Help me with a riddle! (my players stay out!)

[Asmo]

Here´s the deal:
the party will face a long stair that´s trapped (they already know this, they have been here before,see this thread (http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=67347 )
At the bottom at the stairs there´s a sign hanging in the air - litterally- made out of some strange force. The sign reads "This is the way to the college of wizards".
I want this sign to hold some key-word wich opens a portal. They have already used portals in this place so they aren´t new to this sort of stuff.
The simple solution would be "This".The portal open when you speak "this", much like Gandalf and the door at Moria ( " Speak "Friend" -Mellom"). I´m afraid that that it will be to simple (although I like it ), so what I´m asking for some ideas how to open this portal with the help of the sign. Any ideas are very welcome.

Asmo

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Here´s the deal:
the party will face a long stair that´s trapped (they already know this, they have been here before,see this thread (http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=67347 )
At the bottom at the stairs there´s a sign hanging in the air - litterally- made out of some strange force. The sign reads "This is the way to the collage of wizards".

Is it a collage of wizards, or a college of wizards?

 

[MerakSpielman]

"This riddle must be solved to get you inside
Hidden in plain sight the solution entices,
Indeed, this very poem the answer provides,
Shown not only just once, but thrice!"

The word "this" appears twice in the riddle, and once spelled out down the side.

 

[Believer]

If you want something simple like that do:

'The key is in this' and tell them the sign is slightly larger then before... if it's wooden they might think the key is inside the wood.... if it's just words floating they might think magic is the answer.

Or:

Have it say (all Yoda style):

This you must say after this: !#@$!#@$

and have symbols under it that in a magical sense act like a scroll to enhance the speaker's voice (writing only disappears when they correct word is spoken... when it's being cast have the symbols flame or something, and THEN they must say 'this'....


Or just have something like the 'Knights who say Ni' from Monty Python and the holy grail.... that should raise a few eye-brows.

 

[Believer]

Oh I like Merak's

 

[Psionicist]

Here´s the deal:
the party will face a long stair that´s trapped (they already know this, they have been here before,see this thread (http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=67347 )
At the bottom at the stairs there´s a sign hanging in the air - litterally- made out of some strange force. The sign reads "This is the way to the collage of wizards".
I want this sign to hold some key-word wich opens a portal. They have already used portals in this place so they aren´t new to this sort of stuff.
The simple solution would be "This".The portal open when you speak "this", much like Gandalf and the door at Moria ( " Speak "Friend" -Mellom"). I´m afraid that that it will be to simple (although I like it ), so what I´m asking for some ideas how to open this portal with the help of the sign. Any ideas are very welcome.

Asmo

The letters P, H, I and C in "phthisic" (consult psionics handbook) are covered in magic dust.


This is the path to the collage of wizards


-or-

Phthisic is the path to the collage of wizards

 

[Asmo]

Wulf Ratbane wrote:

"Is it a collage of wizards, or a college of wizards?"

Ouch. It should read "college of wizards" not "collage", my bad.
Thanx Wulf for pointing that out.

Asmo

 

[Ferret]

Meraks is good but the word This is in there 4 times counting the first of each sentance.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Meraks is good but the word This is in there 4 times counting the first of each sentance.

You're right. Editing...

 

[Mark Chance]

What do you get from kissing too many birds?

Chirpies!