Darktide’s Night

Darktide’s Night
Bonus Mini-Adventure

1
 Darktide’s Night
Bonus Mini-Adventure

A SPAWN OF THE GOOEY CUBE

The “Goo Crew”

Directed by Alphinius Goo
Written by AJ Martin
Design & Art Direction by JoAnn Adams and Alphinius Goo
Edited by Jeremy Harding & Elle Ruoff
Production Management by Alex Bucher

Our Incredible Artists

Cover Art “Teddy” by Teejay Villahermosa
Interior Art & Handouts by Teejay Villahermosa

Inspiration
We are in awe of the incredible creators, authors, writers, artists, and thought-leaders who have given us so many fantastic and
amazing worlds of adventure over the course of our forty-plus years engaging in the universe of fantasy roleplay.
It is for this reason we have named them as our inspiration – and even dedicated certain sections of our games to them.
We in no way want to imply that these folks endorse, nor in any way lend credence to, our work here.
We acknowledge them solely because we are thankful to them for inspiring us to try to contribute to the genre in our own way.

This work was inspired by all the Traveling Folk of the real world, and by all who suffer bigotry, prejudice, and persecution.
And, by those who brought this amazing game to life, crafted it, nurtured it, and made it real; Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax.
May your current adventure be one that is even more amazing than the ones you created for so many of us.
Also, by Steve Perrin, Dave Wesely, M. A. R. Barker, and Greg Stafford who did so much along the way….

And by our other heroes: Ed Greenwood, Bruce R. Cordell, R. A. Salvatore, Tom Moldvay, David “Zeb” Cook, Kate Novak, Margaret Weis, Erin M.
Evans, Jeff Grubb, Troy Denning, James Lowder, Erik Scott de Bie, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman, Paul S. Kemp, Len Lakofka, Elaine Cunning-
ham, Lynn Abbey, Steven E. Schend, Richard Lee Byers, Philip Athans, Jean Rabe, Douglas Niles, Eric L. Boyd,
Lisa Smedman, Sean K. Reynolds, Richard Baker, Monte Cook, Jannell Jaquays, Thomas M. Reid, Jaleigh Johnson, Scott Ciencin,
and so many other wonderful and amazing word-weavers who gave life to the incredible places where so many of us have traveled.
 Dedication
To the inestimable Alphinius Goo.

For giving me the chance to do what I could only have dreamed of

doing.

And to the rest of the wonderful Goo Crew.

