Starting the Adventure
"The sun has long since set when you arrive at the small border town, leaving no warmth to cut through the brutal chill in the air. Tomorrow evening, you will attend te remembrance ceremony for the fallen of the Battle of Berflas - a skirmish that happened at a nearby battlefield. But for toninght, you must take shelter in town. The wind whips loudly at your travelling clothes as you attempt to locate an in amongst a handful of stark buildings."
The battlefield that the party are due to visit is being haunted by the skeletal remains of Sir Alawin van Trafford and other fallen soldiers. The local friar hasn't had luck with permanently banishing the undead, so she asks the party for their assistance before tomorrow's remembrance ceremony. The locals are unaware the haunting has been caused by a misguided tavern over disturbing the grave of the fallen warrior.
Important Characters
Victor Mills
Human, Male, 44 (Commonor)
The affable owner of the Crossed Bones unwittingly awoke the Skeletons by picking up displaced bones.
"His warm smile seems out of place amongst the morbid decor that dominates his premises."
Friar Mwila Nell
Human, Female, 60 (Priest)
The priest of the local chapel is shaken because her attempts to banish the Skeleotns have all failed.
"She wraps her flowing vestments around her like a cloak, her shiver seeming to come from more than the mere cold."
Sir Alawin van Trafford
Skeleton, Male, Died 150 Years Ago (Skeleton)
A fallen soldier, longing for rest. Some of his bones were mistakenly taken from his grave by Victor.
"Arrows riddle the rider's back, making his cause of death clear. He and his horse both wear frost-covered, metal armour."
Key Locations
The Crossed Bones Inn
"You wuickly learn how the tavern got its name. Bones of varying sizes cover every surface of the small inn. The space diectl behind the wooden bar is adorned by two huge, crossed bones."
Most of the bones at this macabre tavern belong to wild animals.
Four have been collected from the graveyard, causing the battlefield to be haunted by Sir Alawin.
Old Battle Field
"The wind seems to howl with the voices of all of the lives lost on this battlefield. There is a commemorative plaque, marking the site, but it is iced over, just like the ground."
Battle standards set up in advance for tomorrow's ceremony whip violently in the winds.
Sir alawin waits impassively on the battlefoeld, sat atop his Warhorse companion.
Military graveyard
"Headstones stretch in long rows; a visible reminder of the toll of battle. The crunch of snow beneath your feet echoes through the night air."
Violet Fungus plants border the graveyard, disguised by thick frost.
A yew tree shields Sir Alawin's grave from fresh snow, revealing Victor's boot prints leading back to the inn. He has also dropped a monogrammed handkerchief.
Quick Stats
Armour Class: 10, Health Points: 4, Initiative: 0, Key Ability: Club (Bat behind Bar)
Armour Class: 13, Health Points: 27, Initiative: 0, Key Ability: Healing Abilities
Armour Class: 13, Health Points: 13, Initiative: +2, Key Ability: Cannot Speak
Armour Class: 5, Health Points: 18, Initiative: -5, Key Ability: Inflicts Necrotic Harm
Armour Class: 13, Health Points: 22, Initiative: +1, Key Ability: Bony Hooves
Armour Class: EEE, Health Points: EEE, Initiative: EEE, Key Ability: EEE
Armour Class: EEE, Health Points: EEE, Initiative: EEE, Key Ability: EEE
Suggested Story
Set the scene, describe the Crossed Bones, let the party discuss rooms with Victor, then continue:
Undead Visitor
- Friar Nell staggers inside and shakily reports tha the undead have returned. She tells the party about the hauntings and begs them to investigate.
- Victor says he will stay behind to take care of Nell, but gives the partty directions to the battlefield.
Grave Matters
- At the battlefield, the party see a Skeleton riging a Seleton Warhorse. The rider is SirAlawin van Trafford, who attempts to lead the party to the graveyard. If attacked, he will not strike back.
- At the graveyard, the party are attacked by three Violet Funguses. Nearby, the party find scattered bones and clues that suggest Victor is involved in the disturbances somehow.
Bone to Pick
- Victor's footprints lead back to the inn. He explains he gathered bones to use as decoration, but didn't realise they had come from a soldier's grave. Nell insists any human bones in the tavern must be identified and returned to the disturbed grave.
- Back at the graveyard, te party must dig a hole, bury the bones, and cover them with soil. As the party strt to dig, three irate Skeletons burst from the soil and attack them. Each tep takes a round of combat to complete.
- With the bones buried, the disturbances cease. Nell thanks the party and Victor expresses his regret. The ceremony goes ahead as planned.
Secrets and Clues
- The Crosse Bones is due to host a reception after the remembrance service tomorrow.
- Victor has been busy cleaning and redecorating in preparation for the big, upcoming event.
- Sir alawin and his fallen comrades first appeared two nights ago; they roam from dusk until dawn.
- Nell has tried blessing the battlefield and asking local guards to fight the Skeletons, to no avail.
- Even if defeated, the Skeletons keep returning of following nights, seemingly unaffected.
- On his regular walks, ictor often picks up the bones of wild animals to add to his collection/
- Violet Fungus roots have been disturbing the graves and pushing the bones t the surface.
- Victor mistook the soldier's displaced leg and rib bbones for those of a deer.
- Victor has one bandaged hand afterbeing injured by a Violet Fungus in the Graveyard.
- Sir Alawin's bones are hung from the tavern's chandeliers, and have candles affixed to them.
Quest Rewards
Victor offers the party two nights room and board if they can assist Friar Nell. On discovering he is he cause of the problem, Victor upgrades them to his finest rooms. Friar Nell pays the party 100GP and offers Restorative Ointment if they are injured.
Level 1-2 Adventure
Harder: The three Skeletons who rise in the final battle could be aided by three Skeleton Warhorses.
Even Harder: You could replace the Skeletons with Wight Soldies. The party could also encounter a Shambling Mound in the graveyard.
Arrive at the Inn -> Speak to Nell -> Battlefield Visit -> Graveyard Search -> Question Victor -> Return the Bones