Are they complete skeletons, or a mix of various bones? Do they indicate creatures dying on the bridge, or being eaten by some creature and the bones discarded here?

Illezenya can see that very few of the bones are articulated and most likely represent left-overs from some sort of creature(s) meals.

Before approaching the chamber, Ebonitus ensures that everyone is within 30 feet and casts Pass without trace to make it more difficult to be spotted. 

In response to D's query about digging into the rock Devin sighs.  

"Yes,  I could do such a thing if I had but prepared myself this morning to do so.   Too late now."

As they prepare to climb the stairs Devin sighs and mutters to himself.

"Somehow I knew this was going to happen."

Coming across what is clearly the den of a flying creature he remarks out loud. 

"Certainly the den of whatever this 3 headed creatures were.  We best press on in case they return."

As he says this he scans the skys for the creatures they saw earlier. 

Perception 27

Though troubled by the climb, having largely developed in a more tropical nation, D.O.R.K continued to climb the steps with a purpose until they reached the cave. Seeing the bones, she immediately went on guard and drew forth Helmsplitter while straining her sensors for any signs of the creatures.

"A strong possibility." D.O.R.K spoke a touch absent-mindedly. "But... not a wholly inconvenient place to fight them, if only to limit any temptation of the creatures to simply throw us off the cliff." She admits. Despite her agreement, if there yet seem to be no adjoining stairs nearby leading further up the cliff, D.O.R.K expresses as much, and would then suggest heading deeper to the back in hopes of finding an adjoining tunnel or large enough crack in the wall that might at least lead the group deeper into the mountain, and by extension perhaps even provide an egress into the giant's home. An egress they yet could not quite see from the entryway at least without further investigation....

Ilezenya looks around also and says to the group, "I have the ability to fly for a short time - a gift from my goddess. I can go across the bridge to draw out whatever may be lurking without fear of being knocked over the side or being snatched up and dropped. You all keep watch and stand ready to attack whatever comes for me...anyone have better plans?" 

(OOC: My bad - The staircase resumes on the opposite side of the ledge)

Ebonitus says to Ilezenya "Don't stray too far from the main group, you need to stay within 30 feet to get the benefit of the stealth."

"Agreed." D.O.R.K adds in response to Ebonitus. "If my observations have been correct or our patrons have at least assured it, we shan't need to cross any of the bridges to reach the top, if not come across other, more promising tunnels deeper in on our way up. But your offer has been noted. Until then, let's keep the cross chatter to a minimum and ascend with some care." Having said all that, she again took point while keeping closer to the walls of the mountain on the way up. 

-Stealth(if needed): 16. 

The party keeps climbing towards the top of the staircase. As they near the top Devin spots a giant walking down in the valley far below and warns the party. As the stop to watch they can see that the giant is accompanied by 12 smaller humanoids dragging something after them. Eventually the giant and its party reach the giant doors where the giant stops for a minute. The doors then open and the giant and its party move inside. After which the doors shut.

As the party keeps climbing, they come to a hairpin bend. Rounding the bend, they can see that directly above them is the village and the other the side of a cleft - crossed - by a sturdy bridge is more of the village.  At the head of the cleft - approximately 400 feet away - you can see a waterfall pouring down the face of the cliff. From where you are and looking both up and across it would seem that the entire village is surrounded by high stone walls. About 300 feet away on the other side of the cleft you can see a pair of double wooden doors set into the wall of the village.

"Normally I would suggest waiting until darkness, but we should probably beat the giant and its party to our goal..." He is looking for any signs of where the chimera may have its lair...

"What I would not do for some sort of cloak of invisibility." D.O.R.K murmured to herself in what sounded almost like a mildly amused tone. "Or a spy glass." She groused as well, thinking back to but a few moments ago. For if they could've just confirmed the type of smaller humanoids involved and their condition... 

She curtly shook her head in dismissal, then finally glanced to the others. "I doubt that was the only giant here, if you were inferring the one below was its owner. Nevermind the guards and possible servants that yet no doubt call the innards of this mountain home." She said in response to Ilezenya. "Now, do any of you have a means prepared to look over the high wall? For if not, we may need to abandon discretion shortly and simply knock. Or daringly try to climb over and hope for the best." 

"I do have an ability to move through the air, although the sphere of darkness surrounding me will not go unnoticed...or I can make you invisible if that would help."

