This adventure is designed in the style of the lightweight adventure templates detailed in Chapter 4, Creating Adventures from the Dungeon Masters Guide (2024).
Although this adventure is set in the World of Greyhawk, in the city of Longspear, it can easily be moved to any campaign setting or community that has a dock district.
Lanterns in the Fog
An Investigation Adventure for Level 1 Characters
The Shrine of the Riverfather
The scent of riverweed and tar lingers in the air as you follow the worn planks of the dockside path. Barges moored two-deep creak softly with the current, their lanterns swaying like fireflies on iron chains. Sailors mutter over crates of barley and dried fish, and gulls wheel overhead, crying like they know something you don’t.
Beyond the bustle, half-shrouded in river mist, stands the Shrine of the Riverfather a moss-darkened statue of Obad-Hai carved into the riverbank itself. His face is calm his eyes gazing over the peaceful waters. Ivy coils around his staff, and an empty river birds nest sits between the folds of his robe.
A shallow basin lies before him, fed by a narrow channel cut into the dock’s edge. The water there is always clear, always moving, and never freezes—even in the coldest moons.
A dockhand leans as he passes, touching his hand to the water in the basin, then his brow and murmuring, “Steady waters, old father.” Then he moves on, as if the gesture had always been part of walking. A few coins glint beneath the surface. A flat stone rests on the rim, etched with prayers worn smooth by a thousand fingers.
Situation. In the Rivergate Commons, workers report ghostly lights near the riverbanks at night, followed by missing tools and food. Rumors of drowned spirits have begun to spread.
Hook. Cavel Marn, the grizzled Market Warden, has had enough ghost stories. He hires the adventurers with the offer of a purse of silver and a quiet warning: solve this before merchants begin to flee and faith is lost.
Encounters
Fogbound Commons. After dusk, the party arrives to find workers rattled and homes shuttered. Flickering will-o’-wisps dance across the water, and investigation reveals a trail of displaced crates leading into a half-submerged storm tunnel. A DC 12 Wisdom (Insight) check hints the lights are not natural, but lures.
The Forgotten Runoff. Inside the storm tunnel, the characters navigate collapsing masonry and waist-high brackish water. A failed check on Survival or Investigation results in exhaustion. A smuggler’s bolt hole carved into the brickwork yields mason tools, a halfling skeleton, and the tattered remains of cloth and backpack. A DC 13 Intelligence (Investigation) check will reveal that a group of small humanoids has been living in this room.
Chamber of Echoes. In a crumbling chamber, a small band of goblins [one goblin warrior, two goblin minions, plus one goblin minion for each character, Monster Manual (2025)] employ magical lights to frighten the locals. They’re scavengers, not soldiers—negotiation reveals they were driven here by deeper threats. The goblin warrior has two small white agate river stones, the Eyes of the Riverfather, and the Curse of the Riverfather.
The Shrine’s Test. Returning the charm stirs ancient power. At the riverside shrine, a vision of Obad-Hai speaks in wind and ripples. Solving the Riddle of the Riverstones, or simple riddle of river stones and runes (DC 13 Intelligence (Religion) or Wisdom (Insight)) to restores the shrine’s blessing. The character restoring the eyes gains the Charm of the Rolling Fields
Goblin Flight. The goblins attempt to flee the city, if they escape, they carry news to the surrounding goblin tribes who now know of a secret entry to the city.
Adventure End
Positive. The shrine is restored, and the goblins are dealt with. The party gains renown with the Hall of Scales. Fully restored, the Shrine of the Riverfather glows a soft blue light providing a beacon for boats on the river, and even on the foggiest of nights, the docks remain clear and open visibility. Cavel pays the party 50gp, and the party gains 1 Renown with the Hall of Scales.
Mixed. The goblins are defeated or escape, but the Shrine is not restored. Cavel pays the party 50sp.
Negative. The goblins escape, or the party keeps the Eyes of the Riverfather. The character who keeps the Eyes gets the Curse of the Riverfather.
Yvan Boily 