Once, the Forest of Whispering Willows glowed beneath the shelter of its ancient trees.
Leaves carried memories, roots guarded promises, and at its heart stood the Spirit Tree, ancient and luminous, binding the woods together.

It spread quietly through the forest, dimming the light beneath the canopy and weakening the Spirit Tree. Paths twisted, whispers grew faint, and the forest began to forget itself. Where life once flowed freely, doubt and decay took root.

They are not heroes of legend, nor warriors crowned by fate, but small animal folk bound by care and resolve. Mice, badgers, birds, foxes, each carrying a different story. They know that courage can tremble, but no blade matters more than the heart that wields it. Together, they walk the hidden paths, protecting what still lives and facing the Shadow as it creeps through roots and memories.

The forest calls its Guardians! Will you step into the shadows to protect what remains and restore the light?

Whispering Willows is a fantasy role-playing game about small animal folk who stand watch over the quiet heart of a living forest. A place where the trees listen, the land remembers, and even the smallest creature can shape the fate of the whole.

Now the forest is in danger! A creeping Shadow spreads through roots and branches, twisting what once was gentle and whole. The road ahead will be long, and the path uncertain, but where darkness gathers, a spark of light may yet be found.

The setting draws inspiration from timeless classics, blending the spirit of fellowship found in the "Redwall" saga, the quiet bravery of "The Secret of NIMH", and the fragile wonder of "The Dark Crystal". From these echoes arise intimate yet powerful tales of courage and magic that endure against the dark. Among whispering leaves and hidden paths, familiar feelings, tested hopes, and bonds that matter will take root.

The game is designed to be played solo, cooperatively, or with a GM.  The rules will emphasize player choice and shared storytelling, while keeping a thoughtful layer of strategy in combat and resource management.
Whispering Willows will come with its own system, but its setting will be easy to adapt to other fantasy role-playing games focused on small animal folk and woodland adventures. 

Whispering Willows will be a 64+ page TTRPG in A5 format, filled with rich, atmospheric illustrations that will bring the forest to life. Players will explore a living world of hidden paths and whispered secrets, where every adventure will be unique. The system will be flexible, supporting both short sessions and extended campaigns, while letting each player guide their Guardians and shape their story.

Each player will create their character through a quick and intuitive process, focused on meaningful decisions.

Each Guardian will be defined by four core stats, each tied to a natural element. Players will decide how to allocate their initial resources, known as Echoes, among these stats, reflecting their heroes' strengths and the way they will face the forest’s trials. Every choice will affect both the path ahead and the living world around them.

Within the whispering woods, every decision will resonate through the trees.
When facing important and meaningful actions, players may choose to have their Guardian draw upon their inner strength, spending precious Echoes to shape the outcome and achieve different degrees of success.
At other times, they may decide to test their fate with a single d6 roll, conserving their Echoes for moments yet to come. Only through careful and thoughtful management of Echoes the Guardians will be able to endure, adapt, and ultimately triumph in their missions!

Beyond these core traits, each Guardian will be uniquely shaped by the choices of the player.

Players will select a starting class that determines their character's instincts, role, and approach to the forest. They will choose personal beliefs that will guide their hero's perception of the world and their place within it. Guardians will also equip tools and weapons that will provide bonuses or unlock powerful actions by spending their Echoes. Through these decisions, each player will forge a character with a distinct path and a voice that will echo across the forest. 

As the forest changes, so will the world your Guardians inhabit. During their journeys, players will gather supplies and decide how to invest them, shaping not only their own path but the fate of the places they protect. A hidden village will grow among the trees, strengthened over time into a quiet refuge, a living home woven into roots and branches.

As the village expands, new possibilities and advantages will emerge. Fresh paths, tools, and opportunities will open, born from shared effort. The village itself is a central element of play and grows and changes alongside the Guardians.

Dedicated roll tables will determine encounters, discoveries, and unforeseen events. This ensures that no two journeys unfold the same way! As the forest listens and remembers, it will respond to every action.

In Whispering Willows, each choice will leave a lasting trace upon the forest...

Thanks to the experience gained during the previous crowdfunding campaign, the entire fulfillment and shipping process will be carefully handled to ensure that every reward will reach its destination safely. Each copy will be personally packed with great care and attention, because every backer deserves a product treated with the respect it was created with.

Shipping costs will be collected after the campaign through the BackerKit pledge manager, allowing for accurate calculations based on destination and selected options. 

Estimated delivery will be by the end of 2026, barring unforeseen circumstances. Backers will be kept constantly updated throughout the production and fulfillment process, with full transparency at every step.

(For Italian Backers:  Tutti i backer italiani potranno selezionare la versione italiana di Whispering Willows nel pledge manager, dopo la conclusione della campagna).