A cluster of several closely grouped stark crags rising
from the deep silt, the Isle of Bones is a barren and
forbidding place. Each crag rises 400-800' above the silt
and is 100-1,000 yards from its nearest neighbor. The silt
between the crags is several hundred feet deep. There are
11 crags, and four are large enough to support vegetation
on their crowns.
The Isle of Bones gains its name from the broken
skeletons littering the steep shoulders of the crags. These
are the remains of the prey of the isle's chief predators, a
large tribe of aarakocra. The bird-men are exceptionally
fierce and strong and range for miles over the silt in
search of food. Many of the skeletons of the Isle of Bones
are human or elf.
The aarakocra tribe numbers 80 and inhabits the four
largest peaks. The natural caves and vegetation of the
crags make for excellent lairs. An exceptionally savage
and degenerate tribe, the aarakocra prey on any travelers
who come within their clutches. They are frequently
encountered as far as 30 miles away and prefer to hunt
in parties of 6 to 12.
The aarakocra of the Isle of Bones prefer to attack
with swooping volleys of javelins, but occasionally try to
capture human or demihuman victims for torture back at
their lair. For this the bird-men drop weighted nets over
fleeing prey. Four aarakocra can carry a netted human by
the trailing ropes of the net. The hapless victim endures
vicious abuse before being thrown from the top of the
crag.
The isle is also home to many carnivorous bats of
the large and giant varieties. The aarakocra are diurnal
creatures and the bats rarely trouble them.