There is no Honour: Damn pesky wizard has done a detect magic on the central pillar in the vault. Anyone got any stats for this since it seems to be magically opening door once the lever is pulled? The rest of the party is in combat with the iron cobra so there'll be several rounds for the wiz to check out the pillar and I can't think what kind of spells would in effect on it.
Just because it animates doesn't mean it's magical. I looked on it as a mechanical device.
Just because it animates doesn't mean it's magical. I looked on it as a mechanical device.
Really? Carved snakes that writhe aside like living creatures, causing a solid marble pillar to morph into an arch.....mechanically? I'd like to see that! I admire your optimism. :)
Oh well, I guess stranger things have happened although usually such things are explained away by means of magic in D&D. I'll see what I can come up with.
When the wizard in my game cast detect magic on that arch, I made the assumption that the spell involved was Stone Shape, cast by someone around 10-12th level. So that's moderate-strength transmutation, if I remember right.
The rotating pillar puzzle in the next room, on the other hand, I decided was a purely mechanical combination lock.
I described as a mechanical door that looked like the snake door in "Chamber of Secrets" movie. (yup, a lame Harry Potter reference, but it was a cool visual from that movie...)
I described as a mechanical door that looked like the snake door in "Chamber of Secrets" movie. (yup, a lame Harry Potter reference, but it was a cool visual from that movie...)
I used the same reference, but they were watching the movie before I got there that day so it actually worked quite well. I will have to make sure they watch Jurassic Park or Kong when we get to the IoD. O:)
Since it opens with an open lock check (not a wizard spell or an ensorcelled ring) I too figured it was mechanical, but animate object might also show up.