🗺️🎲⚔️ Whispers in Willowshade — A D&D One-Shot Adventure
By Charlie Stayton , Behind the Die
Deep in a mist-laced valley lies the sleepy village of Willowshade, where something ancient and hungry stirs beneath the earth. In this free one-shot adventure for the 2024 core rules of Dungeons & Dragons, your players will uncover a buried curse, battle corrupted nature spirits, and face a plant horror bent on consuming the valley whole.
The Setting: Willowshade Village
Willowshade is a small, secluded village nestled in a peaceful valley flanked by dense forests and gentle hills. Most residents are farmers, herbalists, or retired adventurers enjoying quiet lives. But peace has a cost—something was sealed beneath the old well generations ago, and now it’s waking up.
Recent strange occurrences:
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Livestock found desiccated and wrapped in vines
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Nightmares plaguing villagers
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Bioluminescent mushrooms growing overnight near the sealed well
⚔️ Adventure Summary
Designed for 4–5 players of levels 3–4, Whispers in Willowshade takes 3–5 hours to run and includes exploration, investigation, and a deadly final battle in a buried subterranean grove.
Key NPCs:
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Mayor Elmira Broadleaf (halfling, flustered but kind)
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Old Bran (grizzled hunter, has heard the old legends)
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Tilli Fernspire (young druid, senses nature is out of balance)
Adventure Flow:
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Investigation – Players explore Willowshade, talk to NPCs, and discover eerie fungal growths and signs of struggle near the old well.
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Descent into the Grove – A sealed stone slab gives way to a forgotten druidic sanctum now overtaken by twisted plantlife.
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Final Battle – Players face off against the corrupted force: The Hollowroot and its sapling minions.
🧠 The Hollowroot (CR 4) — Custom Monster
A parasitic plant horror from a forgotten age, The Hollowroot is the heart of the valley’s corruption.
“It speaks not in words, but in hunger. The roots grow faster when you run.”
View full stat block:
🌿 Corrupted Dryad Saplings (CR 1/2)
These twisted dryad sprouts act as extensions of the Hollowroot’s will. They snare, harass, and attack those who would interfere.
“There’s something cruel in the way they smile before lashing your leg with a root.”
View full stat block:
🗺️ Battle Map: Hollowroot Grove
The final encounter takes place in a ruined subterranean grove filled with glowing fungi, broken druidic ruins, and the massive tangled roots of the Hollowroot itself.
Features:
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Difficult terrain from thick roots
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Healing mushrooms (1d4 HP once per creature)
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Central glowing pool of necrotic energy
🧩 Encounter Balance & Notes
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Hollowroot + 2–3 Saplings makes a deadly but winnable encounter for Level 3–4 adventurers.
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Use terrain to its fullest—roots should restrain and split the party.
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Emphasize horror tone with subtle environmental effects (whispers from the vines, flickering torchlight, etc.)
🎲 Closing Thoughts
Whispers in Willowshade is perfect for a spooky one-shot, whether you’re introducing new players to the 2024 ruleset or giving veteran adventurers a moody side quest. With a strong mix of investigation, atmosphere, and a climactic boss fight, it delivers a complete story in a single session.
If you run it, I’d love to hear how it goes! You can tag me on socials or drop a comment below.
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