, Devon and Bill seem to be ignored.
They move with slow, loud, and deliberate clanking steps.

>>2087519
"Well, I definitely don't have anything to get through that..." Mereth muttered aggravatedly as she saw even Thugthug's ridiculous strength was having no effect on the armors.

"How's about we try those instead?"

Mereth stepped out of the offending area as Devon had earlier and readied her bow. Rather than aming at the armors she took aim at one of the fragile sculptures and let loose an arrow to see what effect it would have.

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>Clubclub no work
>Fuck
>Thugthug go walk to where small man stand
>Thugthug is sad sad

>>2087519
>>2087570
>>2087627
Glancing between the pairs of armors as his allies retreat, Devon moves into the room, keeping an even distance from all the suits of armor as he lures them to cluster at the center of the room.

As he steps forward, he checks the alchemical vials on his belt and throws one of them - a harmless bomb that simply coats the target in a sticky, colored ink on impact - at one of the suits of armor.

>>2087305
"Bill," he asks, "have you any spell or means of conjuring forth a swarm of small beasts? Some figurative bag of rats?"

>>2087570
>>2087627
As ThugThug and Mereth step off the tile floor, the suits of armor return to their original positions.
They continue to ignore Bill, and somehow, impossibly, seem to ignore his top hat as well.

Rather than aiming at the armors Mereth took aim at one of the fragile sculptures and let loose an arrow to see what effect it would have.
Choosing the sculpture closest to the entrance on the right side of the pillars, her arrows strikes true!
The fragile form shatters, revealing underneath the figure of a person.
It's the villain!

Wait- After a second look you realize it is not the mage, but a similacrum.
The soulless creation is standing motionless holding a strange wand with a blank stare in its eyes.

>>2087672
>Devon moves into the room, keeping an even distance from all the suits of armor as he lures them to cluster at the center of the room.
>As he steps forward, he checks the alchemical vials on his belt and throws one of them - a harmless bomb that simply coats the target in a sticky, colored ink on impact - at one of the suits of armor.
The harmless, low impact projectile strikes, marking the suit.

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>>2087822

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>Bad man hold fancy magic stick
>We should look
>"Me hold off Metal man while small people look at stick."

>>2087865
To be clear, it fully passed through the force field and hit the suit of armor itself?

Disregarding the simulacrum for the moment in favor of more immediate concerns, Devon now circle around the now-clustered suits in order to group them together even more tightly, before beginning to lure them to one side of the room.

>>2087865
>>2087873
"Sounds like a plan to me. I'll go poke at the magic man." Mereth agreed with Thugthug. She proceded to skirt around the group of knights, hoping they remained focused on Devon. She held her long bow at one end reached it out towards the apparition of the mage, poking him with the other.

>>2087886
It fully passed through the force field and hit the suit of armor itself.

>>2087873
ThugThug hold off metal man by front right pillar
Metal man sword strike hard
ThugThug strong, not mind
ThugThug shield get wetburn where metal man sword hit, like from animal stomach juice.

>>2087914
The suits or armor remain focused on Devon and ThugThug.
Mereth held her long bow at one end reached it out towards the simalacrum of the mage, poking him with the other.
The harmless, low impact prod proves that the simalacrum is solid, but slight magical spark was produced upon the impact.

>>2088006
Watching the Thugthug's movements, Devon positions himself such that the suits of armor are always an equal distance from himself and the ogre, observing their reactions.

"These things should not be giving us so much trouble," he grouses as he uses the time bought to rummage through his supplies.

>>2087914
"Bear in mind the seven other statues!"

>>2088006

>>2088036
"One thing at a time!" Mereth yelled back. She paused from her poking long enough to draw and loose another arrow at one of the sculptures beneath a neighboring pillar.

That done, she changed her grip on her bow and yanked downwards, hooking the wand held in the wizards hand between the wood and bowstring. She was trying to yank it out without directly touching him.

