Tier 2 – The Festival of the Five Moons

**Tier 2 play**

In the vibrant and mystic realm of Eldoria, the sun dips low on the horizon, casting golden rays upon the council city of Aetherwind. The air thrums with magical energy, and the scent of wildflowers mingles with the distant aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from market stalls. As evening descends, the citizens gather in anticipation of a grand spectacle, for the city is alive with the whispers of an upcoming festival—the Festival of the Five Moons!

However, beneath the buoyant atmosphere lies a looming threat. The community has been plagued by a series of unexplained disappearances. Villagers have vanished one by one, with only shadows left behind—a shadow that whispers of an ancient curse reawakened. The town's guardians, the Luminaire Order, are restless, sensing dark forces afoot.

Your party, a mix of daring heroes, has been summoned by the Council of Aetherwind. They need brave souls to investigate these sinister events. During your briefing, a councilor, Lady Eveline, reveals a cryptic prophecy: “When the five moons rise high, the shadow of the past will emerge; only those of pure heart can extinguish the flame that threatens the light.”

As you step outside, the festival unfolds before you, a fusion of magical displays, vibrant stalls, and jubilant inhabitants. However, an unsettling chill runs through the crowd as they gaze toward the ominous silhouette that casts a shadow upon the celebration—the old Bell tower, long abandoned and rumored to be cursed. It has begun to emanate a dark aura that pulses like a heartbeat, signaling the need for urgency.

### Adventure Setup

1. **Investigation in the Festival**: Begin by allowing players to interact with festival-goers. They can gather information or rumors about the disappearances. Encourage them to roll Insight or Persuasion checks to uncover secrets. Perhaps an elderly vendor knows of someone who last saw the missing villagers.

2. **Exploration of the Bell Tower**: As night falls and the Five Moons rise, the party is drawn to the tower. The entrance creaks open mysteriously as they approach, revealing a spiral staircase descending into shadows. Flickering lanterns with magical light provide dim illumination, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls.

3. **Challenges Inside the Tower**: The interior of the tower is filled with illusions and puzzles. Unraveling these requires clever problem-solving using Arcana and History checks related to the tower’s past. They might find preserved diary pages that hint at a ritual meant to bind a malevolent spirit.

4. **Confrontation with the Shadow Wraith**: At the tower’s base, the heroes discover a Shadow Wraith, a spectral being with deep ties to the missing villagers. As the wraith manifests, it drains hope and light from the surroundings, bringing forth unsettling whispers from the deep.

### Boss Encounter: Shadow Wraith

– **Hit Points**: 75

– **Armor Class**: 14

– **Attack**:

– Corrupting Grasp: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) necrotic damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on the next attack roll.

– **Special Abilities**:

– Shadow Walk: Can move between shadows without being seen by players.

– Dark Despair: Once per encounter, it can cast *Fear* in a 30-foot radius as a reaction, forcing players to make a Wisdom saving throw DC 15 or become frightened.

The battle against the Shadow Wraith tests the group’s resolve and ingenuity. They must use the environment, perhaps creating light sources or unearthing artifacts they discover during their exploration to weaken the Wraith.

### Conclusion

Upon defeating the Shadow Wraith, the townspeople begin to return, freed from its grasp. The festival resumes with greater vigor, celebrating not just the Five Moons, but the restoration of hope. The party members may earn the title of Heroes of Aetherwind, receiving magical tokens crafted by the townsfolk—blessings that can aid them on future quests.

Let your players bask in the camaraderie of their victory and explore the lingering mysteries of Eldoria, knowing that the realms of magic are ever-expansive, and their new adventure is but a call away.