E5 — The Sealed Stair
S2-E5 · Upper Level · Moderate lock hazard
The Sealed Stair
A stairwell descends through solid stone, but a black iron door bars the way. A keyhole glows with a coal-red outline and the lock clicks like a heartbeat.
The stair is the objective route to the mansion’s final level. It accepts the Ember Key from S2-E7, but clever characters can also open it by restoring the missing sequence of six house marks.
Success: The lock records the party’s progress and can be opened immediately if the Ember Key is later inserted.
Complication: The stair exhales heat and summons a moderate ash hazard. The lock resets, but the clues remain.
Delay clock: After each two rounds, one rune brightens and a distant stair begins descending toward the party. The sound creates urgency without sealing the encounter.
PF2e Challenge
The Sealed Stair Challenge
Primary CheckThievery, Arcana, Occultism, or Crafting DC 16
ProgressAchieve 3 successes before 2 failures. Every 2 rounds of delay adds one escalation, but never removes the route forward.
Critical SuccessThe lock records the correct sequence and the Ember Key will open it immediately.
SuccessThe party reconstructs enough of the sequence to continue working the lock.
FailureThe stair exhales heat and summons a moderate ash hazard; the clues remain.
Critical FailureThe rune sequence resets and a distant stair begins descending toward the party; the route is still recoverable.