```col-mdflexGrow=2.5===# OutlineThis eerie encounter takes place in the abandoned toy shop, where players must solve a puzzle to reveal the entrance to a hidden basement workshop. The chest in the shop contains a cursed mirror that holds the secret to the toy maker's dark experiments. The players will eventually use the mirror to free the soul of the toy maker's daughter, trapped inside the final boss, the Cursed Doll. > [!read-aloud] **Read Aloud** > > > > The inside of the toy shop is a time capsule of faded joy, now twisted into something far more sinister. Shelves are packed with dozens of dolls, marionettes, and mechanical toys, all frozen in place as if waiting for their owner to return. Suspended from the ceiling of the workshop are numerous marionettes, their strings hanging down loosely. > > Dust coats everything and the faint smell of decay lingers. Some of the toys are half-finished, their vacant eyes and stitched mouths twisted into grim expressions. The floor creaks beneath your feet as you step inside, the air growing colder the deeper you venture. Each doll seems to watch you as you move, their lifeless eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight that barely illuminates the room. > > A large, locked chest sits in the corner, surrounded by scattered tools and old blueprints. The floorboards beneath it look uneven, as though something might be hidden below. Thee dolls lie nearby, each one seemingly placed with intent, their small hands pointing toward the chest. > > Looking up, behind some of the suspended toys you can see a ladder attached to the ceiling that appears to allow access to the attic via a trap door. > > Over everything there's a sense of something unfinished in the air-a lingering presence that beckons to you. > # Activities **Explore the Shop:** The players will need to investigate the toy shop, noticing strange details such as the uneven floorboards beneath the chest and the deliberate placement of the dolls. **Revealing the Hidden Workshop:** Players must interact with the dolls in the correct order to trigger a mechanism that reveals the hidden entrance. # Explore the Shop As the players step into the abandoned toy shop, they are immediately met with an unsettling atmosphere. The shop, once a place of joy, is now a dust-filled relic of the past, where strange details lurk in every corner. The players will need to use their investigative skills to uncover the hidden secrets within the shop, noticing oddities that hint at something darker lying just beneath the surface. Through careful observation and interaction, they will piece together the clues that lead to the hidden workshop and the source of the curse. ## Key Details and Clues to Investigate ### Uneven Floorboards As the players explore the shop, they may notice that the floor beneath the large, locked chest seems slightly uneven. The chest appears heavy, but the floorboards beneath it creak more than usual, as though they are covering something beneath. A successful DC 12 Perception or Investigation check will reveal that the floorboards under the chest have been tampered with and likely hide something below. This is the first clue leading the players toward discovering the hidden basement workshop. ### Deliberate Placement of Dolls The dolls scattered around the shop are not as haphazardly placed as they initially seem. Upon closer inspection, the players will notice that several dolls appear to have been positioned with purpose-some are standing upright on shelves, others sit on the floor near the chest, each facing in the same direction. These dolls, when examined closely, have small, intricate details such as distinct markings or symbols on their clothing. These symbols match up with the clues in the toy maker's journal, providing a trail that leads to the puzzle of placing the dolls in the correct order. Players can make a DC 12 Investigationcheck to uncover the significance of the dolls' positioning and realize that they are part of a larger mechanism. ### The Toy Maker's Journal On a dusty workbench near the rear of the shop, the players will find an old, frayed journal filled with scribbled notes and sketches. The journal is a crucial piece of evidence, providing insight into the toy maker's grief and obsession with his daughter, Olivia. Pages of the journal mention his daughter's favorite dolls, their colors, and how they once brought her comfort. As the players sift through the journal, they will find cryptic hints related to the order in which the dolls should be placed on the display stand to unlock the chest. A <u>DC 12 Intelligence (Investigation) check allows the players to piece together the relevant clues</u> from the journal and apply them to the puzzle. ### Dust Patterns and Footprints The toy shop has not seen visitors in quite some time, but certain areas of the shop show signs of more recent activity. <u>The dust on