>>2088036
>>2088070
>Thugthug think small people should solve smart puzzle faster.
>Thugthug no like metal men

>>2088070
>She paused from her poking long enough to draw and loose another arrow at one of the sculptures beneath a neighboring pillar.
This time choosing a statue on the back, left, on the inside of the pillar, her arrow flies true and the hard, firm arrow bounced of the brittle statue.
It was not deflected by a field, but rather it was like all of the damage from the arrow was completely ignored.
Almost as if it had perfect resistance to that form of damage.

>That done, she changed her grip on her bow and yanked downwards, hooking the wand held in the wizards hand between the wood and bowstring. She was trying to yank it out without directly touching him.
It would not budge, and when she jerked harder, a spark of energy jumped from the simalacrum to the pillar it stood next to.

Just to be clear, the statue on the right of the pillar with the lightning bolt shaped "X" on it was resistant and the simalacrum is on the right of the pillar with the other strange symbol. I can't sketch in the post while phoneposting.

>>2088151
ThugThug should be proud
Not only ThugThug fight metal man, ThugThug also do more to solve funny symbol than small men
Does this make ThugThug cryptologist?

>>2088336
"Oh for the love of...!" Mereth snarled in frustration, her tail sticking up indignantly as both of her efforts proved fruitless. She backed away from the simalacrum for a moment and positioned herself to get an angle on the sculpture on the opposite side of the pillar without placing her comrades or the implacable metal men in her way. She fired upon it, hoping for better results. Her supply of arrows was dwindling, but would last if she was sparing.

"Now you!" She exclaimed, pointing at the simalacrum accusatorily. "Let... go... of the damn... wand!" she demanded through gritted teeth, now actively trying to pull it out with her hands. She hoped her gloves would be enough to protect her hands from the sparks that seemed to fly off whenever it was touched.

>>2088036
"Alright, I've- Whoa! Alright, now I... gods damn it, I've lost track again."

His attention still split between dodging the suits' blows; sifting through antivenoms, Alchemist's Fires and other concoctions; and puzzling out a solution to their predicament, Devon decides to expedite the experimentation process by luring the suits of armor over to one of the pillars and baiting one of their swings into hitting a sculpture.

>>2088513
>She backed away from the simalacrum for a moment and positioned herself to get an angle on the sculpture on the opposite side of the pillar as the one she had just fired on.
Without placing her comrades or the implacable metal men in her way, she fired upon it.
She got better results.
This statue, the one to the left of the pillar marked with the strange "X", shattered and revealed another simalacrum, exactly like the one before her.

Regarding that...
>"Let... go... of the damn... wand!" she demanded through gritted teeth, now actively trying to pull it out with her hands.
Sparks shot up from between her fingers and it felt like trying to get a sunbaked troll to loosen its grip.
Gritting through the pain of the sparks shooting up through her gloves and into the pillar, she felt her arms go numb as the painful magics shook through her.
Summoning her will, she wrenched with all her might and, her feet slipping under her, she fell, crashing on the tile floor.
Ruefully, she looked up at the thrice-blasted simalacrum, taunting her by holding its hands out brandishing... nothing?
She blinked.
She looked down at her hands.
Tightly gripped in her numb hands, in smoldering gloves, was that strange wand.

ThugThug was just glad metal man with wetburn sword got tired and stop fighting.

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>>2088579
>Devon decides to expedite the experimentation process by luring the suits of armor over to one of the pillars and baiting one of their swings into hitting a sculpture.
Arbitrarily selecting the "snowflake" pillar, Devon lures a suit into striking the interior statue, to the right of the pillar.
The suit slashes wide and Devon ducks.
The sword strikes the brittle statue hard, leaving a line fire streaking across it's surface, undamaged.
Devon lures the next suit over, jumping out if the way of its blade as it slashes and lightning arcs off the statue harmlessly.
The third active statue, now that ThugThug's has taken a break, swung hard, its blade barely missing Devon, and slices through the statue, leaving frost on the chunks as they fall and break apart.
Devon hardly has time to react as ThugThug helps him keeps the three suits engaged.

