This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Quickly now, quickly! Don't wanna find out the hard way that oxygen's gonna be a limited thing in here now. And remember to 'lift' as you turn."Hun asserts as everyone (or mostly everyone) got into position. He himself would back off a little ways if only to avoid being underfoot when giant-sized Yully got into motion. But not without first giving Mr. Thicc a quick tune-up in preparation for things to come next.
Kairus continues to brush aside some bone dust here and there, hoping for a lucky break. In a way, he gets one, though not the one he was hoping. A metal key with an intricate but abstract design is securely clasped in a disembodied bony hand. Unlike any other metal tool he has seen here, this key shows no sign of rust. Hearing Hun's call, the bard pockets the key, hand and all, and runs to help the others.
Krodhen is still far, so it falls to Yulmiath, Rhogal, and Kairus to try to force-twist the bowl. Yulmiath is still enlarged, and Rhogaleats some magic of his own but, even then, the trio only succeeds in moving the contraption up by an inch or two before some mechanical stopper frustrates their effort once more. All is not lost, however. The brief moment of elevation gives Hun a chance to look inside the mechanism more freely. He confirms a few of his guesses on the mechanism's make before it falls back down into place.
-> To force it up, you'll need to beat a athletics check {DC 20}. You may try again as long as you describe something new in your attempt as opposed to simply trying the same thing again until the dice favor you.
-> The nearly-successful brute-force attempt by the trio has lowered the tinker's tools or thieves' tools check from {DC 20} to {DC 18}.
(OOC: Oh, hold on. I see Mr. Thicc's attempt now.)
Not ready to give up just yet, Hun asks the group to try one more time and ordersMr. Thicc to assume his crank-position. Yulmiath, Rhogal, and Kairus give another heave and, with the mechanical strength of the construct added, the hidden stopper is finally broken and the bowl begins unscrewing as planned.
After a quarter-turn, the niche housing the obsidian icon is revealed once again. The group keeps turning and another quarter turn reveals that the pedestal beneath the bowl is longer than previously expected. Stone bars form a cylindrical cage right below the icon and its niche. By the time the group completes a three-quarter-turn, it becomes apparent that the cage houses a humanoid prisoner, forced into an uncomfortably small space for who-knows-how-long! A full turn is completed and the pedestal rises to its full length, clicking into place. The bottom three-quarters of the pedestal are, in fact, this stone cage that had remained hidden until now. A squalid, atrophied, unconscious, and pallid human breaths very weakly within the cage. His joints, forced into uncomfortably positions for a long time, seem to have locked into place. His facial hair, once surely groomed to perfection, is matted, soiled, and stinky, as are his clothes. Food scraps and an empty waterskin are also inside.
The group has no doubt that this must be Volothump (Volo) Geddarm.
With the pedestal now fully raised, other parts of the mechanism click into place. Above the cage, both the niche and the bowl turn another quarter turn, this time on their own. Parts of them shift to hide within hidden pockets. The bottom of the bowl opens up and slips downward such that the icon is now inside the bowl instead of immediately beneath it. Three of the eight stone bars of the cage beneath snap open, dropping to the ground but maintaining their connection at the base. Volo rolls out of his cell.
Then, everything stops. The next step does not seem to have been automated. If Volo was the sacrifice, it seems someone was expected to grab the released prisoner and attach him to the hook hanging above the bowl.
At the tunnel entrance, by Krodhen, the stone snake maw remains closed.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Is this your human?" Kairus leaned over the exhausted unconscious man. "Seems to be in a bad shape." He made a smooth gesture as if contouring the body while humming a soothing melody. (Healing Word 2nd lvl for 9) "That should help. A bit of fish oil would heal him in no time, alas, we do not have it."
Kairus shifted his attention to the now exposed statue. "Do you think we should smash it? It's pretty and does belong to the god of this place, but I do not think I like that god very much."
Krodhen calls out "This here doors aint going to budge......" pushes against it half heartedly, then makes his way back over to the group, prefering the company than the solitary station by the exit.
Looking at the hook, Krodhen ponders "What do ya think happens if something gets hooked up there....???"
Yulmiath smiles at Karius' suggestion that they smash the altar. Stowing his greataxe, he takes his wooden mallet and stands readyto get to smashing.
"My best guess is that this god doesn't like us very much either. I say we smash it up good and proper, leave it as a warning to the other gods, stay out of our way; we'll stay out of yours...."
