The Howling in the Woods

 
 

The Call to Adventure Begins

While traveling through the forest near your camp, a miserable howl echoes through
the trees. Birds take flight, deer dash away in terror, and a shiver rocks through you.
Something awful is happening nearby...

A 30-minute Adventure for One to Four 1st Level Characters

This adventure is designed to take characters from 1st to 2nd level. It is written for “evil” characters of orc,
half-orc, or goblinoid races but notes are included to adapt it to any background.

by Lincoln Torrey

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Introduction
Welcome to ​The Howling in the Woods, ​a simple
adventure designed to introduce characters to
game mechanics and to act as a hook for greater
adventures. This could also be used as a Session
0 background story.
This adventure is designed for one to four 1st
level characters. Notes will be included to help run
the adventure solo if so desired.
This will also be the introduction of a series
designed with orc, half-orc, and goblinoid
characters in mind. Additional notes will suggest
alternative monsters or encounters which will help
the DM to adapt to different campaigns.
Background
The woods have become increasingly contested of
late. Several orc and goblin tribes have moved
down from the mountains and hills in search of
game. Similarly, the growing human town nearby
has increased its hunting and logging activities.
Caught in between are the native wood elves who
are becoming increasingly defensive.
The characters are in the woods in the predawn
hours as the story begins. Possible reasons
include:
● Hunting for the Tribe/Town
● Scouting
● Fetching Water
The woods have a timeless calm to them, but something
has you on edge. In the predawn hours, as the sky
lightens, you would expect to hear the forest waking up.
Instead, all is preternaturally quiet.
Suddenly, a mournful howl echoes through the trees,
flushing birds from their roosts and causing game to
bolt. The cry sounds again - some creature is in terrible
pain and it seems to be calling for help. And from not too
far away...
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2
Adventure  
1. The Creature in the Trap
If the characters are orc, goblinoid, or evil, use the
worg​ stat-block. The worg can speak Goblin but
will not do so until released from the trap.
If the characters are good, use the ​black bear
stat-block.
As you push through the brush and undergrowth, you
cross a well-worn game trail. Not 15 feet from you is a
large animal gnawing at its leg that has been caught in a
vicious metal trap. Just then, the beast raises its head in
another howl. As its head comes down, its yellow eyes
lock on you and it snarls.
The creature is restrained by the trap and has 7 hp
remaining due to blood loss. A successful DC 15
Wisdom (Animal Handling) check will calm the
animal enough to approach the trap. Speaking to
the worg in Goblin, offering food, or healing the
creature will give advantage on the check. On a
failure, the creature will try to bite at anyone who
approaches. A second attempt to calm the animal
can be attempted before the creature becomes
permanently defensive.
A successful DC 10 WIS (Survival) or DEX
(Thieves’ Tools) check will release the animal from
the trap. Alternatively, a DC 15 STR check can pull
the trap open.
The animal becomes friendly to any character
who releases it from the trap.
2. The Trapper’s Return
Soon after the creature is released from the trap, it
sniffs the air and growls again as one of the
trappers (male ​scout​) returns to claim his prize.
Neither side is surprised as the trapper and
creature move to attack each other.
If the player is orc, goblinoid, or evil, then
describe the scout as a human hunter. If the player
is good, then describe the scout as a goblin
hunter.
If the scout is reduced to half hit points, he will
attempt to flee but the creature will chase to finish
him.
HowlingInTheWoods
 If the scout is captured, he will reveal details of
the nearby camp on a successful DC 10 CHA
(Intimidation) or DC 10 CHA (Persuasion) check.
The player and the creature companion can take
a short rest after this encounter. The creature
should be at full health after this rest.
Adjusting the Encounter
Here are recommendations for adjusting this combat
encounter.
1 - 2 characters: One scout
3 - 4 characters: Two scouts
Treasure.​ Each trapper carries a longbow, a
shortsword, a pouch with 9 sp and 4 cp, and a
stack of 5 pelts (worth 1gp each).
3. Escaping the Woods
Sitting across from your new companion, you feel a
building sense of foreboding. You have long since
stopped worrying about your original chores. The
trapper did not seem to be alone and his companions
are likely nearby. You fear that you are a bit farther from
your own camp than you would like and you will need to
travel with care on your return home.
After finishing a short rest, the character can try to
journey home but will soon encounter two trappers
(male and female ​scouts​). If the player has rolled
a DC 16 DEX (Stealth), the trappers are surprised.
The creature companion will fight on behalf of
the player and will rush forward into melee. The
trappers will use ranged attacks on their initial
round and will use shortsword attacks thereafter.
They target the creature until it is down and then
turn toward the player.
If the player is knocked unconscious but the
creature survives, it will help stabilize the player
who wakes up with 1 hit point. If both player and
creature are defeated, move to ​The Enemy Camp​.
Adjusting the Encounter
Here are recommendations for adjusting this combat
encounter.
1 character: Two scouts
2 - 3 characters: Three scouts
4 characters: Four scouts
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Treasure.​ Each trapper carries a longbow and a
shortsword. Each has a pouch with 1d10 gp.
4. The Druid
If the character and the creature are both alive
after the encounter with the trappers, their master
arrives. This is a ​druid​ who has become dark and
twisted from the violence in the woods and feels
that nearly everyone and everything is an enemy.
If the player is an orc, half-orc, goblinoid or evil,
then the druid is a halfling. If the player is good
then the druid is an orc.
During the first round of combat, the druid will
cast ​shillelagh​ and b​ arkskin​. Thereafter, it will use
its quarterstaff with two hands and will attack the
creature until it falls. If surrounded by the character
and the creature, the druid will cast thunderwave.
Adjusting the Encounter
Here are recommendations for adjusting this combat
encounter.
1 character: One druid
2 - 3 characters: One druid and one scout
4 characters: One druid and three scouts
Treasure.​ The druid has a pouch with 5gp, 7sp,
and a ​potion of healing​. Any trapper carries a
longbow and a shortsword. Each has a pouch with
1d10 gp.
5. The Enemy Camp
If the character and the creature are defeated by
the druid or the trappers, they wake up in the
enemy camp.
You groggily come to, slowly remembering the events of
the day. Night has fallen on the forest and you can see
by some weak light that you are at the edge of a camp
behind a large tent. You are now inside a cage made of
saplings and vines - apparently designed for livestock or
captured beasts. You hear your new creature
companion growl from somewhere out of sight but
nearby.
You feel near death and can’t help but wonder why you
were kept alive.
HowlingInTheWoods
 The player is disarmed and a successful DC 10 6. Resolution and Experience
WIS (Perception) check allows the player to see
If the druid is defeated, any remaining trappers will
their weapons and goods resting against a nearby
try to flee. Once the camp is cleared or the
tent. A check of 15 or higher will detect that the
character successfully escapes, the character is
creature is in a nearby cage and that the remaining
able to return to the safety of their camp without
enemies are on the other side of the tent.
further encounters.
The player and the creature have 1 hp when
they wake up.
The enemies in the camp consist of the druid
New Sidekick
and any scouts remaining from ​Escaping the The creature can be added as a ​Sidekick​ to the
Woods​ and ​The Druid​. They will eat and sleep by character who freed them. The worg says in goblin
the campfire on the other side of the tent unless that its name is unpronounceable and will accept a
disturbed. new name from the party. It will take the role of
Allow the player to take a long rest if they wish. Expert or Warrior. The black bear will also respond
A successful DC 15 DEX check will open the to a new name and will take the role of Warrior.
cage door quietly. A successful DC 15 STR check
can open the door but will draw attention. A Combat Awards
successful DC 16 DEX (Stealth) check will allow Name of the Foe XP per Foe
the player to retrieve their goods and make it to the Trapper 100
creature’s cage. Druid 450
A successful DC 15 DEX check will open the
cage door quietly. Two checks can be made Non-Combat Awards
without drawing the attention of the camp. Task or Accomplishment XP per Foe
The player has advantage on DEX (Stealth) Free the creature 50
checks if they try to leave the camp in the middle
of the night (after a short rest).
If the player tries to engage the enemies in
conversation, they will learn that the druid plans to
keep them alive for another day or two before
sacrificing them in a dark ritual in an insane
attempt to bring balance to the forest.
A successful DC 15 CHA (Persuasion) check
can convince any living trapper to unlock the
cages and help the player escape, but the trappers
will not fight the druid and the druid cannot be
reasoned with.