>>2088603
The portal on the ceiling closed, and Bill (now adorned in a Fez and covered in sand) calmly stepped out from behind one of the tapestries and walked over to join the sizzling catgirl.
"Please pardon me and my rather rude exit, lady and gentlemen, I̢ ̢̛h̶̴a̷̧d ́͘t̕ò go̵̡ ̸̢͠ǵ̵įv͡e̵̶͘ ̢̡t̨h͡͡e̛͢ ͜Ma̧̡r͠k ̴̀T̵w̶̨aiń͘ ͜A̷̧w̧͟͠ar̨̧͝d ͘t̶̴́o ́͝D̕͢͞á̷̛v̴id̡̕͢ ̶͢L̨e̷̢t̀t͟e͘ŕm̴͘a͘ǹ͘."
He continued, "As for the puzzle at hand, I think I have a thought. Each statue might be resistant to one of the types of damage that are depicted on the door over there. Not to act like a Deus ex Spacetime Continuum Portal, but I think I have just the thing."
Bill had his Ghostbusters™ gear on, but instead of a giant laser beam it had a small flame on the end of it, almost like a scented candle.
"Stand back love, if I am right about this, I have absolutely no idea what it means."
A large blast of flames came from the end of the cannon pointing directly at the statue Mereth's Arrow bounced off of. Bill kept the heat on, humming quietly to himself for about ten seconds or so. At the end of it all, the room smelled of... lavender.

>>2088628
Oh shit I guess I was right kind of

>>2088633
Almost

>>2088629 #
>A large blast of flames came from the end of the cannon pointing directly at the statue Mereth's Arrow bounced off of. Bill kept the heat on, humming quietly to himself for about ten seconds or so.
The statue by the pillar with the lightning "X" stood unharmed under the blast of flames.
At the end of it all, the room smelled of... lavender.

>>2088629
>>2088671
"Aim for the other one," Devon suggests, "and I'll lure the lightning-wielding one over to this one." So saying, he proceeds to bait the appropriate armor over to repeat the process.

>>2088628
Incidentally, was the simulacrum I assume to be hidden within the statue destroyed, or is it still intact?

>>2088690
The shattered statue shows no sign of a simalacrum having been inside.
It appears to have been hollow and empty.

>>2088687
>I'll lure the lightning-wielding one over to this one." So saying, he proceeds to bait the appropriate armor over to repeat the process.
The slow, loud, clanking, but reliably violent armor does not disappoint.
One suit swings its blade, lightning arcing with the strike, and the hollow empty statue shattered.

>>2088603
Mereth's short brown hair and the fur on her tail was standing on end after she temporarily became a lightning rod. She grimaced and winced, a string of expletives and curses black enough to make a maiden blush flowed out of her mouth as she tried to distract herself from the excruciating pain coming from her smoking hands. With effort, she forced herself to stand up. The smell of her own charred flesh assaulted her sensitive nose, along with the metalic tang of blood which she realized was seeping out of her gloves and dripping onto the floor.

The wand was still tightly gasped in one hand, partly because she couldn't actually control her hand well enough to open or close it anymore.

"Could use a healing spell, if there's any to spare," she announced to the party.

>>2088629

Heeding the Englishman's advice, Mereth stepped back out of his way. She began toying with the wand, pointing it at the doors and pillars to see if anything happened.

>>2088702
>>2088713
The shattered statue shows no sign of a simalacrum having been inside.
(Was that the inner statue or the outer statue?)

Regardless, Devon steps around the pillar and lures yet another strike into the opposing sculpture.

From his alchemical supplies, he also draws out a flask of Alchemist's Ice and throws it at the statue on the opposite side of the pillar from the one destroyed by the frost-bladed statue.

I do that merely to speed up the process; it seems this particular part of the puzzle is now mainly a matter of completing the necessary steps unless there's some twist I'm not expecting.

