E1 — The Ash Intake
S1-E1 — Ash Intake Challenge: Read and Turn the Wheels
Primary CheckPerception or Crafting DC 16 to identify a matched pair; Thievery or Athletics DC 16 to turn the wheel.
The party reads the ash-marks stamped around the cistern, identifies which two wheels form a pair, and turns the matching intake wheel against the flood. Each successful turn sends the correct mark downstream toward S1-E3 — The Twelvefold Sump and reveals the next pair. Achieve 2 successes before 2 failures. After each failure, the water rises one step; at 2 failures, the intake floods and the party spends 1 round clearing the channel before continuing.
Critical SuccessThe wheel locks cleanly. Count 2 successes, reveal the next mark, and the operator avoids the surge.
SuccessThe correct mark travels toward S1-E3 — The Twelvefold Sump and the next pair becomes visible.
FailureThe wrong mark floods the channel and raises the water one step. Count 1 failure.
Critical FailureThe wheel jams and sprays the operator with scalding ash-water. Count 1 failure and increase the water level immediately.