AJ

THE G O O CRE W

Alphinius Goo JoAnn Adams AJ Martin Jeremy Harding Smashcase

Riley Pearce Mike Shugart Cody Martin Alex Bucher Mandi McNabb
 The Night is Long & the Shadows Dark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Notes for the GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Evil’s Plight in Lantern’s Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Darktide’s Night NSREs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Darktide’s Night Battlestats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Darktide’s Night Special Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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 Darktide’s Night
The Night is Long & the
Shadows Dark
Echoes of Woe Ring in the Blackness
Welcome back once again, Game Master! Take heed, for the ac-
cursed anniversary of the Woe of Ruin is upon us and grim tid-
ings it brings indeed. By now, your party should hopefully have
made it through all of Chapter 1: The Darkest Dream, and a good
portion of Chapter 2: The Foulest of Spirits. If you’ve yet to run
those adventures, you can still use this bonus mini-adventure
by making some adjustments, but we highly recommend using
this extra supplement in its intended place within the Red Star
Rising campaign, where it will make the most sense and blend
the best with your game.
Before we launch into this mini-adventure, there are a few
things to note. Unlike our full-sized chapters, this bonus sup-
plement will be condensed into a single book with the Adventure,
GM Reference material, Battle Stats, and NSREs all being found
in this one volume. Also, be sure to download your free copies of
our House Rules and Gooey Philosophy at GooeyCube.com if you
haven’t already, and check out our Cyclopaedia Zyathica Volume
One: The Wy’rded World to learn even more about the Woe of
Ruin and Darktide before you start this bonus mini-adventure.
Now, this supplement could be enough to take up the better part
of a full session depending on how fast or slow your party is, and
how long you have to play of course. But even if it’s just a quick
aside, it should be a harrowing evening of terrifying encounters
and perplexing mysteries, though it is important to note that
despite the shenanigans your party gets up to on this night, they
should still have the time to get a long rest before continuing on
with the story in Foulest of Spirits.
Notes for the GM
A Chill Wind Blows
The following side-adventure is intended for a party return-
ing from the Butcher Farm to the Mangy Hound in the waning
hours of Darktide, as an extra bit of fun for the Foulest of Spir-
its. However, it could also be readily adapted to any other Dark-
tide night, or even just as a creepy standalone session, though
we do think it works best as part of Chapter 2 in the larger Red
Star Rising campaign. If you do run it as a part of the Foulest of
Spirits, your party is likely to be nearly spent after the events at
the Butcher Farm, so this is not meant to have big, challenging
fights. As always, we include difficulty modifiers for the combats
to ramp things up if your players are having such an easy time
that it isn’t fun, but for the most part this little jaunt is an oppor-
tunity for some eerie, atmospheric roleplay and exploration. In
spite of the disturbing things they likely witnessed at the Butch-
er Farm, the young Hanataz have largely been spared the worst
of the strange, unnatural happenings that Darktide has to offer,
1
and that’s a shame! This little trek can help remedy that.
It might be difficult to entice a tired party towards a foreboding
encounter but, fortunately, the bizarre effects of this cursed day
make this much easier. Like the other cursed days inflicted upon
Zyathé by the Woe of Ruin, all manner of strange distortions of
time and space may be encountered during Darktide, funneling
the players inevitably towards the encounters below, before re-
leasing them to continue on their way home. The majority of the
adventure will take place in a sinister, ramshackle treehouse, in
which the players will encounter a gruesome puzzle, among oth-
er things. When running this side adventure, be sure to spend
the time to establish the mood. Nightly background sounds like
crickets and gusts of wind, along with low lighting add a lot if
you can manage such things. In any case, be sure to give good
descriptions, and be ready to improvise a bit as the players take a
look around. Strange shadows, odd sounds, and the like should
be in much greater abundance than usual, though they should
still not be so frequent as to lose their dramatic effect. There are
a number of Not-So-Random-Encounters presented after the
adventure to help you build the right tone.
Evil’s Plight in
Lantern’s Light
A Spectral Guide
Allow the party to walk back down the path away from the Butcher
Farm for a short distance. Then, before they pass any notable land-
marks on the way back to the Mangy Hound and the Blue Veil’s
camp, secretly let the Attunement player know the following:
A chill deeper than the winter wind suddenly seeps into your
bones. You feel a disturbing presence somewhere behind you,
its stare boring into the back of your head. An almost irre-
sistible urge to look over your shoulder to see who, or what, is
stalking you takes hold.
If the player refuses to look, allow them to continue on for a short
ways, and then repeat the message with greater urgency and in-
tensity. This can be done multiple times until they look, and if
they prove particularly stubborn, you can begin to add levels of
exhaustion as the strain of resisting takes its toll (obviously this
shouldn’t go so far as to kill the character). As soon as they look,
all levels of exhaustion from this are removed. Other players
won’t have this sensation, but may notice their friend’s troubled
state, and may decide to look behind the party. Once someone in
the party looks back, show Handout 01: The Gloomshade.
Something moves in the darkness on the path behind you.
A pair of glowing red eyes open, and the formless shadows
coalesce around them into a feminine figure in a flowing,
formal dress. The spectral woman extends a translucent
hand, gesturing towards a rough, overgrown path leading
into the trees.
 Darktide’s Night
Handout 01: The Gloomshade
Let the Attunement player know that they hear a whisper in their
ear, as though the phantom was standing right beside them. It is
in a language they don’t understand, but they have a feeling that
the ghostly figure is urging them to follow the previously unno-
ticed path. Now, the party may, understandably, be wary to trust
an apparition like this, especially on Darktide. However, at this
point, there is little they can do to avoid the events to follow. If
they attempt to continue down the path, let them know that they
make a bit of progress, before finding themselves back on the
same stretch of path as a few minutes before. Have them make a
Wisdom (Perception) check, but even low rolls will note that they
see identical fallen trees, piles of boulders, and other recogniz-
able features. If they look back behind them, the phantom will
still be there, in the same location as before.
They are stuck in this loop until they follow the phantom’s di-
rections. If they attempt to return to the Butcher Farm, the
same thing will happen, and even if they attempt to abandon
the path and go through the brush and trees, they will shortly
find themselves back on the path. Players may attempt a DC 12
Wisdom (Perception) check; if they succeed, they will notice that
the moons, stars, and even the clouds do not seem to be moving
at all, as though time has stopped.
When they finally approach the specter, it will simply gesture
again towards the side path that leads deeper into the forest. It
will not interact with them beyond giving this direction, though
the Attuned character will continue to hear its indecipherable