Suddenly hit with a thought before Hun is able to vocalise the words, Yulmiath steps down.
"Actually, best make sure we aren't also smashing our way out of this place first. Hun?"
With smashing time on hold, Yulmiath instead takes a coconut from his pack and stands ready to give this scrawny human a little bit of food. Not too much as shipwrecked sailors have been lost to vomiting after being washed ashore and gorging their shriveled stomach until it bursts. Best that fate be avoided here, messy way to go after all this trouble.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Again with this 'your human' nonsense." Hun quietly gripes as he sought to further examine the man, hoping to make sure no sudden adjustments on their part would do more harm than good.
Though granted, with his expertise leaning more towards mechanical engineering, recycling, and junking, and not so much on the biological side of things, a lingering uncertainty gripped the back of his mind. And yet, with a curt motion and barked command in yip-yak from the Hun sees to it Mr. Thicc moving to carefully prop up the man as he hopefully began at least to regain consciousness thanks to Kairus magic.
"We'll... He'll need a bit more for proper treatment. Perhaps, uh, one of Rhogals more specialized cultivations, assuming he has any."He comments, seeming ignoring the plight of the others. At first. But then he finally look up to regard the greater mechanism and the statue. "Regardless. Tempting as it would be to smash it, give me a few minutes to study this whole bit." He gestures forcibly risen structure, before turning from Mr. Yully to Krodhen.
"I'm... not sure. I suspect death or destruction of said hooked object."He deadpans before suddenly startling at an idea. "Although~ If we had enough liquids to fill the bowl while someone simultaneously pulled at the hook there to simulate a human sacrifice, that may, uh, trick mechanism into thinking a sacrifice has been made and reset things."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Krodhen reenters the main chamber after realizing the entrance to the shrine is not about to budge. He arrives to Kairus weaving musical notes into a healing spell. There is very little change in Volo's physical form. The only sign of more vitality is a low groan released by the severely debilitated man. Concerned, Hun makes his way to Volo and does his best at examining his condition. Though this is not his expertise, the kobold sees enough to concluded the human will need a long recovery period if he is to return to his prime.
(@Ori/@Hun: Mechanically, you reckon Volo has several degrees of exhaustion but, with that roll, you cannot tell how many.)
Hun recommends Rhogal treats the man with some of his cleansing fungi. The druid agrees but, somewhat spent for the day, pulls out a wound closing fungal remedy instead. Much like Kairus' spell, the second treatment helps only marginally.
Mr. Thicc then assumes care for the patient while the group discusses the shrine's central contraption. Kairus and Yulmiath like the idea of bringing a hammer to it all. Although it may come to that, Krodhen's question about the hook gets Hun thinking about tricking the mechanism into accepting a fake sacrifice.
The air is pretty stale here. There are no drafts in or out now that the main entryway has been blocked. You begin to fear you air supply in this place may be limited, though you don't quite yet feel your lungs straining just yet.
Hun started to pace after delivering his suggestion and soon became a touch lost in thought for a time. If at any point he sees or hears signs of Graxx doing the smashy smash, the Kobold would snap out of it quicker and try to intercede with a shout calling for patience.
If otherwise left to his own devices for a half a minute, eventually he snaps his fingers and points to Rhogal."That's it! Rogan! You still got the cube, don't you? When we were at the beach in the north, remember? If you can de-cube that water you took, put in the bowl. Mr. Yully! Pull the hook, though mind your strength. If this doesn't work, then, uh... then we can do the smashy smash."
"As you wish." Kairus did not have anything resembling a hammer anyway to properly smash the altar and the statue. He let Hun and Rhogal figure out the sacrificial mechanism while he, himself, finally could pay attention to his finding - the key. Magical for sure, like that weapon they saved from the stomach of the stone beast. But what is it supposed to open?
He felt he already knew every speck of dust in this cave but looked around once again. "We have some key,"he raised his hand with the key to show it to everyone, "found right here. Do you think the door is around too?"
"No harm in finding whatever that key unlocks. How would those piles of bones get out of here when the cave was closed anyway?"
Following Hun's orders, Yulmiath briefly considers gripping the rusty, blood covered hook, but thinks better of it. If he loses any fingers, he might not be able to count to ten anymore. Gripping the chain instead, he waits to pull on it until given the nod.
(OOC Assuming that Yully is now normal sized again, so I guess the athletics check is part to power any jumping to reach the chain and also to not pull it so hard that it comes down from the ceiling.)
