Heart & Forest

friggingfrogs
A forest adventure for the Cairn rules written by @Yochaigal.
Made for the “Cairn: Forests of another name” game jam.
This is a work in progress
On the following pages you’ll find:

• Descriptions for Baaju forest: Landmarks, rumors and

encounters with spark tables to help you flesh it out.

• A small witch’s cabin, the puzzle in it and the Witch o’ woods

herself

• A tough decision to help yourself, the witch or the king she

cursed.

As mention, this is a work in progress. Here’s what I’ll be adding/

changing:

• Art :)

• More detailed landmarks

• More entries on the Enchanted table

• A one hex map for the forest and its locations.

• More detailed treasure and 1d6 relics tables.

Thank you for your support :)

Overview
Long has been said that a large
treasure trove lies abandoned
within these woods, in a
crumbled watchtower
Rumors of such treasure and
stories about the forest have
reached your ears.
You should gather your party and
you better sharpen thy sword and
memorize thy spells if you want
to survive & thrive.
Baaju forest
• Cold climate, windswept
and a chance for snow.
• The wind’s strong, blowing
towards the center.
• Trees in the wind laugh as
mad hyenas.
• Birds are quite curious
and intelligent.
• Scattered remains of failed
outposts.
• The witch hears
everything.
Rumors
1 There’s nothing guarding
the treasure but a ghost
2 The Witch o’ woods knew
something but she’s dead
3 The treasure is cursed with
a near instant death spell
4 The King o’ woods still
roams the ruins as a ghost
5 The curse can be cleared by
killing the witch.
6 The witch’s cabin is still
standing, unguarded
The old watchtower
• Melancholic ruins of
alabaster stone.
• Faded murals tell a story of
conquest and death.
• The animals living here
were forever changed.
• No bird is seen perched on
these ruins.
Baaju forest
The forest stretches to the horizon
and any paths or trails that once
were are now hidden by a coat of
snow or dead leaves.
None but the birds of yore
remember them and they are not
keen on helping humans.
Any sound made by the party is
drowned in the manical laughter 5 A very large tusked boar
of the trees. Sunlight often shines
through the canopies but not
enough to warm up the place
Landmarks
• Hunter’s tent: suspended,
lots of rope, a notebook.
• Deep crevice: tunnels in the
dirt, a fox plea for help.
• King’s legs: two trunkless
alabaster legs,a birds’ nest.
• Serpent’s skeleton: gigantic,
picked clean by vultures.
• Eye tree: eye carved in the
bark, blinks at night.
• Witch’s cabin: behind a
moat, smoking chimney
Encounters
1 Remains of explorers
(1~3: recent. 4~6: ancient.)
2 A flock of spy Nightingale.
(1~3: watchful. 4~6: nosy)
3 Sudden snow showers.
(1~3: light. 4~6: intense)
4 Enchanted explorers
(roll on “Enchantment” table)
(1~3: angry. 4~6: peaceful)
6 The witch o’ woods herself
(1~3: seeking. 4~6: reaping)
Details
What’s in the notebook?
What terrible end the hunters faced?
Is there something hidden in the
tunnels? Is the fox injured?
What’s under the statues’ legs?
What draws the birds' attention?
Who’s guarding the skeleton?
What can be done with its bones?
What is the eye watching over?
Is there another eye somewhere?
What does the air smells like?
What’s that on the roof?
Witch’s
cabin
Beyond a rickety wooden bridge,
passing over a shallow moat filled
with pikes and spikes lies the old
witch o’ woods’ cabin.
The roof is covered in birds and
the croocked chimney never cease
to blow out white smoke.
Despite how it looks, the cabin is
never unguarded. Wolves prowl
around in the night and all birds
are faithful servants of the witch,
watching her home during day.
Outside
• Fragile bridge squeals and
creaks under your feet.
• Moat’s spikes are poisoned
with a powerful sedative.
• Wooden frowns form a
circle around the hut.
• Birds will swarm on those
getting too close.(Daytime)
• At night, wolves fiercely
guard the wooden bridge.
 4 Mummy of stars: A dusty
Inside laboratory hides beyond
1 Main entrance: A worn and this door. Books fill the
muddy door. A rune at the walls and a stellar system
base summons the witch model sits on a stone table.
when forced open. It’s made of mercury and
it’s highly poisonous.
2 The berry door: Hidden by
a mulberry tree on the back 5 Mummy of leaves: A path
of the hut. Hairy leaves and lined by ancient oaks lies
poisonous berries. beyond this door. No walls
or roof to be seen beyond
