Just Thinking... The Gate of Glass Problem

Just thinking excises to keep that gaming flavor going..

It’s that time again, where I find a prompt from the Donjon site and see what I can do with it. Today was a prophecy:

Prophecies: Upon the second day of the reign of Faith, when the Gate of Glass is opened, the Mirror of Witchcraft shall be lost.

This one made me look.. and then look again. Its interesting. Its funny because prophecies in games is like handing someone a knife, but not telling them which side is up and they’ll have to figure out the way to use it to cut.

Hmm..

Thinking about the timing first. “Second day of the eight of Faith” ← countdown? Some will claim something? a throne? Somehow need to make sure the players get this. They need to feel pressure of the time moving forward. The reign of Faith needs to be in motion as they arrive onto the scene. Maybe… MAYBE a coronation is happening, about to happen or is in motion? nods Yes that will work.

The Gate of Glass. It needs to be defined.

I would make it an actual location. What could it be? Maybe a giant crystal arch, in a ruins under a palace somewhere? A place forgotten by most, except save for a Cleric or two. nods Yes, that’ll do.

Players can go there. Players can open it. If they do, something happens? If they wait, someone else will.

The Mirror of Witchcraft is the cost. Or the bait? I would not explain it up front, why would I?

Someone wants it gone. Someone else would kill for it. Maybe the mirror shows true names? Maybe it steals years off a life? Either way, if the mirror disappears, someone profits.

I imagine the party standing in a crystal chamber, torchlight bouncing, and the gate flaring open. A black-robed figure waits on the other side with a hand out. Face obscured but he shadows, but he smiles, not a smile they can see, but they can feel. This is exactly how he planned it. The players can fight, run, or bargain. Every choice hurts someone. That is the right tension. nods

I like that this prophecy tempts them to solve it. They will want to find the mirror or stop the loss. But maybe the best move is to leave it alone. That is the trap.

I am not sure I would make the prophecy true in a literal way. Players should decide how it lands. Maybe the mirror is only lost if they open the gate. Maybe the prophecy was a lie to get them to do it. That is better play.

Eh.. that’s just what I was thinking… how say you?