Scholomance

The ruins of scholomance lie within the Whispering Wood, and legends says undead from an ancient era can still be found roaming the school.
Hidden beneath the ground, lies the Scholomance. This vile academy used to train necromancers of the Cult of the Damned before the Great Extinction.
Scholomance used to be an infamous school of necromancy within the Kingdom of Alterin when it was under the leadership of Tezzeret Thuzad. The Lich king using the keep of a noble family doanted by the previous kind in order to build his school studying the dark art.

Description

Above Ground

The area above the former magic school of Scholomance is now covered by the whispering wood, with tall trees and lush vegetation providing a natural canopy overhead. Amidst this forest stands a goblin camp, filled with rough-looking structures and bustling with activity.
As one approaches the site of the former school, the ground becomes increasingly rough and rocky, with a thick layer of dirt and earth lying atop the ancient stone roof that once housed the school. This roof is now largely hidden from view, but a narrow staircase, somehow still intact, can be found leading down into the depths of the underground school. The goblins, wary of the dark magic that is said to linger within the ruins, have sealed the entrance to the staircase.
The goblins have taken control of the ancient staircase, using it as a prison to hold their captive.

1 - The Reliquary

1A - Ossuary

The first chamber of underground complex is an ossuary containing the remains of the noble family who once owned the land before Scholomance was even built. Sealed coffins, often marked by names and paintings, line the stone-cut walls of the chamber.
A creaking wooden platform spans the room from its entrance to an iron gate on the other side separating this chamber from the Library beyond. Flanking the gate are two armors (animated armors) who will attack any intruders not affiliated with the Cult of the Damned.

1B - Library

The western entrance of the Library leads out to a double staircase descending into the chamber. The entirety of the chamber can be seen from the top of the staircase. Rotten wooden tables and bookshelves on the walls holding the numerous magical tomes, or what's left of them, used to teach the students of the dark academy. A dozen or so zombies are currently here and even more corpses.
An imposing iron chandelier hangs over the center of the room. As soon as the party move downstair, a talking skull move toward them, attracting the zombies unwillingly.
A gate in the back of the room lead to area 2, the Hall of Illusion

2 - Hall of Illusion

A ramp leads down from the Library into the Hall of Illusions. Enchanted green light from braziers light up throughout the hall when the party first enter and gives the chamber a sickly glow. The eastern half of the room is divided by two rows of four square columns. Connecting the columns are multitiered stone slabs covered in skeletal remains.
Two pairs of minotaur skeletons shamble mindlessly along the northern and southern walls of the chamber. Janice Barov usually teach her course in this hall.

3 - Chamber of Summoning

A rando, assortement of small undead creatures are held in this chamber for experimentation.

4 - Butcher's Sanctum

Past the Chamber of Summoning is a cavernous chamber whose tall stone walls are stained scarlet. At first blush, one might assume the red hue is due to the hundreds of crimson colored candles burning around the room. Then comes the horrific smell. Strewn about the room are piles of rotting flesh and mangled corpses, all leaving pools of blood adding to a sickening mural on the stone floor. Scattered amongst the carnage are a number of blood-stained books and diagrams including forbidden rites and other necromantic rituals.
The creators and creations of this foul art wander the gore-soaked room. Swarms of zombie limbs, and an ogre zombie. Several iron gates lead out of the rotting chamber.

5 - The Bone Vault

The Bone Vault is a massive ossuary deep within the Barov Family Crypts. Within are the remains of distant relatives and other nobles loyal to the Barovs. Their bones fill the towering walls, reaching over 60 ft. into the air.
Doctor Laeslyn Nightshade, teacher in this school stand in the middle of the vault.

6 - The Viewing Room

The party enters the top of a multitiered lecture hall. A narrow set of stairs descends through the three raised levels in the room to the ground floor. Carved into the walls and ceiling of this chamber are thousands of stone skulls, their green glowing eyes illuminating the room and keeping a stern eye on any within. On the raised platforms are 3 wooden lab tables, covered in lab equipment, books, and notes.
At the front of the lecture hall stands the wraith of Professor Slate (Course: Potions) behind a table filled with many different potions. Behind him is a large bookcase filled with tomes and a huge portrait of Jandice Barov, from when she was still alive.

7 - Headmaster's Retreat

The deepest chambers of Scholomance were once elaborate tombs for the Barov Family. When the crypts were converted into a necromantic academy, these tombs became the personal lairs of the school's most vile faculty and monstrosities. With the eons and the desctruction of the kingdom of Alterin, many of these horrors no longer reside within the tombs leaving only the undead headmaster to manage the ruins of the academy. Despite their absence, their dark influence can still be felt by the current inhabitants.

7a - Upper Study

The ramp down from the Viewing Room leads onto the northern side of the Upper Study. A stone balcony with angular iron railing wraps around the square chamber, allowing any on it to look down into the Headmaster's Study beneath them. Small multitiered tables sit in the outer corners of the balcony, each with dozens of candles burning on them. A massive iron wrought chandelier hangs over the center of the chamber. A narrow staircase on the northern side of the room leads down to the lower level.
Three side chambers, their iron gates currently magically sealed, are connected to this balcony. To the west is the Coven, to the south is the Hall of the Damned, and the Hall of Secrets is to the east. The gate for each room is sealed and reauire qn action to opens it by succeeding on a DC 15 Arcana check.