>>2088714
>Mereth began toying with the wand, pointing it at the doors and pillars to see if anything happened.
Nothing happened to the doors or pillars as she gestured to them with the wand.

Also, nothing happened to the doors or pillars as the inactive suit of armor gestured to them with its sword in exact same way at the same time.

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>>2088733
The inner shattered statue shows no sign of a simalacrum having been inside.
>Devon steps around the pillar and lures yet another strike into the opposing sculpture.
The lightning blade slices through the statue and the simalacrum inside.
Magical energies surged from within and flowed into the pillar.

>From his alchemical supplies, he also draws out a flask of Alchemist's Ice and throws it at the statue on the opposite side of the pillar from the one destroyed by the frost-bladed statue.
Ice crystalized over the statue and it, and the simalacrum inside, cracked and crumbled.
Magical energies surged from within and flowed into the pillar.

>>2088736
"Wha- Wait..." Mereth muttered as she suddenly realized that, contrary to what she'd believed, her flailing around with the wand was actually doing something. She experimented with it, making the armor wave back at her. How much more could she control it, she wondered? She tried ordering it, focusing on her command.


"Alright, metal-man, defend my allies from the other armors."

Failing that, she would try to direct it manually, though she was afraid her mangled hands would make that a bit too clumsy.

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>>2088629
>>2088687
>"Aim for the other one," Devon suggests, "
Bill baked the other two statues and the pillar, pouring on the flames.

Two of the suits, the ones with lightning and frost blades, clattered and fell apart as the simalacrums were destroyed.

As Bill burned, first the inner statue shattered, the outer statue shattered, then the simalacrum burned to ash and the flame sword suit of armor clattered to the ground.
Magical energies surged from within and flowed into the pillar.
Then, as Bill kept the fire burning in triumph, pillar cracked.

>>2088772
"Now we're cooking with gas, as they say."
Bill looks around and sees what can happen with the other pillars, but not before torching the fire knight.

>>2088761
>"Alright, metal-man, defend my allies from the other armors."

Clunking awkwardly, the suit approached the other suits, only to have them clatter at its feet.
It stood guard, ready to protect the others from the collapsed armor.
(Your control feels solid, but clumsy and awkward, like when first learning guide a horse with your knees.)

>>2088775
Turning from burning the cracking pillar, Bill torched the fire suit of armor, then burned the other pillars.

Neither the suit, nor the other pillars reacted to the flames.

>>2088772
Seeing the immediate threat resolved, Devon moves to search the remains of the shattered simulacra for the wands that should hopefully still be there.

>>2088761
"Oh, and here," Devon says, tossing a jar of ointment to Mereth. "I'm no cleric, but this healing salve should help."

>>2088793
Although a couple were frosted or charred, Devon was able to find all three wands.
No matter of manipulating them seemed to get the collapsed armor to react.

The ointment was quite soothing.

>>2088812
"Plan B, then," Devon decides, tossing the wands aside in favor of retrieving and looking over the suits' swords. With any luck, they would remain enchanted past the respective simulacrum's destruction.

With that thought in mind, he takes a run-up and spears the frost armor's blade into the ice-marked pillar.

>>2088827
Sensing a pattern, Bill resumes going after the fire pillar

Just to be clear, four pillars remain, although the flame pillar was cracked, with only the front right pillar having a statue to the left of it and a motionless simalacrum to the right, and one suit of armor remains as well.

>>2088827
(Incidentally, I doubt a stereotypical rogue would be strong enough to fully impale the sword into a pillar even with their weight behind it, but if I'm on the right track I'll probably ask Thugthug or Mereth and her wand-controlled armor to do it instead, so rule it however you wish.)

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>>2088827
>With that thought in mind, he takes a run-up and spears the frost armor's blade into the ice-marked pillar.
>>2088832
>Sensing a pattern, Bill resumes going after the fire pillar

Both pillars crack and shatter under the might of your attack.
As the pillar is destroyed by your attack, the pieces of the statues near it shatter into dust and the remains of the simulacrum mage and the suit of armor collapse into piles of sand.
This includes the frost blade in Devon's hands.
Upon each of the pillar’s destruction, one of the bolted seals on the large door in the center if the back wall snaps loudly and dissolves.

