All Work, No Play
All Work, No Play
Level 3–4 Adventure. Mysterious. Rescue. Toy Factory.
All that x wants for Winterfest is to spend time with her family. However, her parents have been working non-stop in the toy factory and haven't been home in days. Can the party figure out what's keeping Freylie's family so entranced by their work?
Starting the Adventure
"It's the night before Winterfest, and the sun is setting over the snow-dusted roofs of the village. Perusing the notice board, you can see that all the festive events in the run-up to the holiday have been and gone. The only people left on the streets are hurrying home to their families. All except a small dwarven child who reaches up on tiptoes to pin a handwritten note to the bottom of the board."
Freylie is only 11 years old, but has found herself all alone on Winterfest Eve. It's been nearly a week since her parents last came home from work at the local toy factory, and yesterday her older brother went to fetch them and didn't come back. Earlier today, Freylie got a note saying none of them would be home for Winterfest. She begs the party to visit the factory and reunite her family for the holiday. When the party arrive, they realise the workers are all under the spell of magical drums.
Suggested Story
Set the scene, have Freylie approach the party and explain that her family is missing, then continue:
Silent Night
Freylie shows the party the note she received, and offers them all her Winterfest gifts if they help her.
Freylie points the party towards the factory, but is too scared to go with them. The streets are eerily quiet as the party approach the factory.
Look and Listen
At the factory, the lights are on, chimneys are smoking and crates are stacked up in the yard. Two six-foot-tall x (Animated Armor) patrol the site, and faint drumming can be heard from inside.
The party must get past the locked gates.
Alarm Bells Ringing
As the party enter the factory yard, the sentries attack them, along with four sharpened wooden candy canes (Animated Flying Swords).
Inside, the party find the workers are under the spell of four Metronome Drums, played by four toy soldier drummers that obey x.
Drum Roll Please
The party must break the spell, but 10 Charmed workers (Cultists) will fight to resist them. Mr Meville orders the drummers to try and charm the party using the magical instruments.
When all the drums are silenced, the workers are free from the spell and rush home to be with their families. The Hipsberry family invite the party to join them and Freylie for the holiday.
Important Characters
Freylie Hipsberry
Dwarf, Female, 11 (Commoner)
Freylie is very worried about her family. She sees the party as her only hope for a happy Winterfest.
"Peeping out from between a heavy woollen hat and scarf are two big brown eyes and a button nose covered in freckles."
Toy Soldier Sentries
Wooden Construct (Animated Armor)
These magical constructs have no emotions and can't talk. They only obey orders to guard the yard.
"The wooden guards have painted-on black boots, scarlet uniforms, perfectly circular rosy-pink cheeks and unblinking blue eyes."
Mr. Drusten Meville
Human-Elf, Male, 57 (Cultist Fanatic)
The stern new factory manager uses constructs and magical drums to control his workers.
"His waxed hair and moustache are the same drab shade of brown as his suit and tie."
Quick Stats
| Name | AC | HP | Initiative | Key Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | 33 | initiative 2 | Multiple slam attacks | |
17 | 14 | initiative 4 | 50 ft. fly speed | |
10 | 4 | initiative 0 | Club (wooden sword) | |
12 | 9 | initiative 1 | Toy-making sickle | |
13 | 44 | initiative 2 | Summons spiritual toys |
Key Locations
Town Notice Board
"Delicate icicles hang from the top of the wooden board, which has been draped in a garland of green foliage and red berries. The notices are coated in frost."
As well as posters for Winterfest carol concerts, craft sessions and food markets, there are signs advertising work at the factory. A phrase in the job adverts, 'Work Makes Play Happen', also features in the note from Freylie's mother.
Factory Gates
"Through the bars of the towering iron gates, you see an upright figure pacing back and forth, face cast in shadow by the sturdy brick walls of the factory."
The toy factory is on the northern edge of town. It is surrounded by a 10-foot brick wall and two padlocked iron gates with spikes on the top. Crates are stacked up along the edge of the factory, ready to be picked up. Toy soldier sentries patrol the site.
Factory Floor
"Wood shavings fly from the workers' benches as they frenetically carve, paint and polish toys. Drums beat steadily in time with their work."
There are 10 Cultist workers in the factory, including Freylie's mother, father and brother. Each one is sat at their own work bench. Mr Melville stands on a raised gantry. He only joins the fight when two drums are put out of action.
Secrets and Clues
x mother, Mags, carves wooden toys, and her father, Pietr, specialises in painting them.
In many years of working at the factory, Freylie's parents have never had to work such long shifts.
Freylie's brother Toma is 18. He was looking after her until he went to visit the factory yesterday.
The note Freylie received is in Mags' handwriting, but the formal wording matches Mr Melville's ads.
x was brought in to boost the factory's output of toys (and profits) before Winterfest.
Freylie wants to stay close to home in case her family return, and to prepare a Winterfest meal.
When Toma went to the factory to speak to his parents, he also fell under the spell of the drums.
If a worker receives damage, they get a chance to resist the charming beat of the Metronome Drum.
The x were only ordered to drum, so won't attack the party unless attacked first.
The Metronome Drums were prototype toys, which Mr Meville saw a new purpose for.
Quest Rewards
The party can claim any Metronome Drums that survive the fight. The workers also gift them each a Figurine of Wondrous Power in thanks. The Hipsberry family invite the party home for a Winterfest meal, and Freylie offers them her gifts.
Level Changes
Easier (Level 1–2)
Try removing the flying swords. You could only have two x and six Cultists, including Mr Meville.
Harder (Level 5–6)
The sentries could be Shield Guardians. Mr Melville could have another Cultist Fanatic as his assistant, together controlling 12 Cultists.