Tier 2 – The Shadow Thief of Eldoria’s Christmas Market

**Tier 2 play**

As the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and violet, the bustling streets of Eldoria's Christmas market hum with excitement. Stalls brimming with enchanted trinkets, aromatic food, and mesmerizing lights create a festive atmosphere that captivates visitors from all corners of the realm. However, amidst the joy and laughter, a deep-seated unease permeates the air.

The adventurers find themselves at the heart of this market when a sudden and chilling scream pierces through the festive sounds. A young girl, clutching a tattered doll, rushes toward them, her eyes wide with fear. "Help! The shadows are stealing our joy!" she cries, pointing toward a darkened alley where the light seems to struggle to penetrate.

Drawn by curiosity and a sense of duty, the party investigates the alley. As they turn the corner, they are met by the sight of twisted shadows coiling around the edges of the market stalls, stealing the warmth and happiness from the festivities. At the center of this chaos stands Lurthax, a shadowy figure cloaked in darkness, with glowing red eyes that pierce the gloom. This wretched creature feeds on laughter and light, seeking to plunge Eldoria into an eternal night.

**Lurthax, the Shadow Thief**

– **AC:** 15

– **HP:** 85

– **Speed:** 40 ft.

– **Attack:** Shadow Tendril (Melee): +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d8 + 4 necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on attack rolls until the end of their next turn.

**Abilities:**

– **Shadow Meld:** Lurthax can become invisible in dim light or darkness until it attacks or is in bright light.

– **Joy Drain:** As an action, Lurthax can target one creature within 30 ft. that it can see. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or lose 1d4 from its maximum hit points until it finishes a long rest. Lurthax regains hit points equal to the amount lost.

**Environment:**

The alley is littered with magical remnants of joy—the remnants of festive lights, laughter echoes, and enchanted decorations. As the party engages Lurthax, they can interact with the environment, using the leftover magical items to empower their skills or create distractions.

**Objective:**

The party must defeat Lurthax to restore joy to the market. Along the way, they can gather clues from the frightened market-goers who whisper of strange occurrences leading up to this event—a disappearance of laughter and a growing sense of dread.

**Conclusion:**

Once Lurthax is defeated, the shadows dissipate, and the warmth returns to the market. The girl, now beaming with joy, leads the party back to the center where thanks and celebrations begin anew. The adventurers can partake in the festivities, receiving small tokens of gratitude and magic-infused gifts from grateful vendors, and perhaps even a deeper mystery hinting at further adventures in Eldoria.

As the moon rises high in the sky, the joyous sounds of the Christmas market echo in the night, now filled with laughter and light once more.