Contest Entry: Study of the Storm Sage (by Fritcher)
This is a small monster lair with an artifact level staff hidden behind a puzzle. The author notes that this should be hidden 30 hexes into the wilderness, finding it is the reward for following a treasure map. The author submitted this as it was a ready made lair which fit the judgement criteria (almost!), though stating it shouldn't be competing for the win. I'll be the judge of that! As far as the use, either you follow the author's intent, or change the artifact for a lesser treasure more closely matching the challenge (closer to 10,000gp rather than 150,000gp). It seems to me the Storm Sage should live near the coast, but placing this far from the sea would make it more mysterious and memorable.
Does it qualify?
No! The main treasure contains 3 treasure maps to nautical encounters and instructs the DM to roll them up. Other than that, it fits the competition format. It's a 2-page PDF, easy to read map and text, there is a hidden treasure, is it written for ACKS but compatible with other systems.
It is still worth a review as it is close to being in competitive form, and thus useful to the DM reading this!
What is my judgement?
Does is respect my time, intelligence, and taste as a dungeon master?
Other than the treasure maps this is a quick and clear adventure. There is a riddle present which hints to the players how they solve the puzzle, but it does not overexplain itself tot he DM. The theme of a sea sage is tastefully executed, this feels like a real place and not a gimmick.
Does it offer a good challenge and proportional reward to the players?
As revealed in the introduction the reward is way out of proportion to the challenge. The staff of elemental water holds 30 charges of water themed spells of up to 6th level, an item of tremendous potency and value. I love the detail that it's kept in a lead lockbox (shaped like a gun case!), it seems very obvious that magic-users would use these a lot to protect their valuables from X-ray vision and other detection spells. The riddle to pass through the wall (bring the boat to the sea horse statue, it belches water to push the boat through the wall into the small pool) can be solved in minutes, and while the waiting water elemental is a nasty encounter for an unprepared party it should not daunt even a mid level party. Reduce the reward and it becomes proportional. The stirges nesting in the boat? I nearly forgot to mention them, but they could serve to keep a low level party from even attempting the riddle and meeting certain death on solving it. Blood sucking mercy!
Does it offer shortcuts and treasure for the brave and clever player?
The main treasure requires both some bravery and cleverness to solve. The water elemental being sick of its long service as guardian is noted as automatically failing any attempt to dispel it back to its home sphere. It seems unlikely the players could figure this out unless dialogue is somehow initiated before the encounter or it is revealed thrugh diviniation or other such means.
Does it punish stupid and cowardly players with the loss of life, opportunity, or resources?
Overly cautious players might let the boat pass through the wall unmanned, in which case they won't find the treasure at all (till they get another boat?). There is also no mention how the players are able to get out of the study once they are in. The merciful dungoen master would allow the boat to pass out the same was it came in, I think this might be an oversight of the author.
In conclusion
So this one is obviously not the winner; it has been disqualified, and is a poor fit for most of the judgement criteria. I still think it's a worthwhile lair to keep in your library. Other than the treasure, it seems nearly effortless to execute as the dungeon master, likely memorable for the players both for the puzzle and the oceanic theming. Fritcher told me he originally intended to write a whole line of similar treasure caches before other projects ate his time, seeing how this one turned out I think such a compilation would be highly sought after by discerning DMs. For now it'll join the growing collection here.
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