Throat chakra puzzle

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Throat chakra puzzle ======
===[iron labyrinth module]===
~~TOC~~
//**This page contains spoilers for the Iron Labyrinth One-shot**//

\\
The Throat Chakra Puzzle is the last of the six puzzles on the first level of the Iron Labyrinth tryouts. If the players are attempting to complete all the puzzles, then this challenge will be attempted after the other five puzzles on the first level, as it stands in the way of the final [[iron labyrinth Lotus Chakra Puzzle|Lotus Chakra Puzzle]]. The throat puzzle is easily the most confusing puzzle in that it is very easy for the game master and the players to make mistakes. If the players have seen the movie [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth_(film)|Labyrinth]], then they will know where to start in solving this puzzle.

Note: For the game master, this is by far the most challenging puzzle to administer

\\
==== Puzzle setup ====
{{ :wiki:throat_chakra.png?150nolink|}}

When the players enter the room, it is mostly empty. There is a throat chakra symbol carved into the floor, two doors that lead toward the center of the arena, with two stone statues of otters beside each door. The statues are 3 feet in height, are well made, and depict otters standing on their back feet, hands at their sides. The otters are operated by unseen humans which can move the otter's eyes back and forth and speak through a tube that connects to the otter's open mouth

In the center of the room is a metal pedastal with a spherical glass case which contains an aquamarine [[keystones|keystone]]

If the characters pass a [[Perception]] skill check (difficulty 3), or investigate the room and pass a [[Investigation]] skill check (difficulty 2), then they will notice a button on the far wall and a nearly invisible crack in the wall that makes a square outline, just above the button. There is no indication what the button does, but if pressed, The panel above the button will flip, revealing a hint. The hint outlines the four cases the players need to address to solve the puzzle. The hint is included in the supplement download

If the characters approach the otters, they will speak in slightly warped voices:
> Right Otter: We are the otters of the deep blue sea...
> Left Otter: Remembering all that we bother to see
> Right Otter: One of us always tells the truth...
> Left Otter: and one of us always lies
> Right Otter: One door leads to safety...
> Left Otter: and one to your demise
> (slight pause)
> Left Otter: You may ask **only** one of us **only** one question
> Right Otter: If you're wrong.. three points digested 
> //Left otter snickers deviously//

If the players ask you to repeat what was said, ask them to make a [[Recall Knowledge]] check (difficulty 1). If they pass, hand them a printed transcript of what the otters said. At your discretion, the otters can interact with the players but will try not to divulge any information. If the players ask, they can do a [[diplomacy#Sense Motive ]] check (difficulty 3) on one of the otters and if successful, get the sense that the operator of the otter is not being truthful. Each player may attempt this separately or [[skills#cooperation and deliberation|cooperatively]].

If the players try to open the doors before asking a question, the otters will warn them that they will only be able to open one of the doors

For the correct answer and what happens after the players make their decision, read section [[iron labyrinth throat chakra puzzle#Actual solution]]

\\
==== Normal solution ====
First let's cover the normal solution and then we will show how this puzzle is flipped on its end. The normal way to solve this problem is by asking a question like:

> Yes or no; if I asked the other otter whether the left door leads to my demise, would they say yes?

The players would then need to simulate four possible scenarios:
  - I am speaking to the truthful otter and the left door leads to demise
  - I am speaking to the truthful otter and the left door leads to safety
  - I am speaking to the lying otter and the left door leads to demise
  - I am speaking to the lying otter and the left door leads to safety

By determining what the answer to the question would be in each scenario, the players have enough information to determine if they should take the left or right door based on the answer, "yes" or "no". In this case, the answers are 

  - The truthful otter claims the lying otter would answer "no" - which is a lie as the door is unsafe
  - The truthful otter claims the lying otter would answer "yes" - which is a lie as the door is safe
  - The lying otter lies, claiming that the truthful otter would answer "no" - but the door is unsafe
  - The lying otter lies, claiming that the truthful otter would answer "yes" - but the door is safe

