Endless Night: The Guest Wardrobe

ENDLESS NIGHT

A Fantasy Core Adventure

© Jerry Harris 2014

Published here as Open Game Content.

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)

Adventure Overview Index

First Floor Index

The Guest Wardrobe

Description: This is a very large, walk-in closet where guest’s coats would be stored.  There’s still a bunch of coats inside.

Status: The door is closed, but unlocked.

Inhabitant: The Doppleganger

Objective: Defeat the Doppleganger and gain his Shapechanging Artifact.  0 XP award.

If the characters decide to explore this small room, they’ll part the coats inside and unexpectedly see a wintery forest scene with a lit lamppost.  There’s four paths into the woods behind it.  If they walk towards it, they’ll be met by “Carter” the cat.

Okay, I know you’re doing some sort of funny voice when you’re doing Carter.  Don’t deny it.  For this “Carter” however, don’t do that voice and don’t do his trademark, “Meows.”  This is a Doppleganger, although not the species version.  This is an Astral predator creature that uses a magical artifact to physically change its shape.  It’s not an illusion, so it’s not detectable, at least via spells or class abilities. 

“Carter” will tell the characters that they must now undergo a special purification test to see if they’re worthy.  They have to strip naked and drop their weapons in order to take the test.  The prize is a weapon that will help them defeat the ghosts guarding the house’s treasure.  Yeah, right.  The players should decide to either walk away or try to grab “Carter,” who will then take his true form, a featureless humanoid, and attack them and then escape into the woods.  He’ll try to take the form of a character, if there’s any close melee or confusion. 

If the players are trusting enough to follow through with this, “Carter” will direct them to each follow their own path (make more paths if there are more than four characters).  He’ll pick the weakest and attack them from behind in his true form.  His goal will be to drag off one character for feeding.  The other characters won’t be able to find them to help, but they’ll hear it.  If the Doppleganger gets away, you can use him again in the house, though there isn’t another set encounter with him, but I’d suggest no more than once more.

The Doppleganger is wearing a white cloak, a Cloak of Shapechanging.  If a magic-using character puts it on, they’ll be able to physically change form into whatever they want.  (More fun at the Elf party.)  However, they’ll have to change back to cast spells or attack.

Coming out of the wardrobe, the group will be met by the real Carter.  Depending on the players’ decisions, he’ll either praise them (perhaps give them a hint about the house), or he’ll laugh-meow uncontrollably and stroll away. 

Doppleganger

HD 4d8+4, Hp 22, AC 15 (natural)

Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6

Melee: Slam +5 to hit 1d6+1

Has to change to natural form to attack