whispers. If the players are carrying a lit Darktide lantern, the
phantom will shy away from it, and if they attempt to attack it,
the ghost will melt away into a dark mist. When they decide to
follow the path, read or paraphrase the following:
The track before you seems like little more than an over-
grown game trail, but your feet seem to follow its course in-
stinctively. The way is dark, as even the baleful crimson glow of
the recently emerged red star is muted, hidden by a thick bank
of clouds. The bare branches and briars claw and scratch at you
as you push through the dense undergrowth. It is difficult to
see more than a few feet in any direction.
2
Anywhere along the path to the treehouse is a good place to use the
Woeful Walkers NSRE, even when the party arrives at the clearing.
This side adventure isn’t meant to present much danger to the party,
as they are likely quite spent, but we do recommend that you use
the Woeful Walkers encounter at some point, even if you have to
drop the difficulty significantly. You can also throw in a few non-le-
thal NSREs and Gooey Additions, or any creepy ideas of your own,
to make the trek towards the treehouse more foreboding.
The Treehouse
The trail the party follows is under the same strange effect that
was upon the path, meaning that if they try to go back the way
they came, or wander off into the forest, they will soon simply find
themselves back where they were. The only way out is to contin-
ue forward, towards what awaits them. After any NSRE encoun-
ters you want to throw at them, they continue a bit farther before
finding the dilapidated treehouse. Show Handout 02 : The Tottering
Treehouse.
Handout 02: The Tottering Treehouse
The path dips, turns, and loops back several times, making
it difficult to determine how far you’ve gone. However, you are
somewhat surprised to finally arrive at a small clearing. In the
center of the field stands a large tree, and two small shacks look
to be perched amongst its sturdier branches. The larger has a
peaked roof that resembles a witch’s hat, while the smaller leans
precariously to one side. Both appear haphazardly constructed,
and seem to have been long abandoned.
There is little else of note in the area, and if the party attempts
to leave without investigating the treehouse, they will encounter
the same problem as before, always returning back to the clear-
ing until they proceed. The treehouse is, like the rest of the area,
shrouded in darkness, but the players will get a better look as they
approach.
As you get closer, you can see that the tree is long dead, and the
strange structure has been partially constructed inside the hol-
low trunk as well. Numerous boards have been nailed along the
length of the trunk and many of the branches, perhaps as a crude
 Darktide’s Night
sort of ladder to reach the huts above. There are also strings dan-
gling from the upper limbs, with tufts of hair, bundles of twigs,
and clumps of grass tied in knots as strange decorations, or per-
haps offerings. The badly dilapidated structure looks to be a tree-
house, and would seem to be empty and forgotten. However, af-
ter another few steps you can see the orange glow of candlelight
suddenly fills the shacks, and pours out onto the ground through
the slats of the badly-fitted door set in the trunk.
Soon, you can see that jagged words are carved into that door,
and they glow unsettlingly in the pitch-black night. Howev-
er, they are in Common, and you can see that they read “ONLY
FLESH.” Something else glints beside the door in the amber light,
and as your eyes adjust you can see that the light gleams from a
pair of button eyes on a stuffed bear toy that sits to the left of the
entrance. Show Handout 03 : The Door Guard.
Handout 03: The Door Guard
The players might attempt to climb the boards on the tree to reach
the huts above, but it will quickly become obvious that they will
not reliably support the weight of even the lightest among them.
If they insist, you can allow them to try, but the boards will crack
or come loose and they will fall on their backsides before they
reach high enough to take falling damage. If they call out, they
will receive no reply or see any movement from within the tree-
house, though you could let a few of them hear a moan or whisper
on the wind in response.
If they examine the bear, read or paraphrase the following:
The stuffed bear toy is soft and cute, and does not seem over-
ly dirty or frayed, despite sitting in the open for who knows
how long. Other than some strange seams, perhaps the result
of repairs, the only remarkable aspect of its appearance are its
eyes, which are polished to such a degree that they somehow
catch enough light to softly glow, even when no direct source
of illumination is nearby. Upon picking up the bear, it seems
oddly heavy, which is quickly explained by the hole in its back,
revealing it to be some kind of puppet. Something has been
stored in the opening.
If the players pull out the objects from inside the Special Item 01:
3
Stuffed Bear, they will find several sheets of unmarked vellum
rolled up like a scroll and tied with string. They will also find a silk
pouch filled with a handful of small but brilliantly polished pre-
cious stones, such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and amethysts,
worth a total of about 12 Plats. All of the players will recognize that
the vellum is made from flesh, though disturbingly it looks quite
similar to the skin of many Humanoid races. A DC 12 Wisdom
(Medicine) check suggests that it is likely pig skin, but it is not
possible to confirm with total certainty.
Note 1: Any animal companions, familiars, mounts, or other
non-Humanoid NPCs, like the Insult Golem, that may be with
the party will act uneasy around the stuffed bear, and will avoid
it if possible. The players may suspect something sinister from
the bear, but (at least for now) the only unusual behavior they will
notice is that whoever first touched the bear will find it moves
amongst their belongings, no matter how securely they stow it,
and it will always reappear in their pack, even if they throw it away
or seemingly destroy it. The only way to be rid of it is for someone
else to willingly accept it, after which it will doggedly cling to the
new owner in the same way.
Note 2: These are the first in a series of items the party will find in
the treehouse. In each room, they will find a cryptic command on
which items to take, and which to leave. If they attempt to use or
keep the items that aren’t noted, they will cause themselves some
problems, or at least some interesting additional challenges, as
they progress.
There is nothing else of note in the clearing. When the players de-
cide to open the door, they will proceed into the trunk of the tree.
Room 1: The Trunk
Inside the hollowed-out trunk of the tree is surprisingly spa-
cious, but sparsely filled, with more random boards nailed to
the walls. A small ladder leads to the upper floor on the right
side. The only furnishing of note is a low table with several bot-
tles sitting atop it, but most prominent are the words “ONLY
BLOOD” scrawled in that very substance. However, before you
can proceed further or investigate the small wooden cham-
ber, three disembodied heads emerge from the walls. These
floating heads glow a ghostly green while spitting invectives
at you in strange, unfamiliar languages. Many of their curses
are laced with magical power and accompanied by balls of fire,
globs of acid, or waves of ice.
The Arcane Phantoms Encounter
Stats on Battle Stats page XX
As with the other combats in this side adventure, feel free to
lower the difficulty to ensure that you aren’t causing signifi-
cant damage to any of the characters; you want to unsettle and
creep out the players, but definitely shouldn’t put them in seri-
ous danger during these encounters. However, the combat may
 Darktide’s Night
