Tier 2 – The Shadows of Eldoria (17)

**Tier 2 play**

As twilight descends upon the shimmering realm of Eldoria, the vibrant hues of violet and gold dance across the sky, lending an ethereal glow to the streets of the bustling city of Thalindor. Flickering lanterns illuminate cobblestone alleys, casting playful shadows that twist and curl as if they are alive. The scent of roasted chestnuts wafts through the air, mingling with the distant sound of laughter and music that spills from taverns. Yet, beneath this festive exterior lurks a shadow—a mystery that needs unraveling.

The town guard has been on high alert following a series of unsettling events. Whispers of disappearances have spread through the market square like wildfire. Children have gone missing, leaving behind nothing but their favorite toys abandoned in the dirt. The families, particularly those of disgraced child surgeon Yaser Jabbar, are distraught and desperate for answers. They claim that something sinister is afoot, and there are rumors that Jabbar is connected to the darkness enveloping the city.

Your party has gathered in the quaint but bustling tavern known as The Gilded Griffin. As the warmth of the hearth wraps around you, an old woman approaches, her eyes wide with dread. She introduces herself as Malinda, a local herbalist, and implores you to help. “My grandson, little Taran, has vanished!” she pleads, her hands trembling. “They say the surgeon is performing wicked experiments on the children… Please, you must find him!”

With Malinda’s guidance, the party decides to investigate the abandoned clinic where Jabbar once operated. The clinic looms ahead, its façade cracked and crumbling, vines twisting up its walls like the fingers of the past reaching out. As you step inside, the musty smell of decay fills the air. Dust motes dance in the shafts of light filtering through cracked windows, and the equipment, once glimmering with promise, now lies rusted and broken.

Exploration reveals chilling remnants of the surgeon’s twisted work—sketches of grotesque procedures covering the walls and jars filled with strange, pulsing substances. As you delve deeper, you uncover a hidden basement, a sinister place echoing with distant whispers and the unsettling sounds of something alive.

In the depths, you find Jabbar’s lair, dimly lit by flickering candles. At the center stands a grotesque creation, half child, half beast—a result of the surgeon’s dark experiments. Jabbar himself looms nearby, his eyes glinting with madness, a scalpel in hand.

**Boss Enemy: Yaser Jabbar**

– **AC:** 15

– **HP:** 70

– **Attack:** +6 to hit, 1d8 + 4 slashing damage

– **Special Ability:** Malignant Surge (Recharge 5-6): Jabbar can inflict a burst of necrotic energy, forcing all within a 15-foot radius to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, taking 3d8 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success.

In a thrilling confrontation, you must defeat Jabbar and rescue the captured children, including little Taran. The stakes are high; the fate of the children hangs in the balance, and the echoes of the past linger ominously in the air. Will your party succeed in saving them and bringing an end to Jabbar’s torment? The adventure unfolds, veiled in mystery and magic, waiting for your party to carve their legends into the annals of Eldoria.