The Emberwood Quest: A Beginner's Tale

Overview: A gentle, beginner-friendly adventure for 4–5 players of levels 1–3. It emphasizes exploration, social encounters, and straightforward combat using 5e rules. The village of Hearthglen sits at the edge of the Emberwood, a warm, living forest whose glow masks creeping shadows. A dying spring threatens crops and wells, and the townsfolk beg for help.

Setting: Classic medieval fantasy with cottage markets, a sturdy militia, and a forest that hums with life. Emberwood spirits watch from the trees, while wary wildlife tests newcomers. The tone favors cooperative problem solving, local lore, and rewarding exploration over brutal difficulty.

Main Quest: Retrieve the Embergem, a radiant shard powering Hearthglen's well and sustaining the Emberwood's delicate balance. The gem was stolen by a corrupted druid who seeks to drain the forest for a reckless scheme. The party must venture into Emberwood, recover the Embergem from Griffon's Hollow Ruins, and decide how to seal the grove’s corruption and restore the spring.

Hooks and Progression:
- Hook 1: The Harvest Festival is disrupted by a shrinking river and a cryptic symbol carved into the village well. The innkeeper asks the players to investigate.
- Hook 2: A missing child from the mayor’s family is found near the forest edge, pointing toward a hidden glade.
- Hook 3: Rumors tell of goblin scouts and a sinister statue in the old mine.

Act Outline:
- Act I: In Hearthglen, gather supplies, help a sick child with a simple herbal remedy, and collect rumors about Emberwood.
- Act II: Enter Emberwood and contend with wolves, animated scarecrows, and environmental hazards. A rune puzzle guards the mine entrance.
- Act III: Confront the corrupted druid at Griffon's Hollow Ruins, recover the Embergem, and decide whether to rebind the forest’s guardian or channel its power to heal the town.

Optional Side Quest: The Stolen Harvest — pursue goblin raiders, recover crops, and broker a fragile peace with a small goblin clan living near the village.

Awards and Feel: Simplified combat, social encounters, and puzzle challenges keep things accessible for newcomers. Players earn XP toward 2–3 levels, gold, and practical rewards such as an Embergem Shard (glows and sheds light; grants a minor once-per-day boost) and a starter magic item. The campaign ends with Hearthglen renewed, a wiser village, and a forest that gives the players a chance to become trusted allies.