(Plot Hook) The Wicked Woods

This adventures was originally used for a one-shot with some good friends - you are free to use this adventure if you wish. This article (and the events of the adventure) are considered historical and will not be changed.

Deep in the Wicked Woods, beside the riverbed of the Green Creek, lies a small village called Valla. Lord Gilbert lives in his small castle in the village and has requested aid from the Silver Knights to investigate rumors of mysterious creatures lurking in the Wicked Woods that is attacking villagers and disrupting the local trade.
This adventures is meant as a beginning adventure which purpose is to introduce characters to the Iromar Isles.

Plot points/Scenes

Act I: Ambush on the Chestnut Trail

While travelling on the road to Valla, the adventuring party from the Silver Knights are ambushed by harpy/harpies who try to charm the adventurers and lure them into traps. After defeating the harpies, the adventuring party should continue along the Chestnut Trail to meetup with Lord Gilbert in Valla.

Act II: Mysterious Gatherings in Valla

Upon arriving in Valla, the adventuring party finds the village half-deserted and quite wary of the adventurers intentions. Lord Gilbert invites the adventurers into the Krankenberg Keep to explains the village's situation to them. The adventurers can decide to investigate the villagers and find that they distrust Lord Gilbert and believe that he is the one behind the village's misfortunes. If the adventurers decide to confront Lord Gilbert then the action might skip to Act IV. Additionally, some villagers will tell the adventurers that they have heard strange noises coming from the Glistering Waystones and that they fear that it has something to do with the mysterious creatures.

Act III: Battle of the Glistering Waystones

The adventurers traverse difficult terrain to reach the Glistering Waystones. They might feel that they're being watched. The path does have some traps and if the adventures manage to activiate the traps then an Awakened Tree will come forth and attack. Upon reaching the clearing where the Glistering Waystones are located, the adventurers encounter a Dryad and several pixies. The Dryad will try to convince the adventurers that Lord Gilbert is in fact evil and that he is killing the Dryads by harvesting the precious Wildernwood from the west banks of the Green Creek. If the adventurers choose to fight the Dryad and the Pixies they might summon several wolves or an Owlbear from the woods.

Act IV: Clash at Krankenberg Keep

The encounter at Krankenberg Keep may be played very differently depending on the actions of the adventurers. Either the townsfolk tries to condemn Lord Gilbert for their misfortunes and help the adventurers overthrow him or the folk of the Wicked Woods (the dryad and pixies from Act III) come to stop Lord Gilberts evil plans. When defeating Lord Gilbert, the adventurers have to make a choice about what they are going to do: will they return to Carrano and report back or will they find a new path in life? During the encounter the guards of the keep will assist Lord Gilbert and protect him to their deaths. If Lord Gilbert is killed or overthrown then his nephew Sir Gallahad will become the new lord of Valla.
If the adventurers still trust Lord Gilbert (he was the one requesting their aid after all) then the encounter will be against some of the townsfolk or the forestfolk (depending on whether the adventurers have already defeated them). After assisting Lord Gilbert, the adventurers are heavily rewarded and return to Carrano wondering whether they made the right choice to support Lord Gilbert.

Plot type

Adventure Plot

Related Organizations

• The Silver Knights