A Short Scenario for Shadowdark RPG or any suitable d20 Fantasy Game.

GM Note: This works best as a seemingly random encounter in the forest, but it is possible for one of the PCs to be on a mission to find Ned or whatever happened to him.

Part 1: The Clearing in the woods.

The group has been traveling through a dense forest on their way to their next adventure or possibly just to the next town. They could even possibly just be lost in the forest without a road or much more than animal trails to follow. They have been riding/walking for a couple of days with no signs of civilization to be seen.

They come across a clearing in the trees with several having been cut away, their pointed stumps still sticking out of the ground. The lumber harvested from the trees was used to build a hut and a tall tower next to it. The hut is a part mud, part wooden structure with a chicken coop next to it.

The tower is built alongside a very tall tree. There are spiral stairs leading down to a ladder six feet off the ground. At the base of the tree/tower are several skulls, ranging from bear to what appear to be humanoid skulls.

Toward the top of the tree is a platform. A human man stands on the platform holding a crossbow. He calls out as the group approaches.

“Hail strangers. That’s close enough. What be your business in my forest?” he calls down to them.

The man at the top of the platform is Ned. He has no need for a last name. He swore an oath to The Fraternal Order of Forest Keepers long ago and has been standing watch over the woods they find themselves in ever since. He is a proud man with simple tastes. He has been out of contact with civilized society, most etiquette and courtesy has been long forgotten.

He is not openly hostile to the group unless they present themselves as an obvious danger to Ned or the forest. At first he thinks he might be hallucinating or even under the influence of some sort of arcane trickery. He hasn’t had visitors to his small camp in years. His only companions are his two chickens: Henry and Henrietta. He is friends with all of the animals that live nearby in the forest as well and speaks with them regularly.

Ned’s order hasn’t sent an emissary in some years, but he refuses to abandon his post as part of his oath. He does seem a bit mentally unstable from years of not having spoken with anyone. He is very curious about the outside world.

Ned has plenty of food and will offer any assistance or trade with the group as necessary. He has animal hides galore, tools, weapons, armor, and some basic supplies. He occasionally runs across bandits, brigands, and occasionally the undead. The growing piles of skulls and bones are meant to serve as a warning to the undead in the area.

More on this story tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you.