Divination / Enchantment Focused Encounters?

[Sean H]

I'm running a campaign where the PCs are currently in Nex and will be entering a tower devoted to magical research. I'm planning on having eight rooms, one for each school of magic, with an appropriately-themed encounter inside of it. I've got one for the most of the schools, but I'm having trouble coming up with one for Divination and Enchantment rooms. The party is currently level 5.

[Nicos]

It would be good if you tell us what the other encounters are so we can see what you are aiming for.

[strayshift]

Research solutions (using divination magic) in order to take the best path would appear a logical way of writing the encounters.

Enchantment magics can subvert reality also so a general theme of truth then subversion of truth would seem a good adventure story arc.

[Drychnath]

Have the room under the influence of a powerful Emotion effect. Let the PCs try to work their way through when overwhelmed by apathy, impatience, rage, or lust. Have them encounter fey. A nymph would be interesting.

Divination is a bit trickier. Requiring the use of some artifact related to scrutiny, like a crystal ball, would be good. If it wouldn't trod on the toes of your Illusion encounter, making them defeat some invisible monster, via True Seeing or an Arcane Sight effect.

[Sean H]

Nicos wrote:

It would be good if you tell us what the other encounters are so we can see what you are aiming for.

Evocation - Puzzle-Room with a constant elemental storm(Bolts of fire, ice, lightning and acid flying everywhere).

Necromancy - Wight with 2 Ghoul servants.
Transmutation - Terrified rat, polymorphed & buffed with magic into something more fearsome.
Conjuration - Bound outsider the PCs can either fight or negotiate with.
Illusion - Series or trapped hallways.
Abjuration - Variety of magical sigils, glyphs and wards.

[BillyGoat]

For Divination, you could pull the classic "mirrored foes" trick, where each PC is faced by something/someone perfectly suited to counter their best tactics. Theory goes, room divines the nature of the person as they enter and summons forth a "champion" designed to fight them.

Or, the room confronts them with visions from their past/future, such that they have to fight through one of their more interesting back-story elements.