Flik Silverpen’s Guide to the Ravenwood (FSG 26)

by JP Coovert © 2024
First Printing October 2024
Some encounter inspiration from DnDSpeak.
Thank You
Jacie, Scott, Brandon, Chris, Michael, Matias, and Bryce.
And all the patrons that helped make the Ravenwood real.

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 The Ravenwood
Twelve centuries ago the Darkness Below tore through the majestic Ravenwood, consuming
everything magical in its path. After helping seal away the ancient creature, Queen Widobren
vowed never to allow such a catastrophe to happen again. She banned magic altogether and
the splendor of the Ravenwood slowly declined.
The glum woods are filled with towering pine trees, so thick with violet needles they block
out the sun. But the forest isn’t completely dark. Glimmering spirits from the Gloom Tide
flit about, illuminating the still air between the pines. Other ghosts reside here, too, mostly
peaceful ancestors of the Ravenwood Elves or the Indigenous Ravenfolk. But some Restless
Spirits have escaped the Gloom Tide as well. They terrorize the forest until their pursuits
are accomplished or someone brave and cunning enough returns them to the Gloom Tide.

More recently, a group of three witches, the Pine Cone Coven, have come to the Ravenwood
in search of ingredients for a complicated ritual. The coven pays no heed to Queen
Widobren’s magical ban and galavant through the woods causing magical chaos wherever
they go.

Flik Silverpen’s Guide to the Ravenwood (FSG 26) is a hex crawl sandbox. It’s helpful
to read through the entire guide (don’t worry, it’s short) to get a good idea of how the
story might unfold while exploring the ghostly Ravenwood.

The forest is expansive and teeming with activity. Traveling through a single hex takes
half a day on foot. Whenever the adventurers enter a hex without a unique icon, roll a
Random Encounter (p. 8). For a faster playthrough, only roll random encounters when
exploring off the roads.

Adventure Hooks
1. If you don’t mind ghosts, traveling
through the Ravenwood is the safest way
northward from Dragon Town.

2. Princess Elora Widobren is missing.

The Queen of the Ravenwood offers a
precious gemstone as a reward for her
safe return.

3. The Evergreen Dragon, Nemusaurum,

hasn’t been spotted in over a year. Her
treasure hoard could be yours for the
taking.

4. Rumor has it, an entrance to the Gloom

Tide is located in the center of the forest.
 The Pine Cone Coven
Three wild and chaotic witches are running amuck in the Ravenwood. All three witches are
uniquely powerful spellcasters, but equally clumsy. They each believe themselves to be the
leader of the coven.

The only thing they can agree on is the need for a fourth member, someone they can all boss
around. Her name will be Virginia, no Jeffrey, no her name will most definitely absolutely
without question be Slash.

To summon a fourth witch the coven must perform a complicated ritual under a full moon.
They need 6 rare ingredients: A perfectly round pine cone, the hair of a royal maiden, a
dragon’s scale, an unwilling spirit, a serpent’s fang, and a midnight emerald.

The Witches
Ponderosa is in a constant state of Health ●●●● Armor ●○○○
oblivious befuddlement. She only becomes Speed ●●●○ Damage ●●●○
fully lucid to snap back at the other
witches. Ponderosa enjoys divining Pine Cone Polymorph - Lob a pinecone. If
inaccurate versions of the future and it connects with a living creature before
teleporting in puffs of smoke. hitting the ground, they are transformed
into a random woodland animal:
Ponderosa has acquired a perfectly round 1: Moth. 2: Squirrel. 3: Woodpecker. 4: Fox.
pine cone but still searching for a Spirit Jar 5: Boar. 6: Fish.
to capture an unwilling spirit.
Magic Broom - A loyal pine duster that
Loblolly is a scheming trickster. She smirks grants the ability to fly.
and cackles when she gets the upper hand
with a surprise. Loblolly enjoys crafting
devious illusions that terrify.
Loblolly acquired the hair of a royal maiden
from Princess Elora (Random Encounter #9,
p. 9). She is still searching for a serpent’s
fang.

Pinyon is truly unhinged. She acts

erratically, chilling screams one minute and
maniacal whispers the next. Pinyon loves
making people nervous and surprising
them with chaotic hexes.

Pinyon acquired the dragon’s scale from

Nemusaurum’s Lair (Hex I–1), but is still
searching for a midnight emerald.

2
 The Flightless
Ravenfolk
The cheerful and cackling ravenfolk live in
the canopy, high above any dangers that
might threaten their peaceful existence.
That is until the Pine Cone Coven cursed
them, taking away their ability to fly.

