In the heart of a bustling city lies a forgotten alley, shrouded in perpetual twilight and whispered to be haunted by restless spirits. Drawn by eerie occurrences and tales of tragedy, the party must navigate spectral gatekeepers, decipher cryptic messages from ghostly apparitions, and uncover hidden paths. As they delve deeper, they confront a powerful revenant bound by sorrow and rage, leading to a climactic battle that reveals a tale of betrayal. Will the party lay the spirits to rest and cleanse the haunted alley, or will they succumb to the vengeful wraiths and curses that lurk within?
Overview
In the heart of a bustling city lies a forgotten alley, shrouded in darkness and whispered to be haunted by restless spirits. The party is drawn to investigate the eerie occurrences and uncover the tragic story behind the hauntings. Resolving the spirits' anguish will require courage, empathy, and wit.
Room One
Entrance and Guardian
Guardian/Challenge: The entrance to the alley is guarded by an ethereal gatekeeper, a spectral figure who demands an offering of a cherished memory to allow passage.
Mood Setting: The alley is cloaked in perpetual twilight, with cold drafts and faint, sorrowful whispers echoing through the air.
Room Two
Puzzle or Roleplaying Challenge
Puzzle or Social Encounter: The party encounters a series of ghostly apparitions reenacting moments of their past lives. They must piece together the timeline of events by interacting with the spirits and interpreting their cryptic messages.
Clues: Clues about the spirits' identities and their fate are scattered throughout the alley in the form of old letters, faded portraits, and personal belongings.
Room Three
Trick or Setback
Deception/Trap: The alley appears to lead to a dead end, but a hidden passage is concealed by an illusion. Triggering a false path causes the spirits to become agitated, resulting in an ambush by vengeful wraiths.
Tension Building: The party must quickly find the true path while fending off the wraiths, heightening the sense of urgency and danger.
Room Four
Climax, Big Battle, or Conflict
Major Conflict: At the heart of the alley, the party confronts the source of the hauntings—a powerful revenant bound by sorrow and rage. The revenant's lair is filled with ghostly traps and spectral minions.
Dynamic Environment: The battle takes place in a narrow, confined space with shifting shadows and phantasmal obstacles that can be used strategically.
Room Five
Reward, Revelation, Plot Twist
Reward: Upon defeating the revenant, the party discovers a locket containing a picture of the revenant's lost love, along with a journal detailing their tragic story.
Revelation/Twist: The revenant's anguish stems from a betrayal by a trusted friend, who is now a powerful figure in the city. The party must decide whether to expose the truth or seek justice.
Resolution - Potential Solutions
Lay the Spirits to Rest: Perform a ritual to reunite the revenant with their lost love in the afterlife.
Expose the Betrayer: Confront the betrayer and bring their deeds to light, ensuring the revenant's story is told.
Seek Justice: Hunt down the betrayer and deliver retribution, fulfilling the revenant's desire for vengeance.
Impacts - What happens if they fail? What happens if they succeed?
Failure:
The hauntings intensify, spreading beyond the alley and causing widespread fear and chaos in the city.
The party may suffer from curses or lingering hauntings, affecting their future endeavors.
Success:
The spirits are put to rest, and the alley is cleansed, becoming a place of peace and remembrance.
The party gains the gratitude of the city's residents, possibly earning rewards, allies, or increased reputation.
Uncovering the betrayer's identity could lead to further adventures, political intrigue, or a quest for justice.
About Jessy
Jessy is one of the two creators behind TileForge. He's spent the last 12 years as a dungeon master, TTRPG player, writer, and overall nerd.