Another example of taking inspiration from things I find on Pinterest, and then making an encounter out of it:

Every encounter with a skeleton during an adventure doesn’t need to be a matter of life or death. Especially along the Triboar Trail, where you’re likely to find them just laying around from time to time:

The skeletal remains of a long-dead warrior recline in a hollowed-out oak tree near the camp. Wild mushrooms jut out of one of its eye sockets, while musk thistle sprouts through the rib cage alongside the arrows which brought an end to this fallen combatant.

Have some fun with the investigation pillar of adventuring. Those mushrooms sprouting out of the eye socket and climbing up the trunk of the tree? A DC 10 Wisdom (Survival) check identifies them as edible, able to feed a party of four. A passive Wisdom (Perception) of 12 notices a faint glow emanating beneath the ivy blanketing the ground around the tree beside the skeleton. A search of the source finds a moon touched sword.

Skill checks can be a fun part of adventuring, especially if you get creative with them and offer the occasional reward. Consider giving this one a try the next time your party strikes camp!

+++

If you’d like to support my work, please consider checking out my supplements for Lost Mine of Phandelver and Dragon of Icespire Peak over on Dungeon Master’s Guild! All of my titles are Free/PWYW offerings.