>>2088840
(100% invulnerable to most damage, 100% vulnerable to the right kind. Urkel could do it with the right tool)

>>2088840
...wand-controlled armor wielding all four weapons
Fuck.
I never thought of that possibility.
That's badass.

>>2088862
It crossed my mind, but it wasn't really feasible given the circumstances.

Bill takes out the golf clubs again, this time going for a nice wedge before going to town on the metal pillar.

>>2088850
Trusting his allies to deal with the pillar tied to Mereth's wand, Devon takes a swing at the remaining cross-marked pillar on the far left with the lightning-enchanted blade.

>>2088862
(Shame you have it such that the swords and armors shatter on pillar destruction, really.)

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>>2088850

>>2088871
>Devon takes a swing at the remaining cross-marked pillar on the far left with the lightning-enchanted blade.
The third pillar shattered and collapsed, dissolving the remains of the statues, simalacrum, and suit of armor.

>(Shame you have it such that the swords and armors shatter on pillar destruction, really.)
(Yeah, I'm sticking to the original notes. I forget why everything disolves, besides to show that the villain crafted all this out of nothing but sand.)

>>2088886
>The third pillar shattered and collapsed, dissolving the remains of the statues, simalacrum, and suit of armor.
Also, one more of the bolted seals on the large door in the center if the back wall snaps loudly and dissolves.

Quintus ocho?

(For the sake of wrapping up this segment before I have to leave:)

Devon plucks the sword from the remaining suit of armor's hands and stabs it into the last pillar.

From your description of its effects on Thugthug, I assume it to be acid damage, which confuses me as to how Mereth's arrow managed to affect the statue.

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>>2088902
The outer statues that housed the simalacrum were just statues, with the forcefield protecting the simalacrum inside, not the statue

>Devon plucks the sword from the remaining suit of armor's hands and stabs it into the last pillar.
The sword bounces off a forcefield.
With a little experimentation, Devon determines that the inner statue must be destroyed, then the simalacrum, then the pillar.
Upon the pillar being destroyed, Mereth feels a neutral energy attempt to merge with her, neither benevolent nor malevolent, and she must choose to accept it or deny it.
The pillar, statues, and simalacrum crumble to sand.
The final seal breaks upon the large wooden door.

And, yeah, pic related.

>>2088939
Seeing the room start to shake, Bill opens a portal in the ceiling above himself.
"Well, I guess I have to run right about now. I can fetch healing if any of you chaps need it. Tally Ho!" Bill's portal falls directly on top of him, saving himself from being crushed to death as he whisks himself away to god knows where (and when).

Good round as usual Dork. Night y'all.

>>2088939
"...well."

Devon breaks into a sprint for the exit the moment he notices the repercussions of the wizard's apparently-poor architectural design.


>the inner statue is shielded while the outer statue is just a fragile statue
I see what I was missing. I had just assumed all the statues to be identical and invulnerable to all but the correct type of damage, and that the inner statues - being hollow and having no prior indication of their significance (that I noticed, at least) - were just placed there as a ruse.

>>2088793
>"Oh, and here," Devon says, tossing a jar of ointment to Mereth. "I'm no cleric, but this healing salve should help."
"Thanks!" Mereth called back, managing to clumsily catch the jar with her left hand. She made a sound between a sigh of relief and a purr as she felt the ointment begin to work.

>>2088939
>Upon the pillar being destroyed, Mereth feels a neutral energy attempt to merge with her, neither benevolent nor malevolent, and she must choose to accept it or deny it.

Mereth flinched instinctively as she felt the strange sensation wash over her. She felt a niggling at the back of her mind, urging her to let it in. Despite herself, she was curious as to wha was happening and mentally she accepted what was happening, allowing the energy to enter.

