I've created a riddle for a door to a tomb that belongs to a long-dead warlock. In life he was believed to be a sorcerer or a wizard, and being known as a warlock would have brought him shame. His patron was a Night-Hag. In order to open the door, the party must read the following riddle, and speak the word "Warlock" or accuse the dead of being a warlock. The following is the first draft of the riddle. I want to know if it is possible or likely that the party could guess the dead man is a warlock based on the riddle alone.
Trickery possessed, and of sturdy devotion, I gained my power by her potion. Power to assert, a wizard they thought, origins of my magic did they know not. I was brought high by the power of a patron, and brought low by the woes of one’s aging. If you know my secret, speak it aloud, and enter to pay respects. Beware to those unaware, not to know is to gravely err.
If the party answers "warlock," the door opens. If they guess incorrectly, two Shadows emerge for each wrong guess. Looking for suggestions to make the riddle easier to grasp if it is too difficult or vague. Thanks in advance!
It's interesting with some good clues, i like it! To make it perhaps a little easier, you could drop the word ''with class'' or end with the question such as ''Who am i'?'
I have a couple of ideas for clues around the door
You can make the riddle glow to draw attention to it near the door
If a player makes an arcana or investigation check you can reveal that the solution is a password.
You can describe the door as having a rune that represents secrets or listening like an ear that they whisper the word into again making it clear the solution is a password
Abilities that can detect such things like detect good and evil or the paladins divine sight could reveal the door uses fey magic.
If they strike the door or try to break through you can protect it with the spell shadow of moil or armor of agathys astute players may recognize it as a warlock only spell and you could also reveal that information with identify or an identify spell check ( arcana DC 15 + spell level)
Casting identify can also reveal spells cast on it which could include the warlock spells summon shadowspawn as the summoning shadows component.
Hey all,
I've created a riddle for a door to a tomb that belongs to a long-dead warlock. In life he was believed to be a sorcerer or a wizard, and being known as a warlock would have brought him shame. His patron was a Night-Hag. In order to open the door, the party must read the following riddle, and speak the word "Warlock" or accuse the dead of being a warlock. The following is the first draft of the riddle. I want to know if it is possible or likely that the party could guess the dead man is a warlock based on the riddle alone.
Trickery possessed, and of sturdy devotion, I gained my power by her potion. Power to assert, a wizard they thought, origins of my magic did they know not. I was brought high by the power of a patron, and brought low by the woes of one’s aging. If you know my secret, speak it aloud, and enter to pay respects. Beware to those unaware, not to know is to gravely err.
If the party answers "warlock," the door opens. If they guess incorrectly, two Shadows emerge for each wrong guess. Looking for suggestions to make the riddle easier to grasp if it is too difficult or vague. Thanks in advance!
-Griff
It's interesting with some good clues, i like it! To make it perhaps a little easier, you could drop the word ''with class'' or end with the question such as ''Who am i'?'
Ahh, adding "with class" in somewhere would definitely make it easier! Great idea!
I have a couple of ideas for clues around the door
All brilliant ideas! I think the warlock spells as protective measures is a really neat one.