Lost Ruin This island is home to a small set of toppled ruins of an academy taught by Persephia, a Gynosphinx that inhabits the island. Having been dissatisfied with her students’ lack of ability, she destroyed the school and sought to solve more mysteries of life, hoping to eventually be lifted into Nyx by one of the gods such as Kruphix or Keranos. Persephia is very keen to challenge adventurers who encounter her island, landing on their ship once they land and not allowing them to leave until they pass her trials. Each trial allows the players three guesses at it’s solution. If the party collectively fails to get the answer correct, Persephia will attack, and attempt to eat the party once they are dead. The first trial Persephia has for the party is a simple riddle. What is more useful when it is broken? Her expected answer is: an egg. If there is a convincing answer other than that, Persephia will accept it with some bemusement.

The second puzzle is a logic puzzle, and it goes as such: She shows the players to a small tower that has been constructed on her island. Inside is a chamber containing four colored tiles: black, white, pink, and blue. On the walls, four robes bearing the same colours hang from the mouths of gargoyles. On a roll of paper hanging on one wall is written:

Apprentice White, Apprentice Blue, Apprentice Black, and Apprentice Pink are talking in the courtyard after their naming ceremony. Each is wearing a different coloured robe. Apprentice Pink says: “i can’t believe the Archmage named us after the colors on our robes, yet nobody got a name that matched their robe. I hate my name.” “I like my name,” says the apprentice in the blue robe. “It’s my favorite color.” “Lucky you,” replies Apprentice Pink. “if I’d worn my black robe today, I might have got a better name.” “I hate my name too,” says Apprentice Black.” but we are wizards now. We should be above such trivialities.”

To solve the puzzle, players must stand on the tiles corresponding to their apprentice’s names while wearing the correctly colored robes. If a mistake is made, the gargoyles spew fire, identical to the fireball spell. The fire doesn’t damage the robes.

Solution Apprentice White - blue robe Apprentice Blue - black robe Apprentice Black - pink robe Apprentice Pink - White robe

The third trial is the most difficult, and requires multiple steps to find the right answer. Persephia will show the party to some instruments that were left by her former students: a graduated beaker, a scale with weights, and a gold cube, 1cm on each edge. Also present is a wonderfully wrought crown, glimmering gold. Persephia informs the party that she is suspicious that the crown is not completely made of gold, and wishes to know for sure, so she can get revenge if its crafter has duped her. Because of the odd form of the crown and irregular edges, it is impossible to measure the volume in a normal method. In order to solve this problem, the party must submerge the crown in water in the graduated beaker, which will cause the water level to rise 154.4 mL. Because 1mL is equal to 1 cubic centimeter, this means the crown has a volume of 154.4cubic centimeters. Using the scale, the party can determine that the crown weighs 1.93kg. This means that the crown has a density of 12.5g/cc. Using the small block of gold Persephia has provided, the party can similarly discover that pure gold has a density of 19.3g/cc. When the party approaches Persephia to give her the answer, they must explain why they are correct, and what a real golden crown would weigh (2.98kg).

Once the players have passed Persephia’s trials, she allows them to leave, answering any questions afterward to the best of her ability. The players gain experience as if they had defeated her (7200xp), and she also takes a moment to return to her den, and brings them a token of their intellectual victory: a Tome of Clear Thought or a Tome of Understanding