If nothing resembling keyhole was visible anywhere (preferably near the ex-exit) Kairus would sigh and return to the bawl. He did not interfere with preparations but looked skeptical. "I doubt the god of those snakes can not tell difference between water and blood. If water does not work, we can try to put some of our blood in there - then heal, of course - but I worry what happens if that god accepts the offer. Can we make sure first no bones around are in good enough shape to raise again?"
To show an example (and to pass the time too) he stomped the closest bone trying to turn it into a fine dust.
"Huh!? Key? What key?"Hun asked, having been somewhat distracted making sure everyone took their place or needing some convincing to make matters work. "You're just /now/ mentioning finding a key? Hmph! You should be more forthwith with such things, Young Blue, especially in these circumstances!" He chides and waggles a finger at the Triton, only to soon deflate and look back to the contraption. "But, such delay in these trying times I suppose to be expected. And if water doesn't work... will seek a door for your key. But ANY bloodletting is to be a last resort, least we accidentally rekindle or reaffirm their the 'their' deities connection to this place. At which point, we shall truly be in trouble."Hun then turns and stared with a far off look at the altar for a time.
"... In any event, I wouldn't bother with the bones. If they have or had in such regenerative abilities, merely crushing them to powder wouldn't be enough. Those -- Creatures with delayed abilities of that nature tend -- from what what I've heard at least -- /very/ specific weaknesses, if any at all. So we should make a point of being nowhere around should they come back."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Hun convinces Yulmiath and Kairus to delay their smashing intent while he thinks of a solution. The bard and barbarian are happy to oblige, though Yulmiath feels a bit sad that his body has now reverted to its normal dimensions. After some time, Hun comes up with a plan that counts on Rhogal and some of his magical dust. The druid, however, is busy at the moment. He seems to be lost in his own mental calculations, clearly concerned about something.
@Rhogal:
It is hard to say, but judging by the size of the chamber, you'd guess you have at least an hour before air becomes a serious issue. You hope you didn't make a mistake in your mental-math.
While the group waits on the dwarf, Kairus pulls the skeleton hand from his bag. It still grips the interesting key he found. The triton moves about the room searching for an obvious keyhole, but his cursory look about bears no fruit. The mention of a key grabs Hun's attention, but the kobold quickly refocuses on the plan at hand, which he insists should include no blood. Yulmiath tests the chain, using his axe to hook it first and then pulling on it with his own strength. The Snackers hear some mechanism clicking into place once the hook and chain are sufficiently weighted/pulled down.
Kairus performs some preventive bone crushing to help pass the time but eventually all eyes turn back to Rhogal, expectantly.
"Oh for the love of Gond!" Hun groused and facepalm, before then pulling his hand down his snout. "Rigel!--" Mustering every bit of strength in his tiny little body, Hun tries to leap onto the Dwarf's chest, feet pressing into dwarven chest and small dully clawed fingers gripping the sides of the Dwarf's face to support himself. "Rigel! Focus up! Do you have it or not?! Lives are counting on you for Gond's sake!!"He barks.
(OOC: Doing the above mainly for the cartoonish bit. Obviously Drache can feel free to say if he avoids it. But if a contest if prefer for the luls, the spoiler has Hun's "grapple" initiation attempt check.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Surprised by being grabbed by the elderly kobold, Rhogal tries to shrug him off.
Athletics: 12
Regardless of whether he succeeds, he takes out his bead of highly condensed water and shouts, “Gah! Fine! Take it! Jus’ be mindful that it’s a literal half-ton o’ seawater sure ya burst…”
At Rhogal's mention of the amount of water likely to flow, Yulmiath mentally readies himself to flip the hood of his cloak but does not release the chain above his head.
"I get the worry about being swept down the mountain on a torrent of flood water. Someone could use a rope to lay a line near the entrance? Attach it to some rock formations, then tie yourelf to it, or not, if you want or work on your biceps and triceps. Then we'd just be walking down the hill and back to town. We'd be wet, but we'd be walking, not sliding."
"Aye! Let's!" Rhogal joins in the effort by eating a red mushroom (Bull's Strength)
Athletics: 14
Extended Signature
"Quickly now, quickly! Don't wanna find out the hard way that oxygen's gonna be a limited thing in here now. And remember to 'lift' as you turn." Hun asserts as everyone (or mostly everyone) got into position. He himself would back off a little ways if only to avoid being underfoot when giant-sized Yully got into motion. But not without first giving Mr. Thicc a quick tune-up in preparation for things to come next.
