A question about portals

[MorionwenNightbreeze]

I'm writing up a campaign and in the beginning of it a group of red wizards and blightlords attack a sacred grove dedicated to Lurue that's located on the island of Stolys in the Archipelago of Altumbel. This is going to be the first scenario if the story but I'm having trouble figuring out a way for the red wizards and blightlords to actually get to the island.

I don't want them to arrive there by ship as the people on the island would notice them coming due to the fact that the abandoned wizard towers on the island have been re purposed as lighthouses. So what I was thinking is they arrive on the island by portal but would it have to be an already standing active portal for them to use or could one be created magically for them to arrive and leave through?

 

[Greenfield]

Okay, I guess the answer depends on what level these Red Wizards are supposed to be.

Teleport Circle is a fairly high level spell, requiring fairly high level casters (and 10,000 gp in material costs). It targets a specific destination and, once cast, creates a "portal" from one point on the plane to another. It's one way.

Gate creates a true inter dimensional "portal" that can go anywhere on a *different* plane of existence. Again, a high level spell, which presumes high level casters that may be inappropriate for the start of a campaign.

Consider a "plot device" portal, one that the Red Wizards had to find and activate,or one that only opens when the planets are in the right alignment.

You mentioned old wizards' towers that were repurposed as lighthouses. I'll presume that these are double purposed as watchtowers as well, from the way you described them.

Possible that there is an ancient transportation point in one of those towers?

Alternately, consider a "gift" to the leaders, a beautiful tapestry delivered by some merchant or diplomat. A Nystul's Magic Aura, cast just prior to delivery, could suppress the item's magic for a few days, to prevent detection. The second tapestry, an ancient item found by the Red Wizards, is in their stronghold. They don't need to be unassailably high level to use such an item, and for the PCs to shut it down all they need to do is reach it and set the thing on fire.

Beyond that, if you look in just about any source book regarding the Planes, they mention naturally occurring Portals on the Astral and Etherial planes.

So pick your poison and hang a plot on it.

 

[MorionwenNightbreeze]

The Red Wizard in question is a Wizard 6/Red Wizard 6/Disciple Of Asmodeus 6 so the Gate and Teleportation Circle spells are beyond his skill, and yes the wizards towers are also used as watchtowers. So your suggestion of the ancient transportation point in one of the towers or the idea of some sort of magical artifact or device seems to be the way to go with this.

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it you've helped me out a great deal.

 

[Dandu]

What's wrong with taking a submarine?