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The Carnival of Shadows

Published Date

Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild

THE CARNIVAL OF SHADOWS: A SAMHAIN NIGHTMARE 

The Merriment Is Dead. The Fear is Alive.

The remote town of Oakhaven is trapped in an unnatural Samhain. The scent of pumpkin spice is sickly sweet, the decorations mock those who remain, and a pervasive, creeping Dread has settled over every street. For weeks, children have been vanishing, lured away by whispers and promises of endless treats. The adults are forgetful, their despair a heavy blanket over the town.

The source of this terror is the Carnival of Shadows, a sprawling, dilapidated fair that arrived with the gloom and refuses to leave.

Will you brave the Midway of Maladies to reclaim what was stolen?

WHAT AWAITS YOUR PARTY?

  • The Sinister Setting: Venture from the despairing Oakhaven Town Square, through the unsettling Whispering Woods, and into the warped landscape of the Carnival itself.

  • The Adversary: Face Art the Terrorizer, a terrifying, silent, ancient Fear-Feeder that manifests as a grotesque clown. Art is a master of illusion, mental manipulation, and pure psychological horror, seeking to break your will and feast on your deepest anxieties.

  • The Gauntlet: Navigate the Funhouse of Fears, where personalized terrors prey on your deepest character flaws, and infiltrate the Hall of Lost Echoes where the children are held.

  • Cosmic Stakes: This campaign utilizes optional Sanity Check mechanics, where every unsettling discovery and every glimpse of the unseen horror risks eroding your character's mind. Can you hold onto your courage and your sanity long enough to succeed?

  • Solo or Group Ready: The campaign is fully adaptable for both traditional group play and deep, challenging solo adventures.

KEY FEATURES

Feature

Details

Players

3-5 Recommended

Levels

Start Level 3, End Level 5-6

Time

3-5 Sessions (Perfect for a short, intense arc)

Themes

Rescue, Cosmic Horror, Childhood Fears, Hope vs. Despair

NPC Ally

Meet Elara, the brave teenage guide who hasn't forgotten the missing.

Final Reward

Wield powerful purified artifacts like The Lantern of Fading Laughter and Elara's Keepsake: Cloak of the Brave Child.

The carnival's gates are open, but the price of admission is your soul.

Dare to step inside.

The Carnival of ShadowsPrice

: $3.49