The Night of the Pumpkin-Headed Jack - A Halloween Horror Adventure
Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
Description:
The candles are lit, the masks are on, and the shadows are growing long. Welcome to the Night of Liars.
This Halloween, immerse your players in a chilling adventure where their own deceptions become a deadly mechanic. "The Night of the Pumpkin-Headed Jack" is a 4-6 hour horror one-shot for 5th-6th level characters, perfect for a spooky session or a Halloween special.
A Monster from the Festival's Heart
The farming town of Daggerford is celebrating the Night of Liars,a holiday of masks, mischief, and minor deceptions. The adventurers are hired as guards to keep the peace, but the festive atmosphere shatters when a local braggart's pumpkin lantern candle flickers and dies. From the shadows emerges the stuff of local legend: Pumpkin-Headed Jack, a hulking monstrosity with a rotting gourd for a head and a rusty scythe in hand. To save the town and themselves, the party must hunt the hunter, navigating moral dilemmas and their own deepest fears to find and storm the monster's otherworldly lair.
Adventure Features:
· A Unique Deception Mechanic: The "Soul's Radiance" system tracks the players' lies and crimes, causing the candle in their own pumpkin lanterns to dim. The dimmer the light, the closer the monster draws, creating a constant, palpable tension.
· Festival Starter: The adventure begins with a vibrant, interactive festival (the Night of Liars) with multiple engaging locations, NPCs, and events, allowing for roleplaying and investigation before the horror begins.
· Haunted House Exploration: The second act involves exploring Jack's dilapidated, haunted ranch, where each room presents a unique terror tied to the characters' personal fears.
· Personalized Psychological Horror: "Souls of Fear" – the tormented spirits of Jack's first victims – prey on the specific backstories and fears of each character, making the horror intimate and tailored to your party.
· Epic Otherworldly Confrontation: The finale takes place in the Demiplane of Withered Souls, Jack's personal domain, for a climactic and thematic boss battle.
· Full Compatibility: Designed for Fifth Edition, the adventure includes:
· 5 New Monsters: Pumpkin-Headed Jack, three types of Souls of Fear, Shadow Ravens, and Zombie Heads.
· Detailed Maps: For the festival square, tavern, forest, haunted ranch, and the final lair (Note: Map artwork in the final product will be clear and usable for VTT).
· Ready-to-Use Handouts: For player immersion, including the rules of the festival and a puzzle riddle.
· Custom Madness Table: To reflect the psychological toll of the horrors the party will face.
Will your players survive the night, or will their lies snuff out their light forever?
Key Features & Keywords for the Listing Page
Key Features:
· A 4-6 hour Halloween horror one-shot for levels 5-6
· Introduces the innovative "Soul's Radiance" deception-tracking mechanic
· Features 5 new custom monsters, including the terrifying Pumpkin-Headed Jack
· Perfect for a spooky one-shot or to drop into any campaign
Price: $6.97