Tier 2 – Tier 2 play (6)

**Tier 2 play**

In the vibrant heart of Eldoria, where towering spires of crystal and the echoes of ancient magic fill the air, a deceptive tranquility cloaks the hidden turmoil beneath. The sun-drenched streets of the bustling city of Aranthor are abuzz with joy as citizens prepare for the grand festival of Lumaria, an event celebrating the alignment of the three moons. Colorful banners flutter in the gentle breeze, and the aroma of spiced meats and sweet pastries wafts through the marketplace.

Yet, not everything is as it seems. Rumors have begun to circulate like wildfire among the townsfolk – strange occurrences in the Whispering Woods that border the city. Livestock has gone missing, eerie sounds have echoed through the trees at night, and villagers claiming to have ventured too close speak of madness and visions that haunt their dreams. The city guard is overwhelmed, and whispers of an eldritch entity lurking in the shadows fester in the minds of those who dare to listen.

Your party finds themselves drawn to this curious mystery while indulging in the festivities. As night falls and the festival lights flicker to life, a frantic villager bursts through the crowd, eyes wide with fear. “Help! It’s taken my brother! He went into the woods, and now… now he’s… changed!” The desperation in his voice pierces the festive atmosphere, and you feel a call to action amidst the celebrations.

As you venture into the Whispering Woods, the air grows thick with an otherworldly tension, and the vibrant colors of the festival fade into the dark greens and browns of the forest. The trees seem to whisper, their branches twisting like skeletal fingers. You must navigate the mystical thickets, avoiding illusions and distractions that play upon your deepest fears and desires. The further you go, the more the forest distorts, echoing back your thoughts twisted into dark mockeries.

At the heart of the woods, you stumble upon an ancient stone circle, overgrown with vibrant and grotesque flora that pulses with a sinister life force. In the center stands the eldritch abomination, a being of swirling shadows and incoherent shapes, ever-shifting in form. It resembles the very essence of curiosity made manifest, with haunting eyes that bore into your souls, searching for your deepest fears.

**Boss Enemy: The Eldritch Curiosity**

– **Type:** Aberration

– **Armor Class:** 15

– **Hit Points:** 120

– **Speed:** 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)

**Abilities:**

– **Multiattack:** The abomination makes two tendril attacks.

– **Tendril Attack:** *Melee Weapon Attack:* +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. *Hit:* 15 (3d8 + 4) psychic damage.

– **Gaze of Madness (Recharge 5-6):** Each creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of the abomination must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be affected as if by the *confusion* spell for 1 minute.

The battle begins, with the forest around you twisting and contorting in response to the creature's malevolence. As you face this unnatural foe, the stakes become clear: not only must you defeat the abomination to uncover its threat, but you must also rescue the lost villager and restore peace to Aranthor. The fate of the festival, and perhaps the entire town, rests in your hands.

Will you conquer the madness that lurks among the trees and unveil the secrets of the Whispering Woods, or will you succumb to the darkness that seeks to engulf you? The outcome lies in your hands as you embark on this thrilling adventure through the high-magic realm of Eldoria.