Page 220 - Tales from the Yawning Portal

center aisle. After this bolt comes forth, the altar turns
a fiery blue-red, and if it thereafter is touched by any ob-
ject it will explode as a fireball spell (save DC 1 5 .
Archway. Just as in other locations around the tomb,
the mists that obscure the archway can't be penetrated
with any sort of vision or magic. (If a character moves
close to the archway and asks about it, explain that none
of the stones of the arch glow.) The skeleton. of course,
misleads the party, for any character passing through
the portal will enter a 10-foot-by-10-foot room where
their sex and alignment are reversed by a powerful
magic. Exiting the room and reentering the archway
will restore original alignment, but also deals 3 (ld6)
psychic damage. Going back a third time will reverse
sex again, but the individual will be teleported in the
manner of the archway in area 10. Only a wish spell will
restore both alignment and sex. If alignment is restored
by entering the orange portal, a remove curse or greater
restoration spell will then restore original sex.
Wall Slot. A character who inspects the eastern wall
directly opposite the archway and succeeds on a DC 10
Wisdom (Perception) check finds a small slot with the
letter O faintly traced above it. This is the location of a
moving stone block described below. The block can't be
magically detected, nor will it open by physical or magi-
cal means other than the method given in area 15.

15. STONE GATE
As shown on the map, the stone that forms part of the
eastern wall of the chapel is 2 feet wide, 4 feet high, and
10 feet thick in a wedge shape. It is impregnated with
strong antimagic that prevents its detection or removal
or its change to another form or substance. The wall
slot (see above) is of sufficient size to accept a coin or a Crawl Space. Beyond the painted door is a narrow
disc-shaped gem. It is also just right for the insertion of passage that emerges at the top of a short flight of stairs
a magic ring of any sort. Only such an item will trigger leading down.
the mechanism, which causes the block to sink slowly
16. LOCKED OAKEN DOOR
into the floor so as to allow entry into the passage be-
yond. The object deposited into the slot is forever lost, as
the sinking stone crushes all to pieces. The gate opens The thick wooden door ahead of you is heavily bound
easily from the other (east) side, and no special item is
with iron bands, and there are several locks keep-
required to trigger its opening from that side.
ing it shut.
Doors and Pits. Beyond the gate stone, the corridor
widens to 10 feet and turns southward where steps lead
down steeply to a corridor that goes west. Each of the Aura. The door is found to radiate an aura of abjura-
three doors in the corridor opens easily if any pushing tion magic if a detect magic spell is cast upon it.
force is applied to it, and a creature that does so stum- Sounds from Beyond. A character who listens with
bles into the pit on the other side unless it succeeds on an ear to the door will hear far-off music and happy sing-
a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. If a door isn't violently ing, obviously coming from the other side of the door.
pushed against, it can be opened safely by pulling it No amount of forcing or spells will open the door. The
inward, and the party will have standard chances of fall- only way to continue northward is to use a disintegrate
ing in when the characters leading the way step on the spell on the door or physically destroy it (it has 100
pit cover. hit points).
By the time the westernmost door and pit have been If the characters destroy the door, read:
reached, the characters will certainly expect the pit, and
will be likely to bypass and ignore it. This carelessness
would prevent them from examining the pit from within. As the door falls away, you can hear sounds of confusion
On the south wall of the pit is a wooden door painted and distress coming from the north. A faint glow, like
to look like stone, which is easily discovered by anyone that of a small flame, shines in the distance. The walls of
who looks at this wall while inside the pit or who makes
the passage ahead of you are of smooth white alabaster,
a tactile investigation of the wall from outside the pit.
and the floor is highly polished, smoke-gray marble.

CHAPTER 7 I TOMB OF HORRORS
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