So if the players ask this question and the answer is "no", they know the left door is unsafe. If the answer is "yes", they know the door is safe. The puzzle hint above references these four scenarios with space to the right to work out the solution to each answer. If the players are struggling it may be appropriate to encourage them to work it out in steps and write each step down

\\
==== Actual solution ==== 
The trick to this puzzle is that both otters are lying, and will tell the players the exact opposite of what they expect to hear if they believe the premise of the puzzle. If the players are duped by this, there are a series of three trap doors that will trigger as they move through the tunnel, and a blast of air will suck them down the trap door. Once a trap is triggered, the safe door will slide open. Players that are sucked down are directed by an attendant to a ladder which leads back up to the final challenge. The scoreboard shows a deduction of 3 points per trap that is triggered

The challenge for the game master is in properly administering this puzzle. Listen to the players as they solve the puzzle. If they solve it correctly, answer the opposite of what is expected. If they incorrectly solve the puzzle, you should also answer the opposite of what they expect. In both cases the otters are trying to drive the players into the trap. If it is unclear, simply answer as if they solved it properly and let the chips fall.

The actual truth is that the right side is trapped, and the otters pretend that the right otter is the lying otter for the sake of answering the question

The challenge is that the players can ask their question in 16 functionally different ways. I have made a table that shows you how you should answer each question "incorrectly"

^Otter Asked^Question Asked^Your Answer^
|  Left  |"If I ask the other otter if the **left  door** leads to **demise**, will they say **yes**?"|  No  |
|  Left  |"If I ask the other otter if the **left  door** leads to **demise**, will they say **no**?"|  Yes  |
|  Left  |"If I ask the other otter if the **left  door** leads to **safety**, will they say **yes**?"|  Yes  |
|  Left  |"If I ask the other otter if the **left  door** leads to **safety**, will they say **no**?"|  No  |
|  Left  |"If I ask the other otter if the **right door** leads to **demise**, will they say **yes**?"|  Yes  |
|  Left  |"If I ask the other otter if the **right door** leads to **demise**, will they say **no**?"|  No  |
|  Left  |"If I ask the other otter if the **right door** leads to **safety**, will they say **yes**?"|  No  |
|  Left  |"If I ask the other otter if the **right door** leads to **safety**, will they say **no**?"|  Yes  |
^Otter Asked^Question Asked^Your Answer^
|  Right  |"If I ask the other otter if the **left  door** leads to **demise**, will they say **yes**?"|  Yes  |
|  Right  |"If I ask the other otter if the **left  door** leads to **demise**, will they say **no**?"|  No  |
|  Right  |"If I ask the other otter if the **left  door** leads to **safety**, will they say **yes**?"|  No  |
|  Right  |"If I ask the other otter if the **left  door** leads to **safety**, will they say **no**?"|  Yes  |
|  Right  |"If I ask the other otter if the **right door** leads to **demise**, will they say **yes**?"|  No  |
|  Right  |"If I ask the other otter if the **right door** leads to **demise**, will they say **no**?"|  Yes  |
|  Right  |"If I ask the other otter if the **right door** leads to **safety**, will they say **yes**?"|  Yes  |
|  Right  |"If I ask the other otter if the **right door** leads to **safety**, will they say **no**?"|  No  |

\\
==== Reward ====
Provided that the players figure out which door leads to safety, the glass sphere on the pedestal in the center of the throat chakra room will slide open with a noticeable sound. If the players determine the safe route by brute force, the glass case does not open

Inside the case is an aquamarine gem with six facets and [[keystones#Tough Hide]] 3. This reduces all incoming damage by 9 points when [[keystones#aligning keystones|bound]] to the player's throat [[chakras|chakra]]. It can also be bound to the lotus chakra

**Points**\\
^Method of solution^Points^
|Fail to understand the puzzle and/or randomly choose the correct door|No points|
|Discover that both the otters are lying|6|
|Each person that falls down the trap|-3|

If the players discover the otters are lying but accidently choose the wrong door, they still get the 6 points, and their penalty is the risk of losing points to the trap
User Tools

Site Tools

Page Tools