>>2088939
"Oh typical! Why does every villain insist on building their lair to fall apart like a house of sticks?" Mereth shouted in a mixture of annoyance and alarm, hastening to the exit.

>>2088952
>Bill's portal falls directly on top of him, saving himself from being crushed to death as he whisks himself away to god knows where (and when).

>>2089092
>"Oh typical! Why does every villain insist on building their lair to fall apart like a house of sticks?" Mereth shouted in a mixture of annoyance and alarm, hastening to the exit.

>>2089054
>Devon breaks into a sprint for the exit the moment he notices the repercussions of the wizard's apparently-poor architectural design.
At top speed, Devon barely makes it out of tower before the ceiling crashes down.
A thick cloud of dust blasts from behind, knocking him off his feet.
Brushing himself off, he looks around and sees that he is alone.
Concerned, he cautiously entered the room.
Looking up, he sees an intact ceiling and that what fell were large stone tiles that were apparently held up by the pillars and, by destroying the pillars, they had all fallen at once.
The floor of the room is littered with shattered stone tile.
In the center of the room is a massively large chunk of stone tile, propped up on something.
It begins to shift and fall away as the suit of armor stands, having finished shielding Mereth from the falling debris. She smiles a hello, unharmed.

Elsewhere, a shield pushes several chunks aside and a battered ogre emerges.
"Thugthug hate stupid tower."

Only a few small stone chunks block the three doors on the back wall.

>>2089175
"That could have been so much worse," Mereth noted dryly as she surveyed the debris and her relatively unscathed companions. She turned to her armored protector, smiling and giving it an appreciative pat on the back.

"Lets get these rocks moved, shall we?" Mereth directed, pointing the armor towards the debris obstructing the doors.

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>Thugthug brain back to do work
>Stone no hurt Thugthug, he strong
>Thugthug is big, he move rock for small people

>>2089175
Surveying the newly-redecorated room, Devon pays especial mind to the large chunks of tiles, cautious that they contain some hidden second stage to this trap.

When they appear to simply be ordinary stone tiles, he moves forward to help his allies shift the-

A double-take. Pointing, he asks: "We destroyed all the simulacra. Why is that suit of armor still moving?"

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>>2089234
>"Lets get these rocks moved, shall we?" Mereth directed, pointing the armor towards the debris obstructing the doors.

>>2089382
>Thugthug, he strong
>Thugthug is big, he move rock for small people

Between the suit of armor and the ogre, the way is cleared quickly.

>>2089403
>Pointing, he asks: "We destroyed all the simulacra. Why is that suit of armor still moving?"
It was confusing.
Clearly the enchantment that powered suit had been attached to the simalacrum, which had in turn been attached to the pillars.
Somehow, the suit was now attached to some other power source. But what could it be?
Then he saw that Mereth, looking a bit weary, was still holding the wand.

>>2089455
Oops.
The seals should be destroyed in that crop.

I might narrate the ending if no one returns by tomorrow.

>>2090977
I've been a little busy this past day, I just didn't expect everyone else to vanish as well. I'd like to see what's behind those side doors, but I won't ask you to keep running for just one person if no one else comes back, especially if we're actually more or less done with the third puzzle.

Hopefully the others return, though.

Bump

>>2090977
I'm still around as well. Sorry for disappearing, was in the middle of travelling for the holiday.

>>2089455
>>2091913
(In case we're going to be continuing:)

Pushing aside suspicions about the remaining suit of armor, Devon suggests: "Mereth, you were able to discern a fair deal about the doors back in that first false tower - can you tell anything about the ones we have here?"

>>2091913
>>2092193
Examining the center double doors closely you determine that seals were indeed the only thing keeping the door locked.
What appeared at first to be a large key hole in the center of the doors, seems instead to be a secret latch for opening them.
The doors are enchanted but only for durability and to protect the area behind them from all forms of scrying.

Checking the doors, you hear nothing from behind any of them and the two wooden doors appear to be simple, well made doors, untrapped and unlocked.

