QUICK Adventure Plot Ideas! Haunted Mansion (Updated 7/13/2026)

The Adventure Synopsis:

The party must uncover the dark truth behind a sudden series of strange, unsettling occurrences deep within a notorious haunted mansion.

Need a quick direction, an unexpected twist, or a campaign framework for this classic setup? Roll a d10 or pick your favorite twist below to dress up your next dungeon crawl:

1. The Looming Doom: The entire mansion is actively cursed. The party must uncover and break the anchor of the curse before it claims more innocent victims from the local village.
2. Unfinished Business: The vengeful spirit of a former owner is violently haunting the halls. They seek bloody retribution against a specific line of living NPCs who deeply wronged them in life.
3. The Gauntlet: The mansion is a front. To uncover its truest secrets, the party must navigate a series of ancient, deadly mechanical traps and cryptic magical puzzles left behind by its architect.
4. The Vault: The structure hides a powerful, legendary magic artifact. The party has been hired to retrieve it, but they must bypass the mansion's territorial, ghostly inhabitants to make it out alive.
5. The Necromancer's Lair: The haunting isn't historical—it's active. A powerful undead sorcerer has claimed the mansion as a secure base of operations, raising the dead to guard their dark research.
6. Restless Earth: The mansion was mistakenly (or maliciously) built over an ancient burial ground. The restless, agitated spirits of the dead are breaking through the floorboards, causing severe reality-warping anomalies.
7. The Forbidden Archive: The answer lies in text. The party must infiltrate and search the mansion's extensive, extensive, crumbling library to piece together fragments of a dark historical past before the structure gives way."
8. The Crimson Legacy: The mansion's original owner was a notorious, historic serial killer. The spirits cannot rest until the party successfully uncovers the killer's hidden identity and exposes the truth to the world.
9. The Midnight Ritual: The estate is the focal site of a long-forgotten, dormant magical ritual. The party must uncover its original purpose and reverse the mechanism before a cosmic alignment completes it automatically.
10. The Real Estate Hoax: The "strange occurrences" are completely fake. The mansion's current living owner is intentionally engineering the haunts using illusions and hidden clockwork mechanisms to terrify potential buyers. (And they absolutely would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those pesky adventurers and their high-Perception Dire Wolf companion!)

Updated: July 13th, 2026

Myths & Monsters: Nyxian Shade

Introducing the "Nyxian Shade," a monstrous creature inspired by Greek mythology's primordial goddess of the night, Nyx.

The Nyxian Shade is a dark and shadowy creature that dwells in the darkest corners of the night. Its form is that of a large, serpentine beast with a body as black as the void and eyes that glow with an eerie, otherworldly light.

As a creature of the night, the Nyxian Shade is nearly invisible in darkness, and it preys upon unsuspecting victims who dare to wander too far from the safety of civilization. It is said to be able to move through shadows, slipping in and out of darkness with an almost supernatural grace.

Those who have encountered the Nyxian Shade describe it as a creature of immense power and malevolence, capable of draining the life force from its victims with a single touch. Its mere presence is said to bring a feeling of dread and unease to those nearby, and its hypnotic gaze can leave even the bravest of warriors trembling with fear.

Legends say that the only way to defeat the Nyxian Shade is to face it with an unbreakable will and a heart that burns with a fierce inner fire. But even then, it is said that the creature will never truly be defeated, for it is a being born from the very essence of the night itself.

Nyxian Shade

Large monstrosity, chaotic evil

Armor Class: 18 (natural armor)

Hit Points: 200 (16d10+112)

Speed: 50 ft., climb 40 ft.

Abilities:

STR: 20 (+5), DEX 22 (+6), CON 24 (+7), INT 18 (+4), WIS 20 (+5), CHA 16(+3) 

Skills: Stealth +13, Perception +10

Senses: darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 20

Languages: understands Abyssal and Common, but can't speak

Challenge Rating: 16 (15,000 XP)

Shadow Stealth. The Nyxian Shade can take the Hide action as a bonus action in dim light or darkness.

Incorporeal Movement. The Nyxian Shade can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Life Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 26 (4d10 + 6) necrotic damage, and the target's hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

Hypnotic Gaze. The Nyxian Shade's gaze can hypnotize a creature within 60 feet of it. The creature must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed, the creature is incapacitated and has a speed of 0. The effect ends if the Nyxian Shade damages the creature, or if the creature takes damage from any source other than the Nyxian Shade.

