TRIAL ONE

Trial One — The Whispering Wood

Three days into your journey, the road enters the Whispering Wood. According to the map, the forest should take one day to cross. According to the forest, the map is an optimist.

By sunset, the path has vanished, the trees all look suspiciously familiar, something has eaten part of your food, and several members of the party are now arguing over whether that glowing mushroom is edible. Somewhere beyond the trees lies the mountain road to Malovar’s fortress. You just have to find it.

Score Your Party

Add the score for each hero you brought with you.

  • Ranger: +5 — Finds the trail, finds food, and prevents everyone from confidently walking in the wrong direction.

  • Druid: +5 — The forest is considerably less mysterious when you can ask it where the road went.

  • Scholar: +4 — Recognizes the ancient boundary stones and realizes the “random ruins” are actually trail markers.

  • Rogue: +3 — Scouts ahead, spots hazards, and identifies several paths that should absolutely not be taken.

  • Mage: +3 — Detection magic, magical light, and one completely unnecessary display of arcane power all prove useful.

  • Healer: +2 — Treats scratches, bites, twisted ankles, and the consequences of eating the glowing mushroom.

  • Paladin: +2 — Keeps everyone moving and provides a reassuring amount of armor when the howling gets closer.

  • Warrior: +2 — Not much help with navigation, but extremely useful once the local wildlife becomes opinionated.

  • Barbarian: +1 — Cannot find the path, but discovers that sufficient enthusiasm can occasionally create one.

  • Bard: +1 — Keeps morale high and begins composing a song about the expedition that already contains several factual inaccuracies.

Trial Result

18–20 points — Masterful Crossing
You emerge from the forest ahead of schedule, well supplied, and only mildly traumatized.

15–17 points — Mostly Competent
You make it through with only a few wrong turns and one incident nobody wants included in the official account.

12–14 points — A Difficult Journey
You eventually find the road. The word “eventually” is doing considerable work here.

10–11 points — Barely Through
You escape the forest exhausted, hungry, and increasingly suspicious of trees.

8–9 points — The Forest Won
Technically, you are still on the quest.

You are simply no longer certain where.

 

Important, keep your tally for your final score!

Continue on your Adventure