Paradox Engine

A ring of shifting runes that has no business holding together — a logic that should collapse, kept whole by ancient will. Disturb the puzzle wrong and the contradiction lashes out as blades of cutting dark.

Slicing Shadows (reaction) (arcane, conjuration)

To disable: feel for the subtle vibrations as you slide a rune into place with expert Thievery (DC 41), work out the anagram puzzle by traditional means with expert Thassilon Lore (DC 33) or master Society (DC 38) while able to read Thassilonian, or dispel magic (7th level; counteract DC 34).

Level 14 · Complexity Complex

Stealth +0

Disable

• DC 41 (expert) — (expert) to feel the subtle vibrations when moving a rune to shift into the right position, or Thassilon Lore
• Society DC 33 (expert) — (expert) or Society
• DC 38 (master) — (master) while being able to read Thassilonian to work out the anagram puzzle using traditional means, or dispel magic (7th level; counteract
• DC 34

AC 36

HP 90 · Hardness 24

Immunities critical hits, object immunities, precision damage

Trigger The paradox engine is damaged, or a creature fails a check to disable it

Effect Slats on the sides of the box open to release beams of razor-sharp freezing darkness that swipe throughout area C5 and extend 10 feet south into area C4; all creatures in this area who lack the Shadow trait take 5d6 slashing damage and 5d6 cold damage (DC 34 basic Reflex save).

Reset The paradox engine deactivates 1 minute, and its owb prophet returns to its interior after all creatures leave the area, but resets immediately thereafter.