9. Portcullis Trap

This very odd room consists of a thirty-foot- square main section with a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-deep alcove in the center of the far wall. The main room appears empty, but you think you see something at the far end of the alcove. At the far end of the alcove (area 9a) is a large urn containing 479 sp and 69 gp in loose coins, with a wand of polymorph (with 3 charges remaining) lying on top of the pile. However, just touching the urn has a 1-2 on 1d6 chance of triggering a portcullis trap, which falls covering the opening of the alcove. Actually moving the urn, including of course dumping it out, will automatically activate the trap. The portcullis is heavy, requiring a total of 40 Strength points to lift it; no more than three characters can work together lifting it, and those lifting it cannot exit without dropping it again. Should the falling portcullis threaten anyone under it, the threatened individual receives a save vs. Death Ray with Dexterity bonus applied; failure means the portcullis has inflicted 2d6 points of damage and has trapped the victim under its weight.