As the party approaches the crypt's entrance, they find themselves standing before a set of heavy, weathered stone doors engraved with faded runes. A successful DC 15 Arcana or History check might reveal that these runes are remnants of an ancient protective spell, long since weakened but still imposing.
Environment: The entry chamber beyond the doors is roughly 30 feet by 30 feet, with 10-foot-high ceilings. Dank and musty, it is dimly illuminated by a few sputtering torches affixed to the walls. The floor is covered in a thin layer of dust, undisturbed except for a path leading inward, marked by footprints of creatures unknown.
Encounters: Beneath the dust lie pressure plates that activate a series of dart traps. A passive Perception score of 14 or higher allows the characters to notice something unusual about the floor. If the players actively search for traps, a DC 13 Investigation check will reveal the pressure plates. Triggering a plate sends darts whistling through the air, requiring all characters in the area to make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 1d4 piercing damage on a failure or half as much on a success.
Skill Challenges: There are cracked stone archways leading deeper into the crypt, framed by delicate carvings of entwined vines. Investigating the walls with a DC 10 Nature check can provide insights into the old forest magic that was once powerful here. Encouraging this connection might give any spellcaster among the party advantage on nature-related magic while inside the crypt.
Interaction: An old wooden bench sits to one side, heaped with debris. Beneath the debris, hidden from view, is a small locked chest. Picking the lock requires a DC 14 Dexterity check with thieves' tools. Inside, the players find a Potion of Healing and a cryptic journal speaking of the relic they seek. This journal hints at challenges deeper in the crypt and refers to a 'guardian of bones.'
Once the players are ready, they can proceed through the archways to explore further into the crypt, moving into areas teeming with greater dangers and secrets.
As the characters proceed deeper into the crypt, they arrive at a large, oppressive chamber. The air here is thick with the scent of age and forgotten valor. Ancient stone sarcophagi line the walls, their faces carved with worn and almost unrecognizable figures of somber warriors.
Environment: The chamber is roughly 40 feet long and 30 feet wide, with a vaulted ceiling arching above. Faint magical light emanates from sconces on the walls, casting eerie shadows across the room. The floor is uneven, with scattered bones that crunch underfoot. A successful DC 12 Perception check might alert the players to a faint sound of shifting bones.
Encounters: At the far end of the chamber lies the remains of the crypt's guardian — a skeletal warrior clad in decaying armor. Upon the party's entry, it animates and rises to challenge them in a grating voice: "Who dares disturb the rest of the forgotten?" It wields a rusted longsword and carries a shield.
Combat: The skeletal guardian is a Skeleton (as per the SRD stats) but with a minor enhancement due to its warrior past. It has 15 HP and carries a rusting sword that inflicts an extra 1 point of damage due to ancient enchantments still lingering.
Tactics: The guardian fights until destroyed but prioritizes attacking spellcasters first, focusing on those it perceives as weak or significant threats to its duty.
Treasure: Upon defeating the guardian, a hidden compartment within the largest sarcophagus opens, revealing a silver amulet embossed with a tree motif. This amulet provides resistance to necrotic damage while worn.
Additionally, a DC 15 Investigation check around the sarcophagi might reveal a series of ancient engravings indicating the existence of a secret door, leading further into the depths of the crypt.
The Hall of Echoes (Area 3): A long corridor filled with eerie whispers. The players must succeed on Wisdom saving throws to avoid being frightened and running in panic.
The Heart of the Forest Shrine (Area 4): The final chamber contains the sought-after relic. However, it is protected by a magical barrier that requires a combination of puzzle-solving and spellcasting to disable.
Successful retrieval of the "Heart of the Forest" will restore vitality to the Whispering Woods, and the villagers of Windhaven will forever be in the heroes' debt.