become significantly more chaotic and interesting if the players
brought the sack of gemstones that were stashed in the back of
the stuffed bear into the tree with them. If they did, the gem-
stones will turn into a swarm of brightly colored insects that fill
the cramped space, releasing pulses of magical energy. They will
crawl out of wherever the players have stashed the gems and be-
gin flying around, disrupting the efforts of both the players and
the Arcane Phantoms. Note that the gemstones are not inher-
ently magical, so it will not be obvious to the players that this will
happen, except for the clue on the door.
The gemstone insects will emerge at the beginning of the first
round of combat. Each creature (players or Arcane Phantoms)
that makes an attack or casts a spell must roll a die before mak-
ing the attack roll. On an even number, the target of the attack
has the benefits of cover (+2 to AC and Dexterity saving throws)
due to the distracting reflections from the crystalline insects, on
an odd number there is no effect. In addition, at the end of each
round, roll a d20 for every creature inside the tree, including
the Arcane Phantoms, and apply the following results. 1-10: the
creature heals 2 (1d4) damage. 11-12: the creature takes 2 (1d4)
acid damage. 13-14: the creature takes 2 (1d4) cold damage. 15-16:
the creature takes 2 (1d4) fire damage. 17-18: the creature takes 2
(1d4) lightning damage. 19-20: the creature has advantage on all
attack rolls it makes until the end of the next round.
The gemstone insects are too small and fast to be effectively tar-
geted by attacks, though area of effect spells and similar effects
will destroy a number of them. Once the Arcane Phantoms have
been defeated, the insects will disperse through the many cracks
and holes in the treehouse. Any that were slain will fade away
into nothing, making it impossible to recover them. If, on the
other hand, the players left the gemstones outside as indicated
by the clue, they will not transform into insects.
After all of this pandemonium, the players can finally examine
the room further. There are seven small bottles on the table (or
perhaps now the floor if the combat was particularly intense), all
of which look to contain a red liquid. Detecting for magic, or
simply taking a closer look, will reveal that three of the bottles
contain blood, while the other four are likely potions. A success-
ful DC 13 Wisdom (Medicine) check for the message on the wall
will confirm that it was traced in fresh blood, but the players will
not be able to definitively determine whether the blood in the
bottles and on the wall is animal or Humanoid in origin. The
potions are easily identified as Potions of Healing; however, if
a character drinks one of these potions they will not receive any
healing, and will instead by poisoned for 1 hour.
Room 2: Skeleton Keys
When the players are done with the room below, they can pro-
ceed up the ladder. When they do, show Handout 04 : The First
Shack and read or paraphrase the following:
The ladder creaks and shifts worryingly as you climb, mak-
ing you wonder if it will bear the weight of any but the lightest
creatures. However, you all eventually make it to the top with-
4
out trouble. There, you see that you are now in the larger of the
two shacks perched in the branches of the tree. Candles burn in
each corner, and you can see out into the darkness of the night
through small windows and gaps in the boards of the rough-
ly constructed cabin. A short, doorless threshold opens onto a
bridge of dubious reliability, and seems to lead to the other hut.
There is a large metal chest in the center of the chamber, with a
key dangling from a string hanging above it. On the wall by the
opening, the words “ONLY BONE” are smeared, seemingly in
blood as it was downstairs.
Handout 04: The First Shack
The metal chest is extremely heavy and would be difficult to pick
up, but a strong character could briefly do so. If they shake the
box, they will hear a rattling sound inside. The chest has a key-
hole and several large scratch marks across its surface, which
would have required a monstrous creature to gouge out of the
metal. It is otherwise plain and unadorned. The key hanging
from the string would be the obvious way to open the chest, and
in this case it is a bit too obvious. If the players attempt to take
or otherwise interact with the key:
The key looks to be the perfect fit for the lock on the chest, but
when you reach out to pull it from the string, your hand passes
right through it, revealing it to be a figment of illusory magic.
The players may attempt to pick the lock on the chest, but will
find that even the most skillful among them cannot unlock it in
that way. Similarly, they will find that it is impossible to break or
force open, with the chest apparently reinforced with bands of
adamantine and other extremely strong materials.
Allow the party to try to puzzle this one out for a while if neces-
sary, and try not to give away significant hints. A general search
of the room will not be sufficient to reveal the solution, but if
they examine the walls of the cabin closely, they may attempt
a DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check. If they succeed, they will
notice that the flickering shadows cast by the candles do not
seem to follow the patterns they would expect. In particular, it is
possible to see a shadow cast by the illusory key on three of the
walls, even if players or other objects would seem to be standing
in the way. If they try to grasp at these shadows, they will find
 Darktide’s Night
that, despite their appearance, the shadows will coalesce into a
slender physical key which can be plucked from the wall. Each
of the three shadows can be brought forth as a key. Only one of
the keys will fit into the lock, but the players will be able to make
use of another of the two shortly. If the party fails to figure this
out for a while, or they all fail their Perception checks, you can
eventually help them along with some clues.
Looking at the heads of the keys, the players will find that one
looks like a Humanoid skull, another like a drop of blood, and
the last like a Humanoid face. On closer inspection, whichever
player first examines the key with the face will see that it bears
an uncanny resemblance to their own features, and if other play-
ers look at the key afterwards, they will also see the eerie likeness
to their companion. The key with the skull opens the chest. If
they attempt the key with the drop of blood, the chest won’t un-
lock, and blood will begin to gush out of the keyhole, coating the
person with the key and much of the area around the chest. The
blood will slowly seep through the irregular floorboards and drip
down into the room in the trunk of the tree below. If they try the
key with the face, it will not open the chest, and the player that
the key resembles will hear a sickening crunch. After a moment,
they will also begin to hear loud bangs and ear splitting screech-
es like metal dragged across stone coming from the chest. Only
that player will hear these noises, so you should let them know
with a note. The sounds will subside after a few rounds, but will
repeat if the same key is attempted again for some reason.
Once the chest is open, the party will find that it is filled with the
bones of a small Humanoid skeleton, likely those of a Halfling or
Gnome. In addition, there is a ring on one of the finger bones, a
circlet sitting on the skull, and a short sword with a handle grip
of bone. If the players take the time to count the bones and can
succeed at a DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check, they will conclude
that there are several bones missing, which were likely used
to make the sword grip. The ring and the sword radiate magic,
while the circlet is simply valuable, worth 5 Plats. The Ring is a
Special Item 02: Ring of Minor Fortune, while the sword is a Special