the floor is disturbed near the display stand, and faint footprints lead from the stand to the chest. </u>These subtle disturbances suggest that the shop has been visited, or at least manipulated, recently. The players may notice this detail with a <u>DC 10 Perception check, leading them to focus their attention on the display stand and chest</u>, both of which are key components of the puzzle. ### Hidden Arcane Symbols Hidden among the toys and shelves are faint, glowing symbols that seem to pulse with residual magic. These symbols are tied to the puzzle and indicate that the chest and display stand are enchanted. A character who makes a <u>DC 13 Arcanacheck can sense the magic and realize that solving the puzzle</u> is the only way to unlock the chest and reveal the hidden workshop. The symbols may also provide a hint as to the purpose of the cursed mirror hidden inside the chest. ## Interaction with the Environment ### Examining the Chest The chest itself is an elaborate, beautifully crafted object that seems out of place in the dusty, dilapidated shop. Ornate carvings of children playing and delicate toys are etched into its surface, though some of the images appear twisted, as if warped by a dark influence. The chest is locked and cannot be forced open through normal means, but it radiates a faint magical aura. A successful DC 14 Arcana check reveals that the chest is protected by a magical lock, which will only be released once the dolls are placed in the correct sequence on the display stand. ### Physical Interaction Players may choose to physically interact with the dolls or the chest, inspecting their details more closely. Upon picking up the dolls, they will notice small, subtle features such as chipped paint or etched numbers on the bottoms of their shoes. These numbers correspond to the toy maker's journal entries, indicating the order in which the dolls should be placed. Each time a doll is placed in a slot on the display stand, the players will hear a faint click if it is correct or nothing if the placement is wrong. # Revealing the Hidden Workshop The players encounter several dolls scattered throughout the toy shop, some placed strategically on shelves, others resting haphazardly near the locked chest. A careful inspection reveals that these dolls hold a deeper purpose-they are the key to uncovering the hidden entrance to the toy maker's workshop. The toy maker's journal, found on a nearby workbench, contains cryptic notes about his daughter's favorite toys, offering subtle clues to the correct sequence in which the dolls must be placed. ## Puzzle Setup There are three dolls scattered throughout the shop, each with distinct features (e.g., a doll in a blue dress, one with a red bonnet, a marionette with golden strings). Players must examine the dolls and determine the correct order to place them on a display stand near the chest. Each doll correlates to a hint in the journal, which the players can find with an Investigation check (DC 12). The journal contains fragmented sentences like: - “Her favorite was always the one in blue, closest to her heart."- "She never went anywhere without the doll with the golden strings."- "Red, of course, was for celebrations... always last."These hints direct the players to place the dolls in a specific sequence based on their appearance and sentimental value to the toy maker's daughter. ## Player Actions Players must place the dolls on the display stand in the correct order. Once a player figures out the correct sequence using the clues from the journal, they can make a DC 14 Intelligence (Investigation) check to see if their deduction is correct. **The correct order is:** Blue Dress (1st), Golden Strings (2nd), Red Bonnet (Last). **If the players succeed** in placing the dolls in the correct order, the floorboards beneath the chest creak and shift, revealing a hidden staircase that leads down to the basement workshop where the Cursed Doll resides. The chest will also unlock and the top will open. **If the players fail the puzzle** by placing the dolls in the wrong order, the Marionette Whip Trap is triggered. Strings from the marionettes hanging above snap to life, lashing out like whips. Each player must make a <u>DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 slashing damage</u> from the razor-sharp strings. The dolls fall to the ground as the trap resets, requiring the players to try again. # Marionette Whip Trap Suspended from the ceiling of the workshop are numerous marionettes, their strings hanging down loosely. At first glance, they appear lifeless, but they hide a dangerous mechanism designed to lash out at anyone who fails to unlock the cursed chest. When triggered, the strings animate, whipping through the air like razor-sharp wires, targeting all creatures in the room. ### Detection The marionettes appear to be ordinary, dusty toys hanging from the ceiling. A player