Tier 2 – Shadows of Eldoria The Hospital’s Dark Secret

**Tier 2 play**

In the heart of the bustling city of Eldoria, where vibrant markets overflow with exotic goods and the air is thick with the scent of spices and magic, a shadow looms over the Great Ormond Street Hospital. Once a beacon of hope and healing, whispers of malpractice and dark secrets have begun to surface, casting doubt on the institution's integrity. The city’s citizens are unsettled, and a palpable tension hangs in the air, as rumors swirl about a disgraced surgeon who has vanished without a trace.

Your party finds themselves drawn to this mystery when a distraught mother, Jodee Seeley, approaches them in the marketplace. Her daughter, a young girl named Elara, underwent a critical operation at the hospital, but now she lies in a mysterious coma, her life hanging by a thread. Jodee believes the surgeon, known only as Dr. Malakar, has something to do with her daughter's condition. She implores the adventurers to investigate the hospital and uncover the truth, promising a handsome reward for their help.

As the party enters the hospital, the atmosphere shifts. The once-sterile halls now feel suffocating, and the flickering lights cast eerie shadows on the walls. The staff, while polite, seem evasive, and the party quickly realizes that something sinister is at play. They must navigate through a series of wards filled with patients whose eyes reflect fear and confusion, each room holding its own secrets.

**Exploration Component:**

The party can explore various wards, each containing clues that lead them closer to the truth. They might find:

1. **The Recovery Room:** Here, they encounter a patient who murmurs about strange dreams and shadowy figures visiting her at night. If the party succeeds in a persuasion check, she reveals that she saw Dr. Malakar performing unauthorized experiments on patients.

2. **The Surgical Suite:** The party can investigate the operating room where Elara was treated. A successful investigation check might reveal hidden notes detailing Dr. Malakar's unethical procedures, hinting at a dark ritual he was attempting to complete.

3. **The Staff Lounge:** Here, the party can overhear hushed conversations among the hospital staff. A successful stealth check allows them to eavesdrop on a discussion about Dr. Malakar’s last known whereabouts and the rumors of a secret underground laboratory.

**Enemy Encounter:**

As the party delves deeper into the hospital, they discover that Dr. Malakar has been conducting experiments to harness the life force of his patients, creating twisted abominations from those who have suffered under his scalpel. The party must confront one of these creations—a **Flesh Golem** that he has animated with dark magic.

**Flesh Golem Stats:**

– **Armor Class:** 9

– **Hit Points:** 85 (10d10 + 30)

– **Speed:** 30 ft.

– **STR:** 19 (+4), **DEX:** 1 (-5), **CON:** 16 (+3), **INT:** 1 (-5), **WIS:** 1 (-5), **CHA:** 1 (-5)

– **Damage Immunities:** Poison, Psychic

– **Condition Immunities:** Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned

– **Actions:**

– **Multiattack:** The golem makes two slam attacks.

– **Slam:** Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d10 + 4) bludgeoning damage.

Once the party defeats the Flesh Golem, they can uncover the hidden laboratory where Dr. Malakar has been conducting his experiments. Here, they must confront the disgraced surgeon himself, who has become a twisted figure fueled by desperation and dark magic.

The session culminates in a tense showdown, where the party must not only defeat Dr. Malakar but also find a way to save Elara and the other patients trapped in his nightmarish grasp. Will they expose the truth and restore the hospital's honor, or will they too become victims of the dark magic that lurks within its walls? The fate of the city hangs in the balance, and only the bravest adventurers can bring the light back to Eldoria.