Gorgoldand's Gauntlet Expanded

[Ry]

In the past, for the occasionally-maligned minesweeper puzzle, I didn't have Snooky tell the players anything. I just had them hear a chime (or two chimes, or a chord of 3 chimes, or a chord of 4 chimes, etc.) That way part of the puzzle was guessing what the chimes represented, and then the trial-and-error of the theories.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

In the past, for the occasionally-maligned minesweeper puzzle, I didn't have Snooky tell the players anything. I just had them hear a chime (or two chimes, or a chord of 3 chimes, or a chord of 4 chimes, etc.) That way part of the puzzle was guessing what the chimes represented, and then the trial-and-error of the theories.

That sounds like a better way of doing that particular puzzle. Yoink!

Olaf the Stout

 

[Richards]

Ooh, I like that!

Johnathan

 

[Ry]

I thought of another addition: The Spriggan Mirror

The Jermlaine in Gorgoldand's gauntlet aren't there for their health - their leader came with a purpose: To find a gnomish magical item known as the Spriggan Mirror. The Spriggan Mirror appears like a funhouse mirror, showing large characters to be small, and small characters to be much larger. Upon the utterance of a svirfneblin word for 'change', a creature larger than Small changes two sizes down, and other creatures change two size categories up.

If the PCs can discover this mirror, which is hidden in a passageway leading east from the shocking-numbers puzzle, they have a means of entering the Jermlaine lair. However, if they are not quick, the Jermlaine will quickly find the mirror, and the PCs will have to deal with Medium-sized Jermlaine warriors defending their home.

 

[Richards]

That's another cool idea, rycanada. Is there a limited duration on the size change, or is it permanent from that point on (or at least until it can be "undone" by the mirror, since now a Medium jermlaine would be shrunken back down to Tiny by a "second dose")? Or is a creature affected by the mirror now able to swap back and forth at will between the two sizes like a spriggan? (Also, now I wonder if there are any duergar ties to such a mirror, given that they can enlarge themselves as well.)

Johnathan

 

[Ry]

Well, I was thinking the change could be dispelled by exposure to direct sunlight, which would make it very valuable to the Jermlaine (and the duergar, who would really enjoy it). I'd also let it be dispelled through a few other spells. For example, enlarge / reduce would dispel it, as would any kind of teleportation, and of course normal dispelling.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Care to share with us what you've changed?

 

[Ry]

In the room with the 3 signs, I replaced the puzzle with a few different riddles on the door. You have to solve all 4 riddles to pass.

The first riddle reads:

Old mother twitchett has but one eye,
And a long tail which she can let fly;
And every time she goes over a gap,
She leaves a bit of her tail in a trap

There is a small socket below the riddle built into the door.

[sblock]One of the Jermlaine lines over the Merrow's pit is pitoned with a needle. The PCs can place that, or any other needle, in the socket and they have successfully solved the riddle.[/sblock]

The second one is this:

If a man would carry my burden-
He would break his back
I am not rich
But leave silver in my track

[sblock]There is a bunch of snails on the underside of the wooden shelf that traps the rust monster. Placing any snail in the socket below the riddle completes it.[/sblock]

 

[Ry]

Third riddle:

My life may be measured in hours
I serve by being devoured
Thin-I am quick
Fat-I am slow
Wind is my foe

[sblock]I have a Jermlaine drop a candle on some oil at the bottom of the first pit trap, which makes it much more personal than spikes coated in itchy fungus. Placing any candle in the socket below the riddle solves it.[/sblock]

 

[Ry]

The final riddle:

I surround the tower's base
A hollow sun to bring joy to my master's face
Because of me they ignore opporunities they've missed
By design, I remind them of their promise.

[sblock]A gold ring lies in the Merrow's cave. Sharp-eyed PCs will see it glitter as they pass the first time. Of course, any wedding ring will do.[/sblock]