Tier 2 – The Corruption of Coldstream
**Tier 2 play**
As the sun sets over the verdant fields surrounding the quaint village of Coldstream, a golden hue blankets the land, casting long shadows across the rows of crops. The air is thick with the sweet scent of ripening grain and wildflowers, yet an undercurrent of unease flows through the community. Whispers of discontent echo in the tavern, where villagers gather, casting furtive glances at the distant horizon.
The local lord, eager to harness the abundant magic of the land, has proposed a plan to convert the fertile farmland into energy storage compounds, drawing power from the very essence of nature. The villagers, however, are torn. While they understand the allure of progress, they fear the cost: the life of their land, the loss of their way of life, and the dark magic that might seep into their soil.
As the adventurers arrive in Coldstream, they are greeted by the anxious faces of the villagers. Old Farmer Jeb, a grizzled man with a heart as vast as the fields he tends, approaches the party, his eyes wide with desperation. "Please, you must help us! The lord’s men have already begun construction, and strange occurrences are happening in the fields. Crops are wilting overnight, and shadows move where they shouldn’t."
The party is tasked with investigating the situation. They can explore the fields where the compounds are being built, speak with concerned villagers, and uncover the secrets lurking beneath the surface. As they delve deeper, they encounter strange magical anomalies—glowing specters of long-lost farmers, phantom crops that seem to wilt in their presence, and whispers that echo through the wind, warning them of the consequences of tampering with the land.
The investigation leads them to an ancient grove at the heart of the farmland, where the essence of nature is strongest. Here, they discover an entity known as the Verdant Warden, a guardian spirit of the land, who reveals the dark truth: the construction of the storage compounds has awakened a malevolent force that threatens to corrupt the land and its magic.
### Encounter: The Verdant Warden
**Boss Enemy: Corrupted Guardian**
– **HP:** 80
– **Armor Class:** 15
– **Attack:** Vine Lash (Melee, +7 to hit, 2d8+4 damage)
– **Special Ability:** Nature’s Wrath – once per encounter, the Corrupted Guardian can summon a wave of corrupted energy, forcing all players within a 30-foot radius to make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 3d10 necrotic damage (half on a success).
### Resolution
The adventurers must choose: will they aid the Verdant Warden in banishing the corruption and saving the farmland, or will they side with the lord and continue the construction, risking the wrath of nature itself? Their choices will shape the fate of Coldstream and its people.
As the session unfolds, encourage players to interact with the environment, utilize their skills to gather information, and devise creative strategies to defeat the Corrupted Guardian. The fate of the village and the balance of nature hangs in the balance, waiting for the heroes to decide.