Battlefield & Lair Effects - The Final Ritual#

Initiative Count 20 - Lair Actions#

Roll 1d3 to determine which effect occurs, or choose based on tactical needs

Phase 1-2 Effects#

Shifting Shadows - All shadows in the area move 15 feet in a direction of your choice. Any creature ending its turn in a shadow takes 1d6 necrotic damage.
Disorienting Echoes - Ghostly whispers fill the air. All creatures must make a DC 15 Wisdom save or have disadvantage on their next attack roll and ability check.
Unstable Ground - Choose a 20-foot radius area. The ground becomes difficult terrain and creatures starting their turn there must make a DC 14 Dexterity save or fall prone.

Phase 3-4 Effects#

Portal Magnetism - All creatures within 60 feet of the portal must make a DC 16 Strength save or be pulled 15 feet toward it. Creatures pulled into the portal take 2d8 force damage.
Reality Fracture - Choose a 30-foot cone. All creatures in the area must make a DC 17 Intelligence save or be stunned until the end of their next turn as reality warps around them.
Nidhogg’s Whispers - All creatures hear the shadow dragon’s voice. Make a DC 16 Charisma save or be charmed by the Weaver until the end of your next turn.

Phase 5+ Effects#

Shadowfell Bleed - A 40-foot radius area becomes heavily obscured by writhing shadows. Creatures starting their turn in the area take 2d6 necrotic damage.
Planar Rift - Roll on Wild Magic Surge table (or create custom chaotic effects) as reality becomes increasingly unstable.
Dragon’s Presence - All creatures within 100 feet must make a DC 18 Wisdom save or be frightened for 1 minute. Frightened creatures cannot willingly move closer to the portal.

Battlefield Features & Hazards#

Environmental Conditions (Escalating)#

Phase 1-2: Gathering Shadows

Light sources dimmed by one category
Temperature drops by 20°F
Mirrors and reflective surfaces show disturbing alternate realities
Animal sounds from the forest go silent

Phase 3-4: Shadowfell Influence

All creatures have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks
Undead and shadow creatures have advantage on attack rolls
Magic items flicker and temporarily lose properties (1 round, DM’s choice)
Gravitational anomalies: some areas have reduced/increased gravity

Phase 5+: Reality Breakdown

Teleportation magic is unreliable (50% chance to arrive 1d4×5 feet from intended destination)
Time dilation: some creatures act as if under slow or haste randomly
Solid surfaces occasionally become permeable for 1 round
Past battles echo as ghostly images overlap current fight

Dynamic Terrain Changes#

Round 1: Ancient ritual circle begins to glow with eldritch energy

Round 2: Cracks appear in stone structures; some provide new cover, others create difficult terrain

Round 3: Water features turn black and begin to bubble; treat as difficult terrain that deals 1d4 necrotic damage

Round 4: Portal energy causes some elevated platforms to float 10 feet higher

Round 5: Shadowfell corruption spreads - plants wither, stone crumbles, metal rusts rapidly

Round 6+: Gravity wells appear randomly; creatures within 20 feet pulled toward center (DC 15 Str save)

Specific Hazard Areas (Reference Map)#

A. Central Ritual Circle#

Phase 1-2: Difficult terrain, Weaver gains +2 AC while inside
Phase 3+: Portal forms here; creatures within 10 feet take 1d6 necrotic damage per turn
Destruction: Requires 3 successful DC 20 Arcana checks (action) or 50+ damage to disruption

B. Ancient Stone Platforms#

Phase 1: Provide high ground (+1 to ranged attacks)
Phase 2: Some begin to levitate, creating aerial combat opportunities
Phase 3+: Become unstable; DC 15 Acrobatics to avoid falling when moving

C. Dark Water Pools#

Phase 1: Reflect false images (minor illusion effects)
Phase 2: Become portals for shadow creatures to emerge
Phase 3+: Anyone touching water must make DC 16 Wis save or be stunned by visions

D. Ruined Structures#

Phase 1: Standard cover
Phase 2: Some walls become translucent (can see through but still provide cover)
Phase 3+: May phase in/out of existence, unreliable cover

Special Battlefield Events#

Random Events (Roll d6 each round after Round 3)#

Echo of the Past: Ghostly knights from the Order of Seasons appear and fight shadows for 1 round
Temporal Hiccup: One random creature gets an extra turn immediately
Shadow Clone: One character’s shadow becomes hostile and attacks them
Planar Overlap: Part of the Feywild bleeds through, creating wild magic zone
Dragon’s Roar: Everyone makes DC 16 Con save or deafened and 1d8 thunder damage
Reality Anchor: Small area (20 ft radius) becomes immune to illusions and planar effects

Critical Moments#

If Weaver reaches 25% HP: “If I cannot have victory, none shall have peace!” - attempts to collapse reality around the battlefield

If Portal reaches 75% completion: Nidhogg’s shadow becomes visible through the portal, all creatures make DC 18 Wis save or frightened

If any PC is pulled into portal: They experience brief glimpse of Shadowfell before being expelled (taking 4d8 necrotic damage but gaining advantage on saves vs fear for rest of encounter)

Victory/Failure Escalation#

Near Victory (Weaver below 50% HP, ritual interrupted)#

Weaver becomes desperate, reality warps more severely
Manus may switch sides: “This madness goes too far!”
Environmental effects occur twice per round

Near Failure (Portal >90% complete)#

Nidhogg begins pulling everything into Shadowfell
All creatures within 120 feet: DC 20 Strength save each turn or pulled 30 feet toward portal
If anyone enters portal at this stage, they’re trapped in Shadowfell (major campaign consequence)

Dramatic Finish Options#

Pyrrhic Victory: Portal damaged but not closed, ongoing campaign consequences
Heroic Sacrifice: A PC or important NPC may need to sacrifice themselves to seal the portal
Unexpected Ally: Manus turns against Weaver at crucial moment
Divine Intervention: Arbiter or other divine force provides crucial assistance

Ritual & Battlefield Effects