As you descend deeper into the depths of the earth the bitter cold chill of late winter gives way to the cool dank dampness of being below ground. Peering back up the stairs and up the rope dangling down the rocky cliff the snowy white sky above is but a jagged streak of brightness cutting across permeating darkness of the ravine. Climbing down the roughly carved stairs is fairly easy going. Occasionally a boot scuffs along the ground sending a shower of small stone and pebbles falling down into the depths, the clattering sounds echoing up from the darkness.
Nearing the bottom a fortress emerges out from the blackness, seemingly materializing from the shadows before your eyes.The subterranean citadel, though impressive, seems long forgotten, if the lightless windows, cracked crenellations, and leaning towers are any indication. All is quiet, though a cold breeze blows up from below, bringing with it the scent of dust and a faint trace of rot.
The narrow stairs empty into a small courtyard, apparently the top of what was once a crenellated battlement. The buried citadel has sunk so far into the earth that the battlement is now level with the surrounding floor. That floor stretches away to the north and south, composed of a layer of treacherous, crumbled masonry, which reaches to an unknown depth. To the west looms the surviving structure of what must be the Sunless Citadel that Raster spoke of. A tower, with a door leading deeper into the citadel itself, stands to the west side of the stone courtyard glimpsed by Esvele.
The stairs to the stone courtyard, which is surrounded by crumbled masonry and rubble, is 30 feet to the west from your current location at the bottom of the switch back stairs. The rubble is considered difficult terrain and anyone who moves across the debris must make a DC 12 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check for each 10 feet traversed. On a failed check the character is unable to move. If the check is failed by 5 or more, a slab of masonry below the character shifts, dumping the character into a debris-lined cavity.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
OOC: So three checks to make it to the door? Also, the hunters from the village supposedly came this way correct? Are there any signs of their passing?
N'Ruel deftly makes his way over and around the crumbled debris to the steps that lead up into the courtyard. Suddenly the ground shakes violently and a loud scraping sound of stone on stone echoes across the high stone walls. Quickly looking back at his companions he watches as the cleric suddenly disappears, being swallowed by the ground as a large chunk of masonry shifts beneath Esvele's feet causing her to fall into a cavity and rubble and shattered stone, taking her glowing shield with her. The bottom of the ravine grows dark once again as the arcane light source glows faintly between cracks and crevices in the masonry.
It is now dim light (20 ft radius centered on where Esvele fell) for those on the floor of the ravine, for Esvele she is still in bright light 10 ft down within the cavity. Climbing back out of the cavity requires a successful DC 12 Strength (Athletics) check; on a failed check the victim drops back into the cavity.
Esvele shakes the dust from her hair, and rubs her side and ribs, ginger from a rock that nearly impaled her chain mail, but doing its damage regardless by sheer blunt effort.
She calls up, groaning, "I could use some help here! Any of you got a rope you could toss down and hold so that I can steady myself as I climb out? I don't want to fall again."
Stepping onto the treacherous ground with as careful a step as she can manage, Aerin begins to move towards where Esvele disappeared. She has rope but is uncertain whether her lack of accomplishment on the physical front will sabotage any help she can render.
538
Aerin realizes the gods did not smile upon her the moment her feet touch the rubble. What looked like a stable boulder instead was little more than dust and sand. In less than a second, Aerin finds herself tumbling down. Pain jars through her as she comes to a stop.
Falling Damage: 6
"I fear I am also in need of assistance," Aerin calls rather abashed.
After pulling herself out, Esvele ties her rope around her waist and tosses the other end towards Aerin's voice. She calls out, "Use the rope to help steady yourself as you climb out!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Doing her best to ignore the injuries her fall had caused, Aerin catches the end of the rope that Esvele throws her. Testing it, she gathers herself and begins her ascent.
Athletics: 107
"Thank you Esvele," Aerin speaks up with a grateful tone. "Would it be possible for you to check my injuries? Perhaps a little salve for the abrasions?"
Esvele looks Aerin over, saying, "That'll recover with some rest. The kit I have on me is in the case you're bleeding out and require stabilization or face death. If you're really worried you can down that potion you received earlier, but much like the limited spells I have, you may want to hold off on using it - but you know yourself best and how bad you feel."
Esvele gathers the rope and repacks it.
"Now, once you have settled yourself, how about we help each other get the rest of the way. We'll take it really slow and check our paths before we put our full weight on it. Another fall like that might end me," Esvele says rubbing her ribs that took the brunt of the fall.
"Same here," Aerin admits. "Together, I think we can make it and perhaps we can test the ground with your warhammer? It's not exactly a ten foot pole but it's something."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Battered and more than a little bruised, Aerin shakes off the dust and pebbles to begin the hard climb back out using the rope.
Athletics 19
Rising to the surface, she once more moves towards the doorway.
Acrobatics 21
The feel of stable ground beneath her feet has never felt sweeter. Once she has her breath back, Aerin works to keep Esvele stable on her journey to safe ground.