-> Hun's Guidance on Mr. Thicc: 1.
Mr. Thicc's Athletics: 11.
(OOC: Here's hoping its possible/alright to make thing sa group check.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Kairus continues to brush aside some bone dust here and there, hoping for a lucky break. In a way, he gets one, though not the one he was hoping. A metal key with an intricate but abstract design is securely clasped in a disembodied bony hand. Unlike any other metal tool he has seen here, this key shows no sign of rust. Hearing Hun's call, the bard pockets the key, hand and all, and runs to help the others.
Krodhen is still far, so it falls to Yulmiath, Rhogal, and Kairus to try to force-twist the bowl. Yulmiath is still enlarged, and Rhogal eats some magic of his own but, even then, the trio only succeeds in moving the contraption up by an inch or two before some mechanical stopper frustrates their effort once more. All is not lost, however. The brief moment of elevation gives Hun a chance to look inside the mechanism more freely. He confirms a few of his guesses on the mechanism's make before it falls back down into place.
-> To force it up, you'll need to beat a athletics check {DC 20}. You may try again as long as you describe something new in your attempt as opposed to simply trying the same thing again until the dice favor you.
-> The nearly-successful brute-force attempt by the trio has lowered the tinker's tools or thieves' tools check from {DC 20} to {DC 18}.
(OOC: Oh, hold on. I see Mr. Thicc's attempt now.)
Not ready to give up just yet, Hun asks the group to try one more time and orders Mr. Thicc to assume his crank-position. Yulmiath, Rhogal, and Kairus give another heave and, with the mechanical strength of the construct added, the hidden stopper is finally broken and the bowl begins unscrewing as planned.
After a quarter-turn, the niche housing the obsidian icon is revealed once again. The group keeps turning and another quarter turn reveals that the pedestal beneath the bowl is longer than previously expected. Stone bars form a cylindrical cage right below the icon and its niche. By the time the group completes a three-quarter-turn, it becomes apparent that the cage houses a humanoid prisoner, forced into an uncomfortably small space for who-knows-how-long! A full turn is completed and the pedestal rises to its full length, clicking into place. The bottom three-quarters of the pedestal are, in fact, this stone cage that had remained hidden until now. A squalid, atrophied, unconscious, and pallid human breaths very weakly within the cage. His joints, forced into uncomfortably positions for a long time, seem to have locked into place. His facial hair, once surely groomed to perfection, is matted, soiled, and stinky, as are his clothes. Food scraps and an empty waterskin are also inside.
The group has no doubt that this must be Volothump (Volo) Geddarm.
With the pedestal now fully raised, other parts of the mechanism click into place. Above the cage, both the niche and the bowl turn another quarter turn, this time on their own. Parts of them shift to hide within hidden pockets. The bottom of the bowl opens up and slips downward such that the icon is now inside the bowl instead of immediately beneath it. Three of the eight stone bars of the cage beneath snap open, dropping to the ground but maintaining their connection at the base. Volo rolls out of his cell.
Then, everything stops. The next step does not seem to have been automated. If Volo was the sacrifice, it seems someone was expected to grab the released prisoner and attach him to the hook hanging above the bowl.
At the tunnel entrance, by Krodhen, the stone snake maw remains closed.
"Is this your human?" Kairus leaned over the exhausted unconscious man. "Seems to be in a bad shape." He made a smooth gesture as if contouring the body while humming a soothing melody. (Healing Word 2nd lvl for 9) "That should help. A bit of fish oil would heal him in no time, alas, we do not have it."
Kairus shifted his attention to the now exposed statue. "Do you think we should smash it? It's pretty and does belong to the god of this place, but I do not think I like that god very much."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Krodhen calls out "This here doors aint going to budge......" pushes against it half heartedly, then makes his way back over to the group, prefering the company than the solitary station by the exit.
Looking at the hook, Krodhen ponders "What do ya think happens if something gets hooked up there....???"
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Yulmiath smiles at Karius' suggestion that they smash the altar. Stowing his greataxe, he takes his wooden mallet and stands readyto get to smashing.
"My best guess is that this god doesn't like us very much either. I say we smash it up good and proper, leave it as a warning to the other gods, stay out of our way; we'll stay out of yours...."
