The door to this 30-foot by 30-foot room stands open, allowing characters to easily see its interior and the large, obsidian statue dominating it. The carving is a twelve- foot tall, polished obsidian representation of a human hand and forearm, reaching, ceilingward from a foot-tall, granite dais on the floor. Letters carved into the palm glow with an eldritch, sapphire light. The illuminated carving reads as follows: "I'll accuse you, or call you, Or tell you 'just one.' With my four friends I'll fight you, But never alone." More glowing carving in the base of the statue reads, "Mindlessness." The object for which the statue is apparently reaching is a giant, brass door handle in the ceiling. The ceiling here is 15' up. GameMaster: When the characters enter this room, the door will slam shut and lock behind them (My, but that seems to be catching). They will be trapped in this area until they correctly answer the riddle inscribed on the statue. The correct answer is "pointer finger, or "index finger." A wrong answer spoken at the statue earns a vigorous and deadly swat. The statue is capable of some reach - magically extending the rest of its arm into the room to paste wrong-answering victims. It will resume its original posture after each swat and await a correct answer. If a correct answer is given, the hand will reach up and grasp the brass door handle in the ceiling. It will then pull on the handle, unfolding a secret staircase up to area 21. The outer door will only open after the feather from area 21 has been retrieved. Score Chart +8 For player giving the correct answer to the riddle. -8 For dying in this room. +5 For best role player. More Code of the Rats Introductory Fantasy Adventure Introduction Adventure Set Up 1. Entry Room 2. Room of Abstinence 3. Room of Peace 4. Room of Forethought 5. Pit Trap 6. Wolves and Sheep 7. Dank and Dark 8. Room of Humor and Wisdom 9. Room of Caution 10. The Lone Plaque 11. Hall of Consistency 12. Mud-Filled Room 13. Room of Questioning 14. The Portcullis 15. Room of Reversal 16. Room of Trust 17. Room of Power 18. Room of Disunity 19. The Darkened Hallway 20. Room of Mindlessness 21. Room of Acceptance 22. The Rotating Tunnel 23. The Refreshments 24. Lemmings Leap 25. If Left is not Right 26. Room of Day 27. Room of Cogitation 28. A Locked Door 29. Room of Illogic 30. Room of Dishonesty Epilogue Map of the Dungeon Back to Shadis #21 Table of Contents Back to Shadis List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master List of Magazines © Copyright 1995 by Alderac Entertainment Group This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com