Phillip wonders aloud to the party (quietly) whether they can secure ropes to help with climbing up, or as a safety-rope in case the ladders break. Maybe E’ku can fly a rope up and secure it. Or maybe the first person up can do that? Phillip has a 50ft rope.

Evo whispers,

"Aye also got 50' of rope. Do we want to just go to the first level and then try that chimney thing? Aye don't think we can avoid the stirges but aye also don't want to alert the pterafolk either..."

He massages his bearded chin,

"Eku if we get ye enough rope could ye tie it off on level 2? That way we can climb up there and Azaka, if ye don't want to climb, aye think ye can make a very helpful distraction while we clear the stirge. Once we get up there and are ready to fight the stirge Eku can mind-tell ye to make a bit of a fuss down here and lure the pterafolk away. We can can clear the stirge and shimmy up to the third floor and wait to ambush'm when they come back. What do ye think Azaka? Everyone?"

He is trying to give Azaka a way out and a way to help with this plan.

((OOC: @DM... Phillip has a ‘climbing speed’. Does that play in to this challenge at all? How do you think having a climbing speed plays out in-game? Whether Phillip volunteers to climb would depend on whether he knows if he has climbing in the bag or not))

"I've got rope as well, and I can make one of us, Azaka for instance, able to walk right up the side of the tower as if it were flat ground. Be as easy as strolling down a trail. I can take a different form and scurry up there, then let rope down, if that seems best. Eku, if there are any narrow passages, I can cast a spell that will burn out anyone trying to attack us through it, as long as it's five feet wide. Any wider, and they can just go around, but would work well for a hallway or the like. And once we get up there, I should be able to bring a storm down on the pterafolk and zap them right out of the sky."

Alton would add in that he also has rope. He doesn’t have any amazing ideas or option to scale the spire, in fact, the small halfling could even considered to look a little nervous. (He’s dexterous and acrobatic... but let’s just say strength is not his strong suit)

However, Alton would be happy to lead any scouting at ground level, or leading the group stealthily to the base of Firefinger to begin their ascent. 

Phillip thinks making Azaka stick to the wall like a spider would be a very nice thing to do, if that would lessen her fear of heights a little. And Phillip would gladly lead her up (if climbing-speed equals auto-climb or easier-climb). They could then take some rope up to the first level at least, tie it off, lower it down, and help everyone else up.

((Oh I think Grungs can totally climb!! I overlooked that. Phillip will have no problems scaling the walls)

Azaka breathes a sigh of relief when Gotur explains his magic which will allow her to climb the wall as if she was walking normally. "Thank you. I truly appreciate this. I shall best be not looking down though regardless." she laughs but its clear she's still pretty scared. She then says to Phillip "Thank you, Phillip. I will follow you up. Have to get used to this..." 

Gotur, Eku and Azaka seem quite impressed when you explain some of the magic that you are capable of. Azaka says "zap them right out of the sky... I like that." Eku is more reserved but nods at Gotur's plan and seems onside with it. 

Eku would say "There are indeed some passageways up in the first and second levels that are 5ft wide." 

Ok, let me know if thisall correct:

Got-ipede, Phillip and Azaka can scale the wall with ease. No rolls required. They can climb up to level 1 entrance and then anchor the rope. There is also an option in that first level to tie the rope to a pillar vs. having people hold the rope, but you'll need an extra 50ft of rope. So in total you'll need approximately 110ft of rope if you want to tie the rope to the pillar and have it reach the ground.

I have added an image of the map of level 1 on the 'Action Map' tab since there will be characters that can see in once they climb up. You can see what I mean about the pillar. 

Ok, so that leaves Eku, Alton and Evo to climb the rope. Eku will just fly up, of course. 

Alton and Evo will need to make athletics checks. I think if Phillip or Got-ipede wanted to climb back down and helpthem, that would be fine. Azaka will not help, unfortunately. She's just happy that she made it up to level 1. 

There will still be a DC which needs to be achieved even with the rope and the help. It is a 60 ft climb, after all. 

The second level is 160 feet up so I don't think the rope will be possible to go from level 2 to ground, or if Alton/Evo would even want to climb that?! It's 100ft from level 1 to level 2. 

Anyhow, let me know if I have the climb right, and then Alton and Evo can roll.

Map is updated. 

((I think that is correct? I will wait for confirmation from the others before I roll, and if they will help.))

((Cool - also, if the characters that were able to climb want more information about that first level, please feel free to let me know what you would do up there, where you would look etc. on the map and make any necessary rolls and I will give you the resulting info. I'll add your icon to the map as well as these come in.))

((That all sounds fine. And Phillip would of course ‘help’ to provide advantage. I think we have enough rope to tie it off properly. Phillip has 50ft, someone else said they had another. That means we are only 10 ft short which is doable as it is, unless someone else has more rope?))

