Maybe water can also be a weapon?

 

*****

 

---

Story:
Empowered by your new mastery over the Water Barrier spell, you rise from the shoreline and return to the towering entrance of the Temple of Tides. The runes above the arch glow faintly in response to your presence, recognizing your readiness.

You step inside.

Cool, damp air surrounds you as the stone walls close in behind. Gentle light filters through crystal-lined arches overhead, casting rippling reflections on the floor. Ahead lies a grand hall divided into three passages—each marked with different elemental sigils: Flow, Depth, and Pressure.

A faint sound of rushing water echoes from each corridor, but the energies within feel distinct.

---

Updated Stats:

• HP: 20 / 20
• EP: 10 / 10
• Elemental Strengths:
  • Air: 1
  • Water: 9
  • Fire: 1
  • Earth: 1
  • Spirit: 1
• Inventory:
  • Basic Adventurer Kit
  • Rations (3 packs)
  • Magical Revive Stones (3)
  • Orb of Purity
  • Adept’s Charm
  • Shimmering Amulet
  • Small pouch of coins (10 copper)
  • Fully Deciphered Scroll (Water Barrier)
• Spell Book:
  • Aqua Surge (Level 8 )
  • Water Barrier (Level 1)

---

Outcome of the Choice:
You’ve entered the Temple of Tides and discovered three elemental-themed paths, each likely tied to a different aspect of water.

---

Next Choices:

1. Enter the Flow Path – marked by gentle currents and graceful movement.
2. Enter the Depth Path – marked by dark waters and unseen pressure.
3. Enter the Pressure Path – marked by cascading falls and forceful magic.
4. Investigate the main hall for hidden mechanisms or lore.
5. Leave a water-marked sigil in the entrance to anchor your magic here.

Edited March 29Mar 29 by Ithillian Turambar

Hidden mechanisms and sigils sound like a bit of foreshadowing of things to come. Probably we should play it safe first, and then head for pressure? Does seem like the option that would be most useful?

Yeah, anyone else feeling this?

 

 

... fields and fields of black poppies...

Unsure if leaving the sigil sets our respawn point? Am voting it under that theory.

 

Edited to add:

 

1 hour ago, HeavyHalfMoonBlade said:

Hidden mechanisms and sigils sound like a bit of foreshadowing of things to come. Probably we should play it safe first, and then head for pressure? Does seem like the option that would be most useful?

 

I'm leaning set respawn -> investigate -> flow (I assume this is what you mean by play it safe?) Definitely think we're a bit fragile now so wouldn't run straight for pressure.

 

But when we do enter pressure, this should be our entrance theme 😤

 

Edited March 29Mar 29 by Aarenis

I think setting the sigil would be helpful.  Then maybe starting with flow.

Recommended theme song for when we water punch someone:

 

 

Time to horrify Zander 😛 

Oh, I want that donkey song from Encanto for the pressure chamber.

 

*****

 

---

Story:
Before venturing deeper, you kneel at the temple threshold and dip your fingers into a shallow basin where condensation gathers. With deliberate motion, you draw a sigil upon the smooth stone floor—a spiraling glyph of protection and presence, inscribed in water.

The mark pulses once with a soft glow, anchoring your essence to this place. You feel a gentle thread of magic tie you to the temple, ensuring that if danger arises, your connection here will remain.

---

Updated Stats:

• HP: 20 / 20
• EP: 10 / 10
• Elemental Strengths:
  • Air: 1
  • Water: 9
  • Fire: 1
  • Earth: 1
  • Spirit: 1
• Inventory:
  • Basic Adventurer Kit
  • Rations (3 packs)
  • Magical Revive Stones (3)
  • Orb of Purity
  • Adept’s Charm
  • Shimmering Amulet
  • Small pouch of coins (10 copper)
  • Fully Deciphered Scroll (Water Barrier)
• Spell Book:
  • Aqua Surge (Level 8 )
  • Water Barrier (Level 1)

---

Outcome of the Choice:
You created a personal water-marked sigil at the temple’s entrance, anchoring your magic here as a protective fallback or point of return.

---

Next Choices:

1. Enter the Flow Path – marked by gentle currents and graceful movement.
2. Enter the Depth Path – marked by dark waters and unseen pressure.
3. Enter the Pressure Path – marked by cascading falls and forceful magic.
4. Investigate the main hall for hidden mechanisms or lore.
5. Meditate briefly at the sigil to strengthen your connection.

Maybe we could also check for traps

 

 

Let's go with the flow,  cowabunga!!!!

7 minutes ago, Ithillian Turambar said:

Maybe we could also check for traps

That'd be #4 yeah? 

 

...Well, someone's got to occasionally vote for restraint rather than charging for the love of the butter knife.

It hasn't mentioned hidden traps until now. I feel there might be a reason for that. 

For the moment, the voices of caution arise, like a gentle murmur against the sound of falling water.

 

But, will caution truly prevail? Or will the tidal surge whisk our intrepid adventurer forward like the undertow?

