Tier 2 – The Corruption of Verenthia
**Tier 2 play**
In the vibrant realm of Eldoria, where magic flows as freely as the rivers and the skies shimmer with the hues of enchantment, a dark cloud looms over the bustling city of Verenthia. The streets, once filled with laughter and the aroma of street vendors’ delicacies, now echo with whispers of corruption and deceit. The people are restless, their trust in the governing bodies waning as rumors of a fraudulent scheme involving pandemic supplies begin to surface.
Your party finds themselves summoned by the enigmatic Council of Elders, who have sensed the growing unrest and corruption within their ranks. They task you with investigating the mysterious disappearance of £8.7 billion worth of pandemic PPE, which has been reported as written off under dubious circumstances. The council believes that a nefarious figure known only as the Covid Corruption Commissioner, Tom Hayhoe, is at the heart of this scandal, and they fear he may be using dark magic to cover his tracks.
As you delve into the investigation, you begin your journey in the heart of Verenthia, where the grand Council Hall stands tall, adorned with intricate carvings of past heroes. The air is thick with tension as you speak with the council members, who provide you with a list of leads to follow: a disgruntled former employee of Hayhoe, a secretive merchant dealing in black-market PPE, and a hidden warehouse rumored to be the storage site for the missing supplies.
Your first stop is the bustling marketplace, where vendors hawk their wares and gossip flows like wine. Here, you must navigate through the crowd, using your skills to gather information. Will you charm the vendors with your charisma, or intimidate them into revealing what they know?
Next, you track down the disgruntled former employee, who is hiding in the shadows of an alleyway. He is reluctant to speak at first, but with the right persuasion, he reveals that Hayhoe has been working with a shadowy cabal, using the stolen PPE to fund dark rituals aimed at gaining control over the city.
As you piece together the clues, you learn of a secret meeting scheduled to take place at the hidden warehouse. Under the cover of night, you approach the location, cloaked in shadows. The air is thick with anticipation as you prepare to confront Hayhoe and his minions.
**Boss Encounter: Tom Hayhoe, the Covid Corruption Commissioner**
– **HP:** 75
– **AC:** 15
– **Attack:** Corruption Blast (Melee Spell Attack: +6 to hit, 2d10 necrotic damage)
– **Special Ability:** Dark Bargain – Once per encounter, Hayhoe can attempt to corrupt a player character. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute, believing Hayhoe is their ally.
As the confrontation unfolds, the warehouse is filled with the crackling energy of dark magic. The party must work together to thwart Hayhoe’s plans, using their skills and spells to overcome his minions and ultimately face him in a battle that will determine the fate of Verenthia.
Will your party succeed in exposing the corruption and restoring peace to the city, or will they fall victim to the dark powers at play? The fate of Eldoria rests in your hands.