I'm looking at the rules for wind - page 95, 3.5 DMG - and the numbers I'm seeing there do not seem to match the numbers presented in area e of teh Whispering Cairn.
According to the adventure, the wind trap starts with a strong wind, racheting up each round to severe, windstorm, and finally hurricane. The adventure goes on to say that Small creatures are potentially blown away as early as round 2 (severe winds), and Medium creatures on round 3 (windstorm winds). Finally, it states that the DC to avoid the wind effects, regardless of severity of wind, is 18.
According to the DMG, Small creatures are not potentially blown away until windstorm-strength winds, or round 3 of the trap. Medium creatures would not face a blown away result until round 4. Additionally, the DC for being knocked over and blown away rachets up with the wind strength, according to the DMG.
The adventure fails to mention the knocked-over result, which does start for small creatures ono round 2, and medium creatures on round 3. However, the DC for knocked over starts at 15 in a severe wind.
I imagine this is simply an oversight in the adventure.
Shidara
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I noticed that as well. I decided that a wind trap created by Air Elemental type folks could be treaeted differently than what the rules state. Just start it blowing at a stronger level than what the adventure says it does. Easily done.
I want my players to feel they are in the house of a powerful air elemental, not just a Cairn. So far they are as paraniod as I have ever seen them. They are pretty sure that the boss critter is going to be an air elemental. I guess in retrospect that is close. LOL
(hey - nice avatar)
I think that mechanically, the trap can use whatever DCs and round by round effects that it wants, as long as the CR is balanced and accounted for.
Also, if you want to rationalize the differences, you could say that the wind effects mechanics in the DMG are ideal for outdoor conditions. The WC trap is in a narrow tunnel, perhaps lending to the wind's increased severity.