The pit takes up the.majority of the room, so if the room is 30 feet wide, the bit would be 28 feet lip to lip, leaving a foot wide path on either side. You understand that, at walking speed, it would not be too difficult to take the path on either side, but, also, judging by the jagged shards of bone in the pit, you would not want to slip. Having to take it at running speed might be considerably more challenging.
Then we'd have to tie people as they cross I suppose. Or I can go look to see what is causing the smoke and retreat to this chamber if anything attacks?
Since the bones fill up to five feet below the lip of the pit, getting in and out shouldn't be difficult for any character at least four feet tall (arguably shorter). Are the bone shards so sharp that even carefully lowering ourselves down into the pit and walking across, watching our step, will cause damage?
@Casmenos: You certainly could, though you would have to consider the possibility of coming back to, over, or around that pit at speed should you encounter anything.
@Tumal: You are not entirely sure. They are jagged enough you surmise falling would definitely hurt. Moving across may be no more difficult than moving through a field of caltrops -- if the bones do not shift, and you have no way of telling.
@Marrow: a rope across the center would not aid much, since the paths are at the side. A foot wide does make them fully 3 times as wide as a balance beam, however.
I would say, says Marrow slowly, that we should definitely not split up. Someone or something comes here regularly, to deposit these... remains... in the pit, and it must be related to the thing we've been sent here to do, right? I mean, unexpected bones in the wrong place - that's pretty suspicious. He takes a moment to look away from the pit, trying to keep the contents of his stomach down.
I vote that we pass around the pit together, slowly and carefully, and investigate the room that Casmenos has glimpsed. With that, he takes a similar rope from his backpack and starts tying it around his waist, a little clumsily due to his gauntlets and armour, but he gets there in the end. He then offers up one end of the rope to anyone who wishes to be tied to him. Being tied together will restrict our movement, I suppose, but should prevent anyone falling into the pit. Which would be very bad, I think. He then waits to get a sense of what the others would like to do.
Here's another question: Are there crevices in the walls arrows could be wedged into to create above-the-head hand holds? Many times, our balance is better than we fear, and just having something "stable" to touch gives us enough security to keep our balance even when we really didn't need the help. If not, can we use the niches where the bones and baubles are being held in some way? What do they look like and how far apart are they?
Another idea if there are crevices in the walls: could a rope be secured towards the ceiling as to belay people across, one by one? I know this is slower, but since we already have someone across to belay, they could take the slack if someone loses a handhold. If we need someone to scatter up to mount a hook or loop for the rope, Bastian would volunteer.
There are no notches or handholds suitable to affix something, however, the wall seems stable enough to lean against, and what notches that exist can easily be grabbed.
"Another thing we could do is use the rope to lower me into the pit to take a closer look at those bones, something tells me there is something going on here."
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Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God Adewild: Shadows and Light 2 Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
"If we're hellbent on checking this pit first, fine." Destin stows his axes and pulls the rope strapped to the side of his pack. "I am fairly strong, so can help provide ballast up here or be the one to climb in."
After some raising, some lowering, a fair bit of struggling, and one near miss where the bones shifted, the party has come to the conclusion that the pit of bones are what they appear to be - bones discarded without care. As you get very close to them, you can detect a faint wisp of smoky residue on the bones, but they are otherwise completely unremarkable.
Tumal nods. "I believe we should head toward the smoke. Something might be amiss at this very moment. There doesn't seem to be any way to use a rope to aid in our navigation around the pit, so, let's agree to give up on that idea. I have a feeling ... " The elf reaches up and touches the crystal at his throat. "I have a feeling I can give each of you guidance in your steps as you attempt to pass along the ledge." He squints at the floor a little as if figuring something out, then looks up with a confident nod. "Who's first?"
Tumal will stand by the doorway to the pit room and touch each person as they prepare to walk around the pit, casting guidance on them. Each time he does, the crystal at his throat flares. As the guidance is in effect, there is an ever so slight light which glows in the eyes of each of the blessed.
The pit takes up the.majority of the room, so if the room is 30 feet wide, the bit would be 28 feet lip to lip, leaving a foot wide path on either side. You understand that, at walking speed, it would not be too difficult to take the path on either side, but, also, judging by the jagged shards of bone in the pit, you would not want to slip. Having to take it at running speed might be considerably more challenging.
