THE DARKEST NIGHT

A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE FOR FIFTH EDITION

C R E AT E D B Y

Tribality Publishing SHAWN ELLSWORTH

Jorge Vieira (Order #21059064)
 Iceville was cursed to darkness
In a time long ago
Every nook and cranny
There, no light would go
Fear and sadness for all
And the tears oh, they did flow
For no relief in sight,
Did the dawn ever show
A stranger came to town
Coming up the road
He said he wanted to free Iceville
From the darkness that took hold
He said his name was Kringle
A hero from far away
He’d heard our plight in Iceville
Promising to hold the dark at bay
The evil feared the hero
And tried to trap him cold
But the children cheered for Kringle
And their love kept him from that hold
The evil swore to slay him
But Kringle was so bold
He slew it with his power
Bringing light to defeat our foe
As years passed he stayed near us
In the forest to the north
His workshop full of magic
Children toys do come forth
He brings them down to Iceville
And slips from house to house
Leaving toys and eating cookies
Not noticed by even a mouse
This day is a thanks to him
For bringing light to our town
And he thanks all our children
With presents that abound Introduction by Edward McCulloch

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 The Darkest Night is a holiday themed adventure where players battle an ancient evil to save
Kringlefest. This adventure can be used as an outline for any game system, but the specific details
are for four 1st-level adventurers using 5th edition rules of the world’s greatest roleplaying game.

BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION AND HOOKS

Far to the north, the thriving mining town of Iceville The adventurers can arrive in Iceville the day of this
survives long, cold and dark winters. When the year’s Kringlefest, or they can be locals from Iceville.
nights are longest, the people of Iceville light up the Either way, the adventurers should learn Kringle’s story
darkness with candles, song and the exchange of gifts from a bard performing at the inn’s tavern, or in the
during Kringlefest. The celebration is named after the town square. The song/story should detail the exploits
mysterious Kringle, who long ago brought light to of Kringle long ago and his workshop full of magical
Iceville, after the dark days. But Kringle is most loved, wonders. The name of the evil should be kept a secret
for giving every child in town a gift during Kringlefest, from the players. Use the adventure background as a
that he made in his magical workshop. It is believed by base for your song/story.
many, that Kringle travels into town on a red sleigh full One of the following hooks can be employed to
with presents, drawn by eight flying reindeer. Kringle entice your adventurers into action.
silently enters each house without ever being seen by
children, or their parents. In exchange for the gifts, the • A young gnome (one of Kringle’s helpers named
children leave treats for Kringle, which are always gone Holly), wearing a pointy green hat, red coat and
when they awaken to find their gift. green tights, and red shoes, has stumbled into
town and collapses at the feet of the adventurers.
Kringle is actually a benevolent gnome, named She is in bad shape from the cold and only able to
Nicholas Kris Klaas Kringle, who has made it his life’s whisper “Must save Kringle” and points north,
work to bring light to the people of Iceville. For nearly before collapsing unconscious to 0 HP. If the
500 winters, this ancient gnome has spent each year adventurers can stabilize Holly, one chance at DC
creating gifts in his workshop with his helpers. Kringle’s 10 Wisdom (Medicine), she stabilizes – otherwise
workshop is said to be full of clockwork wonders and she dies. You can choose to have the adventurers
magical treasures, but it’s exact location is a secret. cure the stabilized Holly and have her act as a guide,
Over the years, Kringle put on lots of extra padding, but it may be better for her to remain behind and
thanks to the treats, and he is no longer the young give the adventurers a map. Either way, Holly
hero who saved Iceville nearly five centuries ago. provides them with a rough, hand drawn map to
This year, an ancient enemy has finally gained back Kringle’s workshop.
his strength and decided it is time for the darkness to • A crazy hermit (Knecht Ruprecht) wanders into
return. Krampus, a monstrous evil, has a much different town talking of the return of a dark evil. The hermit
plan for this year’s Kringlefest. Krampus has enchanted is a human with a long white beard and is wearing
Kringle and his helpers and is forcing them to build a brown robe. If the adventurers talk to the hermit,
an army of toys. This year, Krampus will finally return he hands them a tattered map to Kringle’s workshop
Iceville to the darkness that existed before his defeat and tells them that only they can save Iceville from
to Kringle centuries ago. an ancient, unspeakable darkness. Further
questioning of the hermit can result in nonsense,
more details such as revealing his name, punching,
screaming or other fun. The crazy hermit could be
the avatar of a God of light.

