Slowly and uncertainly, Kevin makes his way around the pit. Just as he is about to reach the other side, he appears to turn to chat with nobody, and he begins to lurch backwards into the pit, where a particularly jagged set of bones awaits. A combination of supernaturally inspired determination and the quick reflexes and steadying hand of an awaiting Destin arrest the fall, however, and the makes it safely to the other side.
Probably a surprising outcome for most here, but natural 1 critical fails on ability checks are an optional (albeit popular) rule in 5e, and as such are strictly speaking not applicable in AL games, though many DMs still use them. Conversely, it also means a nat 20 on a check is not an auto-success if the DC is too high. (Natural 1/20 effects on attack rolls and death saves, however, do apply.) The combination of bonus and guidance were just enough to get over the low DC -- after all, it is 3 times as wide as a balance beam, hence no fall. That said, without the party's planning (Tumal's Guidance, Destin waiting), he would have fallen.
Tumal places his hand on Keksi's shoulder — the crystal at his throat flaring — and gives her a reassuring smile. "The light will guide your steps," he says. "The others are waiting, and I'll be right behind you."
Despite being the one for whom the path is proportionally largest, Keksi's nerves start to get the better of her as she crosses. About halfway across the way, she sees a particularly large shard of bone -- perhaps the femur of a particular large human, sticking up like a spear, and, distracted, she loses her footing.
Crossing immediately behind her, Tumal lends comforting Guidance and a steadying hand, and needs both to pull her back from the brink.
They both cross successfully, and all seven of you, plus Cassyt, stand at the far side of the pit from the door. Ahead of you a corridor stretches a short way before turning to the left. Casmenos stands watch at that corner, around lies a room whose details he knows not, except that it contains at least an odor of smoke.
Casemos goes ahead of the party just far enough down the hallway to see more of the room. As he gets closer, the smell of smoke gets stronger and stronger, and he can see that black soot lines much of the room, the entirety of which is not yet revealed.
Casmenon steps far enough to see the rest of the room. Marrow and Bastian remain a few steps behind him, down the hallway. The rest of the party is still around the corner, on the side of the room with the pit. Casmenos can now see the rest of the room revealed
The smell of wood smoke is overpowering in this room, and every surface is stained jet black with soot that must have come from the two great iron braziers on the floor. The walls are lined with almost perfectly preserved bodies—black from the same soot that stains the walls. They might almost be mistaken for mummified drow were it not for the different colors of hair.
Several corpses, however, have been ravaged by something. They lay in the center of the room, torn apart, their flesh and bones gnawed by some ravenous creature.
Tumal walks down the hall, behind the first few brave souls. When he reads from the others' body language that there isn't danger ahead, he continues forward with haste, peering into the room. "Oh," he says quietly, his eyes going wide. He looks about, taking in the scene with wonder. When he notices the pile of bodies in the center of the room and their torn flesh, he crosses to them and looks them over, trying to determine what has happened here.
Casmenos will stand watch while the others investigate. In the meantime he asks, "That pit is an awful risk to pass each time you'd want to enter. I'm thinking there's another way in here. Anyone good at finding hidden doors?"
Tumal stands, still looking at the corpses. "This mutilation is fresh," he says. He looks around. "Whatever did this may be close. We should remain on guard."
The braziers are actually unlit -- you all can simply deduce the soot must have come from the braziers when they they were lit, as the soot is in heaviest concentration upon their surface.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Destin draws his axes again. "Hold, you don't want to approach a dead body without expecting a fight." He comments. "Undead can be sourced from any death, and can wait for an eternity to activate." He checks the nearby area before cautiously entering further into the room.
Slowly and uncertainly, Kevin makes his way around the pit. Just as he is about to reach the other side, he appears to turn to chat with nobody, and he begins to lurch backwards into the pit, where a particularly jagged set of bones awaits. A combination of supernaturally inspired determination and the quick reflexes and steadying hand of an awaiting Destin arrest the fall, however, and the makes it safely to the other side.
Probably a surprising outcome for most here, but natural 1 critical fails on ability checks are an optional (albeit popular) rule in 5e, and as such are strictly speaking not applicable in AL games, though many DMs still use them. Conversely, it also means a nat 20 on a check is not an auto-success if the DC is too high. (Natural 1/20 effects on attack rolls and death saves, however, do apply.) The combination of bonus and guidance were just enough to get over the low DC -- after all, it is 3 times as wide as a balance beam, hence no fall. That said, without the party's planning (Tumal's Guidance, Destin waiting), he would have fallen.
