The party finds an illusion covering a entrance in a canyon wall, leading to what appears to be empty desert. But Durkon's True Seeing and V's Greater Dispel Magic reveal the ziggurat which guards Girard's Gate.
Cast[]
- The Order of the Stick
- Mr. Scruffy ◀ ▶
- Blackwing ◀ ▶
- Yukyuk (dominated) ◀ ▶
Transcript[]
- Panel 1, Page 1
The party continues to explore the Windy Canyon
Belkar: OK, there.
Roy: From the rock face?
Belkar: Yeah, it’s blowing right in my face. Can’t you smell it?
Elan: Oh man, I can smell it! I must be part halfling!
- Panel 2, Page 1
Haley: I guess that’s a good sign, but I sorta expected Girard’s illusions to be…trickier.
Roy: The simplest illusions are often the best. We could have wandered for a week without finding this one spot.
- Panel 3, Page 1
Roy: Durkon, is there anyone on the other side getting ready to ambush us?
Durkon: Extended True Seeing!
Durkon: Na, lad, but I do see a passage. Wide ‘nuff to ride a horse thru.
- Panel 4, Page 1
Elan: Maybe I’m a half-halfling. Or a five-eighthling!
Belkar: Bah! You’re not cool enough to even be a nine-tenthling.
Haley: There could still be people hiding, just not with magic.
Roy: Agreed. On the count of three.
Roy: One… Two…
- Panel 5, Page 1
Roy: THREE!
Roy and Haley charge into the illusory rock face, followed by the rest of the party, weapons and spells ready.
- Panel 6, Page 1
The party stands facing a wide stretch of empty desert.
- Panel 7, Page 1
Roy: OK, well, let’s spread out and look for any hidden…I don’t know, stuff.
- Panel 8, Page 1
Durkon: Och, Roy! I see tha edge o’ sumthin’!
Durkon: Right thar!
Vaarsuvius: Greater Dispel Magic
- Panel 9, Page 1
As the party watches, a small cut stone appears as the illusion is dispelled.
- Panel 10, Page 1
More of the illusion fades away, revealing stone steps.
- Panel 1, Page 2
The entire illusion fades. A huge step pyramid or ziggurat with stairs on each side and surmounted by a stone structure stands in the desert in front of the party.
- Panel 2, Page 2
Roy: So…
Roy: Trap or Decoy?
Haley: I say… Trap.
D&D Context[]
- The Extend Spell feat doubles the duration of a spell.
- True Seeing lets a caster pierce through illusions, darkness, shapeshifting, etc. to see things as they truly are.
- Greater Dispel Magic is a 6th level spell which cancels magical effects.