Now, the ravenfolk are scattered

throughout the forest. Some looking for
a way to reverse the curse while others
are simply trying to stay safe and hidden.
Either way, the ravenfolk don’t seem as
playful without the ability to soar freely
through their home. At least there are still
plenty of inkberries to eat.

Names: Eris, Marlon, Pepper, Quill, Regis,

Sabrina, Smidge.

Jokes:
“What starts black and ends up white?
- A digested inkberry!”

“How many elves does it take to climb a

tree? - Selven.”

“Why did the Raven cross the road?

- Nobody knows!”

3
 Ghosts of the Ravenwood
A variety of spirits have returned from the Gloom Tide to roam the sunless forest. The living
forest dwellers tolerate their presence, for the most part…

Glimmers Nemusaurum
Faint traces of the ancient dead. They Ghost of the Evergreen Dragon that
appear as small glowing orbs that float and once dwelled in the Northwest of the
bounce through the nighttime air. Glimmers Ravenwood. It slowly withered as magic
are responsible for illuminating the entire left the forest over the centuries, but
Ravenwood. returned from the Gloom Tide when the
Pine Cone Coven stole the only remaining
Ghosts evergreen dragon scale from her lair.
Harmless shadows of the once-living. They Nemusaurum will return to the Gloom Tide
cling to the corporeal world with only a when she is reunited with her missing
hint of their former selves remaining. scale.

Health ●●●● Armor ●●●●

Restless Spirits Speed ●●●● Damage ●●●●
Vengeful ghosts that have returned from
the Gloom Tide (via the Gloom Tide Hollow) Incorporeal, Turn Invisible, Flight, Claw and
with unfinished business. Tail attacks.
Ghostly Scales - Can only be damaged by
Health ●●○○ Armor ●●●○ Glint Silver weapons.
Speed ●●●○ Damage ●●○○ Terrifying Breath - In life Nemusaurum
spewed poisonous breath. In her ghostly
Incorporeal - Can move through non-
form, a deep chilling fog erupts from her
warded material.
maw, making those who can’t resist run
Shriek - Stunning, ear-piercing scream away in fear.
Chill - The ground grows slick with ice, Cultivate - Can grow giant pine trees in an
movements are slowed, and the air is hard instant.
to breathe.
Weak Spot - Missing scale on her tail.
Ghostly Attack - A strike from a ghostly
weapon still hurts, but on the inside.

4
 The Ravenwood Elves
The Widobren family has ruled over this isolated forest for generations. The elves used
magic to create splendid homes sprouting from the forest itself. But when the Darkness
Below consumed their magic and left the Ravenwood in constant shadow, the Widobrens
banned all forms of spellcasting outright. Now the elves live in dour stone buildings, moping
about for centuries amongst their ghostly ancestors.

Ravenwood Ghost Hunters

A specialized group of elven knights
capture Restless Spirits and return them
to the Gloom Tide. They use Glint Silver
arrows and spears to pin the ghosts to
the corporeal world and then seal them in
Spirit Jars (reinforced glass bottles) before
tossing them back into the Gloom Tide
Hollow.

After King Widobren was slain by

Nemusaurum, a large group of Ghost
Hunters abandoned their duties. They
won’t outwardly admit it, but they are
terrified of facing the fierce and destructive
spirit of the Evergreen Dragon. The
deserters are currently held up in the
derelict tower (Hex I–6).

Names: Alagossa, Eldrin, Illisa, Jandar,

Lieron, Rohnal, Velanil

5
 Random Encounters
Roll a D12 when entering a new hex that isn’t a unique location. Nothing happens on repeats.

1. Tobias, a despondent cursed 4. Orboron, a Werebear Restless Spirit

Ravenfolk lays hopelessly at the base is chopping down pine trees with his
of a tall pine. After Nemusaurum bare claws. He is desperate to see the
destroyed half of the roost (p. 10), he moon again and will maul anyone who
tried to steal the evergreen dragon gets in his way.
scale from the Pine Cone Coven’s huts.
But he got caught. As punishment, 5. The adventurers are followed by
the witches cursed him and his entire a hedgehog, a rabbit, and an owl.
flock. Not only has he lost his ability If unthreatened, the animals will
to fly, but Tobias has been completely approach and gesture for help. They
ostracized from his flock. are actually a group of elven deserters
(p. 5) who were polymorphed by the
2. Elarna, Orist, and Halan, three old Pine Cone Coven.
elven Ghosts are trying to find their
way back to the Gloom Tide. They are 6. Folin and Elidil, dutiful and
disappointed by the solemn state of humorless Ravenwood Ghost
the magic-less Ravenwood. Hunters are searching for Restless
Spirits to capture. They are tired and
3. Eog, a Cyclopian Ghost follows the overworked but remain resolute,
adventurers everywhere they go. despite the loss of their commander,
It makes no sound, just sits, and King Widobren, and a large number of
watches. their ghost-hunting comrades.

