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The Lost Willows

Location

Mucklands Sandbox Campaign Setting · p.165

Open source p.165
Quagmash

A labyrinthine forest of sickly willows and swamp weed where black, crooked trees conceal prowling predators. The dank, claustrophobic wood is easy to get lost in, hence the name. Few who enter unprepared ever return, and there is a legend that the trees themselves strangle and snatch lost folk.

modifiers
  • Travel Checks
  • Wandering Intruder Chance. Treat all Bump in the Road results as Lost instead.
wandering intruders

##### the lost willows

  • 1. Owligators
  • 2. Gelpie
  • 3. Scare Crows
  • 4. Wisp
  • 5. Mushrums
  • 6. Beamkin
what's there

THE WHISPERING GALLOWS

This thick span of macabre willow trees appear to have humanoid-looking mushrooms called gallow sprongs hanging from them like condemned prisoners. When the wind picks up, the gallow sprongs whisper, creating a haunting, spooky air around the dense woodland area.

  • Gallow sprongs are highly poisonous if disturbed, releasing a burst of spores that place a PC in a catatonic state for ×10 minutes (Vitality Check to resist).
  • The trees are also filled with SCARE CROWS immune to the spores. The crows mimic the voices made by travelers in an attempt to make prey stumble into the gallow sprongs.
  • A black DRAKE (L9-C) called Putrifex makes a nest in the Whispering Gallows at the top of a withered, drooping willow. Bones of travelers and large animals litter the base of the tree, and treasure glints in the tree's canopy where the beast nests (Ancient Hoard ).

THE CROOKED WOOD

The trees here are burned, twisted and mangled. Long ago a fire ravaged the area at the hands of enterprising dungeoneers trying to clear out spiders. What they didn't know was that the forest was full of BEAMKIN— living faerie trees. Ever since, the BEAMKIN have soured in their burnt state and isolation, full of hate and anger towards all interlopers.

  • The BEAMKIN (L5-B) try to grab anyone who comes near them. Sometimes travelers are devoured, and other times they are brought to the center of the Crooked Wood to face Ashenbark (L8-C), the oldest tree in Quagmash, to be burned alive.
rumors
  • A terrifying black DRAKE lives in the Lost Willows.
  • The trees themselves snatch up travelers who dare to bumble into the Lost Willows.
  • Long ago a fire ravaged part of the woods in the Lost Willows and turned the trees evil.
  • A mysterious goblin called the Woodcutter aims to cut down the Lost Willows.
  • A former Tricky Toe gangster is holed up in the Lost Willows.

MISKY THE LOST

A KOBOLD (L3-B) trickster who deceives travelers into believing she is lost in the woods. To be fair, she is quite lost, and doesn't actually know how to leave the Lost Willows, but Misky knows her way around the Whispering Gallows, and steals travelers' food and gear for herself to survive.

  • Traits: Conniving, acts frightened, bats her eyes innocently.
  • Motivation: Lead travelers into trouble and steal their stuff.

THE WOODCUTTER

A wandering goblin and former dungeoneer. The Woodcutter pushes along a cart full of saws, both automatic and manual, accompanied by a sputterjack (sputter-person lumberjack). There's never been a tree he couldn't cut, except the Last Tree in the Used T'Be Forest.

  • Traits: Matter-of-fact, manly, deadpan.
  • Motivation: Cut wood. No, seriously.
quests

THE LOST KOBOLD

A terrified KOBOLD begs you to help her escape this terrible wood. She was picking mushrooms when she stumbled inside and has been lost for days. She thinks she found a way out that looks promising if they head south.

  • Misky's only intention is to lead the PCs into trouble with the gallow sprongs and SCARE CROWS, at which point she'll hide. Then she waits until they're dispatched to steal valuables and supplies.

THE CULT OF TREES

Krog & Sons Inc. has hired the Woodcutter, known as the best MERCENARY lumberjack in the Mucklands, to fell the trees in the Lost Willows, a place that's been completely untouched by industry. But the Woodcutter seems to have bitten off more than he can chew. He's not 100% sure, but the trees might be trying to kill him. Help him escape the area before things get out of hand.

  • The Lost Willows are haunted by the Cult of Trees, vengeful BEAMKIN who detest outsiders.
  • Ashenbark has ordered his BEAMKIN to bring the Woodcutter before him and pay for his crimes.
  • Krog and Son's only intention was to lead the Woodcutter to his doom. Logging will be much easier without him accepting lucrative contracts from SPL.