Tier 2 – The Festival of Lights A Quest for the Stolen Lanterns

**Tier 2 play**

In the vibrant kingdom of Eldoria, a realm steeped in magic and wonder, whispers of discontent echo through the cobblestone streets of the bustling town of Elden Hollow. The once-celebrated Festival of Lights, a grand celebration of magic and unity, is shrouded in shadow as a mysterious force has stolen the town’s enchanted lanterns, which are said to hold the essence of the stars. Without them, the festival is doomed, and the townsfolk are plunged into despair.

As the party arrives in Elden Hollow, the air is thick with tension. Colorful banners hang limp, and the laughter of children has been replaced by hushed murmurs of worry. The mayor, a stout dwarf named Garrin Brightforge, approaches the adventurers with urgency in his eyes. “Please, brave ones! The lanterns were taken by a nefarious group known as the Shadowed Revelers, led by a wayward actor lich named Thaldrin the Forgotten. He believes that by hoarding the lanterns, he can create an eternal night where he can finally escape the typecasting of his undead existence. We need your help to retrieve them!”

The party must navigate through the town square, where they can gather information from the locals. Some may offer hints about the Shadowed Revelers’ hideout, an abandoned theater on the outskirts of town, while others might provide magical items or potions to aid in their quest. The adventurers will also encounter a few challenges, such as dealing with the town’s overly cautious guards who are suspicious of outsiders.

Once the party gathers enough information, they make their way to the decrepit theater, where the air is thick with an eerie silence. The grand stage, once a place of joy, is now draped in cobwebs, and the flickering shadows dance ominously across the walls. As they explore, they must face a series of traps and illusions designed to keep intruders at bay.

Finally, the party confronts Thaldrin the Forgotten in a climactic showdown on the theater stage. He stands tall, his skeletal frame adorned in tattered robes that shimmer with residual magic. His voice echoes with a theatrical flair, “Ah, fresh faces! Will you be my audience or my next tragic tale?”

**Thaldrin the Forgotten Stats:**

– **Armor Class:** 15

– **Hit Points:** 85

– **Speed:** 30 ft.

– **Attack:** Necrotic Touch (Melee Spell Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2d10 + 4 necrotic damage.)

– **Special Ability:** Shadow Illusion – Once per encounter, Thaldrin can create illusory duplicates of himself, forcing the party to make an Intelligence saving throw (DC 15) to discern the real Thaldrin from the illusions.

As the battle unfolds, the adventurers must use their wits and teamwork to overcome Thaldrin’s clever tricks and reclaim the stolen lanterns. Once defeated, Thaldrin, in his final moments, reveals that he had only wanted to be seen as more than just a villain, and with a flicker of light from the lanterns, he fades into a cloud of shimmering dust, leaving behind a sense of bittersweet closure.

With the lanterns restored, the festival can commence, and the townsfolk will celebrate the adventurers as heroes, lighting up the night sky with the brilliance of the stars once more. The party leaves Elden Hollow with new friendships and tales of their own, forever changing the narrative of their adventures in this high magic, high fantasy world.