Shipwrecked in Saltmarsh

Molo pokes at the skull and bones several times. Then digs beneath them for… longer than he should. 

Molo hobbles deeper into the dunes to investigate the halberd and bones. Investigation: 6

They appear human, and very old, as does the halberd. But many appear freshly broken and hacked, as if they were relatively recently in a fight and then gathered and assembled here. There is an old campfire here as well. He also spots some faint tracks in the sand, as of many bootprints, leading both south (to the shore he just left) and east (parallel to the shore.) They are covered with thin, drifting, undisturbed sleet, so they were probably made within the last few days/weeks/months, but not since this storm began. It's hard to tell which direction they were travelling - maybe both. A group of humanoids came through here not too long ago, and might have fought some skeletons here.

Digging deeper into the sand reveals nothing - just a lot of sand.

     Fi'Finella is still exploring further inland, flying invisibly to see what the imp can see...

     Fianna is discussing with the others.  "I don't think I'm the captain's favorite, but I don't think we can tarry here longer than absolutely necessary.  There's been fighting about, we've hints of an abby whose populace may not be friendly, and undead...  An intriguing mystery, yes.  But not one I think we're currently suited to tackle, if we want to live and save out dwarven sailors..."

“I’m no genius, but you need stuff to repair boats with, and nothing eases a man’s trouble like gold. if this captain has an easier time of this trip because he’s got treasure in his pocket, that seems good, right? Like… we owe it to him, yeah?” Molo is rambling a bit and twirling the Polearm he’s found now, although it’s way too big for his size.

With some altitude and some clearing of the weather, Fi'Finella is able to make out a little more of the landscape. The beaches turn to steep granite cliffs to the east and to the west of this island or peninsula as they turn northward. The desolate expanse of dunes ahead gives way to gently rising hills after maybe a third of a mile to the north, rising up about fifty feet from the dunes to a windswept plateau topped with stunted scrub. Perhaps a mile to the north, somewhere over this sharp-edged plateau, Fi'Finella can make out a smudge of smoke in the sky.

     “Yes, we do need materials to repair the ship.  No doubt,” Fianna replies to Molo.  “I guess my point is that we should do what is needed and get underway.  Exploring further mysteries, specially before we have an escape if needed, could just lead to losing more dwarves…  and they’re the ones who know how to fix the boat.”

     Fi’Finella will stop somewhere, change from invisible to raven form, and go explore the smoke…

Kelnan, grateful to set foot on dry land again, finds a quiet spot to cast Detect Magic and then sets about scanning the area.

"Truly intriguing, but perhaps we should keep the dwarves guarded while they seek materials in case more of these foul things are about."

Kelnan detects nothing arcane in the area.

Fi'Finella flies ahead, a black raven against a dark sky, flying rapidly toward the distant smoke to the north. By the time Fianna's familiar gets to what appears to be the origin, the smoke has dissipated. But it appears to be a blackened ruin - a large building that, based on the state of the timbers and the charring of the nearby field, was recently burned to the ground by a major fire. One burly human can be seen digging in a nearby field. 

Meanwhile, the dwarven scouting parties, having walked several hundred yards in each direction, are now on their way back to confer with the captain, who is working with a crewmember to make camp on the beach where they landed. 

Dain stands around, feeling like a bit of a spare wheel and waiting to see what there is he can hit.

Molo approaches the Captain. 

“Captain, this place is… unwelcoming. What can we do to help?” 

     “I suggest the dwarves stay together, for safety.  As much as I’ve argued against side missions here, I think we should go check out this guy my familiar has spotted…” Fianna says, hurriedly explaining what Fi’Finella has seen.  “If nothing else, we don’t need him burning wood we could use to repair the shop.”

The captain is only half paying attention to the lame kobold, as he watches his scouting parties head back and the final group of crew arrive from the stranded ship. Two crewmembers will remain aboard ship, together with the skiff, to guard the vessel. Finally, the captain barks at Molo, "Gather kindling an' look for food!"

Just as he says this, a cry emerges from the pair of scouts returning from the west, perhaps 300 feet away. As you look, a half dozen skeletal figures have suddenly appeared out of nowhere, ambushing the poor dwarves with quick and deadly bladework. Before anyone can even prepare a spell or load a crossbow, the two dwarves are dead in the sand. The skeletons stare at the shore party, their empty eyesockets seemingly watching you from afar, their weapons readied. They do not move.

Molo checks his bag of bones for activity

(Did Molo collect some bones, as well as the broken halbard? In any case, they remain inert. There is no visible activity at the location where he found the halbard and bones, although Molo is some distance from it now.)

     "You heard the captain," Fianna would say with a sneer.  "He commands you gather kindling!"

     Turning to the captain and adopting an overly sweet mannerism Fianna would then add "Do dead dwarves burn well or should we look elsewhere?"

Quote from cbaer8 >>

(Did Molo collect some bones, as well as the broken halbard? In any case, they remain inert. There is no visible activity at the location where he found the halbard and bones, although Molo is some distance from it now.)

 

 I’m sorry, I did not write that. I meant to, but I must’ve forgotten to say I collected them. 

Dain hefts his maul and moves to the front of the group, putting himself between the party, the crew and the skeletons.  I didnae think I'd actually get ta hit summit.  I hopes I dinnae summon them skeles wit ma mind...

There is a tense moment as Dain and the skeletons face each other, perfectly still, from a great distance. A bitter cold gust blows sleet in swirls across the desolate dunes, as the surf booms in the background. Then the skeletons suddenly collapse and melt into the white sand. Nothing remains now but two dead dwarves.

The captain spits and walks away from Fianna without responding, muttering something about "...can swim home."

The other scouting pair return without incident, giving their report to the Captain regarding the immediate coast to the east.

Dain shakes his head in confusion and wonder.

     “Boat doesn’t float so we all will be… “ Fianna shrugs.  
     “Scaredy cat undead, ominous notes, lone weirdo digging near a burning building…  What we want to check out first?” Fianna asks, attitude suddenly chipper and eager.