I need a riddle/puzzle

[LordBOB]

"This thing is a most amazing thing. For it can be both as sharp as a knife, Or as flat as a floor. And yet, for all that it can be, It is as natural as a bee." What am I?

Ill let the talented people at EnWorld try and figure this out. I think that this might fit your occasion since from what i read he locked himself away in his castle and didnt leave much

 

[Mercule]

I actually kinda like this picture. Picture nine dots arranged in a square on the wall. The solution is to trace them in the right order. They can get there either by figuring it out in a "don't lift your pencil" manner, or in a "all lines must add to 15" manner.

They do already know that this guy seemed to worship the goddess of secrets/magic and the god of crafts/knowledge. If I tied in the "Seal of Saturn" to one/both of them, that might work. The question is, what clue(s) do I give without giving the whole thing away?

 

[Quartermoon]

"This thing is a most amazing thing. For it can be both as sharp as a knife, Or as flat as a floor. And yet, for all that it can be, It is as natural as a bee." What am I?

A musical note?

 

[Mercule]

Edit: If you could give me a rough idea of what kind of riddle you want it would be easier for me.

Two riddles/puzzles. The first should be much easier than the second, but not horribly so. Each activates a teleport circle. The first teleporter takes the traveller from the portion of the lair (a subterrainian complex) that actually connects to the surface to a 15'x15' room.

This room has no exits. Only a puzzle that activates the second teleporter. If you're smart enough to figure out the first, but not the second, you starve/or suffocate. That's part of the trap. This second teleporter will drop you into the actual main complex.

Once in the main complex, you have to find another teleporter (somewhere else) to leave. Of course, there are lots of ways to die before finding the exit -- and numerous decoys to encourage such. Fortunately, his preference for golems and traps means no wandering monsters.

I like the magic square I posted for the second puzzle. The first can be more general, even with a clue or two readily available, to give intruders enough rope to hang themselves.

No teleporters have a "return to origin" feature. Once you go through, you must move to the next or be screwed.

 

[Mercule]

A musical note?

Oh. I like. The actual key/trigger is to whistle, sing, or play an instrument.

Too bad the group doesn't have a bard. That'd be really sweet.

 

[sjmiller]

Now, if I am reading what you are requesting correctly, you are looking for some sort of visual or logical puzzle. Riddles, at least in their more traditional form, would be a bit harder to use as a lock. Those require the asking of a question, usually though not always in verse form, and the "victim" supplying an answer. So something or someone would have to be there to ask and respond. If you want a traditional riddle, I have dozens of them that I use in a routine I use at a local Renaissance Festival. An example might be:

What force and strength cannot break through
I with gentle touch can do.
And many in the street would stand,
Were it not for me as a friend at hand.

I'll give the answer later today, if needed.

 

[Pielorinho]

He's paranoid, eh? He wants something that's easy for him to remember, eh?

Here you go:

"Who is your dark lord and master?"

The passphrase to get in is: "Who is your dark lord and master who is your dark lord and master?" It's very easy for the paranoid guy to remember to repeat the question twice, even if he doesn't remember anything else; and it's very unlikely that any sneaky tweaker trying to weasel into his castle will repeat the riddle twice.

A sense-motive check might alert the PCs to the fact that the question is too easy, and that there must be a trick to it.

Any other short question will suffice, obviously.

Daniel

 

[Mercule]

Now, if I am reading what you are requesting correctly, you are looking for some sort of visual or logical puzzle. Riddles, at least in their more traditional form, would be a bit harder to use as a lock. Those require the asking of a question, usually though not always in verse form, and the "victim" supplying an answer. So something or someone would have to be there to ask and respond.

Quite. I don't mind the riddle being pasted on the wall as a reminder of the password, at least not for the first. I like the idea of an action, even after the riddle is figured out, though. That's why I like the whistle as well as the tracing. I also kinda like Pielorinho's because it is easy, but not, and doesn't actually require any background info.

 

[LordBOB]

A musical note?

Ding Ding Ding we have a winner!!!

Well since that was so easy i think ill look just a little harder and see what i can come up with. If i can i will try and stick with the musical aspect of the riddle but try to be harder

 

[LordBOB]

"We are little airy creatures, All of different voice and features; One of us in glass is set, One of us you'll find in jet, T'other you may see in tin, And the fourth a box within; If the fifth you should pursue, It can never fly from you. "

I didnt have anything to stay with the music theme that i started. this one was almost deadly for my players 1 night. It took them quite a long time to figure it out. I just sat back and chuckled while they went crazy.