Suddenly hit with a thought before Hun is able to vocalise the words, Yulmiath steps down.
"Actually, best make sure we aren't also smashing our way out of this place first. Hun?"
With smashing time on hold, Yulmiath instead takes a coconut from his pack and stands ready to give this scrawny human a little bit of food. Not too much as shipwrecked sailors have been lost to vomiting after being washed ashore and gorging their shriveled stomach until it bursts. Best that fate be avoided here, messy way to go after all this trouble.
"Again with this 'your human' nonsense." Hun quietly gripes as he sought to further examine the man, hoping to make sure no sudden adjustments on their part would do more harm than good.
Medicine: 19.
Though granted, with his expertise leaning more towards mechanical engineering, recycling, and junking, and not so much on the biological side of things, a lingering uncertainty gripped the back of his mind. And yet, with a curt motion and barked command in yip-yak from the Hun sees to it Mr. Thicc moving to carefully prop up the man as he hopefully began at least to regain consciousness thanks to Kairus magic.
"We'll... He'll need a bit more for proper treatment. Perhaps, uh, one of Rhogals more specialized cultivations, assuming he has any." He comments, seeming ignoring the plight of the others. At first. But then he finally look up to regard the greater mechanism and the statue. "Regardless. Tempting as it would be to smash it, give me a few minutes to study this whole bit." He gestures forcibly risen structure, before turning from Mr. Yully to Krodhen.
"I'm... not sure. I suspect death or destruction of said hooked object." He deadpans before suddenly startling at an idea. "Although~ If we had enough liquids to fill the bowl while someone simultaneously pulled at the hook there to simulate a human sacrifice, that may, uh, trick mechanism into thinking a sacrifice has been made and reset things."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"This is the best I ken do until the morn… Here ya go, Voller" Rhogal says as he takes out a small morel: 10
Extended Signature
Krodhen reenters the main chamber after realizing the entrance to the shrine is not about to budge. He arrives to Kairus weaving musical notes into a healing spell. There is very little change in Volo's physical form. The only sign of more vitality is a low groan released by the severely debilitated man. Concerned, Hun makes his way to Volo and does his best at examining his condition. Though this is not his expertise, the kobold sees enough to concluded the human will need a long recovery period if he is to return to his prime.
(@Ori/@Hun: Mechanically, you reckon Volo has several degrees of exhaustion but, with that roll, you cannot tell how many.)
Hun recommends Rhogal treats the man with some of his cleansing fungi. The druid agrees but, somewhat spent for the day, pulls out a wound closing fungal remedy instead. Much like Kairus' spell, the second treatment helps only marginally.
Mr. Thicc then assumes care for the patient while the group discusses the shrine's central contraption. Kairus and Yulmiath like the idea of bringing a hammer to it all. Although it may come to that, Krodhen's question about the hook gets Hun thinking about tricking the mechanism into accepting a fake sacrifice.
@Kairus, @Yulmiath, and @Rhogal (passive survival):
The air is pretty stale here. There are no drafts in or out now that the main entryway has been blocked. You begin to fear you air supply in this place may be limited, though you don't quite yet feel your lungs straining just yet.
Hun started to pace after delivering his suggestion and soon became a touch lost in thought for a time. If at any point he sees or hears signs of Graxx doing the smashy smash, the Kobold would snap out of it quicker and try to intercede with a shout calling for patience.
If otherwise left to his own devices for a half a minute, eventually he snaps his fingers and points to Rhogal. "That's it! Rogan! You still got the cube, don't you? When we were at the beach in the north, remember? If you can de-cube that water you took, put in the bowl. Mr. Yully! Pull the hook, though mind your strength. If this doesn't work, then, uh... then we can do the smashy smash."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"As you wish." Kairus did not have anything resembling a hammer anyway to properly smash the altar and the statue. He let Hun and Rhogal figure out the sacrificial mechanism while he, himself, finally could pay attention to his finding - the key. Magical for sure, like that weapon they saved from the stomach of the stone beast. But what is it supposed to open?
He felt he already knew every speck of dust in this cave but looked around once again. "We have some key," he raised his hand with the key to show it to everyone, "found right here. Do you think the door is around too?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"No harm in finding whatever that key unlocks. How would those piles of bones get out of here when the cave was closed anyway?"
Following Hun's orders, Yulmiath briefly considers gripping the rusty, blood covered hook, but thinks better of it. If he loses any fingers, he might not be able to count to ten anymore. Gripping the chain instead, he waits to pull on it until given the nod.
