KembraGM:Adventure 3

Basic Plot

The PCs are asked to investigate a problem with the Caerthan Woods.

The Caerthan Woods

The Caerthan Woods is a forest near the village of Caerthan Glen. It is protected by an elven druid, Silvestra, and a forest spirit.

Recently, the Pobrezhians managing the goblin forces have slain the spirit and given its head to a hag, Hethra. The Caerthan Woods have become inhospitable, attacking the village with crazed wildlife, as a combination of Silvestra's mourning and Hethra's black magic and hate combine.

Dramatis Personae

Silvestra

Silvestra is an elven druid. She has lived in the forest for time immemorial. As its established guardian, the Magelords left her in peace after the debacle with the demihuman nations. She was very much in love with the spirit and mourns his death.

Hethra

Hethra is a green hag. In league with the Pobrezhians, she is working to create a blight that will make the forests themselves turn against Kembra. To do this, she needs the head of the forest spirit.

The forest spirit

His physical form is dead and his spiritual form isn't long for this world. He can still wield some influence.

Order of Events

Briefing

Cerdic Statochny will ask the PCs to investigate the Caerthan Forest. The villagers have recently been run out of town. In the past, the Caerthan Forest's guardian could be trusted and, as a result, they had not planned to place garrisons near here. Further, birds sent for scouting have been forced to turn back.

Cerdic will mention that the guardian takes residence in a clearing in the middle of the forest. The PCs should attempt to contact it.

Getting there

The Pobrezhians know that the village has been deserted. A group of goblins has been sent to guard the road and prevent their return.

Encounter (CR 4): goblin leader, 2 goblin fighters, a goblin ranger, and a goblin cleric

The village

The village is deserted. There is no property damage and the crops appear to be mostly intact. The only inhabitants are some large wildlife -- rabbits, chipmunks, that sort of thing.

As the PCs wander through the village, they will get a larger and larger entourage of cute, cuddly forest creatures until they attack.

Encounter (CR 4): 9 dire rabbits

The forest

As the PCs venture into the forest, they will notice it's quiet. The birds sing but they sound subdued. Tesni may observe that the forest seems both sad and angry. As the PCs proceed towards the clearing, they will be attacked by various wildlife.

• Encounter 1 (CR 4): 2 forest wolves
• Encounter 2 (CR 5): 2 black bears

The clearing

The PCs will see Silvestra in mourning accompanied by her bear companion and another bear. They will also notice what looks like a giant stag impaled with spikes onto trees, its head missing, a stench of decay filling the air.

Silvestra will accuse the PCs of being with those who murdered the spirit and attack.

Encounter (CR 6): Silvestra, her companion, and a black bear

If the PCs get Silvestra low on health, a voice will boom "Stop!" The ghost of the forest spirit will appear and will talk briefly with Silvestra. She will stand down.

The spirit will tell the PCs that to quell the trouble of the forest, they will need to retrieve his head. Unfortunately, a hag, Hethra, has it. The spirit shows the way (north).

Going to see the witch

As the PCs go north, they walk through the forest. As they keep walking, the trees become more and more gnarled and twisted. When all semblance of normal forest is lost, they have entered Hethra's domain. The PCs will encounter the following on the way to Hethra's hut:

• Encounter 1 (CR 5): 2 plagued black bears
• Encounter 2 (CR 5): 1 gnarled animated tree

Hethra's hut

Hethra lives in a wattle and daub hut in the middle of a small clearing. Patrolling outside the hut are two plagued wolves:

Encounter (CR 5): 2 plagued wolves

Hethra stands outside of the hut tending a large cauldron. She talks on occasion to a large stag's head mounted on a post. Two imps help her, adding ingredients to the cauldron. When Hethra sees the PCs, combat begins:

Encounter (CR 6): Hethra, 2 imps

Resolution

The PCs bring the forest spirit's head to him. Complete again, he grants his powers to Silvestra and disappears. She asks the PCs to leave but says she will defend the forest against enemies. In time, she will work to undo the damage done by Hethra.

She gives the PCs rings which will allow them to pass through the forest unmolested. The rings are keyed to the PCs themselves and will lose their magical effect if worn by another.