COMPLICATIONS ON THE DUNES
The skeletons of the Skull Dunes wait for the characters
to make the first aggressive move. If you see fit, use the
table below to introduce additional menace.
SKULL DUNES COMPLICATIONS
d6 Event
Three manticores that lair on a nearby coast swoop
down to attack. They use the skeletons to help finish
off land-based prey by landing in a square infested with
them, then flying off as they emerge.
2 The surge of necromantic energy caused by the skele·
tons' awakening draws 4dl 0 zombies of slain pirates out
of the waters and toward the beach.
3 3d6 swarms of quippers infest the waters around the is-
land. Having feasted on those who fell during the battle,
they are eager for more fresh meat.
4 A sudden squall kicks up! The sudden driving rain
causes skeletons to arise in three random squares.
5 A pirate, Knife-Catcher Skeen (NE male human bandit),
has hidden in a clear square in the dunes. Left for dead
by his comrades, he begs the characters for help.
6 A keelboat with a full crew and carrying five rival trea-
sure hunters (LE human veterans) arrives at the island.
The group scouted the beach earlier and now plans on
luring the skeletons out of the dunes and killing them
with ranged attacks. They come ashore while the char-
acters are crossing the dunes, and then attack.T H E ABBEY RUINS
The ruins of the abbey are located near the center of Ab-
bey Isle, as shown on map 5.1.RECENT EVENTS
The pirate attack on the abbey came as a complete sur-
prise to the clerics, s ince the pirates and clerics were
previously in league with each other. The pirates fenced
much of their booty through the clerics, who shipped the
goods to distant temples where they could be sold with-
out being recognized as stolen merchandise.
The Abbey Isle clerics often cheated the pirates on
these clandestine deals. The pirates grumbled about
the poor treatment they received, but they issued no
ultimatums to alter the arrangements. Although the two
groups had their differences, the clerics never expected
the pirates to rebel, confident in their undead defenses
even if they did.
Unfortunately for the clerics, the pirates had enough
numbers to barely make it through the skeleton horde.
After suffering considerable losses against the undead,
they proved to be in such a vengeful mood that they set
fire to the abbey. With the structure aflame. they didn't
bother looting the building or searching for the cellars
being buried by the burning debris.
After the battle, the pirates gathered what loot they
could and abandoned the ruins, unaware that they were
leaving survivors behind. When the smoldering wreck-
age cooled, the survivors made their way out th rough
the rubble.< llAl'TER ISLJ' OF TllE \IH\l\'