The Invitation 🏰

Episode 1 of Shadows on Wyrmwood Isle For 3-6 investigators of level 3

“We simply must document the haunting properly. For historical purposes, you understand…” - Moira Blackwood

Introduction

The morning fog parts to reveal Wyrmwood Plantation, its columned facade rising from the marshy isle like a forgotten temple. Spanish moss drapes the ancient oaks, their branches forming twisted arches over the approaching path. Moira Blackwood, the current owner, has invited paranormal investigators to document the property’s supernatural elements - officially for tourism purposes, though her smile never quite reaches her eyes.

Act 1: Arrival

The Welcome

Moira stands on the veranda, perfectly poised: “Welcome to Wyrmwood. I trust your journey was…uneventful?” Behind her, shadows seem to shift independently of the swaying moss.

Initial Observations: - Antebellum architecture with subtle wrongness - Geometrically precise gardens gone wild - Stone markers forming strange patterns - Unexplained cold spots despite summer heat

Meeting the Staff

Jacques Beaumont (Caretaker) - Appears suddenly in doorways - Speaks in historical references - Shows up at significant moments - “The house remembers everything, mes amis.”

Martha Greene (Housekeeper) - Protective of guests - Warns through folklore - Leaves protective charms - “Don’t wander after dark, dearies.”

Act 2: First Day Investigation

The House Tour

Players discover: - Hidden symbols in moldings - Rooms with impossible acoustics - Windows facing nowhere - Doors that lead to different places at night

Random Encounters (d6): 1. Shadows moving against light 2. Whispers in empty rooms 3. Objects slightly relocated 4. Temperature drops suddenly 5. Strange reflections in mirrors 6. Footsteps on upper floors

Strange Occurrences

Act 3: The First Night

Sunset Transitions

As darkness falls: - Geometry seems to shift - Shadows gain depth - Stars align strangely - Moss spirals glow faintly

Evening Activities: 1. Dinner with odd conversations 2. Equipment setup 3. Initial readings 4. First anomalies

Night Investigation

The Study: - Family records hide ritual notes - Star charts show impossible alignments - Local histories mention disappearances - Maps reveal geometric patterns

The Grounds: - Cemetery stones form constellations - Slave quarters hold hidden chambers - Ancient oaks grow in formations - Hollow ground echoes wrongly

Act 4: Morning Revelations

Discovery Phase

Players find: - Missing equipment arranged rituallistically - Strange markings appear in photographs - Local wildlife behaves unnaturally - Tidal patterns defy lunar cycles

Rising Tensions

DM Guidance

Building Atmosphere

Key Investigation Points

  1. The House:
    • Hidden passages
    • Ritual spaces
    • Family records
    • Architectural anomalies
  2. The Grounds:
    • Stone formations
    • Burial patterns
    • Natural aberrations
    • Hollow spaces
  3. The Staff:
    • Strange behaviors
    • Hidden knowledge
    • Protective actions
    • Cryptic warnings

Complications

Environmental Challenges

Social Obstacles

Character Developments

Moira Blackwood

Jacques Beaumont

Martha Greene

Victory Conditions

Essential Discoveries

Survival Elements

Transition Elements

Major Hooks for Episode 2

Minor Threads

Appendix: Random Events

Day Events (d6)

  1. Strange bird behavior
  2. Moss pattern shifts
  3. Stone marker moves
  4. Equipment malfunction
  5. Unexpected visitor
  6. Weather anomaly

Night Events (d6)

  1. Distant chanting
  2. Shadow movement
  3. Cold spot formation
  4. Electronic interference
  5. Ritual evidence
  6. Strange lights

The investigation begins simply enough, but as day fades to night, investigators realize this is far more than a standard haunting. The true nature of Wyrmwood Isle begins to emerge, setting the stage for darker revelations to come.

“Some houses aren’t haunted - they’re hungry.”

Detailed architectural blueprint of Wyrmwood Plantation showing all three floors, grounds, and hidden spaces. Include ritual geometry patterns, secret passages, and anomalous areas. Style: Victorian-era technical drawing with eldritch elements, featuring compass rose with cosmic symbols and decorative Spanish moss borders. Architectural details show subtle wrongness in geometry.
A grand antebellum plantation mansion at twilight, Spanish moss draped over ancient oaks. Strange geometric patterns in the overgrown gardens, while impossible shadows move across the wraparound veranda. The sky shows subtle cosmic anomalies. Style: Southern Gothic meets cosmic horror, photo-realistic with supernatural elements.
The plantation’s study at night, moonlight streaming through windows. Ancient books and star charts scattered across a Victorian desk, while strange shadows dance on wood-paneled walls. A ghostly figure appears in a mirror. Style: Atmospheric interior scene with supernatural elements, detailed architectural features.