The Forest Wakes - A 5e One-Shot

The Forest Wakes is a 4th–5th level one-shot adventure set in Elyndor, a world where magic is neither good nor evil, only a reflection of balance.

Players arrive in the small farming village of Silver-Reed, where vines overrun the fields and trees burst through the earth like memories made real. The villagers believe the forest has cursed them. In truth, they have awakened its guardian, Sirehl, a spirit of bark and breath that once watched over the valley.

To bring peace, heroes must perform an ancient Ritual of Still Waters, calm the spirit, and find the artifact that stirred it. Violence will end the threat, but at terrible cost. Understanding may save both forest and field.

Themes: ecological balance, communication over conflict, horror through empathy.

Tone: Ghibli-meets-folk-horror, soft wonder, quiet dread, and a world that remembers.