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Black Bear Druid
Medium beast, unaligned  Small or Medium humanoid (any race), any 
Armor Class ​11 (Natural Armor) alignment 
Hit Points ​19 (3d8 + 6) Armor Class ​11 (16 With Barkskin)
Speed ​40 ft., climb 30 ft. Hit Points ​27 (5d8 + 5)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Speed ​30 ft.
15 (+2) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 7 (-2) STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Skills ​Perception +3 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 11 (+0)

Senses ​Passive Perception 13 Skills ​Medicine +4, Nature +3, Perception +4

Languages ​-- Senses ​Passive Perception 14
Challenge ​1/2 (100 XP) Languages ​Druidic plus any two languages
Proficiency Bonus ​+2 Challenge ​2 (450 XP)
​ he bear has advantage on Wisdom
Keen Smell. T Proficiency Bonus ​+2
(Perception) checks that rely on smell. Spellcasting. ​The druid is a 4th-level spellcaster.
Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC
Actions 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). It has the

​ he bear makes two attacks: one

Multiattack. T following druid spells prepared:

with its bite and one with its claws. Cantrips (at will): ​druidcraft, produce flame,

​ elee Weapon Attack:​ +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,

Bite. M shillelagh

one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. 1st level (4 slots): ​entangle, longstrider, speak

​ elee Weapon Attack:​ +4 to hit, reach 5

Claws. M with animals, thunderwave

ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage. 2nd level (3 slots): ​animal messenger, barkskin

Actions
​ elee Weapon Attack:​ +2 to hit (+4
Quarterstaff. M
to hit with shillelagh), reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3
(1d6) bludgeoning damage, 4 bludgeoning
damage if wielded with two hands or 6 (1d8 + 2)
bludgeoning damage with shillelagh.

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Scout Worg
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment  Large monstrosity , neutral evil 
Armor Class ​13 (Leather Armor) Armor Class ​13 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points ​16 (3d8 + 3) Hit Points ​26 (4d10 + 4)
Speed ​30 ft. Speed ​50 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 13 (+1) 7 (-2) 11 (+0) 8 (-1)

Skills ​Nature +4, Perception +5, Stealth +6,

Survival +5 Skills ​Perception +4

Senses ​Passive Perception 15 Senses ​Darkvision 60 Ft., Passive Perception 14

Languages ​Any one language Languages ​Goblin, Worg

Challenge ​1/2 (100 XP) Challenge ​1/2 (100 XP)

Proficiency Bonus ​+2 Keen Hearing and Smell. ​The worg has

​ he scout has
Keen Hearing and Smell. T advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that

advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

rely on hearing or smell.

Actions
Actions Bite. ​Melee Weapon Attack:​ +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,

​ he scout makes two melee attacks

Multiattack. T one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage. If

or two ranged attacks. the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC

​ elee Weapon Attack:​ +4 to hit,

Shortsword. M 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing

damage.
​ anged Weapon Attack:​ +4 to hit,
Longbow. R
ranged 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2)
piercing damage.

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