The Demon’s Circus is an escape mission with a few twists. Rather than trying to escape captivity within a dungeon, the party has been captured by a low-level demon and placed in a zoo or circus on one of the planes of the Abyss. Problem-solving is more important than combat or even social interaction. This adventure hook is different than most escape missions.
First, and perhaps most significantly, they not only must escape their bonds, but they have to get back to their own plane of existence. As the DM, ensure there is some magical means to get back. Rather than using a magic item or a portal/gate, it’s suggested you use a scroll with an unusual spell on it. This gives you the opportunity to create a handout or prop (see below).
Second, the party is in a demonic zoo or circus, forced to perform and be jeered at by the demonic residents of the Abyssal plane. It’s not dangerous, particularly, but is demeaning and definitely a place where they don’t want to be. Their gear has been taken from them, perhaps left on the Prime Material Plane when they were captured in the first place, or guarded in the quarters of their demonic captor. The point is they either need a way to get their gear back before they escape (standard escape adventure procedure), or they must return to their gear back home (a bit more unusual).
It is suggested the magic they use to get back is a scroll. They can either find it, or know of its existence and seek it out as part of their escape plan. The scroll makes a great prop.
Download a free font with unusual, non-readable characters. Write a poem that would make a good spell (example below) and convert it to that font within your word processor. Print it out on parchment, then roll it up and tie it with some unusual twine or blackened ribbon. Don’t let the players know you have the physical scroll until they find it in-game. Then pull it out and say, “You find this scroll.” Obviously at least one of the players must be a caster with the Read Magic spell, or one of the players must be able to speak Infernal or even Celestial. No matter what, make sure at least one member of the party has the ability to read, and therefore cast, the spell on the scroll. You can give a translated version to the player whose character can read it, so they can read it out loud to the other players.
This scroll will then transport them back to the Prime Material plane.
Here’s a suggested “spell” poem:
By flesh and vow, unmake this place.
Open the crack this world could not seal.
Bone and blood, carry us home now.
Close the veil behind our final step.
Because this involves inter-planar travel, it is recommended it be used with characters at an appropriately high level. This adventure hook is rules-agnostic, but by way of example, if you’re using 5e rules, it is recommended the characters be at least 10th level.
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