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Addermarch Campaign - Session 17

Skeletons at Serethwyn Tor: in which the party defeats a skeleton host

Featuring: Yvan Greenrabbit, Drou, Fazoth de Brune
In Taelgar: May 24, 1715 DR - May 26, 1715 DR
On Earth: Sunday December 28, 2025
Highmoor, Westcliff, and Serethwyn Tor

Following clues to the cursed Serpentine Battleaxe, the party crosses the Highmoor, reaches Serethwyn Tor, fights a large skeleton force, and uncovers signs of recent disturbance and a broken mine map pointing deeper underground.

Timeline

  • May 24, 1715 DR, evening: The party camps on the road into the Highmoor, following the trail of Duncan of Haldrenn toward Serethwyn Tor and the cursed Serpentine Battleaxe.
  • May 25, 1715 DR: Uneventful travel across the moors; the party camps in the foothills of Westcliff.
  • May 26, 1715 DR: Walk for the morning; in the afternoon, reach an old road that climbs to Serethwyn Tor. Following the trail, the party passes a warning marker from The Rangers, fights a mass of skeletons, and begins exploring the ruins, finding recent disturbed earth, old scorch marks, and a broken mine map.

Cast of Characters

  • Yvan Greenrabbit - Halfling sorcerer whose fire spells tear through the skeleton ranks.
  • Drou - Elven bard-monk who takes the brunt of arrows and unleashes thunder magic amid the press of undead.
  • Fazoth de Brune - Warlock who sends his pseudodragon to scout and calls a fey ally to hold the line.
  • Duncan of Haldrenn - Missing shepherd whose trail leads to Serethwyn Tor and the cursed axe.
  • Fazoth’s pseudodragon - Scout familiar sent over the wall, killed by the skeleton host.
  • Skeleton host of Serethwyn Tor - Undead soldiers with sergeants, captains, and ogre bodyguards guarding the fort.

Places

  • Highmoor - Moorland road the party follows north toward Serethwyn Tor.
  • Westcliff - Foothills and peaks where they camp before the climb.
  • Serethwyn Tor - Ruined hill-fort sealed by order of The Rangers and defended by skeletons.

Narrative

Monday, May 24th, 2 Robert I

We begin as the party settles into camp for the evening, on the road into the Highmoor, following the trail of Duncan of Haldrenn to uncover the mystery of the cursed Serpentine Battleaxe and Serethwyn Tor.

Tuesday, May 25th, 2 Robert I

The next morning is a fine spring day, a beautiful day of uneventful travel on the moors. The party camps in the foothills of Westcliff in preparation for the climb to Serethwyn Tor the next day.

Wednesday, May 26th, 2 Robert I

After a morning of walking and quick lunch, the party climbs into the hills following an old abandoned road. By early afternoon, the road peters out and an old track leads up into the peaks of Westcliff to the hill fort of Serethwyn Tor. After a couple of hours hiking on the along the old track, the party sees the walls of the fort, partially ruined, about a 1000 feet ahead. A marker, written in three languages (Sembaran, Elvish, and Stoneborn) warns the fort ahead is dangerous, and sealed by order of The Rangers. The party approaches, with Fazoth’s pseudodragon flying ahead to scout - only to be killed by a large group of skeletons on the other side of the wall.

Fazoth, Yvan, and Drou join the fight against about 40 skeletons, including a large group of foot soldiers with sargents, and a few captains with ogre skeleton bodyguards. Yvan launches multiple fireballs, mowing down the ranks of the weaker skeletons, while arrows rain down around Yvan, Drou, and Fazoth. Drou takes the brunt of the attacks, some dodging arrows but many find their mark. She cracks skeletons with her flashing fists and thunder spells, which rip through the ranks as well. Fazoth attempts to pin down one of the captain’s with Witch Bolt, but loses concentration on the spell. However, Fazoth’s summoned fey ally is strong, and Drou responds to near-death by tossing her new Staff of the Python on the ground, as it turns into a giant constructor snake to fight for her.

Finally, the party finishes off the skeletons, and explores. Drou examines the ground, and notices the disturbed earth from the skeletons emerging from the ground is recent, a week or two at most, suggesting that when Duncan first came for the axe there were no skeletons here. Yvan searches for secret doors; while he does not find any, he does notice more scorch marks from fire, suggesting parts of the fort were burned down a long time ago. Fazoth explores the small ruined keep, finding a broken pieces of a mine map showing at least three levels, with the main serpentine source on the 2nd or 3rd level down, and two air shafts that reach to the top of the hill.

The party regroups to explore the officer’s barracks and mess. Our session ends as Yvan looks in at glowing skeletal eyes inside the building.