Domain of Dread Homebrew Question
I am working on a cursed hotel type of domain. This would be my first attempt at this and I don't want to just handwave the mechanic I am trying to figure out so I am asking all of you creative people.
I am taking inspiration from The Shining and want the Darklord to be the proprietor of the hotel who for some reason (haven't figured that out yet) kills a bunch of guests and that's why the mists take the hotel.
The part that I am trying to figure out is I want to have the staff (and perhaps some guests) transform into various monsters that could be related (or maybe not) to the role they played in the hotel but I don't want it to be immediately obvious to the PC's (think the crew of the Black Pearl in Pirates of the Caribbean). I want the PC's to not realize they are even in a domain of dread right away and have something that triggers a reveal, either all at once or maybe slowly if the party should choose to explore the hotel on their own.
I appreciate any creative input/criticisms you all might have. Thanks!