E5 — The Sealed Stair
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.