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I used the Rotating Rings puzzle in a temple ruins dungeon. The rings needed to be aligned to open the way to alter room. This was their final destination in the dungeon. The disk and 2 of the 4 rings were missing from the mechanism in the room before the alter room. There were murals on the wall showing what the completed puzzle should look like. There was a clue scrawled on the walls of the room from a previous adventurer. For flavor, I had her skeleton and a leather journal written by her in the corner of the room. The "clue" scrawled on the wall was:

To reach the final room, you've solved the puzzle fine,
With rotating disks and rings that spun in line.
Now gaze upon the Queen's face, so dark and grand,
And speak the phrase, 'My Queen', as you bend to her command.

Player characters could use investigation (or anything else you deem appropriate). For example, I had a PC with stone cunning that helped reassemble the stone ring puzzle I allowed the double proficiency bounus even though it was not about the history of the stone. I narrated it as they were able to figure out how the mechanism partially worked.

In the adventurers' journal there were two additional parts to the "clue".

Beware the wrong words, for a monster will arise,
And attack with vengeance in its fiery eyes.
So pair your words with actions and do it right,
Or face a beast that preys upon your fright.

But if you solve the puzzle with few moves to spare,
A path to treasure will open, if you dare.
Stand before the Queen and speak with grace serene,
'A gift for my Queen', to enter the treasure scene.

To enter the alter room the disk and ring puzzle must be completed. Then they must bow to the Queen and speak the phrase "My Queen". To open the way to the vault the puzzle must be completed, but they must stand and look at the Queen at speak the phrase "A gift for my Queen". Using the wrong phrase or action caused a red dragon to appear. Depending the party level and if you want to let them flee a wyrmling to ancient red dragon. I was going to summon an adult red dragon, for a level 11 party but allow them to flee but with less hair than when the entered the room.