Shemshine's Bedtime Rhyme (Patron)

What makes your soul sing and your heart dance?

Some may say love or joy, but what if it was something darker? Pain and fear can cast a long shadow over our mind. In times of stress it can make itself known, and in those moments it can be so easy to do things we regret when the shadow takes control.

What are you capable of?

Who are you in when there is no one to stop you or intervene?

And, does the shadow have a name?

This is a really fun adventure to run, and there isn't much in the way of changes needed.

A few things you might consider are:

Don't have the players planning to spend the night. Instead have them there searching for a book or looking for a quiet place to research because everywhere else is taken. This will mean speeding up when the party becomes quarantined, but that is okay. Instead of having them hear the song when they are going to bed at night, have the elf Varnyr humming to herself when they come in. Then downstairs, have the player hear the words when they the little girl is singing and playing with her dolls (the ones in the book that are hidden in the book lift). Also, for added creepiness, have the girl leave the dolls on the ground when she is taken to bed so as to ensure your players see them.

Periodically have the players make a con save that increases in difficulty after each event so as to not begin singing. Also, increase the penalties for not singing. At first it is just concentrating like as if on a spell, then add on disadvantage on skill checks, finally disadvantage, on intelligence and wisdom saving throws. Make it hurt to not sing.

When they finally fight Shemshine, have the battle going with Shemshine trying to avoid blows and seeming to flee up until he has only 1 hit point left. At that point have him burst apart and reform. From here on out he will mess with the players by actively moving into their blows. For example, purposely being stabbed with a sword and forcing himself down the blade to attack them while trapping their weapon. This is to ensure that Shemshine is at 1 hp when they attempt to crush him.

Lastly, have the crush damage do 4d10 damage (the amount for a tier 1 deadly trap in the dungeon master's guide) so that you are ready for a player being hit by the falling book statue as well. If the fight has been a hard one, then don't let Shemshine have the chance to dodge the falling book either. Just let your players have the win. By that point they'll have likely earned their victory.

I hope your players enjoy!