Sword Coast Rambling

In the northwest corner of the cistern room, a small wooden door is nestled under the stone staircase. Leaving the gentle trickle of the cistern behind, Beetle steps into a long hallway, about 40 foot long. Its architecture much different to that of the other rooms they have explored so far, leading the paladin to deduce that this was part of the manors original cellars. Thick dust covers the flagstones of this somber hallway. The walls are decorated with faux columns every ten feet, and the double doors at the west end of the hall are sheathed in copper plate, now green with age. A relief carving of a mournful angel graces the doors.

Beetle will start to move slowly looking for anything out of place or hidden..

Perception 16

Carefully making his way down the corridor, Beetle notices a slight rise in one of the stone slabs lining the corridor floor. On closer inspection he discovers a pit dug out beneath a small section of the corridor. Above the pit, the stone tiles lie upon a row of easily broken timbers, a heavy weight would snap the supports. The pit appears to be about 20 feet deep, by 10 feet squared. Along either side of the covered pit, a sturdy narrow ledge runs along the walls. Skirting along the narrow ledges to bypass the pit, while possible, would require a certain amount of balance to navigate the trap safely.

Beetle sees the pit and says..."Maybe we can send someone more nimble through, tie off a rope to help others cross?"

 Syna looks at the rope.  "I'm willing to give it a try."

Syna takes the rope and begins to cross.

23

Taking a rope in hand, Syna bravely makes his way towards the stable ledge on the north side of the pit. Tiles wobble slightly underfoot as he shimmies sideways along the wall, the sturdier group barely a foot wide. Halfway across, the floor below the druids planted foot gives way. Suddenly he is sliding downwards with the floor into darkness below.

Syna Dexterity Save: 17

Reaching out quickly Syna manages to grab at the ledge, stopping himself from joining the mess of stone and wood crashing into the pit below. A thick plume of dust rises up into the corridor. The others look on in hope as the air suddenly becomes too dense to breathe. As the dust settles, the image of Syna comes into view. Covered in a light brown dust, rope slung over his shoulder, the elf starts searching for somewhere to tie to.

The corridors walls are smooth, broken by faux columns every 10 feet. The last northern column is badly damaged. With its top half missing, Syna could wrap a rope around it were it strong enough to hold the others.

Syna Perception (Wisdom) Check: 23

The column made of hard local stone, securely implanted into the floor and bearing no weight appears to be solid. Wrapping the rope tightly around the column, Syna pulls at it with all of his might to assess its strength. With the rope holding, Syna throws the loose end across the gaping hole to the others.

OOC: The ledge is still as narrow as before so will still require an Athletics check but the DC will be lowered because of the rope. Who's next to cross? Of course there's still the other way if you don't fancy the pit

Beetle will try to secure the rope on this side of the pit...after doing so he will try to cross using the rope to steady himself on the ledge.

Zyltris will go last, unsecuring the rope as he does 

On the pits eastern side, Beetle and the others decide on an equally strong pillar along the northern wall on which to secure the rope. With the rope pulled taut between the anchor points Beetle begins to sidestep gingerly along the ledge.

Beetle Acrobatics (Dexterity) Check: 17

Slowly making his way along the ledge, Beetle starts to lose his balance. The tight ropes gentle shake suddenly becomes violent as the paladin wobbles helplessly. Relying on instinct he leans backwards against the wall to steady himself until the tether becomes still once more. He breathes a sigh of relief as he takes a nervous glance downwards. The debris strewn pit below would surely not offer up a soft landing were he to fall. 

After a couple more apprehensive steps, the paladin makes it safely to the other side. Red faced, sweaty and relieved. 

(Unrelated Rolls: 19, 5, 21)

"It's not so bad guys come on over..." Beetle says sarcastically to Serak and Brots

Serak: Grasping Beetles hand as he crosses the first five feet, Serak helps the paladin to cross before handing him off to Syna on the other side.

The bard then helps all the others to cross in the same fashion, before crossing himself.

Acrobatics: 23

OOC: Don't be afraid to use the Help action out of combat, especially in dangerous situations like this. You all can always assume Serak is willing to help when making your rolls.

Also, I used Acrobatics because I thought it made sense here. Subtract 5 if Athletics is set in stone.

OOC: I always forget about the help action

OOC: It’s an acrobatics check so that’s all good. Shouldn’t have said athletics before! Too many A’s

Forgit about help too! Between us we’ll remember next time lol

Helping Brots next to cross the chasm, Serak stoops slightly pulling the rope lower into the gnomes reach. The narrow ledge doesn't seem so difficult for the nimble creature as he begins to make his way across.

Brots Acrobatics (Dexterity) Check - With Serak Adv: 15

Brots skips across easily, unsure what all this fuss was about. Iris squeaks away happily on his shoulder, climbing and scurrying like this is far more enjoyable than fighting. 

The remaining allies are at a stand off on the far side of the pit. Both willing the other to go on ahead. Eventually, Serak is deemed the most acrobatic of the two and therefore more likely to succeed without assistance.Taking the bards hand, Zyltris steps onto the ledge. A deep breath to focus concentration and he makes his way across.

Zyltris Acrbatics (Dexterity) Check - With Serak Adv: 20

Easily making it across, Zyltris joins the others safely on the other side. He turns to see Serak has already easily made it halfway across. With a confident flourish the bard skips off the ledge towards his companions.

This side of the corridor is dominated by the large copper plate door on its western end. Beautifully insribed into each door are two large mourning angels beckoning them to venture into the next room.

OOC: Just clarify if the rope is being left here or untied and thrown across when Serak is finished.

OOC: What are we doing with Iarno? How we getting him across?

OOC: I thought you'd left him in the room NW of the cistern - tied up, gagged, locked behind the door and wedged in.

OOC: oh ok i missed that...lol

Serak: Approaching the door cautiously, Serak examines the floor, walls and door for traps. He pays special attention to the angels, hoping they don't come to life and murder him. He then listens at the door a moment before falling back into formation with the others.

Perception: 20

Serak carefully runs his hand across the face of one of the delicately designed angels on the aged copper door. This particular angel, holds a small scythe in one hand. Her green eyes possess a haunting look, following around the room and seemingly staring into his the depths of his soul. The figure on the opposite door crouches in prayer, eyes closed, a set of feathered wings splayed behind it. The two angels heads face each other, separated by the break between the two doors. 

Convinced that the corridor holds no further surprises or traps, Serak places an ear against the praying angels hands and listens closely. The room beyond is eerily quiet. A deep low rumble and a muffled rattle echoes through the door but otherwise no sounds of life emanate from within. 

Syna, too will go to the door and listen and smell. Perception 18

If he hears nothing he will suggest, "I have the strength left in me to assume beast form and attempt to learn more."