Goober4473
Explorer
I've started a new campaign, running The Great Modron March updated to 5e, and while the adventure (and some others I'm interspersing in-between) includes various portals and portal keys, I think it'd be fun to get together a list of interesting portals and keys that I can just throw in as needed.
So, give me your best portal/key ideas! I'll get it started.
1. The Despondent Well. This old, dried up well can be found in the center of a graveyard. A few feet down is a portal whose key is a distinct feeling of ennui.
2. The Offended Gateway. This large iron archway, carved with the motif of many large tongues, sports a heavy, locked gate. The portal opens on the "inside" of the gate, so the gate must also be physically opened before entering the portal from the outside of the building the archway is attached to. The archway is, however, intelligent and mobile, using the statistics of an iron golem. Without proper authorization or key (physical key, that is), it will not open the gate. The key to the portal behind the gate is a rude gesture, but the gate is very easily offended, and becomes enraged and attacks with large metal tongues that animate from its frame if shown a rude gesture (using its Slam attack). Canny cutters might lure it out of its position as a doorway, allowing them to move around to its back where the portal opens, or they might defeat it in battle, at which point the physical gate opens. Or, if they convince it to open, they might run through before it has time to react to their rudeness.
So, give me your best portal/key ideas! I'll get it started.
1. The Despondent Well. This old, dried up well can be found in the center of a graveyard. A few feet down is a portal whose key is a distinct feeling of ennui.
2. The Offended Gateway. This large iron archway, carved with the motif of many large tongues, sports a heavy, locked gate. The portal opens on the "inside" of the gate, so the gate must also be physically opened before entering the portal from the outside of the building the archway is attached to. The archway is, however, intelligent and mobile, using the statistics of an iron golem. Without proper authorization or key (physical key, that is), it will not open the gate. The key to the portal behind the gate is a rude gesture, but the gate is very easily offended, and becomes enraged and attacks with large metal tongues that animate from its frame if shown a rude gesture (using its Slam attack). Canny cutters might lure it out of its position as a doorway, allowing them to move around to its back where the portal opens, or they might defeat it in battle, at which point the physical gate opens. Or, if they convince it to open, they might run through before it has time to react to their rudeness.
Last edited: