Trial of character: Whiteflash

[whiteflash]

Oh, boy.

I look up at the roof. Does it look like I'm supposed to leave that way?

[Deadlykire]

The roof is domed, but as you look you can clearly see it is solid. There does not appear to be any openings.

[whiteflash]

Well, on to solving the problem I guess.

I look around at the symbols. I've had to use half of the zodiac symbols to get this far. Do I see the other half scattered around somewhere? (I'd be really nervous about doing this without a way out, if I couldn't breathe water.)

[Deadlykire]

(Roll an intelligence check to remember the symbols and an investigation to look for them)

[whiteflash]

(1d20-1)[6] to remember the symbols, and (1d20-1)[8] to find them.

Edit: I think I need a new plan.

[Deadlykire]

(I set a low dc, but still...)

You remember a few of the symbols. You remember 3 that you pressed at some point. You go and search for them, it takes some time but you are able to find two that you pressed previously. They are faded out like in the previous room. As you stand and stare at them, you suddenly remember 3 more runes you'd previously seen but not pressed. As you search again you are only able to find one of them on the wall.

[whiteflash]

I press that one to see if I'm on the right track, at least.

[Deadlykire]

You press the single rune. It glows like in the previous rooms, and the runes you pressed before it in this room. However, it stays lit for a minute before fading out.

[whiteflash]

Now to take stock of my options.

Is it possible to reroll that failed intelligence check to represent another attempt at racking my brain?

And are the runes all easy enough to reach from the ground that I could just walk to one end of the room and press them all one by one to see which ones keep glowing after I press them?

[Deadlykire]

The runes are all mostly reachable from the ground. The ones that aren't you can easily reach by just hopping into the air. You can roll another check if you'd like. I'll even say you can pick between intelligence and wisdom this time.

[whiteflash]

Yeah, my build's better for that. Thanks.

Do you mean Wisdom to remember them and Perception to find them? If so, (1d20+2)[4] to remember them, and (1d20+4)[24] to find them.

Edit: Not much a more favorable stat can do for a poor roll, huh?

[Deadlykire]

(It is still investigation to find them, as you are actively searching for something. Perception, to me, is passively noticing something or intuition. That being said, you got a nat20 on investigation.)


You sit and stare at the runes you've already identified. You try and remember the ones you've seen before, hoping to use the ones you already remembered as clues. Unfortunately you are only able to remember 2 more, both of which you've already pressed. However, when you begin to search for the new runes, you start to notice many more familiar ones. As you search for the runes you remembered, you wind up identifying all 12 runes you've seen previously along with their locations.

[whiteflash]

I try to push all six of the runes that had previously appeared, but that I hadn't previously pressed, starting with the one farthest to the left and then going right.

Do they shut down halfway through, or do I get to the end before anything happens?

[Deadlykire]

How quickly do you move? If you are moving quickly trying to press them all you likely can.

[whiteflash]

I move as quickly as I can. If the runes shut down halfway through I want to be reasonably sure that it's because hitting all six isn't the right answer, rather than because I was too slow.

[Deadlykire]

You are able to move quickly and get 6 to light up, but before you do you know you were wrong. You hear a screaming siren blare as the room begins to flood before you've even hit the last room. Water rushes in from all sides, it'll be less than a minute before the room is flooded completely.

[whiteflash]

I'd be in trouble if I couldn't breathe water. Although I might be in trouble anyway. Do I need to make an Athletics check?

[Deadlykire]

What are you trying to do?

(Yes, my hope was players would be a bit more careful moving forward, but I like how this is going. I'm still toying with if I make death a real possibility in the dungeon. I've also considered having the character level up after completing each level.)

[whiteflash]

I was afraid I'd have to make one to avoid getting smashed into a wall. Do I not?

[Deadlykire]

Nope. It isn't moving anywhere except up very quickly. The water is coming from all sides, so equalish enough pressure.

[whiteflash]

I can live with that.

Is it pulling me upward? If so, I don't resist unless it becomes clear I'm in danger of hitting my head on the roof. Then, when I either need to start resisting or find that the water isn't pulling me upward any more, I swim back down to the runes to see what they're doing.

[Deadlykire]

The runes fade. The current forces you towards the ceiling, but you are easily able to keep yourself away from it. Glancing at the runes, they are just sitting there. They don't seem to be doing anything in particular.

[whiteflash]

I swim down and press Libra, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Taurus. Any result?

[Deadlykire]

As you touch the runes,they glow. It sends an glimmering light through the water around you. You hear a familiar sound that vibrates through your entire body, the blaring seemingly taking over your senses for a second. The water has filled the room, but you can feel a slight current as if it is still flowing into the room.

[whiteflash]

Do I feel any current indicating that the water has any way out of the already full container?

[Deadlykire]

You swim around, taking a bit of time, but you can't feel a discernible current out. You clearly feel currents moving water in, which given the filled room seems odd. After your swim you can feel increased pressure in the water around you, so clearly the water is continuing to flow in.

[whiteflash]

I look around to see if it looks like any of the walls are having trouble taking the increased pressure.

[Deadlykire]

From what you can see, the walls seem to be holding for now. You swim around a bit to verify your initial findings, and as you get close to the walls it confirms your initial findings.

[whiteflash]

I press one of the runes that didn't appear before. Does anything happen?

[Deadlykire]

It glows like the others. After a time it fades.