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The Sablewood

Environments Designed by ReddHedd • Art by Reddhedd

At a glance

Tier
1
Type
Exploration
Difficulty
12
Impulses
Lure in newcomers Aid those who deserve it Composting

Environment overview

The Sablewood is an ancient, expansive forest of trees that reach hundreds of feet into the air.

Potential adversaries

Tangle Brambles Bullfrog Giant Mosquitos Acid Burrower Bear Cave Ogre Deeproot Defender Giant Rat Jagged Knife's Merchant Minor Treant Young Dryad Thistlefolk Ambusher / Thief

Features

Passives

passive
  • Hidden Village

    Remnants of a small abandoned settlement appear up ahead.
    Players can investigate/loot the area to find curios/items.

    Questions
    • What state are the buildings in? What flora covers them?

Actions

action
  • Leave it to the Trees

    Spend a Fear: If players at any point stray from the well-worn pathways, the trees may intervene. Ask them to roll 1d6.

    1. Random Encounter - GM to decide if Aggressive/Curious/Mischievous.
    2. Mark 1 Stress - Fog billows around you. You are lost, Blinded and unable to discern direction. Delay for 1 hour.
    3. Whispers - GM to decide how the forest plays tricks with the player - perhaps their allies are mocking them?
    4. Agility Reaction roll - Roots whip out from nearby soil, attempt to grab your feet and pull you into the brambles.
    5. 'Achoo' - Nearby flowers with petal snouts lean in your direction and sneeze. Instinct or Agility Reaction roll to resist falling asleep.
    6. Hunger - Your mouth salivates. That cluster of mushrooms looks SO tasty. You must consume it - GM to decide Poison/Hallucinogenic/ etc.

    Questions
    • Have any of the players been here before?
    • What do they hear or smell or sense?
  • Hybrid Fauna

    Spend 2 Fear to summon an Adversary within Close range of a chosen player.

    GM to decide if Aggressive/Curious/Mischievous.
    Examples:
    * Strixwolf - Aggressive/Curious
    * Bullfrog - Aggressive
    * Ronkey (Rat/Monkey) - Mischievous
    * Slocelot - Sloth/Ocelot - Curious

    Questions
    • What random fauna could the players encounter?
    • Will the curious steal, mischievous tease and the aggressive attack?
    • Do they react the opposite way to what you'd expect?

Reactions

reaction
  • Aid

    In dire circumstances, the forest and/or its inhabitants have been known to aid people who have shown great respect to the forest.
    Stories have told of quicksand appearing under the feet of a group of Thistlefolk who were trying to steal from a respectable merchant, a Beagle (Badger/Eagle) swooping in to save someone falling from the tree tops and giant rotten tree trunks falling on top of cultists performing nefarious worship on sacred lands.

    Questions
    • Have the players displayed any particular reverence to the forest or its inhabitants?

About this environment

The Sablewood is an ancient, expansive forest of trees that reach hundreds of feet into the air. Rumoured to be older than the Forgotten Gods, this dense wood is widely known throughout the Mortal Realm, and many who visit are surprised to learn that the stories they believed were exaggerated legends are, in fact, stark truths.

Landmarks:
The Lucent River – The Lucent River cuts a luminous ribbon through the Sablewood, at parts deep and clear and other parts rocky and tumultuous.
Titan’s Steps – The Pillars of the Sablewood, that stand within the forest at a variety of incredible heights.
The Open Vale – The site of numerous spiritual rituals, performed by a variety of communities that live in and around the Sablewood.

The Sablewood

Tier 1 Exploration

The Sablewood is an ancient, expansive forest of trees that reach hundreds of feet into the air.

Impulses: Lure in newcomers, Aid those who deserve it, Composting

Difficulty: 12

Potential Adversaries: Tangle Brambles, Bullfrog, Giant Mosquitos, Acid Burrower, Bear, Cave Ogre, Deeproot Defender, Giant Rat, Jagged Knife's, Merchant, Minor Treant, Young Dryad, Thistlefolk Ambusher / Thief

Features

Hidden Village - Passive: Remnants of a small abandoned settlement appear up ahead. Players can investigate/loot the area to find curios/items.
  1. What state are the buildings in? What flora covers them?
Leave it to the Trees - Action: Spend a Fear: If players at any point stray from the well-worn pathways, the trees may intervene. Ask them to roll 1d6. 1. Random Encounter - GM to decide if Aggressive/Curious/Mischievous. 2. Mark 1 Stress - Fog billows around you. You are lost, Blinded and unable to discern direction. Delay for 1 hour. 3. Whispers - GM to decide how the forest plays tricks with the player - perhaps their allies are mocking them? 4. Agility Reaction roll - Roots whip out from nearby soil, attempt to grab your feet and pull you into the brambles. 5. 'Achoo' - Nearby flowers with petal snouts lean in your direction and sneeze. Instinct or Agility Reaction roll to resist falling asleep. 6. Hunger - Your mouth salivates. That cluster of mushrooms looks SO tasty. You must consume it - GM to decide Poison/Hallucinogenic/ etc.
  1. Have any of the players been here before?
  2. What do they hear or smell or sense?
Hybrid Fauna - Action: Spend 2 Fear to summon an Adversary within Close range of a chosen player. GM to decide if Aggressive/Curious/Mischievous. Examples: * Strixwolf - Aggressive/Curious * Bullfrog - Aggressive * Ronkey (Rat/Monkey) - Mischievous * Slocelot - Sloth/Ocelot - Curious
  1. What random fauna could the players encounter?
  2. Will the curious steal, mischievous tease and the aggressive attack?
  3. Do they react the opposite way to what you'd expect?
Aid - Reaction: In dire circumstances, the forest and/or its inhabitants have been known to aid people who have shown great respect to the forest. Stories have told of quicksand appearing under the feet of a group of Thistlefolk who were trying to steal from a respectable merchant, a Beagle (Badger/Eagle) swooping in to save someone falling from the tree tops and giant rotten tree trunks falling on top of cultists performing nefarious worship on sacred lands.
  1. Have the players displayed any particular reverence to the forest or its inhabitants?

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