sg, I made these ones using Skeleton Key Games' random dungeon generator ~ Skeleton Key Games Dungeon Generator. I pulled them into Map Tools and added tokens made with Token Tools. I've got a huge library of maps from Dungeon magazine (DDI subscription), purchased map products and tiles, and links to sites like the Cartographer's Guild. With Map Tools you can just pull them in and drop tokens on easy. This game was my first to experiment with these tools and it worked super well.
Searching altar and anomaly: The altar is a six foot by two foot slab of a strange metal that while you've never seen, seems familiar. It is a greenish grey and cool to the touch. There is a complicated diagram/engraving on the top of the altar showing five symbols in a variety of embosed colours with lines connecting each of them. In the centre of the symbols is a complicated mechanism that contains a deep hole surrounded by grooves. The center piece is also connected to each of the symbols. Each symbol and the center mechanism are set in shallow impressions in the metal and the grooves connecting each of them are also inset.
The black rift hovers above the center mechanism and forms a 3 foot tall slash of pure blackness that is hardly visible head on, almost as if it is two dimensional. From the side it seems to be about 2 or 3 inches across. A strange smell eminates from it at once sugary sweet, acrid, and acidic.
ukingsken
rift (arcana 18): The black rift hovers above the center of the altar and forms a 3 foot tall slash of pure blackness that is hardly visible head on, almost as if it is two dimensional. From the side it seems to be about 2 or 3 inches across. A strange smell eminates from it at once sugary sweet, acrid, and acidic. From what Vashik can remember this might have something to do with rumors of a Far Realm beyond the mortal and immortal planes.
evokb
exits (perception 24): Checking the Eastern exit first, Rurdev discovers the first traces of non-alien presence in the cavern system. There are a couple of barrels on the lower area, but moving up the steep ramp he finds a higher platform and a crude sleeping chamber. There are a couple of pallets covered in straw and a heavy wool blanket. In addition there is a small chest and a few crates. A small firepit sits in the centre as well and the charcoal indicates somewhat recent use though it is cold by now.
To the south, the cave narrows considerably as it winds. A slightly fresh smell and the sound of water reaches his ears, before Rurdev turns the final corner to see a small rivulet of water running down the wall into a little stream that quickly exits the base of the wall through a natural fissure. The water appears clean though under these sewers you can't be too sure.
wd
keeping watch from on high: Riardon maintains a watch from above, keeping an eye on everyone as they split up amongst the exploded bodies of their otherworldly foes.
nebten
no action posted: Don't know if you were exploring the altar (see stonegod's sblock) or exploring other exits (see evoKBs sblock) or keeping watch (see wd's sblock) or something else, just let me know.
re: cons
Well I'm back and exhausted, but must keep this game moving forward. Con went well and I'm happy to say that we made some good sales. Wish it was a fun gaming con (oh so close to PaizoCon up here) but it was an anime con. My wife's business sells dolls online, so we were at the con hawking our wares. It was very successful but oh to be gaming...
After investigating, Rurdev returns. "S-Signs of life. Cultists probably. We'll n-n-need to look things over though. There are s-s-s-some chests and b-b-b-arrels to l-look through. " The shifter points to the slash of darkness. "W-W-What is it? C-C-Can w-we get rid of it?"
ooc: ah sorry I didn't mean that the small stream actually provided an exit. Simply a source of clean water. The hole at the base of the wall is too small for even a tiny creature to pass.
"Th-Th-This is the end of the r-r-road. I'll look o-o-over the sleeping area. Maybe y-y-you can shut that," Rurdev says pointing to the crack of shadow. The shifter walks back to the pallets, chests, and drums were. He examines each closely, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
Incarnation traces his finger around the edges of the altar. This seems familiar. Was not the description of the idol of a similar metal. He glances at the wizard and dwarf a moment. It is likely this holds the secret to that rift. Let us try to decode it.
OOC: Arcana check on it (and another to detect magic auras) to determine how it functions. Probably will need Dungeoneering, so thus the need for Dane.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
While it appears to be invisble from head on, seemingly two dimensional, from the sides the rift appears to be a flat slice of darkness perhaps 2-3 inches across. Vashik moves around to try and get a better look from behind the altar to tell if it would be safe to cross and is confronted by something even more bizarre. What had seemed to be a two dimensional rift hovering in the air looks more three dimensional from the back where the rift actually looks like a portal.
Through the portal around back he can see a wide viewing area about 3ft in diameter (though it that is not stable and often shifts). The landscape on the other side of the rift is one of twisting non-euclidean shapes reminiscent of tentacles, hard angles, and jelly. The baffling scents identified earlier are amplified from this perspective too and are joined by an odd keening sound that varies in pitch and volume.
The short answer would be, no it does not look safe to enter.
Riardon confirms Vashik's suspicions that the portal is tied to the rumors of a Far Realm beyond mortal comprehension.
Campsite:
The two barrels on the lower floor appear to have once contained fresh water. What is left in them smells strongly and is obviously spoiled given the presence of green algea floating along the top and an odd white powdery fungus growing up the insides of the barrels.
Upstairs the crates and barrels reveal much the same thing, spoiled food and drinking supplies. While the fire is cold as is the bedding, it does not appear to have been that long ago since someone used the site, contradicting the evidence that the food and water has long since spoiled.
The small chest turns out to be locked.
Altar:
Dane is unable to add much to Incarnation's knowledge of the mechanism beyond that it might rotate as the depression looks like a key hole.
Incarnation continues to examine the symbols making up the mechanism. Each of the five bowls holds a single symbol in a distinct color.
Starting from the top the symbol vaguely looks like a 4 and is yellow in color.
Clockwise around the altar then the second symbol looks somewhat like an accented cross in bright red.
The next looks like two wavy lines forming a river and is brownish in color.
The next looks like a ribbon folded into a b and is orange.
The last is an accented upside down T and is greyish.
Rurdev picks up the chest, judging it's weight. He then shakes it slightly seeing if any particular sound can be heard inside. He returns to the group, looking to the others. "Water and f-f-food, all sp-sp-spoiled. The bed and fire look like s-s-somebody's been here not t-t-too long ago. The chest is l-locked."
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