Trials of an Old man
Quest Title: “The Sparrow’s Thread”
A test of spirit, not strength.
Quest Summary
Old Man Cedric asks the players to retrieve something small, unimportant-seeming, and easily overlooked: a woven charm once gifted to him by his late wife, long since lost in the woods of the Greenwood Reach. He claims it was carried off by “a bird with more heart than sense” and may still rest where it nested long ago.
He calls it "The Sparrow's Thread.”
But the true quest lies not in the charm, but in what the players do along the way—and how they treat what they find.
Quest Giver: Old Man Cedric
When the players have shown curiosity, respect, or seem to be seeking deeper truths, Cedric—after careful observation—makes an unassuming request.
Dialogue Hook:
“You want to understand this place, do you? Then do something simple first. There's a grove, not far into the Greenwood Reach—used to be a sparrow nested there, kept my wife's thread for its bed.”
“Find the nest. You’ll know it. Bring back what you find, but don’t take blindly. What’s in the nest is shaped by how you walk the path.”
He pauses, then adds:
“It’s not about what you bring back. It’s about what you carry while you go.”
LOCATION: Greenwood Reach Grove
A quiet glade reached by following a faint animal trail between leaning willows. The glade itself is filled with birdsong and dappled light—peaceful, but still in an unnatural way.
The Nest:
- Tucked between two split branches of a crooked tree.
- Inside are four small items resting on a bed of moss and wool.
At first, they seem mundane, but each changes based on how the players acted earlier during the events (or you may reverse the order, find the items first, do the events after and have the items mystically change in your back.
| Nest | Object | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver ring | Clearly valuable, but tarnished and cold. |
| 2 | Tiny bone carving | Of a bird. Beautiful but broken across the wing. |
| 3 | Woven thread charm | Simple, faded wool, knotted with care. The “Sparrow’s Thread.” |
| 4 | Deer antler on a string | Small deer antler on a string, to small to wear around the neck. almost looks like an arrow |
ENCOUNTERS ON THE WAY
Players may encounter any of these three situations in any order. They can ignore, intervene harshly, or act with empathy.
1. The Injured Fawn
They find a young fawn, leg caught in thorns, struggling.
Choices & Outcomes:
- Help gently: Takes time, may prick the player’s hand. The fawn limps away.
- Kill to “end its suffering”: Easy, quick. Leaves a bitter silence in the glade.
- Ignore: The cries fade behind them.
Item Changed: Small Deer Antler on a String
- Helped: The antler is light, softly humming when held.
Can be used 3 times to guide the holder toward what they seek. - Killed: The antler is heavy, cracked, and smells of rot.
- Ignored: The antler is bland and inert, carved but lifeless.
2. The Wounded Raven
A raven pecks at a shiny object while dragging one wing—clearly hurt.
Choices & Outcomes:
- Assist: Feeding or bandaging it. It eyes them once and flies off.
- Kill: The raven dies with a hoarse, human-sounding caw.
- Ignore: It hobbles off into the brush.
Item Changed: Raven Carving
- Helped: Carved from dark wood, now whole—two wings raised.
Place on ground, summon a spectral raven: performs 3 tasks—guidance, warning, or question. - Killed: Carving is split in half; jagged and wrong.
- Ignored: One wing remains unfinished, as if forgotten.
3. The Lost Boy
A boy (Simon Woodward or another child) is crying behind a stump, pet squirrel lost in the trees.
Choices & Outcomes:
- Help him home: Slows travel, but warms the heart.
- Scold or ignore: He runs off, still crying. A faint splash heard in the distance.
Item Changed: Silver Coin
- Helped: The ring is bright and untarnished, etched with an old elven symbol as a signet.
Can be offered to any elven-blooded creature as a token of peace or a favour owed. - Ignored: The ring is sooty, blackened and grim to the touch.
- Cruel: The ring appears bitten, edges sharp and warped.
The Fourth Item: The Woven Charm
No matter what the players do, the charm will be in the nest:
- A faded, delicate woven thread loop with small feathers and green yarn.
- It smells faintly of cedar and riverwater.
- Cedric will always request this be returned.
CEDRIC’S JUDGMENT
When the players return, Cedric sits outside his cottage, warming his hands over a cup of tea.
“Well now. What’d the forest give you?”
He has them place all four items before him on a worn cloth. He examines each in silence.
OUTCOMES:
| Number of "True" Items | Cedric's Reaction | Trust Level |
|---|---|---|
| All 3 purified items + charm | He gives a rare, full smile. “Elinor would’ve liked you.” Opens up almost entirely. | Full Trust |
| 2 items pure | “Good hearts, still learning. That’s enough for me.” | Trusted Confidant |
| 1 or none | “Forest gives what’s earned. And not all walk kindly.” | Keeps them at distance |
Rewards:
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Raven Carving | Place on the ground. A raven spirit will appear to perform 3 simple tasks: answer a question (within reason), guide through forest paths, or serve as lookout. |
| Antler Charm | Use up to 3 times to find your way when lost or when seeking something specific. Feels warm in hand when direction is correct. |
| Silver Ring | Offer to an elf or fae-touched being for a one-time boon, safe passage, or pact. If sullied, it may be refused—or provoke insult. |
Cedric does not keep any of the magical items except the charm.
“It was never mine to lose—but I thank you for finding her warmth again.”
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