Item 03: Bonebreaker. The players will also notice that the finger
bones of the skeleton’s left hand are fused into long, claw-like
talons.
If a player leaves this room with one of the objects from the
chest other than the bones, they will suddenly feel unseen claws
tearing at them, taking 7 (2d6) slashing damage (note that this
damage should not take any character to 0 hit points, reduce the
damage dealt if that would be the case). Long wounds will open
across their body, regardless of any armor or other protections
they may have, and the slashes have an uncanny resemblance
to those found on the metal chest. If the player searches their
belongings they will also find that the item they took from the
room has disappeared.
Room 3: A Grim Prize
When the players proceed to the next room, show Handout 05:
The Second Shack, and give a description of the room:
5
The final room of this grim treehouse lies before you. Like the
previous room, there are several small windows, and many open-
ings in the rough boards to the cold night beyond. More candles
illuminate a skeletal corpse hung from the cobwebbed rafters,
with a gleaming amulet hanging low around its neck. A battered
tome lies underneath the body on the floor, while a wooden chest
sits against the far wall. Jagged bits of bone covered in dried
blood litter the floor. On the right wall, a final bloody message is
scratched in crimson letters, reading “ONLY YOU.”
Handout 05: The Second Shack
The players may examine the objects in the room, and will hope-
fully begin to piece together what they need to do to complete
the grisly puzzle and leave the treehouse, perhaps with some-
thing useful to show for it. If they attempt to remove the amulet
from the skeleton’s neck, or otherwise interact with the skeleton
itself, they will find that both seem to be illusions, as the key was
in the previous room. The other items in the room are solid.
They will find a keyhole on the wooden chest, and note that it is
equally resistant to lockpicking and force. If a player attempts to
use the blood drop key to open it, the chest won’t open, and they
will suddenly turn very pale and cold, as though much of their
blood had been drained; that player gains a level of exhaustion
(not to exceed level 5) and slumps to the ground. They are con-
scious but will need to sit and recuperate for a while. If a play-
er attempts to open the chest with the skull key, the chest won’t
open, and the bones scattered on the floor will begin to rattle
and jump at the players. This will abate after a round or so. The
key with the face of one of the party members will open the chest,
but if they open it now, they will find it to be empty.
The bloody bones on the floor are not of note, except that each of
them seems to have been dipped in blood long after drying out
(that is, none of them seem like fresh remains) and they each
only had one end dipped in the blood before being discarded.
Like previous rooms, the bold message on the wall seems to have
been written in blood.
Of greatest significance is the book. If the players examine
it, they will see it has an ancient, well-worn leather cover, and
the pages within all seem to be loose sheets of vellum, similar
 Darktide’s Night
to those they found in the stuffed bear. Each sheet has a sin-
gle name scrawled upon it in blood, and seems to have been
scratched onto the page with a jagged tool that occasionally
punctures the vellum.
The intention is that at least one of the players will write their
own true name, rather than a nickname or the name of another
person, onto one of the blank vellum pages they found, using
the bottles of blood from the trunk as ink, and one of the bones,
especially one of the fused claws from the metal chest, as the
pen. When they have done this, they should add it to the book.
It’s up to you how generous you want to be in accepting another
solution to this puzzle, such as whether they can use their own
blood for the ink, one of the bones on the floor as a pen, whether
just a first name is sufficient, etc.
If the players make an attempt that you don’t feel is close enough
to the correct solution, the book will magically open, the page
will be expelled, and it will catch fire and burn to ash as it floats
down to the floor, while the players hear a distant, rattling chuck-
le. Feel free to modify this reaction to better fit the solution they
attempted, or for variety if they make multiple failed attempts.
There isn’t necessarily a deadly penalty for failing, though you
may want to make the signs more dire and ominous each time
they fail to increase the tension. Alternatively, if your players are
in a relatively healthy state, you could have them each take 3 (1d6)
slashing damage from invisible claws for each failed attempt.
If the players decipher the correct solution, or one that’s fairly close
and you decide to accept it, the skeleton and amulet will become
solid with an audible sigh. The amulet is a Special Item 04: Periapt
of Slayye. In addition, the chest will make a clattering noise as it
fills with objects. If it was open at the time they solve the puzzle, it
will slam shut first. What objects may be found inside will depend
on how well they followed the directions of the bloody messages.
If they did not take the gemstones from inside the stuffed bear,
they will find the silk pouch has been teleported into the chest,
and is now filled double with gems worth 24 Plats. If, on the oth-
er hand, they tried to take the gems and the stones turned into
insects, they will still find the pouch, but it will only be half full,
with a value of 6 Plats.
If they did not take the four Potions of Healing inside the trunk
of the tree, they will find four Potions of Greater Healing in the
chest. If they did take the potions, they will instead find only two
normal Potions of Healing in the chest.
If they tried to take any of the items besides the bones from the
metal chest, they will find only the Special Item 02: Ring of Minor
Fortune, in the chest. If they left the items from the chest in that
room, they will find the Special Item 02: Ring of Minor Fortune,
Special Item 03: Bonebreaker, and the circlet in the chest.
Any items left behind throughout the treehouse or outside will
have disappeared/been teleported into the chest, so the players
can’t claim both.
6
Once the players have solved this minor riddle, they can leave the
treehouse. Time will continue as normal from this point, and they
can follow the path back to the road and on to finish their business
at the Mangy Hound. They’ve certainly earned their rest, so we
wouldn’t recommend more combat encounters at this point.
Darktide’s Night
NSREs
Using the NSREs
The NSREs for Darktide’s Night work just like they do for the pri-
mary chapters of the campaign. They can be added where you feel
they will have the best impact, and some can be repeated or ex-
panded upon with small variations as needed. However it’s worth
keeping in mind that this is a minor, optional side adventure, and
you won’t have nearly as many opportunities where NSREs will
neatly fit. Most of those presented here will work best along the
path to the treehouse, or perhaps in the clearing around it. Once
the players have cleared the treehouse, it’s probably best to let
them get back to the Mangy Hound without much more trouble;
after such a day, they definitely deserve a rest.
Non-Lethal NSREs
The Watchful Specter (recurring)
A wave of chilled air overtakes you, and instinctively you know
exactly where to look for the source. You see the familiar pair of
bright red eyes hovering amongst the shadows, and the ghostly
figure of the formally-attired woman soon appears around them.
Her gaze is unnerving and judgemental, but she remains at a dis-
tance, simply observing your actions.
The ghostly woman that first set the party on this spooky quest will
continue to watch them as they progress. You can have her appear