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 S TA R T I N G O U T
A DC 15 Intelligence (History) check with allow your
SNOW PERSON
players to also find out that 480 years ago Kringle
defeated a demon that enslaved the people of Iceville. Medium construct, neutral

The unspeakable evil had placed Iceville under a spell Armor Class 14
Hit Points 9 (2d8)
of eternal darkness, allowing it to feed off the fear and Speed 30 ft.
sadness of the people. The monster’s name has been
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
lost to time. If their check is a close failure, let them
know the same details, just don’t specifically mention 13 (+1) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 8 (-1) 8 (-1) 8 (-1)

the monster is a demon. Damage Immunities Ice

Damage Vulnerabilities Fire
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, frightened
ENCOUNTER 1 Skills Stealth +5
As you leave town, you find the winding path Senses Blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive
through a pine forest to Kringle’s Workshop. After Perception 8
Languages Understands languages of its creator but can’t
traveling through scattered pine woods for an hour, speak
the forest thins and you enter a large clearing lit by Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
the partial moon. Suddenly four piles of snow start Snow Drift. The snow people gain advantage when hiding in
to rise into humanoid shapes that are 30 feet in front a snowy environment. Once hidden, a snow person effectively
of you. becomes invisible and can drift up to 15 feet per round as part
of its move until it surfaces. While drifting, a snow person can
Roll initiative and start a battle against four snow not attack.
people. The snow people will often choose to hide ACTIONS
and drift to get to weaker enemies. Adjust the number Ice Claw. Melee Attack: +4 to hit, Hit: 8 (1d6+4) slashing
of snow people up or down for groups that are larger damage
Snowball. Range Attack: +2 to hit, Hit: 5 (1d4+2), Range
or smaller than four players. 30’/60’ bludgeoning damage

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 ENCOUNTER 2
Having survived the advance guard, the adventurers TOY SOLDIER
make it to the workshop without further incident.
Small construct, neutral
On the far side of the clearing you find the path
Armor Class 14
again. After a few minutes your group reaches Hit Points 9 (2d6+2)
the top of a small hill, you see a large building (120 Speed 30 ft.
feet wide by 40 feet deep) on the edge of a STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
woodlot 200 feet away. The building’s many 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 6 (-2) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
windows are lit by candlelight and you can make
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, frightened
out activity inside. Moving around the outside of the Senses Blindsight Blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius)
building are six short, silhouetted shapes that passive Perception 10
Languages Understands languages of its creator but can’t
appear to be on patrol. On the front of the building speak
you can make out a set of large double doors that Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
appear to serve as the main entrance. Antimagic Susceptability. Toy soldiers are incapacitated
while in the area of an antimagic field. If targeted by dispel
Your adventurers have a variety of options available magic, the construct must save on a constitution saving throw
to them to avoid a tough head-on battle with six toy against the caster’s spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1
soldiers. Some obvious choices are: minute.
False Appearance. While an animated toy solider remains
Dexterity (Stealth) motionless it is indistinguishable from one of its non-animated
• DC 15 They find a way to sneak past 2 of the cousins.
soldiers at the front of the building. As they ACTIONS
approach the back of the building, they all fully Tiny Musket. Range Attack: +4 to hit, Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing
hidden from the 4 remaining toy soldiers who are damage. Ammunition (range 30’/90’) loading
over 60 feet away, standing between the Bayonet. Melee Attack: +4 to hit, Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing
damage.
adventurers and the rear entrance.
• DC 20 They find a way around all of the 4 of the
soldiers and find a small entrance which is locked
DC 13 Dexterity check to pick the lock or DC 13
Strength (Athletics) to break the door open.
Intelligence (Arcana)
• DC 10 Yep. The toy soldiers are magical.
• DC 15 The toy soldiers are magically animated Hmm.
Intelligence (Investigation)
• DC 15 You notice a less guarded door towards the
back of the building.
• DC 20 You find a hatch door to a tunnel around 60
feet from the building that leads into the basement.
If they do not find a way to avoid a a head-on battle,
have then face six toy soldiers. The toy soldiers should
simply attack their closest enemy or continue to patrol.

