A Shadow Among Refugees: Missing Persons in the Radiant Citadel

Overview
A string of mysterious disappearances has unsettled the Passage of Respite, where refugees seeking sanctuary in the Radiant Citadel are vanishing without a trace. Each day, a new missing person poster appears, but there is no pattern—no struggle, no witnesses, no signs of forced abduction.   The truth? A clone of Jander Sunstar has infiltrated the Citadel, feeding on victims while hiding in plain sight. Unlike other vampires, Jander’s unique physiology allows him to walk freely under the Auroral Diamond's light, making it easy for him to move unnoticed and strike where no one suspects.   If left unchecked, Jander’s clone will claim a new victim each night, continuing until the party stops him—or until someone else takes the blame.   The Passage of Respite – The Message Board
Location: Passage of Respite – The main hub for incoming refugees.   A large wooden message board stands in a well-trafficked area, covered in scraps of parchment, charcoal sketches, and urgent handwritten notes. It is a desperate mosaic of lost names and fading faces, pinned there by those hoping for a reunion or closure.   Each day, new messages are added. Some are from families searching for loved ones, others are warnings of dangers encountered beyond the Citadel. But lately, a new type of notice has appeared:    Missing Person Poster (First Victim – Day 1)
 MISSING PERSON – REWARD OFFERED    Name: Tomas Rivven
Age: 34
Description: Human male, short brown hair, green eyes, wearing a faded blue travel cloak. A scar on his left cheek, walks with a limp.
Last Seen: Near the Passage of Respite, waiting for relocation assistance. He was scheduled for a new residence but never arrived.
Additional Notes: Tomas left his belongings behind, but no one saw a struggle. No signs of forced departure. If anyone has information, please report to the Passage of Respite authorities. Reward upon confirmation of his safety.
  New notices appear daily—each one following a similar pattern.   Investigation Flow – Finding Jander’s Clone Each day that passes, another person disappears, and a new missing person poster appears. The party must investigate different districts to piece together Jander’s pattern, method, and final hiding place before he claims too many victims.  

• Phase 1 (Days 1-3) Passage of Respite (Victims last seen here), Court of Whispers (Records, rumors) Disappearances are silent, sudden, and without witnesses. No one remembers seeing them leave.
• Phase 2 (Days 4-6) Trade Discal (Merchant reports, potential witnesses), Refugee Housing Assignments Victims hesitated before vanishing, as if dazed or confused.
• Phase 3 (Days 7-9) Star Arcade (Botanical District, dangerous at night), Gith Quarter (Arcane research on mind-altering effects) Victims may have been charmed or magically influenced. Shadows play a key role.
• Phase 4 (Days 10+) Final Confrontation: Jander’s Clone Hiding in Little Pozole Jander’s clone has been hiding in an abandoned storage basement beneath an industrial foundry.

Jander’s Clone – Hunting Tactics Targets only refugees—people with no immediate connections or families to come looking.
Charming before attacking—he subtly influences his victims, making them follow him willingly.
Lures prey into shadows—even in the Radiant Citadel, shadows exist in alleys, under bridges, and beneath awnings.
Hides in an overlooked place—instead of a crypt or ruin, he has blended into a busy, noisy district.   The party cannot rely on traditional anti-vampire tactics—Jander’s clone does not burn in sunlight and does not sleep in a coffin. He is a perfect predator hidden in the open.   Phase 4 – The Final Confrontation (Days 10+)
Final Location: A Hidden Storage Chamber Beneath Little Pozole   Why Here?

• Little Pozole is an industrial district—its noise, smoke, and endless movement provide excellent cover.
• Nobody pays attention to the lower levels, making it a perfect hiding spot.
• Workers come and go at all hours, allowing Jander’s clone to move unnoticed.

  How the Party Finds Him:

• A missing person’s scent was faintly detected near a foundry—but nobody saw them enter.
• A street vendor in Little Pozole recalls an elegant but “strangely pale” man passing through multiple times.
• Clues from previous phases suggest a movement pattern leading toward the industrial sector.

  Final Battle Setup:

• An abandoned warehouse basement, once used for storing rare goods, now Jander’s personal lair.
• Dimly lit with flickering lanterns, creating plenty of deep shadows.
• A few charmed laborers, under his thrall, might attempt to defend him or act as a distraction while he escapes.
• Jander’s escape strategy: He tries to slip into the crowd above or charm a party member into letting him flee.

  Combat Mechanics – Jander’s Clone

• Mind Dominator (Recharge 5-6): Once per round, Jander’s clone can force a target to follow him unless they pass a DC 17 Wisdom Save.
• Vampiric Deception: He will attempt to blend in with the crowd mid-fight, forcing the party to make Insight checks (DC 16) to track him.
• Blood Frenzy: If he kills a victim, he gains temporary HP and extra attacks.

Failure to act quickly will result in more deaths before he is stopped.   Outcomes & Consequences

• Perfect Victory (Party Catches Jander’s Clone, Victims Survive) The disappearances stop. The Passage of Respite remains safe, and the party earns the trust of refugees and authorities.
• Partial Victory (Party Stops Clone, But Some Victims Die) The clone is destroyed, but a few victims were already lost. The party earns credit for solving the case but cannot erase the tragedy.
• Failure (Jander’s Clone Escapes) The authorities step in, tightening security—but the clone vanishes into the Citadel, leaving the party questioning when he will strike again.