Cad also waits at the bottom with Horatio, not wanting to add unnecessary weight to the precarious structure. Besides, someone needs to guard the only means of exit, and Horatio’s fists and my magic are the best we have to hand. “You seem much calmer after a rest. Still committed to confronting this Bavlorna?“
Horatio shrugs. "I came to the carnival wanting to lift my own curse. I was annoyed, frustrated, sad... determined. But I thought if I just confronted them they'd fix things. But no one cared. No one cared over and over again, and all my other emotions gave way to anger. I wanted to burn that place down for real. Especially as we learned about the children. When we came here I thought I'd finally get to hurt the bad people responsible, and I threw that rock... Mrs. Tsu... her story of what happened here... can you imagine how many people died? How many children? A whole county of lives in this strange place, just trying to survive. I'm still mad as hells, but I won't let myself be careless again. I won't add to the suffering... Whatever comes next, I want to beat this stupid Hag." His voice is low as he speaks, as if he's reflecting upon every word as he speaks them.
Cad nods resignedly. “When I followed you through, I was hoping I could talk you all out of your plan. ‘What’s lost is gone,’ I thought. Even now, seeing the ubiquity of magic in this world, I’m skeptical about whether these lost things can ever be restored. Sure, the bag might be able to return your reflection, but Matilda’s brother? How do you restore a babe?”
”But looking at this land, hearing Tsu’s story of how it was once beautiful, I don’t think I can just let it go. I’m not sure we’ll recover anything lost, but if we can stop Bavlorna and her coven we might be able to prevent future suffering. So I guess I’m with you, for what good it’ll do us.”
"I've been dealing with bullies most my life, and I don't always win. Coupla times I was sure they'd kill me. I never regretted standing up to them though... I don't know much about Hags, but these lot sound worse than any bully. It'll do good, because even if we lose, they'll realize there'll be a next time, and another and another. The wrong they do will only stir more and more folks to right them. If we're only the beginning, we won't be the end."
The tiny purple dragonoid in the cage looks up at Titaani and Matilda at the top of the tower. "Yes, that would be very gracious of you. Bavlorna trapped me in this accursed birdcage. Alas, poor Wigglewog stole it and we fled in one of her balloons. It was quite a scene! Then we were attacked by a malicious wind which sent us careening into this ancient tower. Quite a conundrum. I fear the cage may be enchanted, but I happen to know where a key might be."
Ben is able to lean over and grab the rope. He tests it to see if he can lift its weight. That he can likely do, but lifting the basket over the crenellations will require some finesse. (A DC 15 Athletics check, for which he can get Help.)
Cad and Horatio guard the doorway below. No snakes, nor any other threats, appear.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ben:
"Titaani, can you help me please? Let us get this good Sir Talavar to safety up here with us," asks Ben as he starts hauling on the rope carefully and steadily to bring the basket up to them.
If help is given:
Athletics: 24
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Titaani happily helps Ben with the basket, buzzing with excitement. Having never encountered a dragon before, she is dying to ask him a million questions, but something about Ben's cautious nature keeps her from doing so.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pronouns: She/her/her's
Currently playing as Titaani Leelathae in The Wild beyond the Witchlight
Ben and Titaani haul up the basket but are unable to pull it over the crenellations of the slanted tower peak, nor quite reach inside it. Somebody could climb inside while Ben and Titaani hold tight, and try to grab the little cage, but the weight limit of their lifting power might be exceeded. One of the ropes is badly frayed, so care should be taken in that regard as well.
"Ah, the key!" continues Sir Talavar quietly to Matilda. "I have it on good authority that a goblin named Jingle Jangle has a copy of the key to this accursed cage. She lives atop Telemy Hill, not too far from here. You see, I must return to my queen and report the news. I am but a humble vassal of Her Magnificence, the Summer Queen. I will repay you for your help."
”Matilda, our new friend is precariously balanced just below us. Do you think you can reach down and pull him to safety, or should we call for help from down below?” asks Ben quietly between grunts of effort holding the basket up.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
”Matilda, our new friend is precariously balanced just below us. Do you think you can reach down and pull him to safety, or should we call for help from down below?” asks Ben quietly between grunts of effort holding the basket up.
" If you hold my ankles I can try and reach him if you lower me down."
Ben and Titaani strain to hold the heavy basket up. The frayed ropes chafe worrisomely against the old stones.
Matilda looks around for help lowering her down into the dangling basket. (Is anyone helping her? If so...)
Matilda: Make an Athletics or Dex check to grab and lift the silver birdcage to safety, upside down. Whoever might be holding Matilda's feet: Make an Athletics check to make sure she doesn't fall into the basket.
"I must request your position on this news that Zybilna has been overthrown by the Hourglass Coven," Sir Talavar continues, quietly, one gloved finger waving in the air as he speaks. "Do you support Zybilna or do you support Bavolrna and her sisters?"