investigating the room may notice a faint shimmer or tension in the strings upon closer inspection. A successful DC 14 Perception check will reveal that the marionettes are rigged to animate, while a DC 14 Investigation check will show that they are tied to the puzzle mechanism. ### Disable The trap can be disabled by disarming the puzzle mechanism before triggering it. A player may attempt to bypass the trap with a DC 15 Sleight of Hand or Thieves' Tools check, carefully disconnecting the marionette strings from the puzzle's trigger. Alternatively, if the marionettes are damaged (AC 10, 5 HP per marionette), they become inoperable, rendering the trap ineffective. ### Trigger The trap is triggered when the players fail to solve the puzzle mechanism on the locked chest. The marionette strings animate the moment the puzzle is failed. The strings whip out at lightning speed, covering the immediate area (20-foot radius) around the hanging marionettes. The strings lash out for one round, targeting all creatures within range. ### Effect When the trap is triggered, all creatures within 20 feet of the marionettes must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 2d6 slashing damage as the strings cut through the air with deadly precision. On a successful save, the creature takes no damage and manages to dodge the lashing strings. # Inside the Chest After the players solve the puzzle and reveal the entrance to the hidden workshop, the ornate chest near the display stand will unlock and open. Inside is a powerful artifact-the Cursed Mirror-which holds the key to freeing the toy maker's daughter's soul. ### Examining the Mirror Upon opening the chest, the players find the mirror, beautifully crafted yet unsettling. The mirror appears to shimmer slightly, and a faint, eerie reflection can be seen within-possibly the ghostly visage of the toy maker's daughter. <u>Players can examine the mirror using an Arcana check (DC 15).</u> Success reveals that the mirror is cursed and is capable of trapping souls within its reflective surface. A soul trapped inside the mirror can be transferred to another vessel, such as a doll. The toy maker used this mirror to capture his daughter's soul and transfer it into the Cursed Doll. If the players <u>fail the Arcana check, they are unaware</u> of the mirror's full potential and may not realize that it can be used to save the girl's soul during the final encounter. This may lead to a tougher battle or the risk of accidentally trapping one of their own party members within the mirror if they attempt to use it recklessly. ### Purpose of the Mirror The players will eventually need to use this mirror during the final battle with the Cursed Doll. By holding the mirror up to the Cursed Doll during the encounter, they can draw the trapped soul of the toy maker's daughter back into the mirror, allowing her to be freed and released from her torment. However, the mirror could also be used for darker purposes-to trap other souls if the players so choose. # Terrain ### Low Lighting The shop is dimly lit, with only a few flickering candles and what little light filters through the grimy windows. Players without darkvision or a light source will have disadvantage on Perceptionchecks made to investigate the shop. ### Hidden Entrance The floorboards covering the hidden workshop stairs can only be removed by solving the puzzle. Players who attempt to force the floor open without solving the puzzle will find the boards are magically reinforced. ### Hanging Marionettes The ceiling is lined with marionettes, their strings hanging low. Players who move too quickly or fail to notice the strings may get tangled. Any player running through the room must make a DC 12 Dexterity check or be restrained by the strings for 1 round, requiring an action to break free (DC 12 Strength check). # Lair Actions ## On initiative count 20 ### Strings from the Shadows A marionette strings drop from the ceiling, attempting to ensnare the players. Each creature within 20 feet of the cursed doll must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or be restrained by the strings. A restrained creature can use its action to make a DC 14 Strength or Dexterity check to free itself. ## On initiative count 10 ### Doll's Laughter Eerie giggling echoes through the shop, disorienting the players. All creatures within 30 feet of the cursed doll must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn. Creatures that succeed on this saving throw are immune to this effect for the rest of the encounter. ## On initiative count 5 ### Falling Toys A nearby shelf collapses, scattering dolls and mechanical toys onto the floor, creating difficult terrain for the next 2 rounds in a 10-foot radius. Any creature moving through the area must make a DC 12 Dexterity check or fall prone.``````col-md![[plots/night-of-the-living-dolls/table-of-contents]]![[~attachments/dndline.png]]```