Tier 2 – The Heart of Aeloria (1)
**Tier 2 play**
In the flourishing realm of Eldoria, where the air is thick with the scent of sweet blossom and magic hums softly in the hearts of its inhabitants, a new threat emerges. In the once-peaceful town of Willowdale, whispers of dark happenings have begun to stir unease among the people. A legendary artifact, known as the Heart of Aeloria, has gone missing from the town’s sacred shrine, and an ominous presence is rumored to have taken residence in the nearby Elderwood Forest.
You, brave adventurers, are summoned by the town's mayor, a stout dwarf named Balin Stoneheart, who seeks your aid in recovering the heart and dispelling the sinister force plaguing their home. As you gather around the mayor’s oaken table, he explains that strange shadows flit through the trees at dusk, and villagers have reported seeing eerie lights dancing in the underbrush at night. With words of dread swirling about, it is up to you to uncover the mystery of the Heart of Aeloria's disappearance and confront the forces behind it.
With your journey ahead, you set out towards Elderwood Forest, the canopy overhead thick with emerald leaves that filter the sunlight into a shimmering green hue. As you venture deeper, the atmosphere grows dense with magic and an unyielding tension. The sounds of nature dim, and the rustle of leaves seems almost intentional, creating an eerie quiet save for the distant cawing of crows.
As you navigate winding pathways, you come across clues scattered along the forest floor: torn pieces of a map that hint at a hidden glade, faint traces of a struggle, and remnants of magical sigils burned into the grass. Each piece pulls you closer towards the hidden secrets of Elderwood.
Suddenly, you stumble upon a clearing bathed in a silvery glow. In the center lies an ancient stone altar, and resting atop it is the Heart of Aeloria, its luminescence pulsing in tune with the rhythmic beat of your hearts. But before you can approach, the shadows around you coalesce into a fearsome figure—the Elder Shade, a corrupted guardian of the forest.
### Elder Shade
– **Race:** Shadowy Entity
– **Armor Class:** 15
– **Hit Points:** 45 (6d10 + 12)
– **Speed:** 30 ft., Fly 60 ft. (hover)
– **Abilities:**
– **Strength:** 14 (+2)
– **Dexterity:** 16 (+3)
– **Constitution:** 14 (+2)
– **Intelligence:** 10 (+0)
– **Wisdom:** 12 (+1)
– **Charisma:** 18 (+4)
– **Attacks:**
– **Shadow Strike:** Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) necrotic damage.
– **Shadowy Grasp (Recharge 5-6):** The Elder Shade can attempt to grapple a creature within 30 feet as a bonus action. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be restrained until the end of its next turn.
As you engage with the Elder Shade, it calls upon the very shadows of the forest to aid in its defense, producing a number of lesser shadowy minions to take shape all around you. The tension rises as you battle not just for the Heart of Aeloria but for the very fate of Willowdale.
As the dust settles and victory is achieved, you recuperate the Heart of Aeloria. With the artifact secured and the Elder Shade dispelled, the balance of the forest is restored. You return triumphant, having saved the town from encroaching darkness, but with questions lingering about what further secrets the Elderwood may conceal.
Prepare your dice, gather your players, and let the adventure begin!