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I'm wondering how people have handled the Oblivian Doors in Chapter 8. It seems like the puzzle is a bit difficult, and not really clear. There's no real clues to tell the characters what the trick is. Even if they do figure it out, the main caster in the party is a sorc who won't be able to duplicate most of the effects. He's also distinctly lacking in transport, teleport, or really most utility type spells. We have a rogue, but he can't make the 45 necessary to pick it. There's no chance anybody could make the 50 strength to force it.

All I can figure to do is lower the difficulty to pick it down to 40. Then our rogue can make the roll. If anybody else has any good ideas please let me know.

Well my characters just met Zenith, and unfortunately he didn't survive the encounter. He got low enough, that when he dropped his defensive stance, and lost his hit point bonus, he pretty well just died. I played him up as pretty insanely unrelenting, and my characters are pretty low on subdual skills or magic. It's pretty well massive damage or nothing.

I'm just looking for suggestions on how to handle it from here. Do the Cagewrites now need another person? Do they have another person lined up.

Completely coincidentally I have not one, but two Scarred Soul/Shackleborn players in my game. I'm pondering having the Cagewrites look around for a replacement and stumble upon the heritage of our heroes. I can then have some encounters, or other side wackiness, trying to get a hold of one of the PC's. Once a few attempts (presumably) fail they eventually find some easier pickings. It might make some interesting side encounters and give the chance for the characters to learn a bit more about the Shackleborn.

I have a great game going on going through the Shackled City. We're currently in the Kopru Ruins in Chapter 3. We've actually managed to get this far without a single death, though a lot of close calls. It's been a great game, and everybody seems to be having a good time. Myself included.

Recently they encountered Triel, and though she beat them up pretty good with a couple hard hits the characters eventually brought her down. Annoyingly enough though they didn't kiill her. They capturered her. They have offered to let her go, and spare her life, in exchange for information about what is going on. I'm trying to decide how much she knows, and will tell. I can't think of any reason she wouldn't spill everything she might know about The Cages and the Cagerights. After all, they screwed her.

Any thoughts or opinions? It's a careful balance, as I don't want to give out to much info and spoil things for the future, but I don't want to be unfair to the players.

Thanks