Tier 2 – The Quest for the Shield of Kellen
**Tier 2 play**
As the sun dips below the horizon in the vibrant realm of Eldoria, the air shimmers with the promise of magic. The streets of Verdantia, a bustling town filled with colorful stalls and cheering merchants, resonate with laughter and the sweet scent of roasted chestnuts. A festival celebrating the birth of a new season is underway, drawing in visitors from afar. But amidst the revelry, a shadow looms.
You gather in a cozy tavern, The Silver Gryphon, where the walls are adorned with polished shields, relics of heroic deeds from days long past. Among them hangs a gleaming shield, polished to a mirror-like finish. As the crackling hearth casts a warm glow, a tavern bard strums a lute, recounting the tale of Kellen, a small but valiant knight who once wielded that very shield. “He stood up to dragons and dark sorcery,” the bard sings, “his heart a mountain, his spirit unyielding.”
However, the revelry is interrupted by a desperate plea. A town guard bursts through the tavern doors, eyes wild with fear. “Help! The enchanted forest at the edge of town… it’s alive! Creatures of darkness have emerged, and they’ve taken the Shield of Kellen! We must retrieve it before the festival turns to ruin!”
Your party is drawn into a quest that will test their mettle. You set off towards the haunted edges of the enchanted forest, where trees twist unnaturally and whispers of ancient magic fill the air. As you navigate through the thick underbrush, the atmosphere grows thick with tension. Strange creatures skulk in the shadows, their glowing eyes watching your every move.
Deep within the forest, you come upon a clearing where a menacing figure stands—a corrupted druid named Seraphis, whose once-gentle spirit has been consumed by dark magic. Clad in tattered robes and surrounded by twisting vines that seem to writhe with malice, Seraphis is the boss of this adventure, determined to harness the shield's power to invoke chaos.
**Seraphis, Corrupted Druid**
– **HP:** 60
– **Armor Class:** 15
– **Attack:**
– **Vine Lash:** +5 to hit, 1d10 + 3 slashing damage
– **Nature’s Grasp (Spell):** (Recharge 5-6) Target must make a DC 14 Strength saving throw or become restrained by vines for 1 minute.
As your party engages Seraphis, the forest thrums with energy. With each strike, the corrupted druid calls forth dark creatures to aid him—twisted beasts and spectral wisps that swarm the area, challenging the party’s unity and strategy.
To defeat Seraphis and reclaim the Shield of Kellen, your players will need to work together, utilizing their unique abilities and clever tactics. The lush, vibrant world contrasts with the darkness that surrounds the druid, symbolizing the struggle between light and shadow—a true test of their courage.
As the battle reaches its climax, the shield pulses with energy, drawing upon the spirit of Kellen to shield the party from Seraphis's final devastating blow. Once vanquished, Seraphis’s dark magic recedes, and the forest slowly returns to its serene state.
With the Shield of Kellen reclaimed, the party is hailed as heroes, the festival resuming in joyous celebration. The tale of their bravery will echo through the ages, a new chapter in the legacy of Eldoria, and the shield will once again shine proudly in The Silver Gryphon, a symbol of hope and valor against the encroaching darkness.