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Creeping Wood

st tier (
Challenge
DC
Area
(1 day)

The trees here never quite seem to be where the adventurers remember them. At the corner of the adventurers’ vision they might be seen crawling, shifting on twisted roots and scowling from faces of twisted bark. The forest is not to be trusted.

Carnivorous Roots. The trees and their roots creep slowly but constantly towards the adventurers while they sleep, stabbing into them if allowed close and dealing 7 (2d6) points of piercing damage. They’re slow enough to avoid if one stays awake, but the party can’t gain the benefits of a ]] long rest in the area. Adventurers with access to magical effects that ward off evil (such as protection from evil and good ) or that perpetually emit flame may be immune to this effect at the Narrator’s discretion.

Disorienting. With the shifting trees, progress is difficult and all Survival checks are made with disadvantage .

Splintered Reach. Every hour spent traveling in this area a sharp tree branch suddenly lurches into a randomly chosen adventurer’s path. This adventurer must make a Dexterity saving throw , taking 7 (2d6) slashing damage on a failure. Adventurers that are immune to the effects of Carnivorous Roots may be immune to this effect at the Narrator’s discretion.

Possible Solutions

A group Nature check can allow the party to note and avoid the cursed trees, spotting out their unnatural corruption. Alternatively, determined adventurers can fight back or outrun the encroaching trees with individual Athletics or Acrobatics checks.

Critical Failure. One by one the trees steal away a tithe of blood, snapping roots buried into nourishing flesh. Each adventurer takes 7 (2d6) slashing damage and suffers a level of fatigue .

Failure. A randomly chosen adventurer that failed their check is accidentally cornered in a grove of corrupted trees and loses a considerable amount of blood before they’re able to escape. The adventurer takes 7 (2d6) slashing damage and suffers a level of fatigue .

Success. The forest is menacing but slow, and the adventurers manage to pass through it without further incident.

Critical Success. The party makes their way safely through the woods and spots a great old tree that looks even more corrupt than the rest, grown over skeletal remains. Upon cutting down or burning the tree, the entire forest shudders and shakes as the haunt shrivels away, leaving a normal, verdant clearing and something amidst tree’s remains. Roll on the Boons and Discoveries table.