Help with Shrine and Tomb ideas for 4E campaign

[ghrezdd]

I am hoping you all can give me some good ideas regarding a shrine and a tomb.

Backstory:
An insane demi-god is trying to assume the role of the sun and achive greater god status. One of his elven priestess's recognized his insanity and fled with an artifact that can destroy him. She sealed it away in a vault which also became her tomb. My party will be led to a shrine dedicated to the priestess by a unicorn. There they will learn some clues to the location of the tomb/artifact.

My thoughts:
The shrine has a riddle or something that will clue the party into the location and what tests they will be facing. The Tomb is mostly filled with traps and automatons to test those who would claim it as well as safeguard the artifact. Sort of like a noble version of the Tomb of Horrors. The priestess will be the final guardian.

Any help / ideas are appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[sappire07]

what kind of monster are you thinking of turning the priestess into. some sort of mummy?

 

[ghrezdd]

I was thinking of a Lich, but had not got that far yet

What has really gotten me hung up is a riddle or something that will foreshadow the traps/tests that the tomb will have.

 

[sappire07]

when in doubt use this.




if X is the seed you sow, reap you will Y and know.

(X is the action and Y is the result.)

 

[sappire07]

this might work better though



if into X fate doth send thee, though wilt find Y in the end

(X is the tomb and Y is the result or consequence

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Small bit of fridge logic here to consider.

The reason that the Tomb of Horrors was such a nasty place to try to explore was because Acerak did not really want to share his treasures.

This Priestess probably became opposed to her god, and would want someone to destroy the insane god. Sealing that gods primary weakness into a deadly and dangerous tomb is probably not the way to work towards the destruction of the evil god.

I suggest that the tomb / shrine be a place that more loyal followers of the mad god sealed away the artifact in order to prevent its use. The reason that the artifact is in the tomb then becomes an act of self preservation by the mad god and his followers. When you cannot destroy an artifact, bury it deep and make it dangerous to get to.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

There could be some elements of both though. Sealed away in the central vault of the tomb is the Priestess. There might be a way to get some help from her.

Personally I'd have the entry into the tomb rely on some sort of McGuffin and have a riddle that tells the PCs how to use it or how to find it. Personally I find that type of riddle preferable to the 'sit there and figure it out' type of puzzle.

 

[cleverkobold]

What has really gotten me hung up is a riddle or something that will foreshadow the traps/tests that the tomb will have.[/QUOTE]

Greetings friends if that ye be,
But enemies do not proceed.

The terror in these halls be great,
And is not wise to underestimate.

Proceed with care if ye wish to live,
Those unprepared we will not forgive.


Have this inscribed above a door in a strange language that requires some sort of skill check to decipher.

 

[sappire07]

What has really gotten me hung up is a riddle or something that will foreshadow the traps/tests that the tomb will have.

Greetings friends if that ye be,
But enemies do not proceed.

The terror in these halls be great,
And is not wise to underestimate.

Proceed with care if ye wish to live,
Those unprepared we will not forgive.


Have this inscribed above a door in a strange language that requires some sort of skill check to decipher.[/QUOTE]




clever kobold indeed

 

[ghrezdd]

Thanks for all of the input! They have gotten my mind thinking and this what I came up with for the starting riddle.

“The land weeps
for the betrayal of the Sun; (the Sun God is the bad guy)
But beneath the tears
Hope can be won. (this refers to a great water fall that looks like a face in a cliff wall ala Emo Wall)

To Adonnenniel’s friends (she is the guardian and has a unicorn companion)
Easy shall be the way; (its easy if yu think like a unicorn)
But the travelers must be worthy
‘Ere She give up Light’s Ray.” (she will judge the party)


I have settled on 6 tests. I have the themes for them, now I need ideas/rules for them and I hope you all can help me with that:

Purity of Mind – dominate affect???
Purity of Body - poison???
Purity of Spirit
Strength of Mind - Courage???
Strength of Body
Strength of Spirit

Again any input would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!