Guardian cautiously approaches the pillar and takes note of the rope. Curious about how long the rope has been there he rolls a 3 (🤦♂️) for survivability as he takes a firm footing and assesses the rope tied around the pillar.
"Who wants to descend first? It seems our only choice at the moment. And bear in mind we are tracing the same steps as something else, and there could be a confrontation once we reach the base of the ravine. I am ready to climb down, unless someone has a preference to go first?
Do we require the insurance of a second rope? I have a 50ft line in my pack if someone wants to remain behind whilst the others go? Again, I am happy to do this and help lower you all down first?
Eerie giggles at Illburnya, "You're the finest dwarf I've met and of course that's not what I meant. Just used to being the smallest as I've eaten mostly berries and plants in my life. Result of being a child of Druids I suppose." Eerie moves towards the pillar concerned about the weight of Guardian's armor but he seems to be doing fine. She looks about for any small animals, even rodents or birds that are close enough to communicate with - Speak with Small Beasts - (see spoiler for reference). Rolled for Animal Handling7 and nature19 in case either apply. She hopes that maybe she can find an animal trail or get from them an idea of how the traffic through here moves - peoplewise. Its probably down the rope, but there are a lot of campfires and that rope looks new.
Speak with Small Beasts
Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas with Small or smaller beasts. Forest gnomes love animals and often keep squirrels, badgers, rabbits, moles, woodpeckers, and other creatures as beloved pets
When they are ready, she is happy to go down first or second, however they prefer. "I'm happy to go down first to check things out. My illusions generally help to distract trouble when I encounter it - of course disregard the most recent example.."
(13, no check required for tying the rope luckily! But would have been a Dex if one was needed. There seems to be a ledge 50ft down, so a 50ft rope will just about reach)
@Eerie:
You entice a squirrel over and engage in a brief discussion of chirps and gestures. The squirrel signals that ‘big things’ regularly travel this way, but most go down the rope or are coming back up, rather than passing through. The squirrels stay well away as it is dangerous to approach the Big Things, but decent scraps are often left behind. You understand Big Things to mean a creature of Small size or larger.
Illburnyafinds nothing that his new comrades have not already uncovered.
(So that I am clear, you now have two ropes tied to pillars, both descending 50ft to a ledge. You have discussed ‘marching’ order but this might need adapting for the fact there are now two ropes. This will mean a ‘marching’ order for the ropes as follows:
First wave: Eerie & Illburnya
Second wave: Guardian & Notian
Last: 13
I just need to know the trigger for waves 2 & 3 to descend and any other contextual activity that anyone wants to carry out please, before or after descending)
(OOC let me know if the colour highlighting is helping for names. I'm trying to use blue for party members, red for known hostiles and other colours for unknowns/neutrals)
(I was reading the strength roll for the support of the party members down - and the second rope just as a back up for the first or tied to the person climbing in case the first one weakens?)
Eerie chitters back at the little squirrel and feeds it some scraps of her food as reward(she has a day of rations as back up in inventory). If it sticks around, maybe it will get more...(squirrels make fun little scouts and gnomes are known to befriend them and keep as pets so DM discretion.)
She looks to the others, "My little friend here says lots of big things through here going up and down the rope." Eerie peers over the edge then gets a good hand on the rope and hand over hand proceeds down with her feet on the wall for balance unless it makes too much noise. Looking downward and about periodically for anything of concern.(if the squirrel follows she will tuck into a pocket securely if it likes, if it has other ideas she bids it farewell in proper squirrel fashion and continues)
Whilst Guardian awaits his turn to descend the rope he cant help but feel something is waiting for them. He seeks advice from his Celestial Agent and casts Divine Sense.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Illburnya grabs the second rope and makes his way down. His staff is a bit awkward and keeps hitting him in the legs but he puts up with it. He looks carefully around him and particularly below to check for danger.
"Ready to go down when you guys are, this rope reminds me of a story, there was this one time at band camp... " Notian looks around and sees the faces of people are not interested and decides to save this story for another time.
Once the rest are lowered safely down (assuming it is a safe descent!) Then 13 coils the spare rope and replaces it in his backpack, and lowers himself down to join the others.
@Guardian: You call on the divines for guidance against the threats of evil intent, and are relieved to sense no such danger.
@Eerie: You reach the ledge, which overlooks a subterranean gulf of darkness to the west. The ledge is wide but rough. Sand, rocky debris, and the bones of small animals cover it. A rough-hewn stairwell zigs and zags down the side of the ledge, descending into darkness.
