Tier 2 – The Curse of the Night Serpent

**Tier 2 play**

As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the lush, sprawling fields of Eldoria, the air fills with the sweet scent of blooming nightshade and the distant sound of rustling leaves. The party finds themselves in the quaint village of Moonshade Hollow, a place known for its vibrant festivals and enchanting folklore. However, an unsettling pall has fallen over the village; the townsfolk whisper of a dark curse that has befallen their beloved protector, the Guardian of the Glade.

The Guardian, a majestic creature known as the Night Serpent, has been cursed to roam the woods as a fearsome beast by day, transforming back into a wise and gentle sage only at night. This transformation has created chaos in the village, as the daytime terror has frightened away travelers and disrupted the harvest. The villagers, desperate for help, beseech the party to lift the curse and restore peace.

### Adventure Hook:

The party begins their quest in the village tavern, where they overhear the local bard recounting the tale of the Night Serpent. The bard reveals that the curse was cast by a vengeful sorceress who resides in the Shadowed Grove, a forbidden part of the forest. To lift the curse, the party must seek out the sorceress and negotiate for the Guardian’s freedom—or defeat her if necessary.

### Exploration Component:

As the party ventures into the Shadowed Grove, they will navigate through a maze of twisted trees and shimmering magical barriers. The atmosphere grows thick with mystery, the air crackling with latent energy. They may encounter magical flora and fauna, such as luminescent flowers that reveal hidden paths or mischievous faeries that offer riddles for safe passage.

### Investigation Component:

The party can gather clues from the villagers about the sorceress’s weakness. They learn that she is bound to the power of the moon and that her magic wanes during a lunar eclipse. A wise elder hints that a rare artifact, the Moonstone Pendant, hidden within the Grove, can amplify their abilities during the confrontation.

### Enemy Encounter:

As the party reaches the heart of the Shadowed Grove, they confront the sorceress, a tall figure cloaked in shadows with piercing violet eyes. Her stats are as follows:

– **Name:** Sorceress Lythea

– **HP:** 60

– **AC:** 15

– **Spell Slots:** 3 (1st level), 2 (2nd level)

– **Notable Spells:**

– *Shadow Bolt* (Ranged Spell Attack, 2d8 necrotic damage)

– *Hold Person* (Target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute)

– *Mirror Image* (Creates illusory duplicates to confuse attackers)

### Conclusion:

Once the party confronts Lythea, they can choose to fight her or persuade her to lift the curse. If they succeed, the Guardian of the Glade will return to the village, and the party will be celebrated as heroes. However, should they fail, the curse remains, and the village continues to suffer under the shadow of fear.

As the moon rises high, illuminating the Grove with its silvery light, the fate of Moonshade Hollow rests in the hands of the adventurers. Will they bring back the light, or will darkness reign? The choice is theirs.