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Mirror Maze Mayhem – A 10th-Level 5e D&D Skill Challenge

Introduction

Greetings, brave adventurers, and welcome to Mirror Maze of Mayhem, a 5e D&D skill challenge for 10th-level characters in 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons (5e D&D). Prepare yourselves for an otherworldly adventure as you find your party ensnared within a mystifying and enchanting labyrinth of mirrors. This ethereal construct is fraught with beguiling illusions, bewildering misdirections, and concealed hazards. Your only hope for survival? Maneuver through a series of magical mirrors, each presenting a distinct skill-based challenge. The ultimate objective is to conquer each challenge to locate the elusive exit mirror that leads you out of this confounding maze. But be warned, failure carries dire consequences.

Challenge Structure

Every mirror within this arcane maze will test your party’s abilities. You have the freedom to choose which skills to employ based on your party’s unique strengths and abilities. The Difficulty Class (DC) for each skill check is set at 15, but remember, it can be adjusted based on your party’s capabilities and choices. If you falter in a skill check, brace yourselves for the consequences described for each mirror.

Let’s delve into the mirror challenges that lie ahead:

Mirror of Perception

As you enter the initial chamber, you are greeted by an array of mirrors mounted on walls, floors, and even the ceiling. This creates a disorienting environment where you must rely on your Perception skill to observe the subtle disparities in the mirror images keenly. Your goal is to identify the mirror that reveals the true path forward.

Success Description: After meticulous scrutiny, you pinpoint the correct mirror. With unwavering confidence, you step through it, and the maze shifts, bringing you one step closer to escape.

Failure Description: Despite your best efforts, the subtle distinctions elude you. You choose a mirror that appears correct, but a psychic backlash overwhelms your senses, momentarily disorienting you and dealing 2d6 psychic damage.

Mirror of Agility

In the second challenge, the mirror chamber is a labyrinth of narrow, winding passages that demand agility to navigate. The mirrors create the illusion of endless corridors, but concealed traps and pitfalls lurk everywhere. Here, your Acrobatics skill will be put to the test as you balance on narrow ledges, leap over pressure plates, and swing from precarious handholds.

Success Description: Your nimble acrobatic prowess guides you through the treacherous passages. You elegantly swing across chasms, adeptly evade concealed traps, and leap to safety with precision. As you traverse the final mirror, you heave a sigh of relief.

Failure Description: A miscalculated leap or an unseen pressure plate sends you tumbling into a concealed pit or triggers a hidden trap, dealing 2d8 bludgeoning damage and leaving you momentarily stunned.

Mirror of Puzzle Solving

A colossal mirror in the third chamber looms, reflecting a complex and cryptic puzzle. To progress, you must engage your Investigation skill to carefully inspect the mirrored puzzle and collaborate to decipher its enigmatic secrets.

Success Description: Your party unravels the intricate puzzle after meticulous examination and collaboration. The mirror shimmers and fades away, unveiling the true path beyond. You step through, and the maze transforms, presenting a new set of mirrors.

Failure Description: The puzzle remains unsolved, and frustration mounts as symbols or objects shift and rearrange themselves, sowing chaos. Suddenly, the mirror erupts with force energy, dealing 2d8 force damage and knocking you back.

Mirror of Charisma

Your party encounters a mirror reflecting your innermost personalities and desires. To proceed, you must engage in persuasive conversations with your mirrored selves, convincing them to step aside and unveil the correct path.

Success Description: Your party’s persuasive abilities shine as you engage in convincing conversations with your mirrored selves. They nod in agreement, allowing you to pass through unimpeded.

Failure Description: Your persuasive conversation takes a wrong turn. Your mirrored selves become obstinate and uncooperative, refusing to step aside. As tensions escalate, a psychic backlash ensues, dealing 2d6 psychic damage.

Mirror of Strength

In this chamber, a colossal mirror reflects what appears to be an impenetrable barrier blocking your path. You must use your Strength (Athletics) skill to shatter or push the mirror aside to progress.

Success Description: You shatter the seemingly solid mirror barrier with raw, brute strength. The shattered glass falls away, unveiling the hidden path. Your muscles ache from the effort, but you forge ahead.

Failure Description: Despite your efforts, the mirror barrier remains unbroken. You strain against it, suffering 2d10 slashing damage from cuts and abrasions inflicted by your struggle.

Mirror of Time

Within this chamber lies a mirror that distorts time, causing reflections to move at varying speeds. To proceed, you must rely on your Wisdom (Insight) skill to discern the temporal distortions and choose the precise moment to pass through.

Success Description: Your keen insight into the temporal distortions serves you well. You select the right moment to step through the mirror, and as you do, the temporal distortions dissipate, leaving you in a chamber untouched by the maze’s time manipulation. You have triumphed over the challenge of time.

Failure Description: You miscalculate the timing of your passage through the temporal distortions. As you step into the mirror, you briefly become ensnared in a perilous time warp. Your body ages momentarily, and you suffer 2d8 necrotic damage from the temporal dissonance.

Mirror of Arcana

In a chamber brimming with arcane symbols, you must rely on your Intelligence (Arcana) skill to decipher the magic that empowers the mirrors. By understanding the enchantments, you can manipulate the mirrors to reveal the true path.

Success Description: Your party’s profound comprehension of magic enables you to decipher the arcane symbols and manipulate the mirrors’ enchantments with precision. The enchantments shimmer and dissipate, allowing you to continue your journey through the maze.

Failure Description: Your attempts to decipher and manipulate the mirror’s magic go awry. The arcane symbols become increasingly chaotic, and the mirror responds by unleashing a burst of fiery energy. Flames scorch you, dealing 2d10 fire damage as the mirror’s magic resists your control.

Mirror of Reflection

The final mirror appears to be a dead end, concealing a hidden doorway that can be manipulated with skill. To proceed, you must employ your Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) skill to expertly manipulate the mirror’s surface, revealing the hidden path.

Success Description: Your deft hands skillfully manipulate the final mirror’s surface, unveiling the hidden doorway. As you pass through it, you hear a faint click as the mirror reverts to its original state. You have successfully outwitted the maze’s final challenge, and the path is clear.

Failure Description: Your attempts to manipulate the final mirror’s surface end in failure. With a resounding noise, the mirror alerts nearby guardians, and you are caught in a burst of thunderous energy, dealing 2d6 thunder damage. The guardians, now alerted, prepare to confront you.

Additional Consequence for 5 Failures Before 8 Successes

As you successfully complete the final mirror challenge, the echoes of your previous failures continue to haunt you. Suddenly, the mirrors that surround you shatter into countless shards, hurtling toward you with astonishing force. You must make Dexterity saving throws (DC 15) to evade being struck.

Failed Save: On a failed save, you are pelted by the flying shards, enduring 10d10 slashing damage as they slice into your flesh.

Successful Save: On a successful save, you skillfully evade most of the shards, enduring only half of the damage.

This additional consequence serves as a final test of your agility and reflexes, underscoring the significance of successfully navigating the mirror challenges and the perils of failure within the Mirror Maze.

Prepare yourselves, adventurers, for a maze of mirrors that will scrutinize your skills, intellect, and teamwork. With careful planning and a touch of luck, you can emerge triumphant and escape the enigmatic Mirror Maze!

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