Introduction Welcome to Riddle of the Raven Queen, a D&D 5th edition adventure set in a small elven village in the Cormathyr forest. This adventure showcases the lives of elves as presented in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes ™ This adventure is designed for three to seven 5th to 10th level characters and is optimized for five characters with an average party level (APL) of 8. Characters outside this level range would be either unable to complete or have far too easy of a time in this adventure. Adjusting This Adventure This adventure provides suggestions in making adjustments for smaller or larger groups, characters of higher or lower levels, and characters that are otherwise a bit more powerful than the adventure is optimized for. You’re not bound to these adjustments; they’re here for your convenience. To figure out whether you should consider adjusting the adventure, add up the total levels of all the characters and divide the total by the number of characters (rounding .5 or greater up; .4 or less down). This is the group’s APL. To approximate the party strength for the adventure, consult the following table. Determining Party Strength Party Composition Party Party Strength 3-4 characters, APL less than Very weak 3-4 characters, APL equivalent Weak 3-4 characters, APL greater than Average 5 characters, APL less than Weak 5 characters, APL equivalent Average 5 characters, APL greater than Strong 6-7 characters, APL less than Average 6-7 characters, APL equivalent Strong 6-7 characters, APL greater than Very strong Some encounters may include a sidebar that offers suggestions for certain party strengths. If a particular recommendation is not offered or appropriate for your group, you don’t have to make adjustments. Sample file 2 Adventure Background Adventure Hooks Dripping Leaves is a small elven village on the Mistle There are a number of ways the characters might become Trail and the River Ashaba between Elven Crossing and embroiled the problems of Dripping Leaves. Shadowdale in the western Cormathyr forest. There Defensive Measures. The characters are traveling was a time when the village of Dripping Leaves was along the Mistle Road in the western Cormathyr forest, prosperous and welcomed travelers. While mainly the likely on their way to Hillsfar, when they come upon the home of moon elves, the villages acts as a base for several village of Dripping Leaves in time for their midday meal clans of wood elves as well. The village is spread out break. While there, they learn of the drow raids and are with various glades as hubs of activity. Unfortunately, this asked if they have any suggestions for additional defenses spread out nature has left it an easy target for raids by or ways to handle the raids. During their time in the drow. In the last few months these raids have gone from village, the absence of Alyndra is discovered and they are a seasonal annoyance to two or three times a month. Just asked to find her. three days ago was the worst raid to date. The drow came False Assumptions. The party is passing through from the north and focused their attack on the Glade of Dripping Leaves on the way to the Dalelands when the Moon, the village’s temple of Sehanine Moonbow. Starsinger Alyndra Eiltris is discovered missing. Being While the shrine still stands, the acolytes and the family strangers, the characters are initially suspected of being of the Starsinger Alyndra Eilitris were all killed. When the involved in her disappearance and must prove their raid occurred, the priestess was not in the shrine, instead innocence. she was at a home nearer the Mistle Road, attending Against the Drow. Dripping Leaves has suffered several the birth of twins and thus was not there to protect drow raids over the last few months and the elves of them when the drow attacked. Though she managed to Cormanthyr have put out a call for aid. The characters perform the funeral rites for the fallen, it was obvious to have answered that call. the villagers that her sorrow was causing her to slip into Aid in Prophecy. A prophecy of a great treasure to be the Remembrance, much earlier than would be normal. found on the Sword Coast is unearthed. As a Starsinger She is slipping away from them with no one to take up of Sehanine Moonbow, Alyndra Eiltris is renowned for her mantle. Unfortunately, the magnitude of her sorrow interpreting prophecies. The characters have come in and grief has caught the notice of the Raven Queen. Her search of her seeking aid in finding their next adventure. Shadar-kai have captured the sorrowing priestess and they have taken her to the Shadowfell where the Raven Queen might bask in Alyndra’s emotions. Adventure Overview This adventure focuses on the different cultures of the elves, drow, and shadar-kai as circumstances cause them to collide. Part One – Dripping Leaves: The party arrives in the village of Dripping Leaves and learns about the trials it has undergone. While there the Starsinger is found missing and suspicions point towards the drow. Part Two – Phorkyryl Outpost: Searching the nearby hills, the party locates a small cave in which drow raiders have set up an outpost by which they can keep an eye on the elves. In the outpost, they encounter a shadar-kai prisoner, and learn that the Starsinger has been captured as tribute for the Raven Queen and taken into the Shadowfell. Part Three – Broken Dreams: The characters travel to the shadar-kai village of Broken Dreams outside the Raven Queen’s Fortress of Memories. The party struggles to locate the captive while also undergoing a series of trials related to their own emotions and ideals culminating with an audience of sorts with the Raven Queen. Part Four – The Rotted Heart: The party heads to the ruined fortress of Rotten Heart to recover the conspirator’s visage, an artifact stolen from the Raven Queen by followers of Vecna. If they can win it back, they just might be able to trade it for the Starsinger’s freedom.Sample file 3 Part One: The Village of Dripping Leaves he village is a mixture of ground and tree Elebrin’s Glade. Named in honor of the god of gardens dwellings. Being on a trade route, most of the and the harvest, some of the gardens that produce both businesses are ground level, but the moon food and herbs are found here. It is the centermost point elves prefer homes in the trees. Some of the of the village. A small shrine to Elebrin Liothiel is located ground level structures are made of lashed here. T branches with thatched roofs, most of those The Training Glade. As its names suggests, this is being homes of the transient wood elves. Spread out over where those who need space to train their craft – be it approximately fifty acres, the village has five glades around learning to shoot a bow, or practicing spells – can do so which activities are centered. Some homes are adjacent without harming innocent bystanders. More innocent to these glades, but others wanting more solitude are arts such as dance are also practiced here. This glade is dispersed about in the woods. Currently there are only in the north east quadrant of the village. Small shrines sixty able bodied adult elves, and fifteen children. There to various members of the Seldarine, such as Tethrin are about twenty elves, such as those who have been Veralde (battle, sword fighting), Solonor Thelanddria severely injured and the new mother, who cannot fight. (archery, hunting) are in the adjacent trees. They have lost thirty to the drow raids and almost half of Glade of the Moon. A white spiraling tower is the those died in the last attack. One of the three clans of wood centerpiece of this glade in the northwest quadrant of the elves that reside here from time to time are likely to arrive village. This temple predates the village and is the only in two or three tendays. There are a number of uninhabited remnant of some ancient elven hold. Alyndra’s parents tree homes and numerous wood elf cabins in the village. and younger sister lived in one of the trees along the edge Glades of the glade. There are five main glades that act as a center of activity. STORY BEAT The Gathering Glade. The Tavern Tree is the center The characters can observe the evolving life of elves as of this area. The Mistle Trail cuts through one side. Here they tour the village as well as gain clues regarding both also are merchant’s stalls, some more permeant than the possible locations of the drow. Thus, the characters others, where various goods made in the village are sold should not learn too quickly that Starsinger Alyndra is or exchanged for items not made here. missing. Crafter’sSample Glade. This southern most of the glades lyies file between the road and the river. Those who work with metal, clay and leather have their workshops there and some of their homes are in the trees adjacent. There was a shrine to Darahl Tilvenar, but it was destroyed in one of the early raids. 4.