The heroes face a magically locked door or gate–there isn’t even a door knob. Examination finds some light scratches in a faint pattern that can’t quite be identified but which make it clear that a symbol has been regularly traced on the door as the means to open it.

A search of the area finds three or four symbols on the walls & floor that are good candidates. If a character draws a symbol on the door…

• If the symbol is traced with something other than the bare hand of a living creature, nothing happens.
• If the symbol is correct, the door will open.
• If the symbol is incorrect, the door will deliver 1d4 hp of electrical damage. Electricity can arc to the character no matter how quickly they try to draw away.

Examples of Symbols

Variations

As a hint, you might create a drawing that just has bits of the correct symbol. Then the players can say things like “See how this part is kind of round? It can’t be any of the triangle ones.”

You may wish to give some further hint, such as an image of a door in a mural with the correct symbol on it. This can be in the same room or in the previous room. Or another room can display several symbols in some other way, perhaps even labeling them Life, Death, Entry, Magic, etc., as a clue to the one needed for entry. These might even feature in other places, where a different symbol is helpful.

The problem can also just be a matter of trial and error. The scratches are too faint to give a clue, but there are several symbols in a mural that might be the right one. (It still needs to somehow be clear that a symbol must be drawn on the door in order to open it.)