A short introductory adventure perfect for new DMs and players. Features a small village threatened by bandits and mysterious ruins to explore.
Story Arcs
The Beginning
The adventurers arrive at a small village plagued by bandit attacks and strange happenings near the old ruins.
Session Outlines
These outlines are for planning reference only. Actual sessions are not created by the template.
Arrival at Millhaven
Introduce the village, key NPCs, and the bandit problem. End with a hook toward the ruins.
Into the Wilds
Track bandits through the forest. Encounter a goblin patrol. Discover the bandit camp.
Secrets of the Ruins
Explore the ancient ruins. Confront the bandit leader. Uncover a deeper mystery.
NPCs
Elder Bramwell
Human · Village Elder
Wise and cautious leader of Millhaven. Knows more about the ruins than he lets on. Has a faded map hidden in his study.
Rosalind the Red
Halfling · Tavern Keeper
Cheerful proprietor of The Crossed Swords tavern. Excellent source of local gossip and rumors. Offers free meals to adventurers who help the village.
Vex
Half-Elf · Mysterious Stranger
Cloaked figure who arrived in the village a week ago. Claims to be a traveling scholar but carries a concealed blade. Secretly searching for an artifact in the ruins.
Krag Ironfist
Human · Bandit Leader
Former soldier turned bandit captain. Commands a dozen bandits from a forest camp. Recently discovered a hidden entrance to the ruins and is excavating it.
Locations
Millhaven
A quiet farming village of about 200 people nestled between rolling hills and the Thornwood Forest. Features a small market square, temple to Chauntea, and the popular Crossed Swords tavern.
Thornwood Forest
A dense deciduous forest stretching for miles north of Millhaven. Game trails wind through thick undergrowth. Recent bandit activity has made the forest dangerous for travelers.
Bandit Camp
A crude encampment hidden in a forest clearing. Tents and lean-tos surround a central campfire. Stolen goods from merchant caravans are piled in a makeshift storehouse.
Ancient Ruins
Crumbling stone structures half-swallowed by the forest. A partially excavated entrance leads underground to forgotten chambers. Strange runes glow faintly on the walls at night.
Quests
Investigate the Bandit Raids
Elder Bramwell asks the party to find the bandits who have been raiding merchant caravans and threatening village farmers. Track them into Thornwood Forest and put a stop to the attacks.
Explore the Ruins
Vex mentions ancient ruins deep in the forest that may hold valuable treasures and forgotten knowledge. The bandits seem to have found them first.
Encounters
Goblin Patrol
A small group of goblins scouts the forest trail, looking for easy prey. They serve as lookouts for the bandit camp.
Bandit Ambush
Bandits spring an ambush from behind fallen logs and thick brush. Their leader demands surrender and coin.
Use This Template
Create a new campaign pre-populated with all the arcs, NPCs, locations, quests, encounters, and factions from this template.