Using the guide rope, Aerin's extra set of eyes and a tap of her foot before adding any weight, Esvele makes her way slowly across the remaining twenty feet...
// 2nd ten: 21 , 3rd ten: 15 //
In time, Esvele makes it across, but looked in horror as Aerin fell through a second time behind her.
After, Aerin crosses, she suggests, "Unless we want to burn through our resources, we should consider at least a short rest if we can find a safe spot - although even that might not be enough for your injuries."
Standing at the steps before the entrance of the sunken temple, N'ruel awaits the two others (Tovar and Darastrag) before proceeding to the door himself. To Esvele he asks, "Can you have your bird take this to our friends," he holds out one end of the rope, "so that I can assist them across?"
The lizardman takes the end of the rope from the clutches of the hawk, ties it securely around his waist and hesitantly steps a clawed foot out onto the unstable rubble.
Darastrag Acrobatics: 18815
Halfway across a hunk of debris shifts suddenly beneath Darastrag's feet. The rope goes taut and the ranger quickly grabs a hold with strong scaled hands. His arms quiver as he hefts his heavy frame safety over the yawning cavity that has opened beneath him and slowly by surely navigates his over the remaining debris to join his waiting companions. Only Tovar remains, on the edge of shadows, to cross the dangerous landscape before him.
Darastrag Athletics to pull himself across the fallen in section: 16
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
After watching Esvele and Aerin be swallowed by the earth, and Darastrag nearly so, Tovar grits his teeth as he takes hold of the rope. Wrapping the rope around his wrists for extra grip he takes a hesitant step forward.
Tovar Acrobatics: 131823
With a stunning grace the others didn't think possible for such a large man Tovar glides nearly effortlessly over the rubble. "That wasn't so hard now was it," he says as a wide grin spreads across his face.
As you descend deeper into the depths of the earth the bitter cold chill of late winter gives way to the cool dank dampness of being below ground. Peering back up the stairs and up the rope dangling down the rocky cliff the snowy white sky above is but a jagged streak of brightness cutting across permeating darkness of the ravine. Climbing down the roughly carved stairs is fairly easy going. Occasionally a boot scuffs along the ground sending a shower of small stone and pebbles falling down into the depths, the clattering sounds echoing up from the darkness.
Nearing the bottom a fortress emerges out from the blackness, seemingly materializing from the shadows before your eyes.The subterranean citadel, though impressive, seems long forgotten, if the lightless windows, cracked crenellations, and leaning towers are any indication. All is quiet, though a cold breeze blows up from below, bringing with it the scent of dust and a faint trace of rot.
The narrow stairs empty into a small courtyard, apparently the top of what was once a crenellated battlement. The buried citadel has sunk so far into the earth that the battlement is now level with the surrounding floor. That floor stretches away to the north and south, composed of a layer of treacherous, crumbled masonry, which reaches to an unknown depth. To the west looms the surviving structure of what must be the Sunless Citadel that Raster spoke of. A tower, with a door leading deeper into the citadel itself, stands to the west side of the stone courtyard glimpsed by Esvele.
The stairs to the stone courtyard, which is surrounded by crumbled masonry and rubble, is 30 feet to the west from your current location at the bottom of the switch back stairs. The rubble is considered difficult terrain and anyone who moves across the debris must make a DC 12 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check for each 10 feet traversed. On a failed check the character is unable to move. If the check is failed by 5 or more, a slab of masonry below the character shifts, dumping the character into a debris-lined cavity.
Courtyard Map
1 square = 5 feet
OOC: So three checks to make it to the door? Also, the hunters from the village supposedly came this way correct? Are there any signs of their passing?
Acrobatics: 17, 23, 21
Esvele tries to gingerly make her way to the doorway, remarking, "Anyone want to check that ominous door for traps or other bad things?"
// Acrobatics Checks - 17, 7, 3 //
About fifteen feet into the courtyard, the rubble shifts beneath Esvele's feet and she begins to slip down.
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
N'Ruel deftly makes his way over and around the crumbled debris to the steps that lead up into the courtyard. Suddenly the ground shakes violently and a loud scraping sound of stone on stone echoes across the high stone walls. Quickly looking back at his companions he watches as the cleric suddenly disappears, being swallowed by the ground as a large chunk of masonry shifts beneath Esvele's feet causing her to fall into a cavity and rubble and shattered stone, taking her glowing shield with her. The bottom of the ravine grows dark once again as the arcane light source glows faintly between cracks and crevices in the masonry.
It is now dim light (20 ft radius centered on where Esvele fell) for those on the floor of the ravine, for Esvele she is still in bright light 10 ft down within the cavity. Climbing back out of the cavity requires a successful DC 12 Strength (Athletics) check; on a failed check the victim drops back into the cavity.
Fall damage for Esvele: 3
Esvele shakes the dust from her hair, and rubs her side and ribs, ginger from a rock that nearly impaled her chain mail, but doing its damage regardless by sheer blunt effort.
