Urban Mystery Adventure for Characters Level 3–5

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

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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.

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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

• Helene Youngantler – Distraught mother; quest giver

• Barkley – Loyal hound; senses evil, can guide PCs

• Jovie Sunblessed – Fruit vendor; last employer of Picklebreath

• Mona Gleti –Fire Genasi lighthouse keeper; red herring but critical ally

• Picklebreath– Missing child; secretly an Air Genasi

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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.

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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)

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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)

• Key on Amber’s desk

• Three cages:

  • Bullywug child (flees to Sewers if freed)

  • Giant Wolf Spider (hostile)

  • Stirge (pretends to sleep, attacks when freed)

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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

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Adventure Strengths

• Clear investigative structure

• Moral discomfort without overt cruelty

• Strong red herrings that reward critical thinking

• Single, memorable villain reveal