Athletics - 21 (21)
(OOC Assuming that Yully is now normal sized again, so I guess the athletics check is part to power any jumping to reach the chain and also to not pull it so hard that it comes down from the ceiling.)
If nothing resembling keyhole was visible anywhere (preferably near the ex-exit) Kairus would sigh and return to the bawl. He did not interfere with preparations but looked skeptical. "I doubt the god of those snakes can not tell difference between water and blood. If water does not work, we can try to put some of our blood in there - then heal, of course - but I worry what happens if that god accepts the offer. Can we make sure first no bones around are in good enough shape to raise again?"
To show an example (and to pass the time too) he stomped the closest bone trying to turn it into a fine dust.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Huh!? Key? What key?" Hun asked, having been somewhat distracted making sure everyone took their place or needing some convincing to make matters work. "You're just /now/ mentioning finding a key? Hmph! You should be more forthwith with such things, Young Blue, especially in these circumstances!" He chides and waggles a finger at the Triton, only to soon deflate and look back to the contraption. "But, such delay in these trying times I suppose to be expected. And if water doesn't work... will seek a door for your key. But ANY bloodletting is to be a last resort, least we accidentally rekindle or reaffirm their the 'their' deities connection to this place. At which point, we shall truly be in trouble." Hun then turns and stared with a far off look at the altar for a time.
"... In any event, I wouldn't bother with the bones. If they have or had in such regenerative abilities, merely crushing them to powder wouldn't be enough. Those -- Creatures with delayed abilities of that nature tend -- from what what I've heard at least -- /very/ specific weaknesses, if any at all. So we should make a point of being nowhere around should they come back."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Royal tries to estimate the amount of air in the chamber in order to get a rough time limit.
Survival: 8
Extended Signature
Hun convinces Yulmiath and Kairus to delay their smashing intent while he thinks of a solution. The bard and barbarian are happy to oblige, though Yulmiath feels a bit sad that his body has now reverted to its normal dimensions. After some time, Hun comes up with a plan that counts on Rhogal and some of his magical dust. The druid, however, is busy at the moment. He seems to be lost in his own mental calculations, clearly concerned about something.
@Rhogal:
It is hard to say, but judging by the size of the chamber, you'd guess you have at least an hour before air becomes a serious issue. You hope you didn't make a mistake in your mental-math.
While the group waits on the dwarf, Kairus pulls the skeleton hand from his bag. It still grips the interesting key he found. The triton moves about the room searching for an obvious keyhole, but his cursory look about bears no fruit. The mention of a key grabs Hun's attention, but the kobold quickly refocuses on the plan at hand, which he insists should include no blood. Yulmiath tests the chain, using his axe to hook it first and then pulling on it with his own strength. The Snackers hear some mechanism clicking into place once the hook and chain are sufficiently weighted/pulled down.
Kairus performs some preventive bone crushing to help pass the time but eventually all eyes turn back to Rhogal, expectantly.
"Oh for the love of Gond!" Hun groused and facepalm, before then pulling his hand down his snout. "Rigel!--" Mustering every bit of strength in his tiny little body, Hun tries to leap onto the Dwarf's chest, feet pressing into dwarven chest and small dully clawed fingers gripping the sides of the Dwarf's face to support himself. "Rigel! Focus up! Do you have it or not?! Lives are counting on you for Gond's sake!!" He barks.
(OOC: Doing the above mainly for the cartoonish bit. Obviously Drache can feel free to say if he avoids it. But if a contest if prefer for the luls, the spoiler has Hun's "grapple" initiation attempt check.)
Grapple: 18.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Surprised by being grabbed by the elderly kobold, Rhogal tries to shrug him off.
Athletics: 12
Regardless of whether he succeeds, he takes out his bead of highly condensed water and shouts, “Gah! Fine! Take it! Jus’ be mindful that it’s a literal half-ton o’ seawater sure ya burst…”
Extended Signature
At Rhogal's mention of the amount of water likely to flow, Yulmiath mentally readies himself to flip the hood of his cloak but does not release the chain above his head.
"I get the worry about being swept down the mountain on a torrent of flood water. Someone could use a rope to lay a line near the entrance? Attach it to some rock formations, then tie yourelf to it, or not, if you want or work on your biceps and triceps. Then we'd just be walking down the hill and back to town. We'd be wet, but we'd be walking, not sliding."