 

FIND OUT LATER ON TODAY'S EPISODE OF DM MAFIA CYOA: WHOSE VOTE IS IT ANYWAY? where the dangers are made up and our element doesn't matter!

Dangers are made up but the game has suddenly asked if we want to set our spawn and check for hidden mechanisms 

 

*regular background music changes to danger music*

Us: "WE RIDE! FOR GONDOR!!! With a butter knife and a water bucket!!!"
Game: "There are hidden mechanisms and sigils. Also set your spawn point."
Us: "Tbh we can walk, right?"

1 sounds safest. 

VLDL... The gift that just keeps on giving

 

 

Why do I hear boss music? 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Ithillian Turambar said:

VLDL... The gift that just keeps on giving

 

Spoiler

Ben getting mauled by the rat just sent me 😂 Flashbacks to the Dread Rabbit of Caerbannog too.

 

Maybe we should pause a minute, save at this dungeon, and go pick up the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch just in case?

Edited March 29Mar 29 by Aarenis

We very wisely decide to check for mechanisms

 

---

Story:
You take time to examine the grand hall more closely, moving carefully between the crystal-lit pillars and along the smooth, damp walls. Faint carvings line the stone, mostly worn with age—but a few catch your eye. You brush away sediment and find symbols related to elemental focus and ritual pathways.

Near the center of the hall, beneath a raised dais, you uncover a small panel with a swirling design—a concealed mechanism. When touched, it clicks softly, revealing a circular recess and a set of matching runes that shimmer in time with your water magic.

It looks like this mechanism responds to specific combinations of elemental energy. If the right pattern is used, it might alter or unlock one of the temple paths.

---

Updated Stats:

• HP: 20 / 20
• EP: 10 / 10
• Elemental Strengths:
  • Air: 1
  • Water: 9
  • Fire: 1
  • Earth: 1
  • Spirit: 1
• Inventory:
  • Basic Adventurer Kit
  • Rations (3 packs)
  • Magical Revive Stones (3)
  • Orb of Purity
  • Adept’s Charm
  • Shimmering Amulet
  • Small pouch of coins (10 copper)
  • Fully Deciphered Scroll (Water Barrier)
• Spell Book:
  • Aqua Surge (Level 8 )
  • Water Barrier (Level 1)

---

Outcome of the Choice:
You discovered a hidden elemental mechanism beneath the dais that may unlock or reshape the temple paths based on your elemental attunement.

---

Next Choices:

1. Use your Water magic to activate the mechanism.
2. Try channeling mixed elemental energy (e.g., Water + Spirit).
3. Study the runes further to understand the mechanism's purpose.
4. Ignore the mechanism and continue to one of the three paths.
5. Mark the mechanism’s location and come back later.

1 or 3?

Well, I think we should look closer. 

5 minutes ago, Ithillian Turambar said:

• Try channeling mixed elemental energy (e.g., Water + Spirit).

Bruh we have 1 in Spirit what's that gonna do??? 😛 

 

Agree with Gudrean and Turin here wrt the narrowed options.

We check some more

 

---

Story:
You kneel beside the revealed mechanism and focus on the glowing runes. The circular pattern surrounding them pulses gently, echoing the rhythm of flowing water. With careful study, you begin to recognize the meaning behind the symbols—an ancient sequence tied to balance and elemental convergence.

The central rune reads “Only through stillness may the tide part.” You decipher that this mechanism isn’t simply a lock—it’s a test. If activated with the correct elemental intent, it may temporarily merge the qualities of multiple paths, unlocking a hidden chamber meant for those who walk in harmony with the elements.

The runes indicate a required resonance between Water and Spirit… which you currently lack the strength to fulfill.

---

Updated Stats:

• HP: 20 / 20
• EP: 10 / 10
• Elemental Strengths:
  • Air: 1
  • Water: 9
  • Fire: 1
  • Earth: 1
  • Spirit: 1
• Inventory:
  • Basic Adventurer Kit
  • Rations (3 packs)
  • Magical Revive Stones (3)
  • Orb of Purity
  • Adept’s Charm
  • Shimmering Amulet
  • Small pouch of coins (10 copper)
  • Fully Deciphered Scroll (Water Barrier)
• Spell Book:
  • Aqua Surge (Level 8 )
  • Water Barrier (Level 1)

---

Outcome of the Choice:
You decoded the mechanism and learned that it unlocks a hidden chamber, but it requires stronger attunement to the Spirit element in combination with Water.

---

Next Choices:

1. Use Water magic only to see if a lesser function activates.
2. Continue to the Flow Path and return later.
3. Begin building your connection to Spirit through meditation.
4. Mark the mechanism and proceed to explore another area.
5. Attempt a magical workaround using relics and focus.

Edited March 29Mar 29 by Ithillian Turambar

3 or 5

2 minutes ago, Gudrean said:

3 or 5

Concur.

 

I may be hitting the slow zen meditate stuff so often that it's overriding our reckless charge personality at this point.