Forest Guardians
F Friend or Foe
orest Guardians is a forest encounter for four to five
characters with an average party level (APL) of five.
In the middle of the forest, the characters encounter a
group of lumberjacks attempting to harvest a sacred
grove. Statistics for monsters, characters and spells that
appear in this encounter can be found in the 5th edition of
the SRD.
Sounds of fighting catch your attention. As you look
around, you see a narrow path leading deeper into the
forest, from which screams can be heard.
The Druid Cult
The characters have found the sacred grove of an ancient
druid cult. The druids, however, have been gone for decades.
To protect the grove, they brought some trees to life by means
of magic. Now, as a group of lumberjacks tried to cut down
the sacred oak in the middle of the clearing, the ancient
guardians were awakened and are now trying to defend the
oak. The characters can now decide whether they want to
help protect the grove or fight alongside the woodcutters
who are fighting for their lives.
Surroundings: Druid Grove
At the end of the path lies the Druid‘s Grove; a small clearing
in the middle of the forest. Gleaming rays of sunlight fall
through the leaf canopy onto a single, large, majestic tree
growing in the middle of the clearing, bathing it in a silvery
light. Several stones are placed around the oak in the shape
of a circle. The stones are engraved with a number of glyphs,
but after all these years they are no longer readable.
Encounter: Old guardians
As soon as the characters reach the clearing, they have to
decide who they want to rush to help. If the adventurers
decide to help the lumberjacks, they will also be considered
a threat to the grove and will be targeted by the guardians.
However, if the characters help the guards and stop the
lumberjacks, they are now under the protection of the grove.
FOREST ENCOUNTER
At the end of the path, you reach a large clearing. A
majestic tree grows in the middle of the clearing with a
huge axe stuck in its trunk. A dead lumberjack lies at the
foot of the tree. Not far from the site you see a further four
lumberjacks, armed with axes, fighting against two trees
that have come to life.
Help the Trees
Should the characters decide to defend the grove, they are
surrounded by a magical aura. Each character may roll a D8
and receives temporary hit points according to the result.
Help the Lumberjacks
If the characters decide to join the lumberjacks in battle,
they too are now considered an enemy of the forest. The
moment they join the fight, two more trees come to life and
6
immediately target the characters.
CR
Further Events 2250 XP
Fighting the trees. The trees fight with the statistics of an
(Awakened Tree). They continue to fight until those they
consider to be an enemy of the forest are defeated or flee.
Fight against the lumberjacks. The lumberjacks fight with
the statistics of a (Berserker). Their aim is to get the wood
5
of the oak tree by any means possible. Should only one of
them remain alive, he will flee. ST
Level
End of battle. Depending on whose side the players have
taken, they receive different rewards. The lumberjacks offer
each of the characters 90 gold coins if they are allowed to cut
down the oak tree in return. However, if the players helped
the trees and prevented the lumberjacks from doing their
wrongful deeds, the trees will give them a Magic Branch of
the Oak.
Branch of the Oak. Magic wand, uncommon. The wand has
two charges. While holding it, you can use an action to use
up one of its charges and cast the spell [Awaken]. When all
the charges are used up, the wand turns to ash.