"Cassyt, are you going to be able to make it over those bones?", Keksi asks, not sure she herself can make the jump.
Acrobatics: 12
Cassyt pats the Kobold on the head and says "over them? No, not a chance. Around them, though, does not look too difficult."
Cassyt gathers herself and works her way around the path to the side of the pit.
Acrobatics for Cassyt: 19 + 4
Having successfully made it, Cassyt beckons to the nervous Keksi. "Come on...its easy! It's almost as wide as you are tall! Just don't look down!"
Tumal places his hand on Keksi's shoulder — the crystal at his throat flaring — and gives her a reassuring smile. "The light will guide your steps," he says. "The others are waiting, and I'll be right behind you."
After Keksi crosses ... Acrobatics: 20 + 1
Keksi attempts to cross... (Acrobatics 3 + 3)
(Hope someone is there to catch her!)
Despite being the one for whom the path is proportionally largest, Keksi's nerves start to get the better of her as she crosses. About halfway across the way, she sees a particularly large shard of bone -- perhaps the femur of a particular large human, sticking up like a spear, and, distracted, she loses her footing.
Crossing immediately behind her, Tumal lends comforting Guidance and a steadying hand, and needs both to pull her back from the brink.
They both cross successfully, and all seven of you, plus Cassyt, stand at the far side of the pit from the door. Ahead of you a corridor stretches a short way before turning to the left. Casmenos stands watch at that corner, around lies a room whose details he knows not, except that it contains at least an odor of smoke.
Seeing everyone is across, Casmenos says, "We are all here? Let us proceed."
Casmenos will step around the corner and move enough to reveal the next room.
Casemos goes ahead of the party just far enough down the hallway to see more of the room. As he gets closer, the smell of smoke gets stronger and stronger, and he can see that black soot lines much of the room, the entirety of which is not yet revealed.
Marrow moves forward to the spot where Casmenos had been standing, so that he's close enough to see and help out if the paladin gets into trouble.
Bastian slips ahead towards Casmenos and Marrow, also ready to lend aid.
Casmenos will move south up to the entrance to the next room
Casmenon steps far enough to see the rest of the room. Marrow and Bastian remain a few steps behind him, down the hallway. The rest of the party is still around the corner, on the side of the room with the pit. Casmenos can now see the rest of the room revealed
The smell of wood smoke is overpowering in this room, and every surface is stained jet black with soot that must have come from the two great iron braziers on the floor. The walls are lined with almost perfectly preserved bodies—black from the same soot that stains the walls. They might almost be mistaken for mummified drow were it not for the different colors of hair.
Several corpses, however, have been ravaged by something. They lay in the center of the room, torn apart, their flesh and bones gnawed by some ravenous creature.
Tumal walks down the hall, behind the first few brave souls. When he reads from the others' body language that there isn't danger ahead, he continues forward with haste, peering into the room. "Oh," he says quietly, his eyes going wide. He looks about, taking in the scene with wonder. When he notices the pile of bodies in the center of the room and their torn flesh, he crosses to them and looks them over, trying to determine what has happened here.
Medicine: 19
Casmenos will stand watch while the others investigate. In the meantime he asks, "That pit is an awful risk to pass each time you'd want to enter. I'm thinking there's another way in here. Anyone good at finding hidden doors?"
Tumal stands, still looking at the corpses. "This mutilation is fresh," he says. He looks around. "Whatever did this may be close. We should remain on guard."
The braziers are actually unlit -- you all can simply deduce the soot must have come from the braziers when they they were lit, as the soot is in heaviest concentration upon their surface.
((OOC: I edited post #217 in light of that information))
Destin draws his axes again. "Hold, you don't want to approach a dead body without expecting a fight." He comments. "Undead can be sourced from any death, and can wait for an eternity to activate." He checks the nearby area before cautiously entering further into the room.
Investigation: 12
Perception: 8
(If required for undead lore, using the Favoured Enemy class feature)
History: 3
Current Player In: The Guild as Elsara Deepmoon