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 ENCOUNTER 3
Now that adventurers are inside the workshop, the
KRAMPUS
time for the final battle is near. Trying to sneak into
the workshop without the notice of Krampus will be Medium fiend (demon), chaotic evil

difficult and only possible if the group avoided fighting Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 30 (4d8+12)
in Encounter 2. Each PC will need to pass a DC 20 Speed 30 ft.
Dexterity (Stealth) check. If the majority of them are
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
successful, then award a surprise round to the players.
14 (+2) 10 (+0) 15 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 8 (-1)
Otherwise, Krampus is waiting for them.
Damage Immunities Poison
After moving through a small warehouse, your Condition Immunities Poisoned
group enters into main area of the workshop. The Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 15
main workshop area is a large room with a high Languages Common, Gnomish, Abyssal
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
ceiling with crossbeams (60 feet wide by 40 feet
Charge. If Krampus moves at least 15 feet straight toward a
deep with a ceiling is 30 feet above the floor). The target and then hits it with a gore attack on the same turn, the
room is filled with a dozen gnomes, in pointy green target takes an extra 7 (2d6) damage from the attack.
and red hats, working away on toy soldiers. At Darkness. Magical darkness spreads out in a 20-foot-radius
the far end of the workshop sits a 6 foot tall monster sphere around Krampus. The demon can cast this spell only
once and it lasts until he is hit by a successful attack or three
covered in dark fur with cloven feet, a tail, two rounds pass. Like the spell darkness, darkvision can’t see
horns, pointed ears and a long tongue. through this darkness and nonmagical light can not illuminate
it. His innate spellcasting ability is Constitution (spell save DC
Begin the battle. The players will face off against 2 13).
toy soldiers and Krampus. Krampus will use darkness Enchant. Krampus is already using this power to control
early on and then focus on charging with his horns Kringle and his helpers. His enchant ability will end once he is
to gore them. The toy soldiers should simply attack knocked unconscious or is killed.
their closest enemy. If the battle is too tough for you ACTIONS
players, you could have one or two gnome helpers Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, Hit: 9 (2d6+2) piercing
(use Commoner stats on page 345 of Monster Manual) damage.
wake up from the enchantment using whatever they Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, Hit: 6 (1d6+2) slashing
damage.
can find as weapons (use Club for stats) or throw a
healing potion to a player.
The monster turns and looks right at your group and
lets our a huge roar. His roar extinguishes the
candles and plunges the large workshop into
darkness.
• The players can find a ladder and get up into the
crossbeams.
• You should scatter some pillars, crates, tables
around the room for cover

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 Have Krampus throw out some quotes each round. Have a completely recovered Kringle thank each of
• “I am Krampus and Iceville will live in darkness the heroes by name and give them all a personal gift.
forever.“ Make is special, magical and tailored for each player,
• Before casting Darkness: “Are you afraid of the like Kringle knew they’d be visiting him.
dark?” As you leave the workshop, you notice the gnomes
• “I will grow in power from the pain and sorrow of have opened up a large door on the side of the
the children trapped in eternal darkness.“ building and are leading a sleigh pulled by eight
• “The children will be getting no presents this year, reindeer, loaded with bags and parcels.
only pain.“ Some ideas for Kringle’s presents:
• “I have been planning my return for centuries. What • a living clockwork of their favorite animal
is a few moments to destroy all of you?” • a “robot” companion… could be an owl, dog or
even as large as a flying mount.
CONCLUSION • a box with a lid, that when opened will fill with their
favorite food (once per day)
Congratulate your players on saving Kringlefest. • any other crazy magic items from the Dungeon
Master’s Guide or other books (past and present)
The gnomes, no longer enchanted, cheer and thank
each of the adventurers with hand shaking, pats on
the back and hugs. A moment later an old bearded
gnome appears towards the rear of the crowd, who
was not there a moment ago. He introduces himself to
the players as Kringle. Kringle is a tall old gnome with
kindly, jolly looking face. Kringle is wearing a red coat
and hat trimmed in white fur. He is tall and plump for a
gnome and strokes his long white beard while talking.

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 OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a

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The Darkest Night A Christmas Adventure for Fifth Edition 1.0 published by Tribality.com (Innovaworks Inc.); Copyright 2016 Shawn Ellsworth.

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