i'm thinking the first thing they'll ask is about the bugging devices. black matchboxes with a lens and a power switch. one side is adhesive. other rooms are the the living room (center), the bedroom (ne), and the kitchen (sw). the larder (west) is boring. the room to the east has only the mirror-mirror-on-the-wall. I'm thinking it's a spherical room and when you stand inside it, it feels like you're in the Raven Queen's crystal ball. you're, like, 10cm tall in her world but from your perspective it's like she's this colossus...and then she notices you, leans right in and is like "Well hello there, sugar. Who ah YOU?" And it's about this moment the Creature returns at the front gate with the princess. My hope is that they'll use dispell magic on the creature, he'll beat their asses, and then just as he starts to gloat discovers that the princess has been live streaming the whole thing and the gig is up. if they fight the guy head on, same thing. I could even TPK and make it work. if they sneak past both congratulations, perfect score, here are you bonuses, secret footage reveals the creature's identity etc etc. If they somehow sneak past the Creature or subdue it then they have to deal with the princess. She'll be surprised at first. Maybe she mistakes the PCs for servants. That could be some fun RP when they're players pretending to be PCs pretending to be servants so they can sneak out of the house... if they knock out the princess the Creature could return from the dead for round 2 if there's time. otherwise they escape, footage reveals etc etc.

There's always a way! 5e variant. I got a lot of buy in by having each player describe their custom listening device. Here's the Dark Elf's stat: Noble Chaotic Neutral Drow Sorcerer (Level 11) Name: Zelyndra Vhaelor Sorcerous Origin: Shadow Magic Ability Scores - Strength: 8 (-1) - Dexterity: 16 (+3) - Constitution: 14 (+2) - Intelligence: 12 (+1) - Wisdom: 10 (+0) - Charisma: 18 (+4) (+2 from Drow race bonus) Proficiencies - Saving Throws: Constitution, Charisma - Skills: Arcana, Deception, Insight, Persuasion - Tools: None Features Racial Traits (Drow) - Darkvision: 120 ft. - Fey Ancestry: Advantage on saving throws against being charmed; immune to magical sleep. - Sunlight Sensitivity: Disadvantage on attack rolls and Perception checks in direct sunlight. - Drow Magic:At will: Dancing Lights1/day each: Faerie Fire, Darkness Sorcerer Class Features - Spellcasting: Charisma-based. - Font of Magic: 11 sorcery points. - Metamagic:Twinned Spell: Target a second creature with the same spell.Quickened Spell: Cast a spell as a bonus action. - Shadow Magic Features:Eyes of the Dark: Darkvision improves to 120 ft.; cast Darkness using 2 sorcery points. - Strength of the Grave: When reduced to 0 HP, make a DC 5 + damage taken Charisma saving throw to drop to 1 HP instead. (1/long rest) - Hound of Ill Omen: Spend 3 sorcery points to summon a spectral hound to harry your foes. Spells Known Cantrips: Chill Touch, Dancing Lights, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Fire Bolt Spells (11 Known): - 1st Level (4 slots): Shield, Mage Armor - 2nd Level (3 slots): Mirror Image, Misty Step - 3rd Level (3 slots): Counterspell, Fly - 4th Level (3 slots): Greater Invisibility, Phantasmal Killer - 5th Level (2 slots): Wall of Force, Dominate Person - Weapons: light crossbow, dagger - Armor: None (using Mage Armor) - Other Gear: arcane focus

Even if I killed the entire party they have backup characters waiting in the wings. It's hard to end a campaign and even harder to stick the landing.

@Jonah Fishel we get together regularly. my problem is i ran out of story to tell and didn't recognize it in time to be like "and that's a wrap!" it had a boss fight and action and all the good stuff. I should have hit it and quit.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250361.Souls_in_the_Great_Machine

Did you miss the part about how their goals, under pressure, ratchet up and it creates conflict?