Legendary Actions. The Nyxian Shade can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The Nyxian Shade regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

1. Move. The Nyxian Shade moves up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

2. Life Drain (Costs 2 Actions). The Nyxian Shade uses its Life Drain.

3. Summon Shadows (Costs 3 Actions). The Nyxian Shade summons 1d4 shadow creatures that appear in unoccupied spaces within 60 feet of it. These shadow creatures are under the Nyxian Shade's control and act on its turn. They disappear after 1 minute or when reduced to 0 hit points.

There you have it! The Nyxian Shade is a formidable creature that should challenge even the most experienced adventurers.

Adventure Seeds: The Missing Rider (Updated 8/14/2026)

The PCs come across a fully equipped, riderless horse on the side of the road. The animal attempts to get the players to follow it. If they do, they are led back to an old well with a collapsed side wall.

Inside the well is the rider. He stopped to get a drink, the retaining wall gave way, and he fell inside. That was a few days ago, and the nights have been bitterly cold. His hands and submerged feet are severely frostbitten. A character must climb down the well with a successful DC 13 Athletics check to avoid dislodging loose stones onto the trapped man, which could easily prove fatal in his condition. Sir Edmont is severely weakened and virtually helpless when found.

Sir Edmont will reward the players with his horse and armor for rescuing him. If they can treat his frostbite and save his fingers and toes (DC 13 Medicine check or appropriate healing magic), he will grant them an additional reward of several hundred gold pieces upon returning to safety.

If the PCs murder or accidentally kill Sir Edmont, they will be easily identified if they try to keep or sell his horse and heraldic gear. However, returning his body to his family for an honorable burial will still net them a reward of several hundred gold pieces.

Friday Freebie: Savage Dawn

This week's offering is Dutch RPG publisher, Lore Smyth, has released its system agnostic Savage Dawn Campaign Setting, as a FREE 48-page PDF download.

[From their press release]

The mystical and primal world of Savage Dawn beckons. Break away from cliche medieval fantasy settings and explore a visceral, sprawling arctic world with majestic wilds, a mystical afterlife spirit realm, and deep secrets. Craft your own armor and weapons. Only cunning heroes will survive. Strap on your snow boots and come over...

The Savage Dawn campaign setting is system-neutral and can be played with any TTRPG of choice. Take your favorite game system such as 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Savage Worlds and start exploring the mystical and barbaric world of Savage Dawn. Use it as an entirely new world, or adopt the exciting new materials, locations and characters into your existing world campaign.

• A Primitive Arctic World
• Majestic Wilderness Exploration
• Crafting and Survival
• Mysticism, Spirituality, Magic

UPDATE: The download is no longer hosted at the publisher's website, but IS still available for free download at DriveThruRPG.com

Myths & Monsters: The Cold Bride

The following is written for use in whatever game system, or edition there of, you prefer.

THE COLD BRIDE

Also Known As: Burial Maiden, Mound Maiden, Ice Wife

---------------

Arteman walked to the stone sarcophagus carefully, watching for the slightest signs of a trap or trigger spell. The Jarls of old were known to jealously protect their burial hoards with both physical and magical wards.

Jorda Singh chuckled. "You approach the dead as timidly as a virgin, their master." The dark skinned Turanian's bearded face split wide with a feral smile.

The younger elf just smiled and shook his head. "You wish I approached you as cautiously, my Lion." His face grew serious. "These northern chieftains were as jealous as dragons with their gold. Even hundreds of years after their deaths, they can be just as deadly too."

"Old wives'tales and superstitions," spat Voramir. The tiefling warlock sneered, "These filthy barbarians, and their weakling gods, pose no threat to a true son of the Nether Realms.

Both the human fighter and elf thief just glared at the arrogant half-blood and shook their heads. They knew better than to dismiss the northern born so out of hand. They might be savages, but there was nothing weak about these people.

The young elf inspected the stone encasement carefully, making note of the occasional hole drilled here and there, and of the futhark runes carved along the top. His understanding of the language was limited, but it seemed to pertain to both a burial and a marriage contract. He just shook his head, not making any sense of the context of what he was seeing. Careful investigation of the holes showed no signs of traps. After a nod of his head, Jorda slipped up beside him, and together they prepared to slide the heavy stone lid aside.

Almost instantly, a light bluish fog began to pour out of the holes, swirling and coalescing into the ghostly face and torso of a northern woman. He eyes blazed as she cupped Arteman's face and drew him irresistibly to her lips and kissed him. Jorda, watched in horror as his lover began to turn blue and frosted with ice.