@Illburnya: As you land on the ledge next to Eerieand signal for Guardianto follow, your sharp vision detects movement in the rubble around you. You have time to shout a quick warning to your comrades, avoiding an ambush from the three Giant Rats which pounce from their hiding places.
(Everybody roll for initiative and post your intended actions. At this point Guardian, Notian and 13are all at the top of the 50ft ropes, and there are two ropes. You can climb down a rope at your normal walking pace, ie speed of 30 = 30ft descended in one turn).
The giant rats' initiative scores are: 20 , 6 and 14
6 As I move down the rope and cast Vicious Mockery (60ft range) at the rat that looks like its going to act first.
"You cant dance, You can't walk, Only thing about you is the way that you squark, You cant dance, you can't sing, We're just hanging here, gonna kill everything."
Illburnya casts poison spray (cantrip) at the rat that appears to be the most likely to attack first. If he cannot work out which one that is he will attack the one to the north of him.
She slashes quickly with her Dual Sickles First attack 6 Damage 2 Second Attack 2 Damage 1(wow I should have checked the damage on those - 1d4-1 ea and those rolls - I'm gonna die)Trying to buy some time for the others to get down the rope.
Guardian cautiously approaches the pillar and takes note of the rope. Curious about how long the rope has been there he rolls a 3 (🤦♂️) for survivability as he takes a firm footing and assesses the rope tied around the pillar.
13 watches Guardian, whilst he checks the rope.
"Who wants to descend first? It seems our only choice at the moment. And bear in mind we are tracing the same steps as something else, and there could be a confrontation once we reach the base of the ravine. I am ready to climb down, unless someone has a preference to go first?
Do we require the insurance of a second rope? I have a 50ft line in my pack if someone wants to remain behind whilst the others go? Again, I am happy to do this and help lower you all down first?
Investigation6
Why thank you Eerie for the charcoal it may well be useful.
I'm happy to go second on the rope as I'm also pretty short, no offense!
Eerie giggles at Illburnya, "You're the finest dwarf I've met and of course that's not what I meant. Just used to being the smallest as I've eaten mostly berries and plants in my life. Result of being a child of Druids I suppose." Eerie moves towards the pillar concerned about the weight of Guardian's armor but he seems to be doing fine. She looks about for any small animals, even rodents or birds that are close enough to communicate with - Speak with Small Beasts - (see spoiler for reference). Rolled for Animal Handling 7 and nature 19 in case either apply. She hopes that maybe she can find an animal trail or get from them an idea of how the traffic through here moves - peoplewise. Its probably down the rope, but there are a lot of campfires and that rope looks new.
Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas with Small or smaller beasts. Forest gnomes love animals and often keep squirrels, badgers, rabbits, moles, woodpeckers, and other creatures as beloved pets
When they are ready, she is happy to go down first or second, however they prefer. "I'm happy to go down first to check things out. My illusions generally help to distract trouble when I encounter it - of course disregard the most recent example.."
"Your illusion provided good distraction Eerie, it allowed me to chop wood.
I shall remain here until you are all lowered down. I will also attach a second rope to each (if it reaches the base of the ravine) as a precaution.
If required, strength roll - 8
(13, no check required for tying the rope luckily! But would have been a Dex if one was needed. There seems to be a ledge 50ft down, so a 50ft rope will just about reach)
@Eerie:
You entice a squirrel over and engage in a brief discussion of chirps and gestures. The squirrel signals that ‘big things’ regularly travel this way, but most go down the rope or are coming back up, rather than passing through. The squirrels stay well away as it is dangerous to approach the Big Things, but decent scraps are often left behind. You understand Big Things to mean a creature of Small size or larger.
Illburnya finds nothing that his new comrades have not already uncovered.
(So that I am clear, you now have two ropes tied to pillars, both descending 50ft to a ledge. You have discussed ‘marching’ order but this might need adapting for the fact there are now two ropes. This will mean a ‘marching’ order for the ropes as follows:
I just need to know the trigger for waves 2 & 3 to descend and any other contextual activity that anyone wants to carry out please, before or after descending)
(OOC let me know if the colour highlighting is helping for names. I'm trying to use blue for party members, red for known hostiles and other colours for unknowns/neutrals)
(I was reading the strength roll for the support of the party members down - and the second rope just as a back up for the first or tied to the person climbing in case the first one weakens?)
Eerie chitters back at the little squirrel and feeds it some scraps of her food as reward(she has a day of rations as back up in inventory). If it sticks around, maybe it will get more...(squirrels make fun little scouts and gnomes are known to befriend them and keep as pets so DM discretion.)
