A Puzzle

[AuraSeer]

Assuming "my face the king" is not a typo, then I guess there is something important about the third alcove on the north side. That's the one the word "my" is facing.

What does detect magic say about the room? How about detect secret doors?

 

[Exquisite Dead Guy]

I've got it! It says "My hat of puzzles know no limit". I'm no good at puzzles so I'd personally fail most of them. Do you let the charatcers make an INT or some sort of knowledge check to figure these out if the players don't get them?

 

[LostSoul]

O H-E-R-O M-Y?

Alternatively, S-P-I-D-E-R C-L-I-M-B.

 

[Tuzenbach]

"Only the purest in heart"

So, we use the R and the E and the T, as these letters from "purest" are the only ones found in "heart".

"And commanding in merit"

Only the M and the I from the word "commanding" can be found in "merit".


At this point, we have the following:

R E T M I

Unfortunately, there isn't an "I" listed as one of the pillars. Plus, it would make more sense to start with the "E", not the "R".


In terms of the *supposed* typo: Dunno.


But here's my stab: E-R-T-M-Y-A & the 7th leap is the exit. Am I right? What'd I win?

 

[kolikeos]

those were the king's last words right? maybe he was really sick before he died and had terrible pain in the area of the heart? so just before he dies he says 'o heart! o, my heart!' because of the pain. if the my-may typo is intentional and means not to step on As then it will be 'o hert o my hert' (maybe the king had speech problems at his old age?) and just to be sure, step in each of the _seven_ alcoves on the way (sit there maybe?). purest of heart might suggest stepping only on the letters of the word heart, but that won't be easy as there is considerable space betwin the T of the first heart and the H of the second. the 7 in the text might indicate that you should only step on 7 of the pillers, so how about 'hero hat'? 7 letters but it includes an O and has a big jump from O to H.

i have no idea how to solve this... and me being someone who usually likes, and is good at, solving puzzles...

 

[Tuzenbach]

NOTE: Instead of "commanding in merit my face the king", think of it as letters from "commanding" in the words "merit my". There's something about the letters in "merit my" that relate to the letters in "commanding", but I haven't quite got it.

 

[Tuzenbach]

Here' my 2nd guess:

E-R-T, as these letters can be found in both "purest" and "heart", followed by

M-E-R-T, as these letters can be found in "merit".


Put them together and we get 7 letters: E-R-T-M-E-R-T


Here's my 3rd guess:

"The Ka of the King is immortal."

The Ka of the King is immortal
-H---A-OF--E-----------RT

So, H-A-O-F-E-R-T

 

[Quickleaf]

I'll take a stab: the fact that it says "my face the king" instead of "may face the king" is supposed to be a hint to avoid the letter "A" tiles in the progression.

Ack! Yes, that's a typo. But strangely, you've drawn a correct conclusion from it.

Seven sittings probably refers to the number of steps to be taken.

Correct.

Assuming "my face the king" is not a typo, then I guess there is something important about the third alcove on the north side. That's the one the word "my" is facing.

Apologies for the typo.

What does detect magic say about the room? How about detect secret doors?

Detect secret doors doesn't reveal any. Detect magic reveals strong illusory magic in the alcoves as well as conjuration (fire) magic on the pillars. There is a connection between the illusory magic in the alcoves and the pillars, but I'm not sure how/if detect magic would reveal that.

I've got it! It says "My hat of puzzles know no limit". I'm no good at puzzles so I'd personally fail most of them. Do you let the charatcers make an INT or some sort of knowledge check to figure these out if the players don't get them?

Heh. Yes I do. At any time a player can decide to make an Intelligence check (in this case DC 24) to solve the puzzle, though so doing forfeits trying to actually solve it as a player.

Alternatively, S-P-I-D-E-R C-L-I-M-B.

My players know me better than that. There's a reason why solving the puzzle is important beyond simply crossing the room - it will provide information for the next encounter.

"Only the purest in heart"

So, we use the R and the E and the T, as these letters from "purest" are the only ones found in "heart".

"And commanding in merit"

Only the M and the I from the word "commanding" can be found in "merit".


At this point, we have the following:

R E T M I

Unfortunately, there isn't an "I" listed as one of the pillars. Plus, it would make more sense to start with the "E", not the "R".

You are on the right track. Take out the "I" (since it's not an option) and you have: R, E, T, M

But here's my stab: E-R-T-M-Y-A & the 7th leap is the exit. Am I right? What'd I win?

You've won...death!

Upon stepping on the E, a ghostly illusion of a king appears in alcove 1. It speaks! "I am Lashizar, Son of Alcadizzar, third king of Antekh. This is my tomb. Tremble ye who approach me! I was born to lead these people and show them the light of the sun god Ra!"

Upon stepping on R, the same illusion appears in alcove 2. It speaks! "Know that I had two sons by Tukhana of Abydos, and one fated illegitimate son – my Userhet. Ever was my wife jealous of my son by my consort Iaret."

Upon stepping on T, the same illusion appears in alcove 3. It speaks! "The conflict with the Tribe of Kaffir began with my exile of my own son Userhet; I was told by the seer Ajani he would bring ruin to the city should he step foot within the walls of Antekh. My father’s heart is breaking!"

Upon stepping on M, the same illusion appears in alcove 4. It speaks! "My father’s heart is breaking! My son’s life has paid the forfeit of my fear and malice making! He has no face! Oh! Oh!"

Upon stepping on Y...a burst of flame engulfs you -- 6d8 fire damage, DC 20 Reflex avoids but you fall into pit, DC 30 Reflex avoids entirely and you jump to a nearby pillar (M or H in this case getting hit by flame again! ); falling into the pit is bad news...40 ft fall, pit spikes, and attacked by centipede swarm next round).

those were the king's last words right? maybe he was really sick before he died and had terrible pain in the area of the heart? so just before he dies he says 'o heart! o, my heart!' because of the pain.

Yes, the king's last words. Uh, I swear it's more dramatic than "my heart!" and he keeled over dead.

NOTE: Instead of "commanding in merit my face the king", think of it as letters from "commanding" in the words "merit my". There's something about the letters in "merit my" that relate to the letters in "commanding", but I haven't quite got it.

I'm correcting my typo. "my" should be "may". You were very close!

 

[Sejs]

Hero My Hat?

Eat my hat.

Obviously only those who can eat the dead king's crown are worthy.

 

[Tuzenbach]

I'll take a stab: the fact that it says "my face the king" instead of "may face the king" is supposed to be a hint to avoid the letter "A" tiles in the progression.

Johnathan

If this holds true, I'll amend my 3rd guess to: H-E-O-F-E-R-T