Tier 2 – The Curse of Eldoria

**Tier 2 play**

As the sun begins to set over the sprawling city of Eldoria, its golden light reflects off the shimmering rooftops adorned with lush gardens and vibrant flags. The air is thick with the sweet scent of blooming nightshade, and the sounds of laughter and music drift from the tavern at the center of town. Yet beneath this facade of joy lies a simmering tension that only a few brave souls discern—the recent disappearance of a local merchant's daughter, Lira, and the ominous rumors of dark creatures stalking the streets at night.

Your party gathers at The Gilded Griffin, the town’s most beloved inn, where patrons share tales of bravery over mugs of frothy ale. They hear whispers of shadowy figures seen lurking by the old abandoned warehouse near the docks, an eerie place long believed cursed. A deep feeling in the pit of their stomach indicates that the tales are more than mere legend; there is something sinister afoot.

After a brief discussion with the distressed merchant, a stout figure with eyes turned to glass, your party decides to head toward the warehouse under the cover of night. The moon hangs low, casting ghostly shadows that dance over the cobblestones as you approach the peeling wooden door. The dim light reveals the area cluttered with crates and remnants of a bygone era—a time when this warehouse may have run with bustling activity rather than dreadful silence.

As you step inside, the air grows colder, and a faint whisper—like the sigh of a weary spirit—echoes through the room. Dust motes swirl in the scant moonlight, and faint outlines of crates hide not only dust but also memories of what's been lost. Just as the party explores the desolate environment, a chilling rustle can be heard from the far corner, quickly followed by the growl of a creature lurking within the shadows.

Suddenly, from the darkness emerges a Wraith-like creature known as Umbral Stalker, a twisted remnant of an unjustly slain soul, feeding off the fear and despair of the living. With skeletal hands outstretched and a hollow gaze, it targets the weakest member of the party, intent on draining the very life force from them.

**Umbral Stalker (Boss Enemy) Stats:**

– **HP:** 60

– **AC:** 15

– **Attack:** Shadow Bolt (Ranged, +6 to hit, 2d8 Necrotic Damage)

– **Special Ability:** Life Drain (Melee, +5 to hit, if it hits, it steals 1d8 HP)

– **Resistance:** Resistant to non-magical attacks and immune to Psychic Damage.

– **Legendary Action:** Shadow Step – At the end of each of the player's turns, the Umbral Stalker can teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.

As your players engage the Umbral Stalker, they must not only strategize their attacks but also unravel the mystery behind its connection to Lira and why it haunts this abandoned place. Perhaps a successful Insight or Arcana check will unveil clues on how to weaken the creature further—its agony tied to the merchant's loss. Can your party save Lira and lift the curse plaguing Eldoria before the Umbral Stalker consumes them all?

With vivid imagery and tension weaving through each moment, the group must explore the depths of despair and battle against that which feeds on fear to not only save the girl but also redeem the anguished spirit bound within. Will they succeed, or will they become another lost memory in the shadow of the warehouse? The fate of the night hangs in the balance!