>>2092304
"Let's have a look behind the two small ones before moving on to the main event..." Mereth suggested, pointing to the sealed door which most likely led to their quarry. Her voice was a bit strained as though she were fighting off fatigue

>>2092304
>>2092366
"I don't /see/ any traps, but seeing as you've got that suit of armor, could you have it open those side doors just in case?"

"And are you alright? You look quite exhausted - more than I would expect."

>>2092443
"It's fine... I have an idea what's causing the problem," Mereth replied, waving the wand to indicate it.

"I'll leave it behind, once we're out of here... Or someone else can take it..."

Having said her piece, Mereth directed the armor to open the back left door.

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>>2092366
>"Let's have a look behind the two small ones before moving on to the main event..." Mereth suggested

>>2092443
>"I don't /see/ any traps, but seeing as you've got that suit of armor, could you have it open those side doors just in case?"

Gesturing with the wand, Mereth has it carefully open the left door, the one she had been heading towards when this began.

It opens the left wooden door and steps aside so you can see the contents.
You find a simple storage room filled with cleaning supplies, a nook where someone had stashed some snacks, and a small locked chest.

Devon made short work of the simple lock and inside the chest you find four wands: A Firebolt wand, an Acid Arrow wand, a Ray of Frost wand, and a Lightning wand.
These might have aided those with neither magic of their own nor the insight to use the suits against the defenses themselves.
There is nothing else of worth in the closet.

The suit opens the right wooden door and you find a simple stone stairwell leading up to the next floor of the tower.

>>2092473
Now newly armed, Devon cautiously moves to climb the stairs, watchful for any traps that may lie in wait.

>>2092461
"If you need me to, I could hold onto it for a while, though it seems you've already grasped how to use it well."

>>2092473
>>2092528
>"If you need me to, I could hold onto it for a while, though it seems you've already grasped how to use it well."

Nodding, Mereth proffered the wand tp Devon.

"I don't mind. Interesting as it is, magic isn't my strong suit."

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>>2092681
>Mereth proffered the wand to Devon.
Upon taking the wand, Devon feels a neutral energy attempt to merge with him, neither benevolent nor malevolent, and he must choose to accept it or deny it.
Mereth feels a bit more vital and energetic than she did a moment ago.

>>2092528
>Devon cautiously moves to climb the stairs, watchful for any traps that may lie in wait.

You climb the stairwell, ensuring that it is untrapped an appears well trafficked.

Doubtlessly alerted by your lengthy battle with the clanking suits of armor as well as the loud crash from the falling tiles, the mage has left the tower.
This time, he has not left a myconid lackey.
He has had time to expend extensive necromantic magicks and has left his lieutenant behind, fully buffed and supported by powerful undead creations, to ambush your party.

Even if you survive this climactic battle, your prey has escaped you for now.

This is where I originally had planned to end it, but we could continue on with the fight if you all are interested.
The secret of the door, provided to guests, was to ignore everything and just take the right door, but everything was set up to intrigue and engage adventurers.

>>2092947
I'm content with ending things at that, unless any of the other players feel differently. Regardless of whether we continue or not, I'd like to thank you for running this, Dork. It was a fun little romp and I had a blast with it.

>>2092947

Sorry for the slow response.
I had connection issues where I was

>>2092961

Super glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for playing!

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Sure nobody wants to go back and check out those double doors?

>>2093115
Perhaps narrate to us what was behind it for completion's sake?

>>2093262
Mainly that post was just an excuse to use that gif.

Behind the double doors you find…
A solid wall. No magic, no trick, no secret. Just a wall.

Now the two doors from the first puzzle?
One had electrified caltrops that fall forward.
The second had poisonous water that falls forward.
Both combine into an electrified floor.

>>2093448
Welp. So in the end we solved the puzzle, but fell for the wizard's bait entirely.

Thanks for running!

>>2093473
You're welcome!

It was a lot of fun.