LostSoul
Adventurer
I think I need to hear more meat about the idea of combats being handled as a skill challenge... the gambit that resulted in the Wyvern being by itself is certainly just the first part of that challenge right?
I have no idea how I'd resolve getting it alone. Depending on the plan, it might be a skill challenge of its own, a single roll, or automatic success/failure. Let's assume it succeeds.
This is how I would do it:
[sblock=Wyvern Roost Fight]First of all, I'd describe the area:
DM: Okay, so there's a long, tall stone pillar, like a natural tower rising out of the ground. You climb up it. It's like a bowl, depressed area in the middle. The wyverns have made a nest out of wood, grass, and bone, and there's a thick clump of it in the middle.
Here, let me sketch a picture. [I draw a picture, a map, but not a battlemap.]
There's a wyvern sleeping over here. It's breathing heavy, it's tail is waving back and forth. Whoever has the lowest Stealth check, roll Stealth. It'll be Hard because it's hard to be quiet while climbing.
Fighter: That's me. But I have Sure Climber.
Okay, add a +2 bonus.
Rogue: Can I help?
DM: I don't know, how can you help him?
Rogue: I stay right next to him and try and hold all the jingly parts of his armour from moving, so he doesn't make any noise.
DM: Oh, okay, that makes sense. Roll.
<Success!>
It stirs a bit, but it hasn't woken up. What do you do now?
Rogue: I am going to stab him in the heart.
Fighter: Let's spread out and surround him.
Other PCs: <do so>
DM: Okay, Rogue, stab him. Make an attack roll. It'll be easy since he's sleeping.
<Success!>
Okay, you place your sword over where you think his heart is and push. It slides in deeply and hot, foul blood pours out. The wyvern rises in pain! It lashes out with its tail. The wizard over here is hit by the tail and pushed over the side!
Wizard: Crap! I try to dodge out of the way.
DM: Okay, make a Reflex roll. Just subtract 10 from your Reflex and add that to the d20.
<Failure>
DM: Okay, it smacks you hard and you go tumbling over the side. It's about 50 feet down. You'll be at 0 HP and bleeding out...
Fighter: Can I try to grab him?
DM: No, you're way over here.
Cleric: How about me?
DM: Sure, make an Athletics check.
Cleric: Cool, made it!
DM: Okay, as he slides off the edge you jump and grab onto him as he falls. Wizard, lose a healing surge.
Now the wyvern starts beating its wings, blood still pumping out from its wound. It's hovering about 20 feet off the ground. What do you do?
PCs: I attack him!
DM: Okay, let's just make one attack roll - I don't care who it is - and anyone else who shoots at the wyvern can help.
Wizard, Cleric, you're dangling over the side. The Wizard can blast him, but the Cleric can't - unless you want to let go?
Cleric: I'll hold onto him.
DM: Okay. Roll.
<Success>
You pelt it with attacks and it turns to flee! What do you do?
PCs: We kill it!
DM: Okay, attack it again.
<Success>
As it flies away, you nail it and it drops to the ground. 500 xp.[/sblock]