"In either case, I am much obliged for your rescue," he adds.
Cad and Horatio continue to guard the doorway below.
”Sorry, Matilda, I am working as hard as I can to keep the basket stable. We need more help,” responds Ben to her good idea.
”Sir Talavar, we have come here to plead with the rightful ruler Zybilna for the return of that which was stolen from us by Bavlorna. We hope in restoring the queen to her rightful place, we may prevail upon her to uphold the Rule of Ownership and make us whole again,” says Ben as he works to keep the basket as steady as possible.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The party tries to maintain quiet, at Sir Talavar's insistence, even as no serpents appear. So while Cad and Horatio can hear noises of exertion and quiet frustration above, and can see the basket lift and then stop from below, they can't hear any of the conversations.
But Edgardo, with the others at the top of the tower, can.
Edgardo will offer to either trade places with or Help Matilda. Being leporine, he has extraordinary Dex abilities. 🤪 (Sorry all. Still mostly out of action) NPC Edgardo for the time being if you like. The current scenario is a great one for him to join in on.
Edgardo agrees to lower Matilda over the side. Edgardo Athletics check:2
...As Ben and Titaani grunt with the sustained effort of keeping the basket up, Edgardo carefully lowers Matilda upside-down, down over the edge of the slanted tower. The thin harengon is no athlete, however. Sweating and wobbling, he lowers Matilda close enough to grab the cage, but discovers he lacks the immediate strength to lift the weight of both Matilda and the cage back up from this awkward angle...
(Matilda should still make an Athletics or Dex check to grab and lift the silver birdcage, upside down, but now she has a second problem...)
Cad is not reassured by Horatio's words. Sounds like he wouldn't much mind dying for a cause. Well I for one have no intention of being 'the first.' Just then he sees the basket begin to rise. "Well, they must have made it to the top. Looks like they're going to be able to haul him out, no problem." At least that's going to plan!
Beginning to lose his grip on Matilda's feet, Edgardo tries again – this time with an all-or-nothing jump straight up with his powerful rabbitoid legs.
Getting ready to shift his grip, Ben sees Matilda start to fall. He gets a sickening feeling in his stomach, thinking how much easier this all would have been if he hadn't encouraged her to waste the Pixie Dust on showmanship during the big tent meeting.
Praying she has a good grip on the cage, Ben lunges for her feet as Edgardo loses his grip!
Athletics: 17
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Horatio shrugs. "I came to the carnival wanting to lift my own curse. I was annoyed, frustrated, sad... determined. But I thought if I just confronted them they'd fix things. But no one cared. No one cared over and over again, and all my other emotions gave way to anger. I wanted to burn that place down for real. Especially as we learned about the children. When we came here I thought I'd finally get to hurt the bad people responsible, and I threw that rock... Mrs. Tsu... her story of what happened here... can you imagine how many people died? How many children? A whole county of lives in this strange place, just trying to survive. I'm still mad as hells, but I won't let myself be careless again. I won't add to the suffering... Whatever comes next, I want to beat this stupid Hag." His voice is low as he speaks, as if he's reflecting upon every word as he speaks them.
Cadwallader:
Cad nods resignedly. “When I followed you through, I was hoping I could talk you all out of your plan. ‘What’s lost is gone,’ I thought. Even now, seeing the ubiquity of magic in this world, I’m skeptical about whether these lost things can ever be restored. Sure, the bag might be able to return your reflection, but Matilda’s brother? How do you restore a babe?”
”But looking at this land, hearing Tsu’s story of how it was once beautiful, I don’t think I can just let it go. I’m not sure we’ll recover anything lost, but if we can stop Bavlorna and her coven we might be able to prevent future suffering. So I guess I’m with you, for what good it’ll do us.”
"I've been dealing with bullies most my life, and I don't always win. Coupla times I was sure they'd kill me. I never regretted standing up to them though... I don't know much about Hags, but these lot sound worse than any bully. It'll do good, because even if we lose, they'll realize there'll be a next time, and another and another. The wrong they do will only stir more and more folks to right them. If we're only the beginning, we won't be the end."
The tiny purple dragonoid in the cage looks up at Titaani and Matilda at the top of the tower. "Yes, that would be very gracious of you. Bavlorna trapped me in this accursed birdcage. Alas, poor Wigglewog stole it and we fled in one of her balloons. It was quite a scene! Then we were attacked by a malicious wind which sent us careening into this ancient tower. Quite a conundrum. I fear the cage may be enchanted, but I happen to know where a key might be."
Ben is able to lean over and grab the rope. He tests it to see if he can lift its weight. That he can likely do, but lifting the basket over the crenellations will require some finesse. (A DC 15 Athletics check, for which he can get Help.)
Cad and Horatio guard the doorway below. No snakes, nor any other threats, appear.
" Where is the key?", queried Matilda.