She calls up, groaning, "I could use some help here! Any of you got a rope you could toss down and hold so that I can steady myself as I climb out? I don't want to fall again."
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
Stepping onto the treacherous ground with as careful a step as she can manage, Aerin begins to move towards where Esvele disappeared. She has rope but is uncertain whether her lack of accomplishment on the physical front will sabotage any help she can render.
538
Aerin realizes the gods did not smile upon her the moment her feet touch the rubble. What looked like a stable boulder instead was little more than dust and sand. In less than a second, Aerin finds herself tumbling down. Pain jars through her as she comes to a stop.
Falling Damage: 6
"I fear I am also in need of assistance," Aerin calls rather abashed.
Esvele responds to the sound of another crash, "OK - I'm guessing I'm dragging myself out... because I'm not getting stuck down here."
Esvele starts climbing up. // Athletics Check 22 //
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
After pulling herself out, Esvele ties her rope around her waist and tosses the other end towards Aerin's voice. She calls out, "Use the rope to help steady yourself as you climb out!"
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
Doing her best to ignore the injuries her fall had caused, Aerin catches the end of the rope that Esvele throws her. Testing it, she gathers herself and begins her ascent.
Athletics: 10 7
"Thank you Esvele," Aerin speaks up with a grateful tone. "Would it be possible for you to check my injuries? Perhaps a little salve for the abrasions?"
Esvele looks Aerin over, saying, "That'll recover with some rest. The kit I have on me is in the case you're bleeding out and require stabilization or face death. If you're really worried you can down that potion you received earlier, but much like the limited spells I have, you may want to hold off on using it - but you know yourself best and how bad you feel."
Esvele gathers the rope and repacks it.
"Now, once you have settled yourself, how about we help each other get the rest of the way. We'll take it really slow and check our paths before we put our full weight on it. Another fall like that might end me," Esvele says rubbing her ribs that took the brunt of the fall.
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
"Same here," Aerin admits. "Together, I think we can make it and perhaps we can test the ground with your warhammer? It's not exactly a ten foot pole but it's something."
Being sure-footed at the moment, N'ruel signals back to the others to toss him the rope so that he and aid them across the rocky terrain.
The rope is tossed to N'Ruel and Aerin takes a breath, ready to cross when Esvele is.
Acrobatics:
16
21
7
Just as she thinks she will make it, the ground shifts and Aerin is falling.
Fall Damage: 2
Battered and more than a little bruised, Aerin shakes off the dust and pebbles to begin the hard climb back out using the rope.
Athletics 19
Rising to the surface, she once more moves towards the doorway.
Acrobatics 21
The feel of stable ground beneath her feet has never felt sweeter. Once she has her breath back, Aerin works to keep Esvele stable on her journey to safe ground.
- Esvele -
Using the guide rope, Aerin's extra set of eyes and a tap of her foot before adding any weight, Esvele makes her way slowly across the remaining twenty feet...
// 2nd ten: 21 , 3rd ten: 15 //
In time, Esvele makes it across, but looked in horror as Aerin fell through a second time behind her.
After, Aerin crosses, she suggests, "Unless we want to burn through our resources, we should consider at least a short rest if we can find a safe spot - although even that might not be enough for your injuries."
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
"You're right, Esvele. I don't think I'll be of much use if we don't rest soon. Let us make sure the others get across safely first."
Standing at the steps before the entrance of the sunken temple, N'ruel awaits the two others (Tovar and Darastrag) before proceeding to the door himself. To Esvele he asks, "Can you have your bird take this to our friends," he holds out one end of the rope, "so that I can assist them across?"
Esvele and Aerin are at the door correct?
The lizardman takes the end of the rope from the clutches of the hawk, ties it securely around his waist and hesitantly steps a clawed foot out onto the unstable rubble.
Darastrag Acrobatics: 18 8 15
Halfway across a hunk of debris shifts suddenly beneath Darastrag's feet. The rope goes taut and the ranger quickly grabs a hold with strong scaled hands. His arms quiver as he hefts his heavy frame safety over the yawning cavity that has opened beneath him and slowly by surely navigates his over the remaining debris to join his waiting companions. Only Tovar remains, on the edge of shadows, to cross the dangerous landscape before him.
Darastrag Athletics to pull himself across the fallen in section: 16
After watching Esvele and Aerin be swallowed by the earth, and Darastrag nearly so, Tovar grits his teeth as he takes hold of the rope. Wrapping the rope around his wrists for extra grip he takes a hesitant step forward.
Tovar Acrobatics: 13 18 23
With a stunning grace the others didn't think possible for such a large man Tovar glides nearly effortlessly over the rubble. "That wasn't so hard now was it," he says as a wide grin spreads across his face.
Esvele responds, as she repacks her rope, "Well, that was unexpected. Shall we move forward?"
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'