3 Forever aisle: An endless the trees. A happy laughter
corridor repeating itself. can be heard from a pond
Four panels of mummies nearby. The “2.Berry door”
decorate walls and hide leads directly here.
doors.A small chance (1in6)
of 2d6 Fire scarabs when a
painting is touched.
4 Mummy of tides: A rough
shore with violent waves
lies beyond this door. A
wounded beached whale
spews out an armor made
of shells if treated. (As
‘Brigandine’ +1 Armour.)
5 Mummy of sands: Orange
dunes rising high beyond
this door. A half-buried
pyramid with treasure
mirages is an elaborated
trap. Insolation comes in
1d6 turns (-2 bulky armor)
Witch o’
woods
Sitting by the pond the Witch o’
woods welcomes you in a grim
voice.
She “could certainly help you to get
rid of the nasty whiteout curse but
that will requiere a coronary ritual.
Who’s willing to give up their
immortal heart?”
She asks nothing in exchange
claiming to “have been waiting for
the opportunity to cast this spell”.
She will only help if compensated
by any items taken or damage by
the party
Heart Ritual
The treasure was cursed long ago
when the King of Woods ordered
the witch to keep it safe.
By preserving his still beating
heart in a jar, she infused the
treasure with a confusion spell.
The king grew mad and stormed
the cabin to steal back his heart.
The spell will be lifted if the king’s
heart is stabbed with a wooden
knife or if another heart
replaces it.
“Who among you will let go of
their heart in hope of treasure?”
PCs who take part in the
ritual become a deathless
creature known as “The Pale”.
If none are willing, the witch
tells them to cross the pond
toward the ruins where
they’ll find the pale king.
“Deliver him to me”, she says,
“so that I can deal the fatal blow
to the heart I preserved many
years ago and I shall give you a
reward.”
The Pale
• Deathless creature with a
burning desire.
• The Pale cannot be too far
from their heart.
• Emotions and memories
wither away.
• The witch’s command are
painful to ignore.
 3 The Barracks: Dusty and of
The old fragile appearance, the last
building standing is a safe
watchtower place from the cold. At the
center lies what’s left of a
The gloomy alabaster ruins shine big bonfire and a warning
under sunlight. The stains of time written in coal surrounds it
and graffiti writing can be seen “Seek not the fallen. Let their
from a distance. gold be still”
A portal with no door leads
The old watchtower is entirely into darkness.
razed to the ground except for
4 The treasure room: A large
one barrack, refusing to collapse.
chest filled with gold at the
At night, the flash of the Pale
center of the room. Behind
king’s blade shines throughout
it, a bleached shade: the
the ruins.
Pale King o’ woods urging
you to take the treasure
Inside into your hands.
1 Crumbled gate: The fallen
arch marks the entrance.
You can hear mumbling
from a cursed explorer.
If rescue, she’ll warn the
party of the Pale King’s
curse and advise them to
leave the ruins.
2 Story panels: the last walls
standing. Paintings of the
kingdom’s history are worn
out and filled with writings
and drawings made of coal.
If they’re read out loud, the
Pale King shows himself.
Pale king’s
treasure
The pale king, a shadow of his
former self, long ago made a deal
with the witch, trading his heart
for the safety of his possessions.
He became a Pale, a deathless
creature who cannot stop
searching for life.
Over the years his hate for the
witch grew and consummed him.
He seeks a way to end his curse
and vengeance upon the witch.
The Pale king
The Pale King o’ woods
10 HP, 12 STR, 10 DEX, 04 WIL
Ghost blade (d12, STR save or
immaterial for 1d4 turn)
⚫ A ragged man wearing
frayed royal clothing and a
ghastly crown upon his head.
⚫ He hates the witch and will
strike any allys of hers.
Gold curse
When touched, the treasure
emits a blinding light. Those
touched by these rays are
thrown into confusion. Roll
on the table below to find out
what happens next.
Enchantment
1 You wake up on the edge
of the forest, missing your
gear and coin.
2 You wake up while bathing
in a river. Your skin is blue
from the cold and you can
barely move your fingers.
3 You wake up on top of a
tree with a sore throat.
Recollections of a long
debate with trees and
bushes.
4 You wake up with a sore
head. You’re underground.
A cavern or a dark crevice
on the ground. No torches.
5 You wake up at the witch’s
cabin. You’re all hungry
and her cauldron is
bubbling.