**Fractals of Midnight: The Riddle of Obsidian Whispers**
Setting the Scene
The group finds themselves deep within the Midnight Grove, an overgrown forest layered in ethereal blue-green hues that glow under the dim light of a crescent moon. Rare phosphorescent flora covers the ground, casting an unsettling beauty over an ancient stone pathway. Legends speak of the Whispering Obsidian—a mythical gem hidden within a forgotten temple, known to grant immense power. However, the temple is said to be protected by the spirits of guardians long lost and riddles steeped in darkness.
As the party delves deeper, they seek a way to break the ancient curse bound to the Whispering Obsidian, which has driven the forest's inhabitants mad and warped reality within its bounds. The grove has become a dangerous labyrinth, where whispers echo among the trees, beckoning the curious and the brave toward false truths.
The Players’ Goal
To cleanse the Midnight Grove, the players must retrieve the Whispering Obsidian from its resting place deep within the temple's shrine. However, to access the shrine, the team must overcome a series of puzzles, traps, and eerie denizens of the forest that will test their cunning, strength, and resolve.
Entering the Temple Grounds
As the players make their way to the temple, they stumble upon a clearing filled with twisted trees, their bark resembling tortured faces. In the center stands an intricately carved stone archway, leading into darkness. The air thickens, and a voice resonates from the stones: “To enter, you must first face the Shroud of Meaning.”
Encounter Mechanics:
-
Shroud of Meaning (Puzzle): The archway reveals a riddle that echoes through the air. To pass through, players must solve it.
Riddle: "Whispers of dreams I weave in the night, Found in a tapestry of black and white. I hold the unknown and the essence of you, Speak my name, and I’ll reveal the truth."
Players must collaborate to deduce the answer, “Memory.” If answered correctly, the archway flickers with an iridescent light, allowing them to enter. Failure to solve the riddle will trigger a Magical Trap: all players must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 2d6 psychic damage as echoes of their own insecurities flood their minds.
The Temple Entryway
Inside the temple, gloom reigns supreme. The stone walls are covered in mysterious glyphs and haunting imagery. As the party navigates the damp, dark surroundings, they will find that the air is filled with echoing whispers, trying to sway them into despair or madness. Illusory images flicker in the corner of their eyes, leading to possible hallucinations. Players will need to roll a DC 13 Intelligence saving throw. On a failure, their next decision is influenced by these illusions, which takes on a light-hearted or comical twist for 1 round – perhaps even trying to persuade them to attack allies instead of moving on.
Encounters Within
Encounter 1: The Vengeance Wraiths
While exploring deeper into the entryway, the party will be ambushed by a group of shadowy figures—the Vengeance Wraiths. These wraiths embody the anger and pain of those who perished without peace in the grove.
- Vengeance Wraiths (3): AC 13, HP 38 each.
- Abilities: Ethereal Sight (they can navigate in darkness easily), Life Drain (ranged attack, 1d8 necrotic damage), and a haunting wail that requires a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute.
Upon their defeat, whispers arise amidst the lingering shadows, revealing a fragmented memory of crafting the Whispering Obsidian and how to approach the remaining puzzles within the temple.
The Trial of Shadows
Past the wraiths, the party reaches a grand hall filled with reflective pools, where a feeling of void overwhelms them. Yet, from the center of the room, a towering stone pedestal rises before them, littered with shimmering obsidian shards. Here, they face “The Trial of Shadows.”
- Shadow Pools Puzzle: Players must balance the light and shadow by positioning the shards of obsidian around five pools of water, each one representing a facet of emotions (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Surprise).
To solve this, players will require a skill check (DC 15 Intelligence or Wisdom) to gain insight. They must place the shards according to their intuition for emotional balance:
- Joy and Surprise must reflect on one side of the pool while Sadness and Fear are on the opposite.
- Failure leads to an uncontrollable surge of magical energy—pools erupt, summoning ethereal shadow creatures with a chaotic nature. Players must defeat 2 Shadow Elementals.
The Obsidian Shrine
Upon solving the puzzle, a path opens to the inner sanctum—the Obsidian Shrine. The room is bathed in darkness, lit only by the soft, eerie glow of the Whispering Obsidian secured upon a pedestal of twisting roots.
However, the moment the players approach, the chamber walls pulsate, and a monstrous guardian emerges—the Sentinel of the Grove.
- Sentinel of the Grove: AC 17, HP 85. Immune to psychic damage, with powerful multiattacks that can constrict or grapple players. The sentinel serves to protect the Whispering Obsidian, believing it is necessary to maintain the status quo of the grove.
Abilities:
- Nature’s Thorn: Deals 2d10 piercing damage upon hit and the target must succeed a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, or become restrained.
- Soulstone Shards: Periodically, the sentinel launches spikes of obsidian that require all players to succeed a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 3d8 piercing damage on a failure and half on a success.
Once the players defeat the Sentinel, they gain access to the Whispering Obsidian. Upon touching the gem, players are offered memories and visions of the grove's past and the chance to either harness its power for themselves,6 sometimes succumbing to madness or—if they choose wisely—restore peace by returning the gem to its rightful place.
Conclusion: The Cleansing of the Whispering Grove
After securing the Whispering Obsidian and choosing to use its power wisely, players will experience an extraordinary moment of catharsis. As they offer the gem back to the shrine, the grove will transform—revealing its lost splendor, illuminating the remnants of dark whispers, unbinding the curse that plagued it.
The shady creatures will dissipate and the cries of the forest will morph into harmonious melodies. Spirit guardians will emerge from the shadows, thanking the party for their bravery and restoring balance. The players shall find themselves forever etched in the forest’s lore, as newfound allies may rise to aid them in future adventures, and perhaps they’ll carry a shard of the Whispering Obsidian, a token of their endeavor.
In the end, whatever choice they made, the party leaves with stories of bravery and the promise of lush adventures ahead.
