A System Agnostic ONE-SHOT For You and Your Group!
Overview:
The players are hired by a wealthy noble to investigate and cleanse a small chapel located on the outskirts of town, which has been abandoned for decades and is rumored to be cursed. The chapel has a dark history involving a group of priests who were accused of practicing necromancy, and the noble believes that the curse can be lifted by purifying the chapel and banishing the evil spirits that are said to haunt it.
Setting:
The chapel is located in a dense forest, and is surrounded by a small graveyard. The chapel itself is small and rundown, with broken windows and a dilapidated roof. The inside is dark and musty, with broken pews and a raised altar at the front.
Encounters:
As the players enter the chapel, they are immediately struck by a feeling of dread and unease. They may hear strange noises and see shadows moving in the corners of their eyes.
- The first encounter is with a group of ghosts who were once the priests accused of necromancy. They are bound to the chapel and cannot leave, but they are still powerful and will defend themselves if attacked. The ghosts can only be harmed by magic weapons, and they have the ability to drain the life force of those they touch.
- The second encounter is with a group of ghouls who have taken up residence in the chapel’s basement. The ghouls are mindless undead creatures that attack anything that moves. The players will need to navigate through the dark and cramped basement to reach them.
- The final encounter is with the source of the curse: a powerful demon that was summoned by the priests in their attempts to practice necromancy. The demon is immune to physical attacks and can only be harmed by powerful holy magic. It has the ability to possess the bodies of the players, and will try to do so in order to use their bodies as vessels to escape the chapel.
Conclusion:
If the players are able to defeat the demon and purify the chapel, the curse will be lifted and the spirits of the priests will finally be able to rest in peace. The noble will reward the players handsomely for their bravery, and the chapel will be reopened as a place of worship once again.
Possible Magic Items:
- A holy water sprayer: This is a small, ornate silver flask with a pointed spout. When the flask is filled with holy water and the spout is squeezed, it sprays a fine mist of holy water in a 15-foot cone. Any undead creatures caught in the mist take radiant damage equal to 2d6 + the wielder’s spellcasting ability modifier. The flask can hold enough holy water for 10 uses before it needs to be refilled.
- A book of banishment: This is a thick, leather-bound book filled with ancient spells and incantations for banishing spirits and demons. When the book is opened and the correct incantation is read, it creates a magical field in a 20-foot radius around the reader. Any spirits or demons caught within the field must make a Charisma saving throw or be banishe d back to their home plane. The book has enough power for 3 uses before it must be recharged by a powerful cleric or paladin.
I hope this adventure gives you some ideas for your own one-shot Dungeons and Dragons game!
Let me know if you have any questions or would like further assistance.