"You witch! I shall send you to the Hell of Burning Sands!" The human drew his heavy tulwar from its scabbard as quick as thought, and slashed the blade harmlessly through the ghostly image.

The tiefling warlock stepped back in surprise, but rallied himself. "Spirit of death and ice, you shall not survive the setting of the sun this day!" His hands began an intricate arcane dance as ancient words of power spilled from his lips...

---------------

The ancient North Men were a people of traditions and magics long before the coming of the foreigners. Their's is the legacy of legendary heroic battles and great treasures won from the clutches of ferocious beasts and malignant spellcasters. 

The treasures of old were often jealously guarded by protective spells, curses, and terrifying monsters.This article is about one such guardian, the Cold Bride. Some men are consumed with greed and jealousy in life, and so some are in death as well. The Cold Bride is the result of a terrible curse, a ritual marriage performed upon the burial of a powerful chieftain. A young woman is taken, her throat slit, and her body buried with the corpse of her "husband". Her restless spirit is then condemned for eternity to guard his burial site and treasures.

Most games have mechanics for the undead, specifically vampires. The Cold Bride is a variation of vampire in my home campaign, with only a few differences.  She may change herself into the form of mist, a small woodland creature, or a bird no larger than a raven. She is not effected by a crucifix, or sunlight, but does stay back from open flames and can be destroyed by fire. Depending on the campaign and rules system used, there can be lesser and greater versions of the Cold Bride, with the greater versions being able to turn hapless victims into lesser undead guardians.

Cold Brides do not roam the countryside and feed like regular vampires, they do not need to feed at all to remain strong. They will remain close to the burial site, only venturing out, even in full daylight, to scout for approaching intruders. As Game Master, you can have them do as you like, but in my campaign they usually don't do anything outside of the burial site to draw attention, giving no warning or sign that anything is amiss. 

Joined By Gaming

Joined By Gaming, is a pretty cool charity effort from the soon-to-be husband and wife team of Tori Trombley and Aaron Cordiale. These two use the power of games to help promote charities and causes that are important to them, and to help bring people together in the spirit of cooperation and entertainment.. thus "joined by gaming".

Recently, in November, Tori and Aaron, locally coordinated and participated in a 24 hour gaming marathon, Extra Life, to raise monies and donations for the Children's Miracle Network. Their efforts were rewarded beyond their expectations as they more than doubled their stated goal.

We here at Portcullis first became aware of these kindhearted people when I started becoming a regular at the Freakopolis Geekery, in Whitehall, NY. Both of them are players in the, Lands of Alaire Campaign, actual play series on Twitch and YouTube.

You can learn more about their efforts on Facebook at, Joined By Gaming, and on Instagram at, Joined By Gaming - Instagram.

The Lands of Alaire

I've taken the last few months off from writing, spending less time running games, and more time actually playing. This doesn't happen that often, so I've taken advantage of the opportunity while it presents itself. I joined an in-shop, 5th Edition game, The Lands of Alaire, being run at Freakopolis Geekery, in Whitehall, NY. The DM, Ian Rollins, is one of the owner's sons and works at the shop.

Ian originally created his campaign for use on D20, but soon decided to use the material in-shop when interest for a regular gaming group arose. I had literally wandered into the shop one day, and after talking to Ian, decided to check out a couple of YouTube videos he had posted. Liking what I saw, I returned to see about participating in the campaign.

The Lands of Alaire are Copyright, Ian Rollins of Freakopolis Geekery

The Lands of Alaire are Copyright, Ian Rollins of Freakopolis Geekery

Here is a list of all current episodes of the Live Play stream of The Lands of Alaire on YouTube, up to episode 14.

The Lands of Alaire - A D&D Actual Play Series @ Freakopolis Network

The first episodes 1-4 are the Introduction to the Lore of Alaire, giving background information on the lands and people's of the campaign.

Episodes 5-8 each focus on the creation of each player character being created for the campaign. Gilroy, human wizard (TJ Rollins), Leander, half-orc paladin (Tyler Rollins), Urlan, half-orc barbarian (Aaron Cordiale from Joined By Gaming), and Maylee, human ranger/archer (Tori Trombley from Joined By Gaming).

Season One consists of 14 episodes, some of which are broken into two-parts due to length and uploading issues between Twitch and YouTube
.
Season Two is scheduled to return in February of 2019.

Playlist: Freakopolis Geekery - The Lands of Alaire