as they approach the treehouse, and potentially again while inside
the treehouse, as there are several windows and many holes to the
outside. She will always be at some distance, probably at the edge
of the clearing, and will disappear if the players attempt to inter-
act with her. However, if they are struggling, you could use her
presence as a hint, for example appearing in the window nearest
the object they need to use next. You could also have her appear
one final time after they complete the puzzle, perhaps with an ap-
proving nod, or instead with a hissing chuckle, depending on how
much you want to freak them out.
Candles in the Trees (recurring)
You can give this NSRE to various members of the party at a few
different times. Others may notice the same thing before it fades
away, but it will primarily be a single character that notices each
time, so initially let that player know in secret.
An odd glimmer amongst the branches catches your eye. A
small, chest-high light bobs along between the trunks of the trees
some distance away. Under the rays of the Sul, or even beneath
the moonbeams and starlight of a normal night, it would likely
 Darktide’s Night
be unnoticeable, but under the dark pall of Darktide, its lambent
glow is unmistakable. Soon it is joined by others in a procession
that slowly marches parallel to your own path. Yet rather than
the warm, hale light of lanterns, these candle-like motes of illu-
mination flicker in pale blues and greens.
The lights seem to move with purpose, mirroring the move-
ments of the party. However, the players will not be able to dis-
cern if there are creatures carrying the lights, or if they are in-
stead some magical phenomenon. If they attempt to approach
the lights, cast spells at them, or otherwise interact with them,
the lights will swiftly retreat into the forest and disappear be-
fore the players can catch them. If they players ignore them and
proceed as normal, the lights will follow them for a while before
taking a divergent path and fading into the trees.
If you repeat this while the party is in the treehouse, you can
have the lights circle at the edge of the clearing, and perhaps
flare and flicker in time with events transpiring within the ram-
shackle structure.
Lethal NSREs
Woeful Walkers
As you wend your way amongst the trees, a strange rum-
bling sound is carried to you upon the wind. It is impossible to
discern the source, but the odd sound is getting closer. After a
few moments, the rumbling resolves into a wave of groaning
wails. It isn’t long before twisted shapes emerge from between
the trees, shambling towards you. Many are little more than
skeletons, though a few still have scraps of flesh clinging to
their rotting bodies. A baleful green light burns in their empty
eye-sockets. As you look around, you see they are closing in on
you from all sides. Show Handout 06: The Woeful Walkers.
Handout 06: The Woeful Walkers
The Woeful Walkers NSRE
Stats on Battle Stats page XX
7
Spontaneous Monster
Despite the sharp bite of the cold wind as it periodical-
ly crashes through the trees, rustling the leaves in a way that
sounds uncomfortably like conspiratorial whispers, the forest
around you seems unnaturally still, as though it is waiting for
something. You have seen the phantasms and apparitions you
know plague the world on this cursed Darktide’s night, but
most of the more wholesome creatures of the world seem to
have enough sense to hide and wait until the light of a less taint-
ed day dawns. However, not all animals seem to have retreated
into their burrows, as a dark, furry shape, perhaps a skunk or
a badger, dashes across your path through the tall grass and
fallen leaves with an annoyed grunt. The presence of such a
creature is almost a relief under the circumstances. However,
as you pass it by, the grunting grows deeper and deeper, un-
til it becomes a hungry, vicious roar. Looking back, whatever
the creature once was is now swelling to grotesque propor-
tions larger than a bear, with jagged teeth and razor-like claws
gleaming in the weird glow of the moons overhead. With a final
snarl the horrid mass of black fur lunges towards you.
Spontaneous Monster NSRE
Stats on Battle Stats page XX
This dreadful transformation is reminiscent of those that took
place during the Woe of Ruin, when arcane energies coursed
over innocuous creatures and deformed them into the first
monsters. The players will likely be a bit too busy to make this
connection while the thing is trying to maul them, but after
it has been dispatched, they may attempt a DC 15 Intelligence
(Arcana) or Intelligence (History) check to recall the old legends
about such transformations and their relationship to Darktide,
the anniversary of the Woe.
Note that this is an entirely optional combat encounter, and
your party may well be too depleted from their other fights today
to tangle with such a beast. If you don’t want them to miss out,
you can further decrease the difficulty by taking away most of
the Spontaneous Monster’s hit points; after all, such a transfor-
mation would usually be quite painful and could leave the crea-
ture on the verge of death. You could even have the party roll
initiative, but ensure they all act before the monster, and simply
have it collapse and expire due to the stress of the transforma-
tion before it can attack. Uncontrollable bursts of random magic
can be pretty dangerous, and certainly don’t always result in a
functional new species of monster.
Gooey Additions
Whispers on the Wind (recurring)
Tell a few players that, although the sky overhead remains bi-
zarrely motionless, a sharp, cold wind whistles past them. Have
the players make a DC 13 Wisdom (Perception) check; those that
succeed at the check think they can hear a voice amongst the
shrill sounds of the squall. It’s up to you what they hear in the
whispers, but feel free to mix it up for different players, secret-
 Darktide’s Night
ly letting each know what they think the murmuring wind says.
Some examples could include:
One... is...betrayer…
They’re…here...
Don’t...belong...here…
In some cases, the wind could simply sound like distant screams,
moans, or a dry, disturbing chuckle. The wind will continue
throughout the adventure, but it doesn’t always have to carry a
message. You can still have the players make a Wisdom (Percep-
tion) check, so they aren’t sure if they missed something or not.
Cycles of Darktide
Secretly let one of the players know that a cluster of mushrooms
catches their attention. At first they will be unsure why the patch
of fungus seemed remarkable, as it does not appear substantial-
ly different than many others they have seen in the area. How-
ever, as they watch the mushrooms, they will note that they can
see them growing into full bloom. A cascade of colorful spores
drops from the caps of the mushrooms when they have fully ex-
panded, but again something odd happens which is, at first, dif-
ficult to discern. After a moment it becomes clear that the spores
are rising back towards the undersides of the mushrooms. Soon
the heads of the fungi are shrinking back into the ground, and
swiftly disappear entirely. The entire cycle then repeats over the
course of a minute or so, and will continue to do so while the
players are in the area. You could apply the same temporal ef-
fects to other things in the area, such as leaves falling from trees
or birds fluttering between branches.
Fingers of Ice (recurring)
Pick a player to experience the following:
You begin to feel a frigid tingling sensation crawl up your
spine. The sensation comes and goes over the next few min-
utes, before spreading across your back and shoulders. It’s now
clear that some sort of large insect must be crawling across
your skin on ice-cold legs.
Allow the player to react, but whether they pull off their cloak
and roll on the ground to dislodge the insect, or totally ignore
it, there isn’t anything there, and the feeling will briefly subside.