Ben:
"Titaani, can you help me please? Let us get this good Sir Talavar to safety up here with us," asks Ben as he starts hauling on the rope carefully and steadily to bring the basket up to them.
If help is given:
Athletics: 24
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Titaani happily helps Ben with the basket, buzzing with excitement. Having never encountered a dragon before, she is dying to ask him a million questions, but something about Ben's cautious nature keeps her from doing so.
Pronouns: She/her/her's
Currently playing as Titaani Leelathae in The Wild beyond the Witchlight
Ben and Titaani haul up the basket but are unable to pull it over the crenellations of the slanted tower peak, nor quite reach inside it. Somebody could climb inside while Ben and Titaani hold tight, and try to grab the little cage, but the weight limit of their lifting power might be exceeded. One of the ropes is badly frayed, so care should be taken in that regard as well.
"Ah, the key!" continues Sir Talavar quietly to Matilda. "I have it on good authority that a goblin named Jingle Jangle has a copy of the key to this accursed cage. She lives atop Telemy Hill, not too far from here. You see, I must return to my queen and report the news. I am but a humble vassal of Her Magnificence, the Summer Queen. I will repay you for your help."
" A goblin named Jingle Jangle at the top of Telemy Hill? Ok, lets go."
Ben:
”Matilda, our new friend is precariously balanced just below us. Do you think you can reach down and pull him to safety, or should we call for help from down below?” asks Ben quietly between grunts of effort holding the basket up.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
" If you hold my ankles I can try and reach him if you lower me down."
Ben and Titaani strain to hold the heavy basket up. The frayed ropes chafe worrisomely against the old stones.
Matilda looks around for help lowering her down into the dangling basket. (Is anyone helping her? If so...)
Matilda: Make an Athletics or Dex check to grab and lift the silver birdcage to safety, upside down.
Whoever might be holding Matilda's feet: Make an Athletics check to make sure she doesn't fall into the basket.
"I must request your position on this news that Zybilna has been overthrown by the Hourglass Coven," Sir Talavar continues, quietly, one gloved finger waving in the air as he speaks. "Do you support Zybilna or do you support Bavolrna and her sisters?"
"In either case, I am much obliged for your rescue," he adds.
Cad and Horatio continue to guard the doorway below.
Ben:
”Sorry, Matilda, I am working as hard as I can to keep the basket stable. We need more help,” responds Ben to her good idea.
”Sir Talavar, we have come here to plead with the rightful ruler Zybilna for the return of that which was stolen from us by Bavlorna. We hope in restoring the queen to her rightful place, we may prevail upon her to uphold the Rule of Ownership and make us whole again,” says Ben as he works to keep the basket as steady as possible.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
(( Are Cad or Horatio hearing the distress above? ))
The party tries to maintain quiet, at Sir Talavar's insistence, even as no serpents appear. So while Cad and Horatio can hear noises of exertion and quiet frustration above, and can see the basket lift and then stop from below, they can't hear any of the conversations.
But Edgardo, with the others at the top of the tower, can.
Edgardo agrees to lower Matilda over the side.
Edgardo Athletics check: 2
...As Ben and Titaani grunt with the sustained effort of keeping the basket up, Edgardo carefully lowers Matilda upside-down, down over the edge of the slanted tower. The thin harengon is no athlete, however. Sweating and wobbling, he lowers Matilda close enough to grab the cage, but discovers he lacks the immediate strength to lift the weight of both Matilda and the cage back up from this awkward angle...
(Matilda should still make an Athletics or Dex check to grab and lift the silver birdcage, upside down, but now she has a second problem...)
Cadwallader:
Cad is not reassured by Horatio's words. Sounds like he wouldn't much mind dying for a cause. Well I for one have no intention of being 'the first.' Just then he sees the basket begin to rise. "Well, they must have made it to the top. Looks like they're going to be able to haul him out, no problem." At least that's going to plan!
Beginning to lose his grip on Matilda's feet, Edgardo tries again – this time with an all-or-nothing jump straight up with his powerful rabbitoid legs.
Edgardo Athletics check: 6
Disaster. Edgardo loses his grip, and his balance as well.
Matilda tumbles.
Edgardo: Acrobatics check: 17
...Edgardo manages to catch himself on the edge of the tower, but Matilda goes flying.
(Does Matilda have the cage? Make a DC10 Athletics or Dex check to grab the silver birdcage in the basket.)
Ben:
Getting ready to shift his grip, Ben sees Matilda start to fall. He gets a sickening feeling in his stomach, thinking how much easier this all would have been if he hadn't encouraged her to waste the Pixie Dust on showmanship during the big tent meeting.
Praying she has a good grip on the cage, Ben lunges for her feet as Edgardo loses his grip!
Athletics: 17
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
( Sorry...slept in.)
Matilda Dex Check- 21
Even as she fell Matilda grabbed for the cage....