8
7. The Restless Spirit of King Widobren 10. The ghost of the evergreen dragon,
charges forth on a spectral unicorn. He Nemusaurum (p. 4), haunts the
is full of bluster and enthusiasm. The Ravenwood, gliding right through the
hunt for Nemusaurum is on, and this tall pine trees. She is searching for her
time he will be victorious! missing scale.

8. The inkberry bushes rustle as a giant 11. One of the elven stone watch towers
snake slithers forth, surrounding the (similar to the Deserter’s Outpost, pg.
adventurers. When Nyxilix’s tongue 12) has sprouted legs and is stomping
flickers, she can smell any magic items around the forest, leaving a path of
the adventurers carry. Nyxilix will destruction in its wake.
keep their secret if they help her find a
flightless ravenfolk to eat, she’s always 12. One of the Pine Cone Witches (Roll D6.
been curious. 1 – 2: Ponderosa. 3 – 4: Loblolly.
5 – 6: Pinyon) is searching for an
9. An Owlbear is rolling around in ingredient for the summoning spell.
an inkberry bush, covering herself Her mere presence is causing magical
in dark, sweet-smelling ink. She is chaos in the area (Roll D6. 1: Non-
unbothered by the adventurers’ magical metal turns to rubber.
presence. The owlbear is actually the 2: Raining toads. 3: Landslide
elven princess, Elora Widobren. She of chopped onions that causes
much prefers life as a polymorphed uncontrollable tears. 4: Everyone
owlbear to hanging around the stuffy, speaks gibberish, even plants and
ghost-filled Ravenwood Hold. animals. 5: Long tangles of hair grow
out of the ground, don’t suffocate! 6:
Trees begin to bulge. It won’t be long
before they explode into dangerous
shards of splintering wood and bark.

9
 A-5 Ravenfolk’s Roost D-6 Sleeping Griffin Inn
A thicket of inkberry bushes covers the A quaint inn for travelers sits on the border
forest floor. High above, the canopy of road between the Shadespear Mountains
the Ravenwood is filled with small homes and the Ravenwood. A friendly dwarf
made from twigs. Half of the homes have named Leona Goodgable runs the inn. Her
fallen, destroyed on the ground when old grumpy griffin, named Frekk sleeps in
Nemusaurum stormed through the area. the middle of the common room. Leona will
warn not to get too close to the griffin or to
Most of the ravenfolk have left the roost bring magical items into the Ravenwood.
in search of a way to undo the Pine Cone
Coven’s curse. Some have stayed behind, The only other patron is a crimson-cloaked
resigning themselves to a new life on the hobgoblin sitting in a secluded corner.
forest floor. Maynard is feebly trying to Ronkorg the Tail is a monster hunter on his
cheer up Plum and Slater as they collect way to the Ravenwood to slay Nyxilix. He is
fallen twigs to rebuild their homes. They unsure of what to do about his arsenal of
are quick to blame Tobias (Random magical weapons before entering the wood.
Encounter #1, p. 8) for their predicament.

Opal, a worried ravenfolk mother, calls up

to her two hatchlings (Hatham and Piper) Portals
standing on the precipice of their nest high Completely disregarding Queen Widobren’s
above. She encourages them to jump and no-magic mandate, the Pine Cone Coven has
spread their wings, hoping they were not reactivated three of the five elven portals
part of the Pine Cone Coven’s curse. Maybe around the Ravenwood (Hex B–6, F–4, and
the inkberry bushes will break their fall? H–2). They use twig-woven archways to
move around the forest quickly.
If the adventures help, Opal will reward
them with a Glint Silver Dagger. The two
hungry hatchlings will gorge themselves on
inkberries immediately.

10
 B-2 Ravenwood Keep
Once a magnificent city of magic and While most of Ravenwood Keep is
natural splendor, now weeds sprout crumbling and empty, there are a few
up through quiet cobblestone streets. A buildings of note.
sullen gray castle is surrounded by empty,
lightless stone homes, the opposite of an Ravenwood Provisions - A storeroom
elven domain. filled with rusted tools, inkberries, stale
bread, sapshrooms, quills, ink, tattered
Ravenwood Keep is mostly empty, save parchment, and Glimmer Lanterns. No one
for the loitering ghosts and a dozen bored watches the shop, so take what you want.
elves. Queen Berinur Widobren sits on
a solemn throne. Her queendom is in Glassmaker - Tanatar, a scorched but
shambles, husband slain, and children friendly glassblower is responsible for
missing. Despite that, she refuses to relent making Spirit Jars. He sells them straight
on her strict forbiddance of magic (she from the furnace for a handful of gold.
instructs guards to sieze visible magic
items and destroy them immediately). Glint Silver Smithy - Once a year Asilte
travels to the silver fields at the base of
Her problems are stacking up, so the Queen Mount Thunder Plume to purchase a cart
is grateful for assistance in any of the full of Glint Silver. She uses it to craft
following: arrows and spears, perfect for pinning
ghosts to the corporeal world.
• Convince the Ghost Hunter Deserters to
return to their duties It’s not uncommon for travelers to stay a
night or two in one of the many abandoned
• Find Princess Elora and return her to homes.
the Keep (she doesn’t care about finding
Prince Cailean, see Dragon Town and
the Darkness Below, Chapter 4).

