Content Trigger Warnings
This encounter includes themes of displaced ill refugees, corruption, and wasps.
Plot Hooks for Other Adventures
This encounter can work with nearly any adventure where the party travels through a forest. Here are some other ways you can incorporate this encounter into other adventures:
- The Corrupted Grove: Instead of a decaying town, the adventurers are lured to the forest by rumors of a corrupted grove where magical disturbances are wreaking havoc on nature. Naelin seeks their aid to restore balance and cure the forest’s ailments.
- The Cursed Expedition: The adventurers are part of an expedition to explore a mysterious forest. They encounter Naelin, who requests their help in gathering rare herbs to lift a curse that has befallen her elven kin. The party must navigate the dangers of the enchanted woods.
- The Plague and the Herbalist: The party learns of a plague sweeping through a nearby town. Naelin, a renowned herbalist, seeks their assistance in finding a rare herb deep in the forest to create a cure. The refugees in the camp are plague survivors seeking shelter.
Additional Twists
- Betrayal Within: One of the refugees is secretly aligned with the corrupt forces, intending to sabotage the party’s mission. The party must uncover the traitor before it’s too late.
- Ethical Dilemma: The party discovers that the Lifewind Blossoms are linked to the life force of the forest. Harvesting them may bring temporary relief to the refugees but risks causing irreversible harm to the ecosystem. The party must decide between immediate aid and long-term consequences.
The Outsiders
Encounter Background and Setup
As the party enters the forest, they discover a refugee camp led by Naelin, an elf seeking aid. After assessing the party’s sincerity, Naelin assigns Elowen, an herbalist, and Seren, a guard, to assist. The journey to the hidden grove is fraught with challenges and potential encounters, including writhing vines, corrupted creatures, and an awakened tree. In the grove, the party faces giant wasps and bandits desperate for the magical Lifewind Blossoms. Diplomacy may sway the bandits, Eirik, Grelm, and Lyra, to a non-theft course. Returning to camp, Naelin, Elowen, and Seren work together to prepare a remedy with the harvested blossoms, fostering a sense of hope and community among the refugees.
Introduction
As the party traverses the forest, a murmur of voices draws their attention. They come upon a clearing where a makeshift camp has been established. Tattered tents and haphazardly arranged lean-tos create a modest refuge for a diverse group of refugees. The occupants, dressed in worn and weather-beaten garments, cast wary glances toward the approaching adventurers. 
Amidst the huddled group stands Naelin, an elf cloaked in a hooded robe adorned with a veil that shields her fair skin from the sun’s harsh rays. The camp seems to find a center in her, as she orchestrates the coordination of tasks among the refugees. Naelin regards the party with a discerning gaze, her veiled eyes focused on each member in turn. “Strangers, why do you travel these cursed woods?” She listens carefully to their responses, weighing the sincerity in their words. Once satisfied, she continues, her tone firm yet not unkind. “The refugees under my care are not numerous, but their need is great. Thirty souls huddle here for shelter, seeking refuge from a town consumed by corruption. Can you help us to gather the medicinal herbs we need? The Lifewind Blossoms, rare and potent, hold the key to mending the wounds that afflict my people. Will you bring them to us, and in doing so, help bring a flicker of hope to this forsaken place?” If the party agrees, she instructs them: “To find the Lifewind Blossoms, venture deeper into the heart of this forest. Look for a hidden grove marked by a unique flower, a vibrant golden bloom with tendril-shaped petals. These blossoms emit a faint magical glow, making them distinguishable even in the dimmest light. Be cautious, for the magic that taints this land may attract creatures drawn to the healing properties of the herbs. Gather thirty blossoms with care, and avoid trouble.”
She sends along two assistants, Elowen, a young herbalist, and Seren, a guard who will protect Elowen and the harvested flowers.
Journey to the Lifewind Blossoms
As the party ventures deeper into the forest, the path becomes overgrown, making progress challenging. The journey from the refugee camp to the hidden grove of Lifewind Blossoms is approximately 5 miles through the dense and overgrown forest. Roughly two miles of this consists of difficult terrain due to twisted roots, thorny bushes, and uneven ground. Navigating this challenging landscape requires the party’s careful attention, slowing their progress and increasing the likelihood of encounters with the mystical and corrupted denizens of the forest.
Random Encounter Table: Finding the Lifewind Blossoms
| Roll (1d6) |
Encounter |
| 1–3 |
Writhing Vines. The path ahead is blocked by a mass of writhing, thorny vines. Each party member must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or take 1d6 piercing damage from the thorns. The vines can be cut away with a successful DC 14 Strength (Athletics) check. |
| 4 |
Corrupted Creatures. A pack of 2d4+1 corrupted wolves, tainted by the dark magic of the forest, prowls the area. The wolves attack on sight. Their bite does an additional 1d6 necrotic damage, and they are immune to being charmed. |
| 5 |
Mystical Guardian: An awakened tree will ignore the party if they have no Lifewind Blossoms as they pass but will attack and attempt to take the blossoms back if the party has any. |
| 6 |
Cursed Foliage. The foliage in this part of the forest is cursed. If touched, it drains the life force of the party. Each party member must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 1d6 necrotic damage. |
Discovering the Lifewind Blossoms
Upon reaching the hidden grove, the party sees a stunning display of vibrant golden blooms with tendril-shaped petals, emitting a soft, subtle glow. Elowen, the herbalist, identifies the Lifewind Blossoms and directs the party on how to harvest them without disturbing the magical properties. As the party collects the Lifewind Blossoms, a humming sound fills the air as four giant wasps descend on the party. As the wasps attack, they’re joined by a volley of arrows from within the trees as three bandits attack the party, determined to harvest the blossoms for themselves to sell them.
The bandits, Eirik, Grelm, and Lyra, are residents of the town, also refugees desperate to acquire the funds needed to move their families somewhere safer. Eirik once served as a hunter for the town, Grelm was a weaponsmith, and Lyra was an archer who trained birds of prey. Their families are still in the town. They recognize Elowen and Seren and don’t attack them. Elowen and Seren recognize them once they’re no longer hiding in the trees and encourage diplomacy. The party must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma (Persuasion) check to convince them to join the refugee camp or another non-theft course of action.
Return Journey
Once the party resolves the conflict one way or another, choose or use the table above to determine encounters on the way back to the camp. As they approach the refugee camp, they find Naelin patiently awaiting their return. Naelin, with a nod of gratitude, accepts the harvested Lifewind Blossoms from the party. Elowen carefully tends to the delicate herbs. Seren stands guard, ensuring the safety of both the party and the precious cargo. The refugees watch with anticipation as Naelin begins preparing a potent remedy. If Eirik, Grelm, and Lyra chose to join the party, the refugees, recognizing them from the town, greet them with a mix of surprise and familiarity. As the party and their new allies settle into the camp, the atmosphere transforms from one of mere survival to a shared determination to rebuild. The refugees, now recognizing the familiar faces among the newcomers, feel a renewed sense of community.
Maps
Use the Bloom Where You're Planted map for this encounter, available in 4K and animated options. We’ve also included VTT tokens for online play.
