The life has been drained from this area by some hungry terror which swept across the trees. A sign of the necromancer!

Beneath the leaf litter skeletons molder in the loam.
The dryads won't attack first, and will disappear into their trees if they are frightened, but they also have no respect for your lives and will draw you into dangerous games if you allow them to.

If it detects you approaching, it will stomp a warning and swing its spiked tail threateningly. It is cautious but not aggressive, preferring to move away from you.
Collectors of rare animal trophies would pay 1000gp for well preserved plates, tail spikes and leather.

Treasure: A few bits of mundane adventuring gear protected from the wilderness within the tower.
A fine elvish sword (+1 magic sword, type of your choice). The sword sings when you fight, and while you're attuned to it, can be used to cast bless 1/day.

A banshee lives in the tower, appearing as a translucent ghostly elf maiden. If you reach the top of the tower and she sees you, she screams, initiating combat. She attempts to kill any living thing that intrudes in her tower, evidenced by bodies throughout the tower. She is beyond reason.

Fresh fruits would be worth a fortune in a noble's dining room, and even more common folk might pay a year's earnings to taste such rare and delightful fruit. However, the fruit spoils within 2 days once removed from the tree, becoming a stinking putrid grey mush.

A guardian elemental, it still guards the archway, though it now leads to more of the same wilderness, the plants having long ago reclaimed whatever this ruin once was.

Nearby a radiant giant elk watches in judgement, prepared to defend this manifestation of its goddess if it is disturbed by blasphemers.
An offer of blood to the idol will gain you inspiration, and you might rest safely near its base so long as you light no fires while you camp.

A broken fountain holds a puddle of water, and a few gold coins can be recovered from the algae dense water, disturbing a cloud of buzzing flies. The air is heavy with a sense of seething dread. Civilisation is unwelcome here.

She has knowledge to share of dangers you might face in the wilderness; trolls, elementals, dinosaurs! She will offer to share a campsite for a night, but otherwise prefers to travel with only her owl companion, Rhian.

If they can be convinced to talk, they have information about the "Grim Shaman" who dwells deep in the wilds, spreading blight and recruiting monstrous followers.
Treasure: A collection of ancient jewellery and gold teeth worth 600gp.

After each rest, choose a piece of gear that has a 75% to have spoiled, rusted, or become irretrievably infested with vermin.
Magic can repair or avoid these effects (for example mending) but using magic this way angers the wilds, and you're more likely to be harassed by blights or beasts.

There is a day and night of mourning for the dead, followed by a celebratory community breakfast, offered by Sammy and Jess Plentie, to celebrate the living.