Just Xanrym and Syllen now, and Syllen is probably waiting to make the attempt as an ape. Xanrym considers using Enhance Ability to assist his climb down, but he decides that it's not needed since Khessa will cast Feather Fall if he falls. Just before he moves to the edge of the rift to get on the rope, he takes a deep breath and reminds himself of the common advice when dealing with heights: "Don't look down."
Apparently, getting an opportunity to watch how the others climbed down the rope helped, and Xanrym makes it down the rope quickly without faltering or slipping. When he gets to the bottom, he looks waaaay up above them where the sky is visible as a gash of blue in the shape of the rift. Xanrym lets out a shaky breath and then waves his arms to Syllen to let the elf know that its his turn.
Syllen watches everyone go down. After they get down safely Syllen casts guidance on himself followed by turning into an ape. Syllen grabs Sentry and climbs down.
Khessa, who had been carefully following everyone's descent, in order to be able to intervene in case of 'emergency', pats her fellow adventurers on the shoulder: "Well done!"
The blonde arcane warrior assumes that the party will want to explore this level, before descending further and so she looks around... are there any paths that seem easy to follow?
Once at the bottom, he sees that in fact there is a shaft that leads even lower into the earth. It seems whoever came down here went further below into the shaft.
How big is our current location? I guess it's big enough for all six party members to stand, but there's a big difference between cavernous and claustrophobic!
Other than climbing back up the rope and the "shaft," are there any other exits?
Have we dropped into room that someone constructed (i.e., level floor, walls that are shored with timber or stone, etc.), or are we in a natural cavern? Are the walls and floor dug out of dirt or rocky like the photos above?
How big is the opening to the shaft, and is that opening in the floor or one of the walls?
Does the shaft go straight down (i.e., more climbing?) or is it an incline that we can walk / crawl down?
Is the shaft similar to the rest of the current location? Or different? For example, if we're currently in a natural cavern, is the shaft more smooth and regular? Does it seem to have been constructed or dug by someone or something?
You find yourselves in an incredibly large natural cavern. Apart from climbing back out, the only other way forward is through a recess in the wall that allows the party to traverse further down single file. This shaft is at a more suitable incline for walking, as it seems those that have come before you have done. All of these caves seem naturally occurring.
Khessa sees only one way forward, through a recess in the wall that allows the party to traverse further down single file.
The blonde arcane warrior takes the lead and proceeds. Since bats in a cave shouldn't arouse particular suspicion, she instructs Anator to scout ahead. If her brother sees any danger or comes to a fork in the path, he is supposed to come back and warn her.
You all head into the natural tunnel. Lightless space gives way to your illumination, revealing a restricted, steeply sloping path that is maybe 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall. The air is damp, stinking with rot. The slope seems to continue down forever, many hundreds of feet. After around an hour of steady walking downward, the air seems to pulse ahead, bringing with it a scent Iike that which precedes a storm. Do you head toward this pulsing?
Since we have encountered no forks (or dangers) Anator should still be scouting ahead... Does he report anything telepathically to Khessa? If he doesn't, the blonde arcane warrior assumes it's reasonably safe to proceed - and indeed heads toward the pulsing
The rough tunnel widens into a terrace, at least 20 feel wide and long, with a ceiling rising to 8 or 10 feet. The porch has no far wall, instead opening into a great, echoing hollow. This close to the cavernous rift, the air seems charged as if a great storm is imminent. The walls of the opening ascend and descend, moving closer together as they rise into darkness, forming a wider space as they go downward. Two humanoid forms lie unmoving near where the terrace drops off into the hollow.
Avery Athletic: 16
Just Xanrym and Syllen now, and Syllen is probably waiting to make the attempt as an ape. Xanrym considers using Enhance Ability to assist his climb down, but he decides that it's not needed since Khessa will cast Feather Fall if he falls. Just before he moves to the edge of the rift to get on the rope, he takes a deep breath and reminds himself of the common advice when dealing with heights: "Don't look down."
