The Impostor of Valkenhorst Conqueror
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The Impostor of Valkenhorst

Someone at the table of Valkenhorst wears another's face

The Face Thief
The Adversary
The Face Thief
doppelganger · CR 3

It wears your face after a single glance, and it wears it better than you do.

Show stat block
The Face Thief
Medium monstrosity (shapechanger), chaotic evil
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 71 (13d8+13)
Speed 30 ft.
STR11+0
DEX17+3
CON12+1
INT14+2
WIS13+1
CHA16+3
Saving Throws Dex +5, Cha +5
Skills Deception +7, Insight +3
Resistances & immunities
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Challenge 3
Traits

Shapechanger. As an action, the Facestealer can change into the form of a Medium or Small humanoid it has previously touched, or return to its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form, except for its appearance.

Perfect Imitation. The Facestealer has advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks to pass itself off as someone whose face it has stolen.

Actions

Multiattack. The Facestealer attacks twice with its claws.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d4+4) slashing damage.

Identity Theft. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one unconscious or grappled humanoid target. On a hit, the Facestealer steals the target's face. The target takes 9 (2d8) psychic damage, and until the Facestealer no longer wears that face, it can assume that form with its Shapechanger trait.

5e-compatible stat block · this monster also appears in the adventure PDF

The Story

At Valkenhorst castle, something has been wrong for a few weeks now. Count Aldric speaks differently, knows secrets he should never know, and whoever openly contradicts him vanishes without a farewell. The countess has brought you in the deepest secrecy, because she dares trust no one anymore, her own husband least of all.

The Gezichtendief, a shapeshifter, has taken the count's place, and no one knows how many faces the creature has already worn, or how many servants have since been replaced. It feeds on confusion: the more the court distrusts one another, the easier it strikes unnoticed and closes on its true goal.

You question servants and nobles, compare stories that do not add up, set traps that only an impostor can spring, and meanwhile keep a sharp eye on each other, because the Gezichtendief could 'become' one of you too. Every clue cuts both ways: trust is your sharpest weapon and your greatest weakness.

The twist: there is not one Gezichtendief but a small nest, and the real target is not the count but the succession at the coming banquet. The climax erupts in the great hall: unmask the impostors before the assembled nobility before the bloodbath begins, with proof, with a ruse or with steel, while at every familiar face you must ask yourself whether it still adds up.

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This page is in English. DM Shots adventures are crafted in clear, ready-to-read prose so you can run them straight from the table.

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The fifth edition (5e). It is compatible with the common 5e rules and includes stat blocks and encounters.

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This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, licensed under CC-BY 4.0. All story, characters and artwork are 100% original. DM Shots is an independent publisher, not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast. More about our license & 5e compatibility.