After they move on, you can have the feeling return, or even
transfer to another player. The nature of the feeling can also
change, such as cold, dead fingers curling around the charac-
ter’s shoulders and neck, or a numbing chill radiating out from
random points on their legs.
Shadows of the Past (recurring)
This is something that the entire party will likely notice at once:
The gloom of this Darktide’s night seems deeper than that
of more wholesome evenings, but, to your surprise, the woods
around you are suddenly cast into even more profound dark-
ness. Looking to the sky, the clouds still seem frozen in place,
leaving no obvious source for the immense shadow that has
fallen across the world. Something in the back of your mind
8
urges you to flee from what it takes to be an impending ca-
tastrophe, but soon the shadow passes without incident.
This massive shadow is an arcane imprint left by one of the many
skyborne Ethernic cities that crashed to the ground during the
Woe of Ruin. It will not appear again, but other shadows left by
the Woe may follow the party as they explore this area. For ex-
ample, a section of forest may swiftly be enveloped in shadow,
mimicking the fires that ravaged the world, with shadowy fig-
ures of Humanoids and animals dashing past the party to es-
cape. Smaller shadows might dart across the sky, or there could
even be strange, multicolored shadows that writhe and spread
before disappearing, reminiscent of the uncontrolled magicks
that scoured the surface of Zyathé.
Darktide’s Night
Battlestats
Adventure
The Arcane Phantoms
Opponents: 3 Arcane Phantoms
Arcane Phantom, Tiny Aberration, neutral evil
Armor Class 13 (mage armor), Hit Points 13 (3d8), Speed 0 ft., fly
40 ft. (hover)
STR 10 (+0) DEX 11 (+0) CON 10 (+0) INT 14 (+2) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 15 (+2)
Skills: Perception +4
Damage Resistances: acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder
Damage Immunities: necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities: charmed, exhaustion, frightened, grap-
pled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 14
Languages: babble in ancient dialects of Elven, Draconic, and
several dead languages
Challenge: 1 (200 XP)
Incorporeal Movement: The Arcane Phantom can move through
other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It
takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
Volatile: When the Arcane Phantom is reduced to 0 hit points,
roll a die. On an even result, all living creatures within 30 ft. are
healed 11 (3d6) hit points. On an odd result, all living creatures
within 30 ft. must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, tak-
ing 5 (2d4) force damage on a failed save, or half as much on a
successful one.
Arcane Bite: The Arcane Phantom can make an Arcane Bite attack
as a bonus action. In addition, each time the Arcane Phantom
makes an Arcane Bite attack, roll a d6. The result indicates the
damage type of the additional damage inflicted by the attack.
1-Acid, 2-Cold, 3-Fire, 4-Lighting, 5-Psychic, 6-Thunder
Spellcasting: The Arcane Phantom is a 2nd level spellcaster. Its
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, spell attack
 Darktide’s Night
modifier +4). It knows the following spells:
• Cantrips (at will): Acid Splash, Firebolt, Light, Mage Hand,
Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost, Shocking Grasp
• 1st level (4 slots-1 already used for Mage Armor): Burning Hands,
Color Spray, Mage Armor, Magic Missile
Actions: Melee attack. Arcane Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) force damage, plus 4 (1d8) addi-
tional damage of a random type (see the Arcane Bite ability above).
Difficulty Modifiers
Weaker Party: Don’t use the Arcane Phantoms spellcasting abil-
ity. In addition, ensure that the first one to be destroyed causes
healing rather than damage with its Volatile ability.
Advanced Party: Give each Arcane Phantom 4 extra hit points.
Make it Tough: In addition to the extra hit points, increase each
Arcane Phantom’s AC by 1, to a total of 14.
Make it Tougher: In addition to all of the above, give each of the
Arcane Phantoms a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
Lethal NSREs
Woeful Walkers
Opponents: 9 Woeful Walkers
Woeful Walker, Medium undead, neutral evil
Armor Class 11 (natural armor), Hit Points 6 (1d8+2), Speed 30 ft.
STR 11 (+0) DEX 8 (-1) CON 15 (+2) INT 2 (-4) WIS 5 (-3) CHA 2 (-4)
Damage Immunities: force, poison, psychic.
Condition Immunities: poisoned.
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 7
Challenge: 1/2 (50 XP)
Arcane Contagion: If a creature takes damage from a Woeful
Walker’s bite attack, they must immediately make a DC 11 Wis-
dom saving throw. On a failed save, they take 3 (1d6) psychic
damage, and at the beginning of each of the creature’s turns,
it must make another DC 11 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed
save, the creature, and all creatures within 5 ft. of them, take 2
(1d4) force damage. This effect continues for 3 rounds or until
they succeed on a saving throw associated with this effect.
Actions: Melee weapon attack. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to
hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage, plus 3 (1d6)
psychic damage.
Difficulty Modifiers
Weaker Party: Remove 3 Woeful Walkers, for a total of 6.
Advanced Party: Give the Woeful Walker 3 extra hit points each.
Make it Tough: In addition to the extra hit points, give each Woe-
ful Walker a +1 bonus to attack rolls.
Make it Tougher: In addition to all of the above, add 3 more Woe-
9
ful Walkers, with the same additions and bonuses.
Spontaneous Monster
Opponents: 1 Spontaneous Monster
Note: The Spontaneous Monster will be a dangerous encounter
for a party that just barely survived the Butcher Farm. Don’t use
this NSRE if that is the case, or be sure to use the Weaker Party
Difficulty Modifier (and even making further modifications if
necessary) for one that you think is bloodied but would enjoy,
and be able to survive, one more significant combat.
Spontaneous Monster, Large Monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 13 (natural armor), Hit Points 34 (4d10+12), Speed
40 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR 17 (+3) DEX 14 (+2) CON 17 (+3) INT 3 (-4) WIS 12 (+1) CHA 5 (-3)
Skills: Perception +3
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Challenge: 2 (450 XP)
Keen Senses: The Spontaneous Monster has advantage on Wis-
dom (Perception) checks.
Actions: Multiattack. The Spontaneous Monster makes two at-
tacks: one with its bite and one with its claws. Bite. Melee Weap-
on Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3)
piercing damage. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Difficulty Modifiers
Weaker Party: Reduce the Spontaneous Monster’s hit points by 9,
down to a total of 25. In addition, impose a -2 penalty on attack
and damage rolls made for the Spontaneous Monster.
Advanced Party: Increase the Spontaneous Monster’s hit points
by 9, to a total of 45.
Make it Tough: In addition to the extra hit points, give the Spon-
taneous Monster a +1 bonus to attack rolls.
Make it Tougher: In addition to all of the above, add a second
Spontaneous Monster, with the same additions and bonuses.
Darktide’s Night Special
Items
Special Item 01: Stuffed Bear
Toy, Unique
Effects: Any animal companions, familiars, mounts, or other
non-humanoid NPCs and creatures will act uneasy around the
stuffed bear, and will avoid it if possible. The only apparently
unusual characteristic of the bear is that whoever first touched
it will find it moves around amongst their belongings, no matter
how securely they stow it, and it will always reappear in their pack,
even if they throw it away or seemingly destroy it. The only way to
be rid of it is for someone else to willingly accept it, after which it
 Darktide’s Night