7b - Headmaster's Study

Descending down the stone steps from the Upper Study leads into the Headmaster's Study, decorated with a deep purple rug of ancient design and deep alcoves filled with bones cover the stone walls.
Mirroring the Upper Study, three side chambers with magically sealed gates are connected to this level. To the west is the Vault of the Ravenian, to the south is the Barov Family Vault, and the Shadow Vault is to the east. Identical to the upper chambers, the gate for each room is sealed and require action to opens it by succeeding on a DC 15 Arcana check.

7c - The Coven

Through the western gate in the Upper Study is the Coven. The floor of the chamber is slightly recessed with a pair of steep stairs leading to the entrance. The room is unadorned except for two purple banners with green flaming skulls emblazoned on them. An eerie purple light seems to glow from every stone within.
This vault was once the lair of Instructor Malicia, an elven necromancer who joined the cult of the damned. Vestiges of her magic empower the 3 goblin zombies, giving them the Call of the Grave ability.
Call of the Grave. When the zombie is defeated, all non-undead creatures within 10 ft. it must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or take 4 (1d8) necrotic damage. On a success, take half as much damage.

7d - Hall of the Damned

Through the southern gate in the Upper Study is the Hall of the Damned. Dozens of candles, red and white, illuminate this room casting shadows across long stone plinths built through the chamber. Atop these platforms are piles of rotting flesh, brutally mutilated.
This was originally the operating room of Doctor Laeslyn Nightshade before moving his activities to the Butcher's Sanctum. The 3 goblin zombies in this room wield his wicked tools, gaining the Rusted Blades ability.
Rusted Blades. Slam deals 7 (1d8+3) slashing damage and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or is dealt 2 (1d4) poison damage and is Poisoned until the end of its next turn.

7e - Hall of Secrets

Through the eastern gate in the Upper Study is the Hall of Secrets. Ornamented stone plinths are spaced evenly along the walls of the chamber with tattered dark violet banners hung above them. Burning braziers in the corners of the room cast a dim violet light.
Lorekeeper Polkelt once resided within this chamber. The 3 goblin zombies in this room have been imbued with his acidic blood giving them the Corrosive Acid ability.
Corrosive Acid. Slam deals acid damage and if the target is wearing nonmagical metal armor, its armor takes a permanent and cumulative -1 penalty to the AC it offers. The armor is destroyed if the penalty reduces its AC to 10.

7f - Vault of the depth horror

Through the western gate in the Headmaster's Study is the Vault of the Ravenian. The musty chamber is adorned with green lamps, rugs, and fraying banners. In the back of the vault are three open pools of chest deep water.
While the eponymous creature no longer resides within the chamber, the 2 goblin zombies here are molded in his image, granting them the Monstrous Strength ability.
Monstrous Strength. The zombies is a large creature with 18 Strength. Slam deals 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength check or is knocked back 10 ft. and Prone.

7g - Barov Family Vault

Through the southern gate in the Headmaster's Study is the Barov Family Vault, the tomb of Lord Alexei Barov. His massive sarcophagus with a statue of him laying on top of it is the centerpiece of the room. Behind the sarcophagus is a pool of waist-deep water.
A death knight was raised here, and of his power has been passed to the 3 goblin zombies in this room, granting them the Unholy Aura ability.
Unholy Aura. Non-undead creatures within 10 ft. of the goblin zombie are dealt 3 necrotic damage at the start of the zombie's turn and all healing effects are halved.

7h - The Shadow Vault

Through the eastern gate in the Headmaster's Study is the Shadow Vault, the tomb of Lady Illucia Barov. The room has flooded submerging a number of sarcophagi in ankle deep water. The raised alcove in the back of the chamber which housed the remains of Illucia is still above water.
While Lady Barov no longer haunts her own tomb, her influence remains giving the 3 goblin zombies in this room the Mind Shriek ability.
Mind Shriek (Recharges on a Short or Long Rest). A creature within 30 ft. must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or it is dealt 5 (1d10) psychic damage and is Silenced until the end of its next turn.

Barov Family Vault

"Behold my true form. I owe you a debt, one which I can never repay. But, I thank you for lifting the curse off of my family. Tezzeret Thuzad, the Lich King, and now Darkmaster Gandling -- all are dead. Perhaps now I too can find some semblance of peace." — Spirit of Lord Alexei Barov
Locked in the vqult is the ghost of Lord Alexei Barov and a small fortune.

Maps

History

Founded by the wizard Tezzeret Thuzad ten years after the independaance of the kingdom of Alterin, Scholomance is housed within a series of crypts that lie beneath an ancient noble keep. Once owned by a noble family, the keep fell into ruin following the end of Alterin.
When Tezzeret Thuzad helped David Lionheart in exchange for the right to study necromancy unhindered, a deal that was successful as the wizard obtained this domain from the king depossessing a noble family, and could build Scholomance to study the dark art as he pleased.
No one outside of the members of the Cult of the Damned were allowed to access or to study in Scholomance, yet the grounds had been brewing with young and talented wizards and adepts.

Type

Ruins