((edit... daam! I just looked at the firefinger image! Phillip is fine, but Grwobert thinks that is insane!! :-o  ))

((As Got-ipede, he's of limited help, probably. Though maybe helping identify next handhold, etc. He could shift back and have Alton just tie in and pull him up, and if Evo ties in, can at least provide weight reduction assistance, just means he will lose that form. If hand holds seem decent here, maybe stay Got-ipede and save that for a more precarious one? Think two others besides Gotur had rope, so ~150ft then?))

((I think tying in would help Evo as would finding holds. Only need one roll to the first level?

Athletics check to climb with advantage: 16))

((OOC: just a couple of questions about the action map and the layout of the levels...

I think you’ll add our icons to the action map so this will be answered soon I think, but where about are we appearing up onto that map? Is it the bottom edge or somewhere else? Does Phillip see any enemies as soon as he reaches that floor or does it look empty (or does he need a roll?). 

And, for each of the levels: would a drop from the outside of a climb, mean a fall all the way to the ground? Or just back to the last level reached? It might not make a difference if we take an internal route, just wondering. Thanks))

((Confirming that Gotur would have cast spider climb on Azaka right before changing to Got-ipede, so she has an hour with that (or until he loses concentration) and he has 2 hours (or until he shifts out or takes enough damage to drop it). Climb up with her, make sure it's safe-ish, Eku fly up to join Azaka as Gotur/Phillip climb back down to help Alton and Evo up. No one gets left alone.))

((thank you for that confirmation - much appreciated!))

((good questions about the map. So the party will be coming in at the ladder part at the south end of the map. Yep that bottom edge. Yep I will add icons once everyone is in. Phillip would not see any enemies when he climbs up and takes a peek inside. A drop from a climb outside would indeed mean a fall to the base. Brutal. There are ways up via the inside though which you will see which are different. Internal routes.))

My rock climbing knowledge is weak at best. If you guys 'tie in' Alton, should he (and Evo for that matter, but he already succeeded with his roll) even have to still make an athletics check? I guess he still has to make the climb with the help, but does the tie in just ensure that he doesn't fall to his death SHOULD he fail the check? Yeah I think that's how it works. 

I'll get the map together and a general explanation of what the party sees once they get to the top in the meantime once Alton's roll comes in.

Ok... Alton, 5 or greater, with advantage gets you up. First fail and you are hanging there, and you then roll a second attempt again with advantage at the climb. A second fail and you're hanging there again, and by that time getting pretty scared. A 3rd fail with advantage and the rope/tie in gets cut by a sharp edge on the rock and you fall. 

*if it comes to that, I'll allow one person who's helping to try and grab his hand at the last second with a difficult roll attempt.... No way he will fail that 3 times though. hahahaha!

(Here goes nothing!)

Athletics with advantage: 15

hahahaha! Nice one

Ok let me get the map set and then you can confirm positions and what you would like to do next. 

Will try for later this aft!

So you all make it up as discussed to level 1! No one plummets to their un-ressurectable death! Hurray!

Actually that is not entirely true..... :) there might be an 'alternate' resurrection option in this game... if it comes to that. 

Eku suggests that she remains outside of the tower in her couatl form and keeps a telepathic connection to one of the party members to not confuse the messages (let's go with Evo unless someone else makes sense). She won't need to see Evo, just will need to be in range. 120ft.

The reason for this is because the caves within this tower have ceilings that range from 7 to 10 feet high. She won't really be able to fly all that well stuck in there. If she stays outside, she can also keep an eye out for pterafolk. She could follow you up to the second and third floors and so on staying on the outside, keeping the telepathic connection with Evo as he explains what is happening inside. If there are dangers, she could just swoop back in. 

Would you all agree with her suggestion? She will listen to you though if you think sticking together is better, and would tell you that she would assume a different 'shape' should you prefer her inside with the party. :)

If you agree - the map has been updated with the PC/NPC icons added. Let me know if it looks correct. 

Azaka is in her tiger-humanoid hybrid form. Sorry if I forgot to mention that. Got-ipede also updated. 

 As you all enter the first level cave, it's clear the pterafolk don’t use this section, the most prominent feature of which is a 10-foot-deep pit. The ceilings in here as mentioned range from 7 to 10 feet high.

The shortest distance across the pit is 15 feet, using the RaW long jump rules.

Alternatively, climbing into or out of the pit will require an athletics check. 

Let me know what you'd like to do and any checks you might want to make as well as if I have the map correct. 

Azaka will have no problems leaping over the pit and would actually go first since she is inside now and is eager to get her mask back. I will wait though to move her until I hear from you all. 

Map is updated! (Action map tab)

((Okay with Eku on lookout duty for now. Good to know if we've been made!))

"So what is the plan?"

Evo whispers,

"Do we want to try and climb up? Or maybe someone can lure the stirge down to us?"