will doggedly cling to the new owner in the same way.

This stuffed bear is soft and cuddly, and seems like an ordinary
child’s toy. It looks to have been rather worn out over the years, but
has been well-maintained, with a number of “scars” where it has
been repaired. The buttons it has for eyes are extremely reflective
and well polished, as they seem to gleam in even the faintest light.
There is an opening in the bear’s back that allows it to be used as a
puppet, but it can also be used to store several small items instead.
The bear radiates a faint aura of magic, but doesn’t have any identi-
fiable properties. It’s probably just a lingering effect from magical
items that were placed in its back at some point…

Special Item 02: Ring of Minor Fortune

Ring, Common (requires attunement)

Properties: Once per long rest, you can decide to gain advantage on
a single die roll of your choice before making the roll.

Although the magic in these rings is quite subtle compared to many

more powerful arcane objects, those that possess them still consid-
er themselves exceptionally fortunate to do so.

Special Item 03: Bonebreaker

Martial Weapon, Rare (requires attunement)

Effects: On a hit roll of 20, this weapon deals 7 (2d6) points of blud-
geoning damage in addition to its normal damage, and the speed
of the target is reduced by 10 ft. until they receive magical healing.
Damage: 1d6 piercing
Weight: 2 lbs.

This short sword has a handle wrought from the polished bones of
a dead humanoid. Although capable of delivering the standard cuts
and stabs for a short sword, it also shatters bones with shocking
force, crippling the wielder’s enemies to prevent any chance of es-
cape.

Special Item 04: Periapt of Slayye

Wondrous Item, Rare (requires attunement)

Effects: This Periapt has 3 charges. Whenever you kill a living crea-
ture within 120 ft., or a living creature you reduced to 0 hit points
dies within 120 ft., the Periapt regains a charge, up to its maximum.
When taking a short rest, you may expend one or more charges
from the Periapt. Each expended charge allows you to roll a die to
regain hit points without expending a hit die from your pool. These
dice are equivalent to your lowest hit die (for example, if you have
both d8s and d10s as hit dice, those granted by the Periapt will be
d8s).

This Periapt is, at a casual glance, quite similar to many healing

amulets of Aeliera, with a sizable ruby set in a gold fitting on a fine
golden chain. However, on the reverse may be found the image of
a pair of finely engraved, jagged daggers, the symbol of the god of
murder, Slayye. Its magicks are also a cruel parody of healing talis-
mans, stealing a sliver of the magical energy released when a living
creature dies and granting its sustaining power back to the killer.

10
Darktide’s Night

Handout 01: The Gloomshade

11
Darktide’s Night

Handout 02: : The Tottering Treehouse

12
 Handout 03: The Door Guard

13
Darktide’s Night
 Handout 04: The First Shack

14
Darktide’s Night
 Handout 05: The Second Shack

15
Darktide’s Night
 Handout 06: The Woeful Walkers

16
Darktide’s Night
Darktide’s Night

Special Item 01: Stuffed Bear

17
Darktide’s Night

Special Item 02: Ring of Minor Fortune

18
Darktide’s Night

Special Item 03: The Bonebreaker

19
Darktide’s Night

Special Item 04: Periapt of Slayye

20
 Darktide’s Night

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15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC.
System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims,
and Steve Townshend, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

21
 A Setting-Independent, Immersive Experience Adventure for Levels 1 to 3
Darktide’s Night

Darktide’s Night
Bonus Mini-Adventure

A Thrilling, Optional Mini-Adventure Set During the Sinister & Mysterious Darktide’s Night

The 13th of Dezu’un is a cursed date in the world of Zyathé. Each annum on the
anniversary of the catastrophic Woe of Ruin, all manner of evil is unleashed, from
terrifying monsters to bewildering manifestations of unpredictable magic. None can
say with certainty what evil and misfortune will transpire each year, but most huddle
close with family and friends, clasp tight the amulet of whichever god they hope will
protect them, and wait for the cursed hours to pass. Those brave, foolish, or desperate
enough to dare the open road on this day may find themselves on a very different path
than the one they intended. There is much danger in such a course, but for those with a
greater destiny ahead, it may lead to a valuable boon.

Such is the predicament faced by the young Hanataz of the Blue Veil troupe. This optional
side adventure may be added to the second chapter, the Foulest of Spirits, of the Red
Star Rising campaign. Driven out of the safety of their camp by the larcenous actions
of the Butcher clan, they find themselves with a grim road home in the waning hours
of Darktide’s night. Yet it seems the dark forces of this ill-fated day still have something
in mind for the weary Zatis. Inexorably they will find themselves drawn towards a
ramshackle treehouse holding a grisly secret. Horrors abound on this night, but there
may be quite the prize for those that can keep their wits about them.

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