• Stop the Pine Cone Coven, their magic

will destroy the forest.

If the adventures can accomplish any of

these tasks she will reward them with a
priceless Midnight Emerald.

11
 G-4 Gloom Tide Entrance J-3 Witch Huts
Twelve centuries ago the Darkness Below Three unique huts surround a dancing
consumed the magical seal blocking cauldron in a moonlit glade. Each hut
an entrance to the Gloom Tide (the has an iron box hidden inside containing
underworld). Now, ghosts freely come and the ingredients each witch needs for the
go from the perfectly still, inky pool. summoning spell.

Roll a D6 to see who is home:

I-6 Deserters Outpost 1: All three witches. 2: Ponderosa.
A group of six Ravenwood Ghost Hunters 3: Loblolly. 4: Pinyon. 5-6: No one.
have abandoned their duties and are hiding The Dancing Cauldron will protect the
out inside this old stone watch tower. A witches’ huts by rolling into adventurers
campfire smolders outside, but if anyone and splashing them with its boiling, sticky
approaches, the group rushes into the contents.
tower, locking the Glint Silver door (keeps
the ghosts out) behind them. Ponderosa’s Hut is filled with disorienting
smoke. The furniture is wonky, dried herbs
Unless Nemusaurum is returned to the hang from every surface, and strange
Gloom Tide, they will not return to their animal noises echo throughout.
duties. The deserters might be willing to The iron chest containing the perfectly
spare a couple of Glint Silver weapons and round pine cone (and maybe the unwilling
a Spirit Jar for anyone foolish enough to spirit in the Spirit Jar) is in the burning
approach the ghostly evergreen dragon. hearth fire.
If the adventurers take the weapons the
deserters will ask them to keep an eye out Loblolly’s Hut is filled with stacks of
for their missing friends (the polymorphed ancient spellbooks. Some of them even
hunters from Random Encounter #5, p. 8). run about the room, chomping at the
adventurers’ ankles.
The iron chest containing Princess Elora’s
hair (and maybe Nyxilix’s fang) is sitting in
the middle of the floor. Touching it causes
you to shrink half your size.

Pinyon’s Hut is filled with ill-colored

potions and tonics. The smell is
overwhelmingly putrid. Drinking a potion
causes a chaotic effect. Roll D6. 1: Vomit a
forest animal. 2: Limbs rearrange. 3: Sneeze
uncontrollably. 4: Skin turns to bark, hard
to move. 5: Catch fire. 6: Teleport to a
random hex.
The iron chest containing Nemusaurum’s
dragon scale (and maybe a midnight
emerald) is hidden under a loose
floorboard.

12
 I-1 Nemusaurum’s Lair
If the adventurers haven’t run into 3. Strangling Roots - Pine tree roots from
Nemusaurum already, her den is a likely above block the way forward. Trying
place to find her. to cut through causes more of them
to sprout and strangle. Burning them
Nemusaurum’s lair is an underground fills the room with smoke, making it
tangle of dirt and roots. It’s warm and dry, impossible to breath.
but smells of fungus.
4. Nemusaurum’s Den - D8 Giant worms
1. Entrance - A zombified bear chomp on Nemusaurum’s bones.
(reanimated by Nemusaurum) guards They can smell fresh bones inside the
the entrance. It does not tolerate adventurers!
intruders and is eager to consume
brains. 5. Nemusaurum’s Hoard - The Ghost of
the Evergreen Dragon sits atop her
2. Fungal Cavern - Sapshrooms grow hoard - a stunning variety of plant
on the roots twisting from the ceiling. seeds. Nemusaurum is impressed the
A friendly elven ghost named Merith adventurers made it this far into her
tends the fungi. He will offer a single lair. She will ask them to retrieve her
sapshroom (powerful restorative missing scale from the thieving Pine
properties) to anyone who will allow Cone Coven of witches. In return, she
him to possess them while they eat it. rewards each of the adventures with a
Spark Seed (Ingest to bring someone
back to life. From then on, the revived
will smell of flowers and attract
lightning in a storm).