Tier 2 – The Quest for the Celestial Prism (5)
**Tier 2 play**
In the vibrant realm of Eldoria, where magic flows like rivers and the skies shimmer with the hues of enchantment, a peculiar event has stirred the hearts of its inhabitants. The once-peaceful village of Eldenwood has been plunged into chaos as the ancient artifact known as the Celestial Prism has gone missing from the village shrine. This prism, a source of light and harmony, has been safeguarded for centuries, and its absence has unleashed dark forces upon the land.
As the sun sets, casting an orange glow over the cobblestone streets, the villagers gather in the town square, their faces etched with worry. Whispers of shadowy figures lurking in the nearby Whispering Woods have reached your party's ears. The villagers plead for help, offering a modest reward of gold and the promise of their eternal gratitude.
Your adventure begins as you stand before the village elder, a wise old woman named Elara, who shares tales of the prism's power and the legends of the Shadow Wraiths—malevolent spirits that thrive in darkness. She believes that the wraiths have taken the prism to a hidden lair deep within the woods, where the veil between the material world and the shadow realm is thin.
**Exploration Component: The Whispering Woods**
The journey to the Whispering Woods is fraught with challenges. As your party enters the forest, the air grows thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. The trees loom overhead, their gnarled branches twisting like skeletal fingers. You must navigate through the dense underbrush, avoiding traps set by the wraiths and deciphering ancient runes carved into the bark of the trees that hint at the path forward.
**Investigation Component: The Shadow Wraiths' Lair**
Upon reaching the lair, a dimly lit cavern adorned with shimmering crystals and dark shadows greets you. The atmosphere is charged with magic, and the air crackles with tension. Here, you must gather clues about the wraiths' intentions and the location of the Celestial Prism. Investigating the cavern reveals remnants of past adventurers who sought the prism, their belongings scattered and their spirits trapped within the shadows.
**Enemy Encounter: The Shadow Wraiths**
As your party delves deeper, the Shadow Wraiths emerge from the darkness, their forms shifting and swirling like smoke. They are drawn to the light of your magic and weapons, seeking to extinguish it.
**Basic Stats for Shadow Wraiths:**
– **HP:** 45
– **AC:** 14
– **Attack:** Shadow Strike (Melee Attack, +5 to hit, 1d8+3 necrotic damage)
– **Special Ability:** Shadow Cloak (Once per encounter, the wraith can become incorporeal, gaining resistance to all damage for one turn)
**Boss Encounter: The Wraith Lord**
At the heart of the lair, the Wraith Lord awaits, a towering figure cloaked in darkness, eyes glowing with malevolence. He seeks to harness the power of the Celestial Prism to plunge Eldoria into eternal night.
**Basic Stats for Wraith Lord:**
– **HP:** 80
– **AC:** 16
– **Attack:** Dark Grasp (Melee Attack, +7 to hit, 2d10 necrotic damage)
– **Special Ability:** Soul Drain (Once per encounter, the Wraith Lord can target one player, forcing them to make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, they take 3d8 necrotic damage and the Wraith Lord heals for half the amount dealt.)
As your party battles the Wraith Lord, the fate of Eldoria hangs in the balance. Will you reclaim the Celestial Prism and restore light to the village of Eldenwood, or will darkness reign supreme? The adventure awaits!