Chapter 3

@Moon: two points. First, Tomas shows no obvious signs that he is lying but he does look hard to read.
Second, you have seen necromantic magic users in your travels and they tend to use their magic for selfish reasons.

@Everyone else: Necromancy is illegal in the Immerald Empire and most of the civilized nations. Most believe it to be a perversion of the natural order and in direct conflict with the teachings of Pelor.

@Moon: They are not rare but I wouldn't say they were common. You come from a travelling family and this isn't your first time travelling through a frontier. Generally speaking, frontier settlements don't have the luxury to turn away manpower. They need as much of it as they can get, so they tend to be a little more tolerant of half-orcs, drow and such.

If you wish to give the second option a try then please give me a stealth and an athletics roll please.

Add nothing to the rolls.

You issue the command and watch as the skeleton you designate as Skeleton Alpha walks into the water towards the chest. It makes it all the way to the chest (about 15 feet out) when you see the elementals rise out of the water and attack it.

The first attack misses the skeleton but the second connects and smashes the skeleton into small bone fragments.

@Krigare and Tomas: If you wish to rush out, grab the chest and bring it back it will take you two rounds to do so and I'll need a successful athletics check from Krigare with advantage because Tomas is helping you.

Like a well oiled machine you execute your maneuver with precision. The skeletons rush out and as soon as the elementals show themselves you rush towards the chest.
Krigare rips the chest out from between the rocks and the three of you make a break for the shore line.

The water elementals rip the skeletons to pieces but by the time they have finished you are all safely ashore with the rather large chest. You examine it and find that it is locked.

What do you do?

@Ronda: You have some experience with breaking into things. The chest is quite large and would take some effort to smash against anything. Also, your background would probably tell you that if you do try and break into the chest this way then you will likely destroy any fragile items in the chest.