(OOC - so now the DM is confused. D.O.R.K. said you were continuing on and Illezenya said he’s looking for the Chimera lair. Did the party split?)

((OOC - My understanding is we passed by the cave and continued up.  Illezenya is on the lookout for the chimera cave.  Personally I think that was the cave we passed by.))

Devin hunkers down next to D.  "I can send another Arcane Eye out to recon the village."

Unless there is an objection he casts the spell and sends the Arcane Eye up and towards the wooden gates and then over the wall.  He'll start to explore the village with the eye.  He'll narrate to the others out loud what he sees.

Quote from Paladin54 >>

((OOC - My understanding is we passed by the cave and continued up.  Illezenya is on the lookout for the chimera cave.  Personally I think that was the cave we passed by.))

Devin hunkers down next to D.  "I can send another Arcane Eye out to recon the village."

Unless there is an objection he casts the spell and sends the Arcane Eye up and towards the wooden gates and then over the wall.  He'll start to explore the village with the eye.  He'll narrate to the others out loud what he sees.

 

 (OOC - Same here regarding the cave and having passed by it.)

D.O.R.K cups her chin and at least seemed to consider Ilezenya proposal for a moment. Yet at Devin's suggestion, there's but a moment's hesitation before she at least nodded in approval. Though if enough of the others objected such expenditure of magic, then she may very well... acquiesce. And grudgingly so, at that. "Let us reserve your particular gifts as a later resort, Dusk Warden. For now, it is recommended we retreat or hug the wall before Devin begins his observation. Just enough for that in the event someone comes poking their heads over the wall somehow, they will see us immediately." If there's no objection there, she'd start back for the stairs despite the more perilous positioning, but would not argue if others prefer to hug the wall of the village near them.

(OOC: Ilezenya wasn't setting ut to FIND the lair - he was just keeping an eye out...)

Ebonitus belatedly comes to a realisation, remembering what the Oracle said: 

https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/26318-storm-kings-thunder-the-gods-respond?comment=4591 

"If this is the village of yakfolk, then the forge is below, where the Giant just entered." he whispers to the party. "We do not need to deal with these people or the chimera, we just need to work out how to get into the forge down below. But if we cannot get in through those doors, perhaps there is another entrance, but I am not convinced that it is through this village."

Though she needed not breath, D.O.R.K took in a deep breath just to let out a sigh of exasperation, traced the holy symbol etched into her forehead, and muttered, "Mother give me strength." After taking a moment more to comport herself, she takes one last glance around to make sure no of the flying monstrosities were incoming before addressing Ebonitus. 

"Regarding the chiemras, I do agree. Although eliminating them may in turn remove a variable from any departure from this area, it is not wholly necessary. However, I... I /must/ disagree regarding the yakfolk for the following reasons:-..." She at that point holds up four fingers, and with each point to follow, drop them down. "One, as residents of the mountain top with a clear access point to the ground near the entrance of those great doors below, the odds of them knowing absolutely nothing about the comings and goings of the giants at the very least is astronomically low. Thus, they would be aware of them, and possibly privy to their activities, even if only from an outsider's perspective so.... Which brings me to my second point. Although their exact species was unclear from up here, we did just see several small humanoids in the company of a fire giant below. Humanoids that could very well be other Yakfolk, opening the possibilities of some relationship between the to. Even if not, there is yet point number point three to consider..." 

She briefly gestures at the surrounding stone before continuing. "If anyone beside the giant, and possibly the multi-headed creatures we encountered, would be aware of any way down into the forge -- ie. through other tunnels, be naturally made or not, it would be the yakfolk, as again, they live in these mountains. And for point four, if we can ascertain the type of relationship they have with the giants, we may be able to recruit a potential ally in our endeavor, or at least acquire some information to make a more informed decision on how best to... potentially deal with them."

"I'm not convinced either Ebonitus, but I don't know how we could have gotten that door open.  And if we had stayed down there we may have been seen by that giant.  Perhaps we will find another way from up here.  We can always go back down if we are undiscovered if we choose to do so." Devin responds before sending the Arcane Eye out.

The party with the exception of Haetone are able to huddle in a small alcove at the point of the hairpin corner and Devin sends his arcane eye up over the wall that is directly above them. As the arcane eye cross the wall he can see the edge of a large building that is at least 30 feet long by 30 feet wide (OOC - the spell only has a visual range of 30 feet). The sides of the building are made of stacked stone and its roof is thatched.