Then we'd have to tie people as they cross I suppose. Or I can go look to see what is causing the smoke and retreat to this chamber if anything attacks?
Since the bones fill up to five feet below the lip of the pit, getting in and out shouldn't be difficult for any character at least four feet tall (arguably shorter). Are the bone shards so sharp that even carefully lowering ourselves down into the pit and walking across, watching our step, will cause damage?
@Casmenos: You certainly could, though you would have to consider the possibility of coming back to, over, or around that pit at speed should you encounter anything.
@Tumal: You are not entirely sure. They are jagged enough you surmise falling would definitely hurt. Moving across may be no more difficult than moving through a field of caltrops -- if the bones do not shift, and you have no way of telling.
@Marrow: a rope across the center would not aid much, since the paths are at the side. A foot wide does make them fully 3 times as wide as a balance beam, however.
I would say, says Marrow slowly, that we should definitely not split up. Someone or something comes here regularly, to deposit these... remains... in the pit, and it must be related to the thing we've been sent here to do, right? I mean, unexpected bones in the wrong place - that's pretty suspicious. He takes a moment to look away from the pit, trying to keep the contents of his stomach down.
I vote that we pass around the pit together, slowly and carefully, and investigate the room that Casmenos has glimpsed. With that, he takes a similar rope from his backpack and starts tying it around his waist, a little clumsily due to his gauntlets and armour, but he gets there in the end. He then offers up one end of the rope to anyone who wishes to be tied to him. Being tied together will restrict our movement, I suppose, but should prevent anyone falling into the pit. Which would be very bad, I think. He then waits to get a sense of what the others would like to do.
Here's another question: Are there crevices in the walls arrows could be wedged into to create above-the-head hand holds? Many times, our balance is better than we fear, and just having something "stable" to touch gives us enough security to keep our balance even when we really didn't need the help. If not, can we use the niches where the bones and baubles are being held in some way? What do they look like and how far apart are they?
There are no notches or handholds suitable to affix something, however, the wall seems stable enough to lean against, and what notches that exist can easily be grabbed.
"Another thing we could do is use the rope to lower me into the pit to take a closer look at those bones, something tells me there is something going on here."
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
"If we're hellbent on checking this pit first, fine." Destin stows his axes and pulls the rope strapped to the side of his pack. "I am fairly strong, so can help provide ballast up here or be the one to climb in."
Current Player In: The Guild as Elsara Deepmoon
"I'm totally cool with being the one to poke around in there," Kelvin says with glee.
Investigation: 12
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
After some raising, some lowering, a fair bit of struggling, and one near miss where the bones shifted, the party has come to the conclusion that the pit of bones are what they appear to be - bones discarded without care. As you get very close to them, you can detect a faint wisp of smoky residue on the bones, but they are otherwise completely unremarkable.
Tumal nods. "I believe we should head toward the smoke. Something might be amiss at this very moment. There doesn't seem to be any way to use a rope to aid in our navigation around the pit, so, let's agree to give up on that idea. I have a feeling ... " The elf reaches up and touches the crystal at his throat. "I have a feeling I can give each of you guidance in your steps as you attempt to pass along the ledge." He squints at the floor a little as if figuring something out, then looks up with a confident nod. "Who's first?"
Tumal will stand by the doorway to the pit room and touch each person as they prepare to walk around the pit, casting guidance on them. Each time he does, the crystal at his throat flares. As the guidance is in effect, there is an ever so slight light which glows in the eyes of each of the blessed.
“Here. I’ll come over.” Bastian begins to navigate the edge of the pit.
Everybody, as you pass, roll an acrobatics check, adding the d4 for Tumal's Guidance
Marrow shrugs, puts away his rope, and attempts to edge carefully round the pit. Acrobatics 18 + 3.
Casmenos will move back to the corner to make room and watch.
((He doesn't actually go around the corner.))
Destin will go towards the end then, being there just in case anyone else has any issues (though the balancing thing isn't his major field).
Acrobatics: 14
Current Player In: The Guild as Elsara Deepmoon
You both make it across easily, with plenty of room to spare.
Acrobatics: 17
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.