The Wretchedwood

A Vile Curse, Close to Home

Adventure Background

In a local village, sickness has broken out. Strange mutations and fear are spreading quickly. A report from the latest hunters party found the Westwood forest, a days journey, consumed in abyssal darkness. Vines and sludge are corrupting all semblance of life. Something must be done, the darkness is spreading.

Village State

The river has turned. Fisherman have left the shores in horror. The village water supply is tainted. We learned too late. Now the blackened water sits like oil stains in the streets and bellys of the locals. Many can be seen in the streets suffering from the sickness.

D6 Mutation 1 Swollen stomach with blackened veins 2 Rigid limbs, darkening skin color 3 Escalating blindness and milky eyes 4 Uncontrollable vomiting and fatigue 5 Respiratory difficulty and failure 6 Hallucinations of demise

A formidable dwarven hunter, Dakkar of the First House has returned from a hunting expedition. He is careful with words, and hates gossip. He is held up in the street with his company, tending to fearful men and spent mounts.

Dakkar of the First House

“Boil all the water, and for Ord’s sake, quit dragging the meat, lift it you fools!”

“We spent six days in the forest looking for a way out. We lost three men.”

“The torches and the light of the God’s saved us. To trek in again would be suicide.”

“There’s an old fortress in the wood. We have used it for respite in the past. We believe it to be the source.”

Dakkar has encounter many beasts corrupted by this curse. He is very resistant to return. He offers his knowledge and well wishes.

A Perilous Journey

Setting Off

A heavy fog and overcast skies distort travel. Within hours the unknown plague can be seen crept up trees, covering large plots of earth, and destroying the flora. It is a thick sludge, sponge-like in texture, and responsive to contact.

Upon detailed inspection, it is porous and emits thin wisps of vapor, toxic and nauseating.

The forest feels agitated. Wails of creatures and beasts can be heard, the tone carrying pain and confusion.

Travel to Fort Arada consists of three legs. At the beginning of each leg have your players roll a Constitution Check, DC 10. Upon failure, roll on the curse effects below. These effects carry into the encounter or the next leg of travel. Mechanics of each effect are at GM discretion. After resolution, roll on the encounter table.

Curse Effects

D4 Effect 1 Short of breath, 1D2 rounds 2 Blurred vision, 1D2 rounds 3 Vomiting, 1D2 rounds 4 Hallucinations, 1D2 rounds

The Wretched Template

All creatures encountered during travel through the Westwood have been corrupted by this unknown plague. The following stats can be adjusted from their stats in the Shadowdark book:

Thirst for Blood: No morale checks

Immunities: Acid, Poison. No damage.

Vulnerabilities: Fire, Light, Divine Magic. Damage +1D6.

Toxicity: If killed in touch range, internal gases expel. DC 8 Constitution Check or suffer a Curse Effect.

Encounters

D10 Encounter 1 Clear travel, horrifying echoes 2 Clear travel, a close call with a flying beast 3 1D4+1 Wretched Bugbears hunting 4 2 Wretched Black Puddings block a narrow pass 5 1D4+1 Wretched Giant Frogs pounce from water 6 Wretched Goat Giant wandering aimlessly 7 2D4 Wretched Mushroom Folk seeding the forest 8 1D4+1 Wretched Giant Wasps expanding their nest 9 Wretched Basilisk descends from a high plateau 10 Wretched Swamp Dragon attacks from the air

Environmental Effects

The forest has been distorted, making simple travel dangerous and unpredictable. After rolling on the encounter table, pair your result with a roll for environmental effects that will a add thematic challenge to your encounter.

D4 Environmental Effect 1 Poofs of Toxic Smoke 2 Lashing and Grappling Vines 3 Black Acidic Rain 4 Swallowing Pools of Sludge

Orbex the Undying

Fort Arada

“As we got closer, we saw the abomination for what it was. A shifting ooze, interconnected and all consuming. Vines like snakes or octopus tentacles, rotating and melding into one another. This abomination sat on the fort, perched like an Abyssal vulture, stalking, gazing, at the horizon like it had found it’s new home.”

The entity known as Orbex the Undying has crossed over and taken purchase in the fort and surrounding region. The players must find the source and destroy it while navigating harsh conditions. Orbex slowly consumes and mutates all life. Everything it consumes grafts into its regional control and sentience. Orbex cannot be killed, only slowed, stopped, or banished to it’s home plane.

To face Orbex is to determine a Source and have the players stop it before being consumed and destroyed themselves. Begin by rolling on the Source table and brainstorming what victory could look like.

Source

D4 Source of Incursion 1 A open tear to an unknown plane 2 A black stone shard embedded in a humanoid 3 Astrological contraption harnessing planetary power 4 Rune markings crudely carved over a druidic circle

For every encounter, have your players roll a Constitution Check, DC 10. Failure incurs a Curse Effect. Then roll on the encounter table. The fortress layout is unrecognizable with immense vines and sludge consuming every area. Every step is difficult terrain. After an encounter, remove it from the possibilities, making four encounters the maximum result.

D4 Fort Arada Encounter 1 A Wretched Roper, in the center courtyard 2 2D4 Wretched Giant Leeches in a submerged room 3 1D4+1 Wretched Rust Monsters in a cramped room 4 Source, surrounded by 3 Wretched Primordial Slimes

The Aftermath

Scars on the Land

“The great curse shriveled and slunk back, but left its mark on the forest. Black sludge turned to crusted ash, a permanent reminder of this wicked ordeal. We were left to wonder what started this and if it would happen again. We were lucky to survive.

So many died in the weeks leading up to this catastrophe. The forest is useless to us now, all the trees are poisoned, the animals corrupted, and no one dares eat its fruit. A great loss has taken place and an uncertain future lie ahead.”

Threads

The clerics and priests have been investigating. What did they find?

The ecology of the forest is distorted and a new predator has taken dominion. What is it?

The next generation have been experiencing mutations. Powers, defects, omens, and a new wave of fear have begun. Where does it lead?

Credits

Writing, design, layout - Trevor Nataluk @fablesfounding

Artwork developed using Midjourney AI with permission

Thank you to the Arcane Library and the Shadowdark community!

“Wretchedwood” is an independent product published under the Shadowdark RPG Third-Party License and is not affiliated with The Arcane Library, LLC. Shadowdark RPG © 2023 The Arcane Library, LLC.