Combat Plan

🎭 DM RUN GUIDE — Ritual of Returning Breath 🧭 Core Principles (Read This First)

This encounter works if you prioritise:

Clarity over complexity → players always know what matters Pressure over damage → threat comes from failure, not death Emotion over optimisation → reward meaningful roleplay

If players are asking “what should I do?” → clarify If players are asking “can I say/do something meaningful?” → encourage

⏱️ SESSION FLOW (REAL-TIME PACING) 1. Arrival & Setup (20–40 mins) Describe the chamber Deliver Venrieth’s guidance Let players discuss roles

👉 Do not rush this. This is where emotional investment forms.

2. Ritual Begins (60–90 mins)

You are now running a looped structure.

🔁 ROUND STRUCTURE (Your Turn Order Cheat Sheet)

Run each round in this exact order:

1. 🎤 Prompt the Ritual

Give the narrative cue:

Round 1 → “Name them.” Round 2 → “Give them something real.” Round 3 → “Give them something that will be.”

👉 Look at a player and ask directly:

“What do you say?”

Let them roleplay first. THEN call for a roll.

2. 🎲 Resolve Skill Check Default DC: 14 Track: ✅ Success ❌ Failure

👉 Important:

If roleplay is strong → give advantage If weak / rushed → no penalty, just neutral 3. 👁️ Spawn / Run Echoes Spawn 1 Echo per round Max 3 active On their turns: Move toward the child Attack whoever blocks them End near the child → trigger Soul Pull

👉 Your priority is NOT damage. Your priority is:

“Can they reach the child?”

4. 🌀 Trigger Environmental Effect

Escalate tension each round:

Round 1 → minor (whispers, disadvantage) Round 2 → moderate (restraints) Round 3+ → severe (light falters, harder checks)

👉 Keep it fast. One sentence, one roll.

5. 🖤 Apply Aasimar Pressure (If Needed)

Use only when:

A failure happens Players hesitate Momentum drops

Speak quietly:

“You opened the way.”

👉 Don’t overuse. 1–2 lines per round max.

6. 📊 Check End Condition 3 successes → move to final check 3 failures → ritual collapses 🎯 WHAT PLAYERS SHOULD BE DOING

If things are working well, players will naturally split into roles:

🛡️ Defender Keeps Echoes away from the child 🎤 Speaker Handles ritual checks ⚡ Disruptor Interrupts Soul Pull (uses reactions) 🧠 Support Buffs, heals, assists checks

If they’re not doing this, guide them subtly:

“You can use your reaction to stop it reaching the child.”

⚖️ DIFFICULTY CONTROL (LIVE ADJUSTMENTS) If Too Hard: Reduce Echo HP mid-fight (quietly) “The roots hold one in place” (skip a turn) Ignore one Soul Pull If Too Easy: Spawn 2 Echoes in a round Increase Soul Pull range to 15 ft Target the ritual speaker more aggressively 🎬 YOUR TONE CONTROL

This encounter lives or dies on delivery.

Speak: Slowly Clearly With pauses Use silence:

After a player speaks a memory or promise → pause before rolling

Let it land.

⚠️ COMMON PITFALLS ❌ Running it like normal combat

→ Fix: Keep asking “what do you say?”

❌ Over-explaining mechanics

→ Fix: Reveal only what matters

❌ Letting combat dominate

→ Fix: Echoes move toward the child, not players

❌ Rushing the ritual prompts

→ Fix: This is the encounter

🌒 FINAL CHECK MOMENT

Slow everything down.

Ask:

“Who completes the ritual?”

Let them choose.

This should feel like responsibility, not mechanics.

🎭 ENDING DELIVERY

Regardless of outcome:

Lower your voice Slow your pace Let silence sit between lines

👉 This is where players remember the session.

🧠 QUICK REFERENCE (PRINT THIS)

Each Round:

Prompt roleplay Roll (DC 14) Spawn Echo Run Echo turns Environmental effect Optional whisper Check success/failure