She looks to the others, "My little friend here says lots of big things through here going up and down the rope." Eerie peers over the edge then gets a good hand on the rope and hand over hand proceeds down with her feet on the wall for balance unless it makes too much noise. Looking downward and about periodically for anything of concern. (if the squirrel follows she will tuck into a pocket securely if it likes, if it has other ideas she bids it farewell in proper squirrel fashion and continues)
(Ah OK, in that case one descent at a time - Eerie, Illburnya, Guardian, Notian, 13).
The squirrel accepts Eerie's request to accompany her and nestles into a pocket, chirping intermittently.
Whilst Guardian awaits his turn to descend the rope he cant help but feel something is waiting for them. He seeks advice from his Celestial Agent and casts Divine Sense.
Illburnya grabs the second rope and makes his way down. His staff is a bit awkward and keeps hitting him in the legs but he puts up with it. He looks carefully around him and particularly below to check for danger.
Perception 15
"Ready to go down when you guys are, this rope reminds me of a story, there was this one time at band camp... " Notian looks around and sees the faces of people are not interested and decides to save this story for another time.
Once the rest are lowered safely down (assuming it is a safe descent!) Then 13 coils the spare rope and replaces it in his backpack, and lowers himself down to join the others.
@Guardian: You call on the divines for guidance against the threats of evil intent, and are relieved to sense no such danger.
@Eerie: You reach the ledge, which overlooks a subterranean gulf of darkness to the west. The ledge is wide but rough. Sand, rocky debris, and the bones of small animals cover it. A rough-hewn stairwell zigs and zags down the side of the ledge, descending into darkness.
@Illburnya: As you land on the ledge next to Eerie and signal for Guardian to follow, your sharp vision detects movement in the rubble around you. You have time to shout a quick warning to your comrades, avoiding an ambush from the three Giant Rats which pounce from their hiding places.
(Everybody roll for initiative and post your intended actions. At this point Guardian, Notian and 13 are all at the top of the 50ft ropes, and there are two ropes. You can climb down a rope at your normal walking pace, ie speed of 30 = 30ft descended in one turn).
The giant rats' initiative scores are: 20 , 6 and 14
Map:
6 As I move down the rope and cast Vicious Mockery (60ft range) at the rat that looks like its going to act first.
"You cant dance, You can't walk, Only thing about you is the way that you squark, You cant dance, you can't sing, We're just hanging here, gonna kill everything."
Initiative 20
Illburnya casts poison spray (cantrip) at the rat that appears to be the most likely to attack first. If he cannot work out which one that is he will attack the one to the north of him.
He shouts, "oh goody rat steaks for tea!"
10 - initiative
13 climbs down the rope at his earliest opportunity, lifts his greatsword and charges at the nearest giant rat.
Attack: 16 Damage: 13
Guardian climbs down the rope and rolls an initiative of 4.
When landing, Guardian readies his great sword but will first assess his comrades and the damage the giant rats deliver.
Eerie rolls and initiative of 16
She slashes quickly with her Dual Sickles First attack 6 Damage 2 Second Attack 2 Damage 1 (wow I should have checked the damage on those - 1d4-1 ea and those rolls - I'm gonna die) Trying to buy some time for the others to get down the rope.
Rat 1 (northernmost) attacks first on Illburnya Attack: 23 Damage: 4
The rats seem to benefit from their swarming tactic, having their fellow critters attacking at the same time
Rat 3 (southernmost), who would be next to act, rolls 3 against Illburnya’s jet of poison (DC12) and takes 7 poison damage on a fail
Eerie slashes at the rats with both sickles, making no contact and failing to hold them at bay
Rolling initiative: R3, 13, R2, Notian, Guardian, R1, Illburnya, Eerie
Rat 3 screeches in agony as the poisonous jet washes over it. The oversized rodent shivers, curls into a ball and expires.
13 grabs the rope and descends 30ft; just over halfway down.
Rat 2 bites at Illburnya Attack: 23 Damage: 5 piercing (please update your HP)
Notian climbs 20ft down the rope but must stop before running into 13
Rat 1 rolls 9 against Notian’s DC13 and takes 3 psychic damage on a fail (sorry that's a pass so no damage)
Guardian also descends the rope but can only drop 10ft due to ‘traffic’
Back to the top: R1, Illburnya (-4hp), Eerie, 13 (20ft from ledge), R2, Notian (30ft up), Guardian (40ft up)
Next turns please 🙂