The Scales of Alchemical Penitence
A massive set of golden scales dominates the center of a circular vault. Ornate bronze pipes run from the ceiling into glass reservoirs flanking the scales. These reservoirs are filled with a shimmering, volatile liquid known as Pure Truth, which reacts violently to the presence of those deemed unworthy by the vault's enchantments.
The Scales of Alchemical Penitence
Defenses
Detection
“The room features white marble floors stained with iridescent residue. The scales themselves are twenty feet tall, featuring etched iconography of a weeping eye on each tray. The air smells sharply of ozone and sulfur.”
Standard Engagement
The trap activates when a creature weighing more than 50 pounds steps onto the floor of the vault without speaking the pass-phrase 'Justice is Blind'.
On initiative count 20, the Scales of Alchemical Penitence act. First, the room fills with Mist of Truth. Second, the scales lurch toward the heaviest creature. Third, the reservoirs begin to overflow.
The trap automatically resets after 1 hour once the room is empty of living creatures and the reservoirs have been refilled via the hidden pipes.
The reservoirs vent a golden gas. Every creature in the room must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, taking 7 (2d6) poison damage and 7 (2d6) radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success.
The scales swing toward the creature with the highest current HP. That creature must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone and restrained (escape DC 14) under a falling tray, taking 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage.
On the third round of combat, the reservoirs overflow. The floor becomes difficult terrain as the liquid spreads. Any creature that ends its turn on the floor takes 5 (1d10) acid damage.
If a creature places a holy symbol of a lawful neutral or lawful good deity on the lighter tray of the scale, the DC for all saving throws against this hazard is reduced by 2.
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