So whilst walking the dog this afternoon I was thinking about the One Page Dungeon Contest and I think that my head is still in puzzle mode from the CG March Mapping Challenge. So here's the rough start of the top'ish level of my future entry for tye OPD.
Adventure Synopsis
For centuries man has tried to use magic and science with a common goal in mind, to be able to transmute a worthless mundane item into valuable gold. For centuries man has tried and failed, no manner of spells or alchemic potions yielding to this potential discovery, or so it was believed. Deep in the heart of the Ahy'yhu Mountains the wizard and infamous alchemist Midas Goldcloak has dedicated his life to making this discovery, and against all odds it is rumoured that before he died he achieved it. Now his hidden trove has been uncovered, with your band of adventurers you aim to plunder his hidden workshop and try to uncover the truth in this rumour and, if it is there, the secret to transmuting gold and bringing you both wealth and fame beyond your imagination!
One Page Challenge.jpg
Overview
The main purpose of this adventure is that the players will find very little challenge as they work their way into the dungeon, very few (if any) creatures or beasts would be found, though a few puzzles to make it interesting for them. When they descend and reach the bottom level they will find Midas Goldcloak's ritual written in a book, an odd look item with jagged edges around the page. Unfortunately the book has been turned into solid gold and from the visible page only part of the ritual/alchemical formula can be read. The book is fastened tight to the golden pedestal and all are too heavy for the players to remove from the room. However, there is another notebook left by Midas to reverse the transmutation process so the players can turn the book from gold back to its normal property.
The Twist
The ritual will spread outwards from the book and begin to turn everything that is made of gold into it's natural property (items that were already gold aren't affected), as the effect spreads monstrous golden statues will come alive, traps will be activated, what seemed like a floor lined with gold was in fact a pit of acid that the players would not have to leap from step to step to cross. When the book is returned to its original state so to is the jagged edge that lined its pages; fire, Midas had set fire to his book before turning it to gold and so the pages burn and his secret disappears with him.
The players must then race back through the dungeon as fast as they can, removing as much treasure as they can before it becomes worthless, each room being effected after a number of turns (including the giant snake they would have climbed down at the entrance)!
Diabolical!