1. Quests

Missing Child of Lygos

Urban Mystery Adventure for Characters Level 3–5

Setting: Lygos
Themes: Hidden evil, misplaced trust, exploitation beneath charity

Adventure Summary

Children have begun disappearing across Lygos. What starts as a simple missing-child investigation leads the characters through rumors, false accusations, and civic bureaucracy before revealing a horrifying truth: the kindly caretaker of Sunnyside Orphanage is a Green Hag abducting children for infernal experimentation.

The adventure emphasizes investigation, social roleplay, and moral tension, culminating in a single dangerous dungeon confrontation.

Key NPCs

Villain

  • Amber Keen – Green Hag disguised as a humane orphanage matron

    • Goal: Bind fiendish spirits to mortal bodies to create controllable soldiers

  • Bors – Orc bodyguard under illusion (Harpy's Claw Charm)

Allies & Witnesses

Quest Hook

A notice on the Jobs Board offers 200 gp for the safe return of a missing street child known only as Picklebreath. The posting leads to Helene Youngantler, whose children befriended the girl.

Act I: The Youngantler Home

Helene explains that Picklebreath:

  • Is a scrawny white-haired street orphan with no surname

  • Regularly visited for cookies

  • Vanished several weeks ago

Leads Provided

  1. Courthouse – City Watch would bring a homeless child there

  2. Lighthouse – Picklebreath mentioned visiting Mona Gleti (rumored “witch”)

  3. Grand Bazaar – Picklebreath sold pickles for Jovie Sunblessed

Helene offers:

  • 200 gp on success

  • Fresh cookies

  • Barkley, her dog (optional; can track to Jovie’s stand)

Act II: The Grand Bazaar

Jovie Sunblessed, an energetic fruit seller, confirms:

  • Picklebreath worked for him regularly

  • She could lift a heavy pickle barrel with ease (Genasi clue)

  • She vanished weeks ago

Important Clue

  • Picklebreath mentioned being followed by a tall, gaunt man in a black cloak (Bors)

Additional Information

  • Other vendors vaguely recall the cloaked man

  • Picklebreath occasionally pickpocketed

  • Jovie fears the City Watch would send her to an orphanage

Suggested Next Step: Courthouse

Act III: The Courthouse (Red Herring)

  • Silas Greybrow, court reporter: no record of Picklebreath

  • Willow Dawntalon, chief prosecutor:

    • No missing child case

    • Mentions rumors that Sunnyside Orphanage sells “exotic” orphans

    • Investigation found no evidence

    • Offers prosecution if PCs uncover proof

This rumor is false, but it points the PCs in the right direction.

Act IV: The Lighthouse

Mona Gleti refuses entry unless Picklebreath is named.

Once convinced of the party’s sincerity:

  • Reveals she is a Fire Genasi, not a witch

  • Recognized Picklebreath as an Air Genasi

  • Has been secretly mentoring her

  • Believes Picklebreath was targeted for her heritage

Mona urges the party to act quickly.

Act V: Sunnyside Orphanage

First Impressions

  • New building, clean, cheerful

  • Children appear well-fed and safe

  • Gated grounds, playground visible

Staff

  • Bors answers the door; curt and dismissive

  • Amber Keen is polite, protective, emotionally cold

Magical Clues

  • Detect Magic:

    • Illusion on Bors (spell effect)

    • Illusion on Amber (innate, not a spell)

  • Dispel Magic:

    • Removes Bors’ disguise

    • Does not affect Amber

Talking to the Children

  • In Amber or Bors’ presence: scripted, polite responses

  • Alone: fearful hints

    • Amber is “secretly mean”

    • Naughty children go to “the dark place”

No signs of neglect or abuse are visible.

Escalation

If PCs delay:

  • Saffy, a blue dragonborn child, disappears

  • Amber claims she “ran away” (windows are bricked shut)

Amber’s Room

  • Locked

  • Animated Rug of Smothering (owlbear rug) attacks intruders

  • Ledger shows no illegal adoption or fraud

Act VI: The Hag’s Lair

Access: Trapdoor in the kitchen → basement laboratory

Main Chamber

  • Picklebreath, unconscious and restrained

  • Dried blood, infernal symbols

  • Second table holds Saffy if already taken

  • Shallow ritual pool (portal)

Infernal Portal

  • One-way gate to Avernus

  • Allows fiends into the Material Plane

  • Anything entering the pool is incinerated

Closing the Portal (Ritual)

  • Requires level 3 spell slot

  • Read Infernal notes

  • Spell attack vs. DC 16

    • Success: portal closes

    • Failure: portal remains, caster takes 2d8 psychic damage

Amber’s Notes (Infernal)

  • Goal: bind fiends to mortal bodies

  • All attempts so far were fatal

  • Believes Genasi blood may succeed

  • Mentions aid from “The Exile” (Gargauth)

Back Room (Locked)

Resolution

Defeating Amber:

  • Frees the children

  • Exposes hidden corruption beneath civic virtue

  • Earns Helene’s reward and gratitude

If evidence is recovered:

  • Willow Dawntalon prosecutes the orphanage

  • Sunnyside is shut down permanently

Adventure Strengths

  • Clear investigative structure

  • Moral discomfort without overt cruelty

  • Strong red herrings that reward critical thinking

  • Single, memorable villain reveal