Time for our first LOOT of the News, Loot, and Review blog. This is a quick and easy addition for your campaigns and doesn’t require any special tools. Simply plug it into any session where the players setup camp for the night and refer to your DMG and PHB as needed. If you enjoy this quick addition be sure to check out our Kickstarter and sign up to be notified when it goes live! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/onedoor/deck-of-wayward-doors
Shrine of the Oversoul.
As the players nod off to sleep and those awake on watch settle in for the night a soft singing can be heard in the woods near by. The song is non-threatening and gives all players who investigate it (perception, investigate, history, etc.) the feeling that they have heard it before but can not place the song, regardless of how high they roll.
Descriptors for the song: Melodic, haunting, familiar, ethereal, and warm.
If the players go to leave the camp they wander into the woods only to see a fire nearby, upon approach they realize it is their fire and they have gone in a circle. This effect is magical and can not be broken or worked around.
Each time the players go to leave camp they find themselves in this loop. After a few rounds of the PCs heading into the woods a ghostly shape will appear somewhere nearby in the woods. It doesn’t appear to be an actual ghost or specter but rather some kind of magical wisp in the shape of a person with wings.
The players can try to interact with the figure and as they try to approach it looks to them, pauses for a moment and continues singing.
Descriptors for the figure: tall, angelic, wispy, made of bright white smoke or steam, emotionless.
As it continues singing it will look to each party member and give a “go-ahead” gesture with it’s ghostlike hands. If the players ignore it it wanders back into the woods. Beyond this the players can not touch, smell, taste, or interact with the spirit.
After a time, allow the players a hint. If any of the party has musical instruments they are pulled out and placed neatly by the fire without the players input. If no one has any instruments then the players are compelled, as if with the Suggestions spell, to perform some kind of music with whatever they have on their person. This could be with pots and pans, hammering a spearbutt into the ground, singing, clapping, etc.
Performance check of DC 12 will allow the players to pass the figures test and a path will illuminate nearby. One the left side of the path the trees look as if they are in the middle of fall and turning colors, a breeze pulls leaves from their resting place and sets them adrift towards the ground. On the right hand side the trees are in full spring bloom, flower petals dancing on the breeze.
The players can see a statue rising out of a large pool roughly 60 feet into the woods. Flanking the pool the trees are getting buried under a light flurry of snow that is being riled up by the same breeze.
As the players approach the pool they see that the statue looks like the figure that they saw in the woods. The statue is exquisitely made and looks as if it is smiling and the eyes following the PCs as they move around.
In the pool are various items from swords, books, and gold. On approach a voice will emanate from the statue.
“If you wish to be rewarded, cast something into the pool that makes the conditions of these seasons more enjoyable. If you wish to be punished, reach in and take something from someone else’s past.”
If the players chose to take things from the pool they summon 1d4 Water Elementals (increase the number of elementals based on party level.) water elementals but are rewarded with a greatsword, longbow, arcane focus (tome), arcane focus (doll), and a flute along with 1k in gold. All are in perfect condition but the next time the player goes to sleep they are haunted by the memories of the previous user and can not rest. They gain 1 point of exhaustion and must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw the next time they go to sleep, failure results in the memories coming back.
NOTE: If one player reaches into the pool to take something it only impacts players who take something from the pool.
Successfully casting an item into the pool that satisfies the DM's discretion grants the player a charm as seen on page 228 of the DMG. If a player casts a valuable beyond the perceived cost of a charm the DM may grant them a Blessing (228 DMG) or other reward like a letter of recommendation, temporary hit points, free spell slots. Etc.
Suggested items to satisfy the puzzle: Blanket (warmth, picnic, collecting leaves), food (warmth, picnic, seasonal tradition), music, ale, weapons for hunting food, etc.
After all party members have either received their gifts or taken the items from the pond the wind picks up and swirls around them in a maelstrom of dead leaves, flower petals and snow.
As the magical tornado subsides the woods are back to one season all around and the fountain in front of them is destroyed, drained of water, and vandalized.
Continue your campaign as normal.
Thank you for checking out this mini adventure and be sure to check out our Kickstarter for more quick and easy encounters to fill your campaign with magic! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/onedoor/deck-of-wayward-doors
Learn more about our Kickstarter by clicking here!