The Threefold Veil

You enter a circular temple chamber of black basalt, where red candles burn without smoke and the air tastes faintly of iron and dust. Three waist-high stone discs face a sealed altar, each marked with shifting symbols beneath a golden pointer. Faded murals circle the room: a rising sun, a red bowl, gray ash, and a black door. As you approach, the altar gives a low heartbeat-like thrum, and hairline cracks glow crimson around the discs.

Back to Generator

Create your own Puzzle

Puzzle EntryLogic PuzzleLevel4Simple

The Threefold Veil

4LevelSimpleDifficultyLogic PuzzleType

LevelLevel 4

DifficultySimple

TypeLogic Puzzle

Components4 parts

Time LimitThe party has 10 minutes before the temple's distant warning gong sounds. The gong does not make the puzzle impossible, but it alerts nearby cult guards, who arrive 5 minutes later if the party has not opened the altar.

Primary DCDC 13

Quick Reference

Type

Logic Puzzle

Difficulty

Simple

Level

Time Limit

The party has 10 minutes before the temple's distant warning gong sounds. The gong does not make the puzzle impossible, but it alerts nearby cult guards, who arrive 5 minutes later if the party has not opened the altar.

Primary DC

DC 13

Checks

InvestigationDC 12
Notice that the three rotating discs are connected to the altar and that each has one symbol highlighted by a faint red groove.
ReligionDC 12
Recall that the cult's murals use Dawn, Blood, and Ash as a ritual progression from awakening to sacrifice to purification.
ArcanaDC 13
Understand that the altar's phrase describes sequence, not selection, and that the final line identifies the needed order.
PerceptionDC 10
Recognize that the scratches around the Dawn disc show it is intended to be turned first, while the Blood disc has fresh wax on its middle position.

Overview

Discovery

The party discovers the puzzle when the altar remains sealed and a ring of crimson writing illuminates around the three discs. The writing can be read in Common, though some words are worn away.

Puzzle Handout

what the players see

The Inscription of the Veiled Hand

Three acts wake the sleeping gate.

First, call the light that finds the lost.

Next, give the red gift freely poured.

Last, leave only what flame cannot keep.

The dark mouth opens for the work completed.

Turn the hands in the order of the acts, then press the mark of the faithful.

The Four Symbols

☼ Dawn
◉ Blood
✧ Ash
▣ Black Door

The Murals

The sun rises over a kneeling figure.
A red bowl is lifted toward the altar.
Gray ash falls across an empty bowl.
A black door opens beneath a crimson eye.

The Three Discs

Each disc may show one symbol beneath the gold pointer.

Disc One: ☼ ◉ ✧ ▣ Disc Two: ☼ ◉ ✧ ▣ Disc Three: ☼ ◉ ✧ ▣

When the sequence is ready, press the handprint on the altar.

Glyph Chart

Glyph	Meaning	Category
☼	Dawn, awakening, the first act	Ritual Phase
◉	Blood, the freely poured gift, the second act	Offering
✧	Ash, what remains after the flame, the final act	Ritual Phase
▣	Black Door, the opened gate and result of the ritual	Result

Visual sheet

Turn The Threefold Veil into a sheet

A high-res, share-ready sheet you can post or print.

Gallery

No gallery images yet.