A woman runs into the road screaming. She collapses, covered in blood. Her last words: > “He made the trees remember…” She points into the forest and dies. On her forearm is carved a symbol of **Vecna**. --- # ACT I — INVESTIGATION (The Road) ### Clues on the Body - One eye removed. - Fingertips burned black. - Tongue partially cut. ### Puzzle 1 — The Whispered Name Carved into her skin are fragmented words: ``` SEEK THE ROOT THAT SPEAKS BUT SPEAK NOT ITS NAME FOR THE NAME OPENS THE WAY ``` Religion DC 18: It references Vecna’s taboo name. If a player says “Vecna” aloud in the forest later something happens. Remember that. --- # ACT II — GREEN HOLLOW (Ruined Hamlet) The village is intact — but empty. No bodies. No blood. Just silence. ### Investigation Elements 1. Every reflective surface (water buckets, metal tools) shows: - The party. - And an extra eye behind them. 2. Houses contain journals. Repeated phrase: > “The roots began whispering secrets we never told.” 3. One locked cellar. --- ## Puzzle 2 — The Silent Door The cellar door has no keyhole. On it are three carvings: - An eye - A mouth - A hand Above them: > “Knowledge enters through one. > Knowledge leaves through one. > Knowledge is taken by one.” Correct solution: - Press the eye first - Then the hand - Do NOT press the mouth If they press mouth at any time: Psychic backlash (6d10 psychic, DC 18 Wis half). Correct sequence opens cellar. Inside: Villagers fused into root-walls, still alive. Their mouths are sewn with bark. --- # ACT III — THE MEMORY GROVE Following root growth patterns leads to a clearing. At the centre: A massive oak. Its trunk has split. Inside is a stone altar covered in runes. This is where the ritual was performed. --- ## Puzzle 3 — The Four Stolen Truths Four stone pillars surround the altar. Each pillar has a riddle. To deactivate the ritual field, they must answer all four correctly. If they fail one: A pulse of necrotic energy (8d8 necrotic, DC 19 Con half). --- ### Pillar One > “I am taken from you yet remain yours. > I shape your future though born in your past.” Answer: **Memory** --- ### Pillar Two > “The more you speak me, the weaker I become.” Answer: **Secret** --- ### Pillar Three > “I open all doors yet have no form.” Answer: **Knowledge** --- ### Pillar Four > “Name me, and I grow stronger.” Correct answer: **Vecna** If they refuse to say it: The ritual remains unstable. If someone speaks Vecna’s name aloud: The tree splits open. Boss awakens immediately. --- # ACT IV — FINAL REVEAL When the ritual deactivates (or Vecna’s name is spoken), the forest trembles. From the tree tears free: A colossal antlered horror made of bark, bone, and eyes. --- # The Rooted Witness CR Appropriate for Level 16 AC 21 HP 370 Legendary Resistances (3/day) ## Abilities Multiattack — 3 Gore attacks 2d12+7 piercing + 3d10 necrotic ## Extract Memory (Recharge 5–6) One creature within 60 ft must make DC 19 Wis save. On fail: - They forget one prepared spell until long rest. - Boss can cast it once. ## Legendary Actions - Root Lash (reach 20 ft) - Psychic Murmur (5d10 psychic) - Move without provoking --- # Optional Twist (Investigation Reward) If the party searched thoroughly: They may have found in the cellar: A black ritual shard embedded in root. If they destroy it during combat (AC 19, 80 HP): Second phase never triggers. If they do not: At 0 HP the boss reforms with 200 HP and the entire grove becomes difficult terrain. --- # Aftermath If ritual was solved without speaking Vecna’s name: The forest quiets. If his name was spoken: A massive spectral eye opens in the clouds above. Watching.