“Shadows in the Night”
Difficulty: This adventure is for 4 to 6 level 3 players.
Run Time: 1 to 2 hours
Special Notes: Remember to pay attention to the damage immunities, vulnerabilities, and resistances of the enemies in this adventure.
Summary:
After finishing a quest and taking a long rest, while sleeping each member is possessed by a Demon. Each character must wage their own personal and internal war with the Demon whom possessed them to prevent the loss of their soul, and return to the realm of the living. (If a character doesn't need sleep, like an elf, then they are not in the dream, but can either join the dream willingly or attempt to help their sleeping companions with support or healing spells during the adventure. They can follow whats happening by hearing the sleeping characters talk in their sleep.)
Setup
During a long rest describe a dream sequence that fits your character's backstories and recent events. A DC15 Insight or Religion Check will reveal that they are dreaming and can't wake up. The party can all interact with each other in the dream, but perceive their surroundings differently. Have the players each describe what they see in turn and encourage surreal or strange environments.
A Dream of Dreams
Darkest Fear: Each character sees their darkest fear. Have each player describe what they would be seeing, and then each player rolls a DC15 Intimidation, Insight, or Religion check. On a failure the character might gain the frightened condition in the climax.
Deepest Regret: Each character relives the moment that they regret the most. Have the players describe the event, and then Roll a DC20 skill check with an appropriate skill to try to change the outcome. On a failure the character might gain the poisoned condition during the climax.
Unattainable Desire: Each character describes what thing their character would most want but can never have. During this dream, their desire is offered to them. They roll a DC 15 Deception, religion, or arcana check. If they fail, then they might have the charmed condition for the climax.
Battle of Shadows.
Enemies: Shadow(MM)269
XP Reward: 100xp
Each character alone in a room surrounded by a number of shadows equal to the number of players in the game. There is only 1 real shadow, the rest are their other party members. Roll a dice for each player to see which of the shadows is the real shadow. Keep track of the locations of the party members behind your DM screen for each player.None of them can move, they can only attack one of the shadows around them. When a player hits their fellow party member, the shadow fades to reveal the truth to them. On the shadow's turn, describe it hitting the player, but do not specify which shadow made the attack. Describe the twisting shadows around them swirling and attacking them
altogether. If a player reaches 0 hp, they don't die, but instead continue playing as if they had 1 hp. Keep track of the total damage dealt to each player. .
Fields of Corn
Enemies: Scarecrow(MM268)
XP Reward: 200xp
When the shadow is defeated the darkness disappears and each player is alone in a giant corn field that goes off in all directions forever. A single Scarecrow attacks each player one on one. Run the combats all at the same time, and when the scarecrow attacks, use the same roll against every player's ac and use the same damage roll. Keep track of how much damage each player does to the scarecrow. As soon as one player does a total of 36 damage on their own, then the battle is over and the character all wake up.
Climax: Shadow Demon
Enemies: Specter(MM279)
XP Reward: 200xp
The party wakes from their rest as a Specter bursts into the room and attacks them. All players start with full hp and spell slots regardless of what they had before they woke up, but any strength drain taken from shadows remains. At the start of the battle each player must roll and INT saving throw DC15. Any player who fails the save takes damage equal to half the total damage they took during the dream and gain the conditions indicated from the Dream of Dreams section according to which dreams they failed.
Not my Final Form!
Enemies: Shadow Demon(MM64)
XP Reward: 1100xp
When the specter reaches 0 hp it transforms into the Shadow Demon. The sun begins to rise and first light streaks into the room, giving the Shadow Demon disadvantage on attack rolls due to it's sunlight sensitivity. The sunlight also ends any frightened, poisoned, or charmed conditions remaining on the party. If the battle seems too hard then Tavon Sutton(Acolyte MM342) the dreamhunter arrives to assist the party. He can cure wounds or bless the party, as well as hit the demon with radiant damage from sacred flame. When destroyed it drops a purple soulstone gem on the floor.
Wrap-Up: Good Morning Sunshine!
If he didn't arrive in the battle, Tavon Sutton arrives after the battle. He's a dreamhunter who has been tracking this Shadow Demon for quite a while. He thanks the party for destroying it, and offeres them a reward in exchange for it's soulstone. The party can take the reward or keep the soulstone. If they keep the soulstone, it functions as a Medallion of Thoughts(DMG181). Otherwise Tavon offeres the following in trade for it and says he may have a job offer for them if they are interested. (He can introduce your next plot hook.) If Tavon died in the battle then the players can loot his corpse for the treasure and keep the soulstone.
Treasure: 450 gold and roll once on the Treasure Hoard: Challenge 0-4 table on DMG p.137
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