Clues, Cages, and Offerings | Free Puzzle for D&D 5e and Pathfinder 2e

Designed by Megan L. Garner
Pathfinder 2e conversion by Zac Chaney

A cage of animals, a cryptic set of signs, and a single key that stands between the party and their path forward—but solving this puzzle may demand an unexpected sacrifice. In this twisted menagerie, a starving lion, a sluggish serpent, a jittery gerbil, and a watchful monkey each hide a piece of the solution, while an ordinary-looking plum might be more than it appears. Should the players rush in blindly, they may doom themselves to failure, but if they can unravel the hidden connections between the creatures, they just might unlock their escape—without bloodshed.

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Clues, Cages, Offerings - 5e

Difficulty: hard

Different creatures sit in cages in a sorry excuse for a menagerie: a lion, a snake, a gerbil, and a monkey. One holds the key to the next room, but which one could it be?

Puzzle Features

There are five cages in this room, holding a lion, a snake, a gerbil, a monkey, and a plum. All cages have bars arranged in a tight crosshatch so characters cannot reach their hands through. The lion, monkey, and plum cages are locked, while the gerbil and snake cages are not. The animals behave as follows:

• The lion watches the characters while copiously drooling.
• The snake, sluggish and sickened, appears generally uninterested in the characters.
• The gerbil seems anxious to be let out of its cage but otherwise acts normally.
• The monkey watches the characters intently.
• The plum appears normal.

Each cage except for the plum’s has a sign with a phrase written on it, hinting at secrets about the creatures and cages:

• The sign on the lion cage reads: “My jaws clamp around the key to the most familiar face.”

◦    Hidden information: A key to the monkey cage is in the lion’s mouth, attached to a bit.

• The sign on the monkey cage reads: “Remain a friend and find the way forward.”

◦    Hidden information: No animals need to be harmed during this puzzle. The monkey wears the key to the way forward around its neck, attached to a thread necklace.

• The sign on the snake cage reads: “Serpents bring forth forbidden fruit. Though, first, an offering may be required.”

◦    Hidden information: The snake has swallowed several plums and will regurgitate them if offered more food.

• The sign on the gerbil cage reads: “My fate is sealed, and so too I seal the fate of those who hunt me.”

◦    Hidden information: The key to the lion cage is buried under the hay at the bottom of this cage. Also, the gerbil is the “key” to causing the snake to regurgitate.

If the characters free the lion from its cage or harm or kill any of the other creatures, the monkey will become hostile and start shrieking. She will not accept a plum or hand over her key in that state. If they open the snake’s cage, this will not cause the monkey anxiety, as the snake is too sluggish to escape. The GM should roleplay the monkey as becoming agitated if the characters discuss or make obvious moves to harm one of the creatures.

Solution

Cause the snake to regurgitate some plums by offering it the gerbil. The characters can retrieve the gerbil from the unlocked cage and offer it to the snake, whose cage is also unlocked. The snake will remain sluggish, so the characters can retrieve a plum without being attacked or the gerbil eaten. They can offer the plum to the monkey, who will unlock her cage and offer them her key.

Whether or not the players wish to free these poor creatures after the puzzle is solved is up to their characters’ attitudes and alignment.

Hint Checks

Wisdom (Nature) DC 5. The lion is starving. Opening its cage may cause problems you’d rather avoid.

Wisdom (Perception) DC 10. When you near the caged plum, the monkey perks up with interest.

Intelligence (Investigation) DC 10. You can pick the lock on the lion’s cage. The monkey’s cage unlocks from the inside. The plum cage has no door and no lock.

Wisdom (Nature) DC 10. The bulges in the snake’s stomach are about the same size as the plum.

Wisdom (Nature) DC 15. You recall snakes may regurgitate if they are sick or overfed.

Customizing the Puzzle

This menagerie may be at a noble’s estate, a wizard’s home, or a particularly cruel and unusual zoo. The monkey’s key can open the next door of a dungeon, a treasure chest, or some other lock—it is up to the GM.

Raising the Difficulty. Remove the plaques from the cages so that the characters must observe the animals to discern more.