Above & Below

As you get closer to the immense walls of Whitehold, the intricate details of the castle become more visible. It's hard to imagine how many centuries it took to carve such incredible statues and windows and stairways into the side of a frozen mountain. The walls reach up fifty or sixty feet high, with parapets lining the top. Two enormous wooden doors block what seems to be the only entrance, slowly decaying over the years but still sturdy and a few feet thick. Cadmael cruises up and over the walls to see what lies beyond. Small stone buildings dot the interior of the wall, and doorways lead into the darkened mountain interior. An archway in the center part of the castle is open, revealing what looks to be a sprawling entryway. Bits of stone of rubble lie everywhere, but he doesn't see any signs of movement or recent disturbance. 

"This place truly is a marvel.  But with the immensity of this place, finding Promise will be even more challenging than anticipated." Kurama comments to the group.  After spending a few more moments admiring the exterior, he adds, "Shall we?" 

"Perhaps you could look for tracks of any sort," Effort says, laying a hand on Kurama to give him guidance in the endeavour.  She dutifully relays what Cadmael had seen, before recalling the owl, who choses to perch on one of Brask's horns, again.

Survival: 14 + 1

Finding anything in the rubble of the valley is nearly impossible. The stones and rubble are a size that would prevent any noticeable footprints from forming or lasting. As you approach the wall, however, Kurama notices something. The rubble thins out and amongst the gravel, he finds the distinct shape of a foot. It certainly looks humanoid, although it's hard to get any details - this isn't mud, after all. While studying it, he looks up and notices another...and then another. They seem to wander around the outside of the wall for a bit before stopping. The last two prints face the wall about 15-20 feet away from the base, and seem a bit more dug in than the others. Then, they vanish. 

"Someone...or something's been here recently...and they went this way"  Kurama comments to the group after spotting the faint remains of footprints.  Cautiously following the tracks, he'll follow them to their conclusion near the base of the wall and stop a little ways back to survey the area.

Perception: 12 (Subtract 4 if it should be a investigation roll instead)

Bit of a wreck, says Brask dismissively.  As the others conduct their careful investigations, he starts picking up loose rocks and chucking them at the walls.

"So he jumped over the wall here," Effort says, looking at it.  She sighs.  "Climbing is not one of my better strengths."

Brask, give me a d20 luck check.

Kurama, it seems like you've found what was to be found. There don't seem to be any other tracks. Whoever or whatever was down here, flew, climbed, jumped, or otherwise left the ground at this point.

10

Brask is feeling middlingly lucky today.

Brask chucks them rocks real good. 

Quote from Enkida >>

"So he jumped over the wall here," Effort says, looking at it.  She sighs.  "Climbing is not one of my better strengths."

 "So it seems.  I guess the question is do we go through the "front door" or follow the path of whoever came before us." 

Brask inspects the wall where Effort is focused, and then begins to attempt to climb it.  Gimme a hand up here.

Kurama eyes the minotaur for a moment, wondering if he could support his weight, before leaning his back against the wall and making a "step" with his hands for Brask to use.  "Alright but try not to make too much noise." 

(Giving Brask advantage on his athletics check) 

Athletics 22

Kurama's boost gets Brask to a nice foothold on the wall, and he's able to work his way up slowly. His footing slips once, but his brute strength is able to hang onto the wall and continue up until he reaches the top, tumbling over the stonework adorning the parapet. 

Anyone else that wants to climb, give me athletics or acrobatics, your choice.

"What do you see up there?" Kurama asks Brask once he managed to work his way onto the top of the wall.  He'll then look to Effort, Burik & Pip and ask "Who wants to go next?" 

(Kurama will stay below and give everyone else advantage on their attempts over the wall)

Everyone else pauses for a moment, a bit apprehensive. Finally, Pip steps up and quickly hops up into Kurama's hand basket, leaping upward and grabbing at the wall...

14

He misses the hand hold he was aiming for, slipping and knocking against the stone as he falls back down next to the monk, taking 1 damage. Determined, he tries again, this time catching the hand hold and pulling himself up. Surprisingly nimble, he works his way up the rest of the wall fairly quickly, until Brask leans down and pulls him up the final few feet.

Burik steps up now and, with a shake of his head, uses Kurama's boost to try and get as high as he can. 

13

Similar to Pip, he takes one short fall (taking 1 damage) before successfully making it up on his second try. Effort and Kurama remain on the ground. 

Brask has rope - can he lower it to help the others climb?

Effort pulls out her grappling hook and sighs.  "Let's try doing this with a bit of assistance," she says, tying her own rope to the hook.  "Cadmael?"

The owl takes the hook from her outstretched hand and flies up, bringing it to the top of the wall and attaching it securely.  He hops over to the edge and looks down.

Pulling on the rope a few times to make sure it's secure, Effort curses under her breath.  "Gods help me, why am I doing this again?" she says, casting guidance on herself.  Then she tries to shimmy her way up the wall, using her rope.

Acrobatics, adv for grappling hook: 21 + 1 Guidance

Having presumably successfully climbed the wall, Effort sends Cadmael down to land on anyone else making the attempt, casting guidance on each of them through her familiar - but one after the other, of course.

(assuming the rope + grapple hook is still hanging down, I'd guess anyone else climbing up has advantage now too?)