Free League Wraps Up Epic Symbaroum 5E Mega Campaign

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The forest of Davokar is about to get a whole lot more terrifying. Free League Publishing has just announced The Throne of Thorns III, the final entry in its trilogy of campaign books for its popular Ruins of Symbaroum 5E setting. The book is designed to take characters from Level 13 to 20 as they struggle to stop both a full-scale civil war and an ancient power that threatens to drown the world in eternal darkness. It will be officially released sometime in the first half of 2026, but is available for pre-order now from your local game store and the Free League website.

So is this final chapter to Symbaroum’s biggest campaign arc worth picking up? Below, we break down everything you need to know before venturing back into the deep, dark woods.

What is Ruins of Symbaroum?

Ruins of Symbaroum is a dark fantasy setting which is known for its gritty realism, touches of horror and unique take on classic fantasy tropes. In the lore of the world, a war to the south with an powerful dark lord decimated a once thriving human kingdom, resulting thousands of refugees fleeing the aftermath. Decades later, the survivors of the great war have begun to settle the lands of Ambria, a sprawling area of wilderness that puts them into violent conflict with nomadic elves and scattered barbarian tribes. The land is also home to the vast and mysterious Davokar forest, a place brimming with corrupting magic, slumbering horrors and the remnants of the lost empire of Symbaroum.

In the real world, Symbaroum began as its own standalone role-playing game, first published in 2015 by the Swedish studio Järnringen and later adopted by Free League Publishing. It quickly gained a reputation for its evocative art (which was primarily done by artist Martin Grip) and tight, story-focused setting. In 2021, Free League adapted the setting for the D&D 5th Edition ruleset, calling the product line Ruins of Symbaroum and releasing a number of supplements, including core books consisting of a Player’s Guide, Gamemaster’s Guide and Bestiary.

What is the Throne of Thorns Campaign about?

*** MINOR SPOILERS ***

The Throne of Thorns is a six-part campaign that was first released for the original Symbaroum RPG back in 2019 and has since been adapted into the Ruins of Symbaroum 5E product line. The story involves growing tensions between Ambria’s various political, religious and cultural factions as they push deeper into the mysterious forest of Davokar in search of the former capital of the lost empire of Symbaroum and the center of its power, known as the Throne of Thorns. The three campaign books are as follows:

• Throne of Thorns I is designed for Level 7 to 9 characters and consists of the adventures Wrath of the Warden and The Witch Hammer. The story kicks off in Thistle Hold with characters confronting a hidden cult, outmaneuvering various factions and searching for clues of the location of the lost capital of the Symbaroum Empire at the barbarian stronghold of Karvosti.
  
• Throne of Thorns II is designed for Level 10 to 14 characters and consists of the adventures The Darkest Star and Mother of Darkness. The plot involves players navigating rising political tensions in the colonial capital of Yndaros, uncovering new threats in the depths of the Davokar and choosing new allies and enemies as the threat of war looms.
  
• Throne of Thorns III is designed for Level 13 to 20 characters and consists of the adventures The Haunted Waste and Davokar Awakens. The campaign finds the players in the long abandoned southern lands of Alberetor as war once again rages and a dark power threatens to wipe out the lands of Ambria.

*** END OF SPOILERS ***

What’s included in The Throne of Thorns III?

In addition to the two adventures, the book includes:

• Nearly 20 full-color maps depicting key settlements and locations
• Over 70 stat blocks, including monsters and NPCs
• Extensive handouts for social encounters and investigative play.

Notably, the book does use the D&D 2014 core ruleset and not the current D&D 2024 mechanics.

Can you run Throne of Thorns III if you haven’t played the first two books?

Technically, you could jump in with only this volume, but it is highly recommended that groups play Parts I and II (or at the very least read their campaign summaries) to fully appreciate the political factions, past revelations and long-running character arcs.

Notably, you will also need the Ruins of Symbaroum Player’s Guide, Gamemaster’s Guide, and Bestiary to run the adventures.

How much is The Throne of Thorns III?

The book is currently available for pre-order from Free League for $45 USD (not including shipping and handling), which is comparable to what we’ve seen with the previous two books.

When will The Throne of Thorns III be released?

The book is expected to arrive in warehouses sometime in Q2 2026. The PDF version, however, is available now if you pre-order the hardcover from Free League.

Why The Throne of Thorns III is worth picking up

• A conclusion to an epic 5E campaign: The book wraps up an incredibly ambitious campaign arc, with world-changing decisions, massive battles and the fate of Ambria hanging by a thread.
• High-level play done right: Designed for characters level 13–20, these adventures give players a rare chance to experience meaningful, atmospheric high-tier 5E gameplay.
• Tons of GM resources: With nearly 20 detailed maps, 70 stat blocks and dozens of player handouts, the book provides a robust toolkit that GMs can use to bring the adventures to life.
• Impressive art and design: Ruins of Symbaroum is widely praised for its moody art direction, clean layouts, and evocative writing. Early previews suggest The Throne of Thorns III continues that tradition.

Final Thoughts

The original Throne of Thorns campaign published in 2019 helped establish Symbaroum as one of the most innovative dark fantasy settings in modern RPG history. With this new 5E version of the legendary campaign arc, players will be able to get one more chance to explore the darkest depths of the Davokar.

You can pre-order The Throne of Thorns III now from your local game store and the Free League website.