20 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
20 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
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# The Castle with the Steel Door — Chapter 1: Overview
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## The Situation
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The party returns to Castle Green to find only the basement remains. Omta, the sentient Deck of Many Things, is deeply conflicted about the PCs—they are deck-touched (creating a bond) but have allied with Tymora (whom Omta fears). To manage this conflict, Omta erects two lines of defense: a confusing labyrinth in the basement and an impenetrable steel door sealing off the Deck itself. However, he also attempts to communicate, using the telepathic bond he shares with the PCs.
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## The Labyrinth and Communication
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When the PCs enter the labyrinth, they discover it is impossible to navigate without permission. Omta reaches out telepathically, trying to establish contact. Once the PCs make a genuine effort to communicate with him—regardless of success—Omta begins assisting them, guiding them through the labyrinth to reach their goals. Along the way, the party finds and rescues Green's scattered employees who are trapped in the maze.
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## The Scrolls and the Main Quest
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Upon reaching the steel door, Omta realizes that telepathic communication is too vague. Instead, he creates six parchment scrolls containing symbolic card arrangements and adds pigeonholes to the door. When all six scrolls are deciphered and placed in the holes, the door will open.
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The scrolls use cards as symbolism. The PCs automatically know the meanings of cards they have drawn, but must seek out NPCs who drew the unknown cards to learn their symbolic significance. This quest forces the party to track down and interact with NPCs whose lives have been upended by the Deck—some transformed into beasts, others comatose or cursed. By helping these NPCs, the PCs build relationships that will yield powerful allies in future chapters.
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## Resolution
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Once all six scrolls are deciphered, the door opens and the PCs finally meet Omta directly. The conversation ends, and the party is returned to Castle Green, where the barriers are gone. They can now negotiate with Green to purchase the Deck.
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