Xanrym - Athletics: 20, including bonus from Syllen's Guidance
Apparently, getting an opportunity to watch how the others climbed down the rope helped, and Xanrym makes it down the rope quickly without faltering or slipping. When he gets to the bottom, he looks waaaay up above them where the sky is visible as a gash of blue in the shape of the rift. Xanrym lets out a shaky breath and then waves his arms to Syllen to let the elf know that its his turn.
Syllen watches everyone go down. After they get down safely Syllen casts guidance on himself followed by turning into an ape. Syllen grabs Sentry and climbs down.
Athletics: 23
Guidance: 2
Khessa, who had been carefully following everyone's descent, in order to be able to intervene in case of 'emergency', pats her fellow adventurers on the shoulder: "Well done!"
The blonde arcane warrior assumes that the party will want to explore this level, before descending further and so she looks around... are there any paths that seem easy to follow?
Once everyone has safely climbed down the rope, Theldrin casts Light on his staff and takes a look around the area.
Perception: 8
Investigation: 20
In case Perception and Investigation are needed:
Perception: 16
Investigation: 3
Xanrym looks around...
(OOC: Some OOC questions below to clarify our current location and to ensure that I'm visualizing this right.)
As far as I understood it, the rift was like narrow gash in the ground with sheer walls. Less like the huge Devil's Sinkhole
and more like this:
At the bottom of the ropes, 100-ft. down from the top of the rift, there's a spot to rest before we go further...
I guess it's big enough for all six party members to stand, but there's a big difference between cavernous
and claustrophobic!
You find yourselves in an incredibly large natural cavern. Apart from climbing back out, the only other way forward is through a recess in the wall that allows the party to traverse further down single file. This shaft is at a more suitable incline for walking, as it seems those that have come before you have done. All of these caves seem naturally occurring.
Khessa sees only one way forward, through a recess in the wall that allows the party to traverse further down single file.
The blonde arcane warrior takes the lead and proceeds. Since bats in a cave shouldn't arouse particular suspicion, she instructs Anator to scout ahead. If her brother sees any danger or comes to a fork in the path, he is supposed to come back and warn her.
Avery will look at the floor of the caver, is it rock or is there sand, and can he see any tracks? Perception: 9; Investigation: 3
Theldrin falls in line, keeping towards the back middle of the party if possible (4th or 5th ideally), as they make their way into the shaft.
Coriana offers to take the rear.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Syllen will take the third spot and have Sentry in the back with Coriana.
Note: Syllen returns to his normal form
You all head into the natural tunnel. Lightless space gives way to your illumination, revealing a restricted, steeply sloping path that is maybe 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall. The air is damp, stinking with rot. The slope seems to continue down forever, many hundreds of feet. After around an hour of steady walking downward, the air seems to pulse ahead, bringing with it a scent Iike that which precedes a storm. Do you head toward this pulsing?
Since we have encountered no forks (or dangers) Anator should still be scouting ahead... Does he report anything telepathically to Khessa? If he doesn't, the blonde arcane warrior assumes it's reasonably safe to proceed - and indeed heads toward the pulsing
Anator doesn’t telegraph anything dangerous to you. But you also get the impression he’s not sure how to describe what’s ahead.
Khessa is then curious to go and see herself!
Theldrin follows Khessa's lead, wary of the strange pulsing but trusting that Anator would have warned her if there was any immediate danger.
The rough tunnel widens into a terrace, at least 20 feel wide and long, with a ceiling rising to 8 or 10 feet. The porch has no far wall, instead opening into a great, echoing hollow. This close to the cavernous rift, the air seems charged as if a great storm is imminent. The walls of the opening ascend and descend, moving closer together as they rise into darkness, forming a wider space as they go downward. Two humanoid forms lie unmoving near where the terrace drops off into the hollow.