Deus Ex Machina

[Eryndur]

Kamma gapes at the assembled party of warforged. "Uhhmm... right-o. Mekniks galore. Well then, off we go."

He shoulders his pack and starts up the path. "Mind your step!" he says over his shoulder.

The morning air is bitterly cold above the treeline, and the footing is indeed treacherous on the rocky scree. The sun passes its zenith, and after a few more hours of painful ascent, Kamma calls a halt in the middle of the path.

He points up the side of the peak, which at this location is littered with heaped boulders along a fairly gentle slope. "Here we leave the path. Up these boulders we must climb now. First Cave is beyond. Only Kamma knows this, so lucky you are indeed. Continuing to follow the path will lead you only to impassable crevasse."

He hoists himself up onto the first boulder and grins down at you. "Up we go!"

[sblock=OOC]The boulders are between 4 and 6 feet tall each, and are stacked haphazardly on the slope in a manner that allows for climbing. Ascending this area requires 3 successive climb checks at DC 10. If you use a rope or other aid, this DC drops to 5.[/sblock]

 

[Forgefly]

Spike begins climbing up the boulders and makes some progress before falling as a boulder shifts beneath him.

[sblock=ooc]
Climbing (1d20+2=19, 1d20+2=4, 1d20+2=12)
How far do I fall? Down just one boulder or to the bottom?
[/sblock]

 

[Eryndur]

[sblock=OOC]If you fail by more than 4 points, you crash onto the boulder below you, which isn't really that far anyway. You will suffer 1d3 points of nonlethal damage. In this case, Spike takes 3 points. Should anyone fail all three rolls, that person will take 2d6 points of lethal damage.[/sblock]

 

[Redclaw]

Erran steps up and struggles his way up the rocks, determined not to give the goblin the satisfaction of seeing him fall. Secretly he wonders if this shortcut is just goblin humor.
[sblock=ooc] Climb checks--
1d20+3 = 15, 7, 10 [/sblock]

 

[Zurai]

Grace begins to climb up the path, but its heavy adamantine plating betrays its name and Grace slips, crashing down onto the boulders below with a tremendous clatter.

[sblock=Ouch]climb checks (1d20-3=-1, 1d20-3=2, 1d20-3=0) Even with ropes that'd be 3 fails.[/sblock]

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Dog helps up the falling Grace, dusting off the heavier warforged. He then looks at Small Dog, the horses, the mule, his supplies, and the rapidly ascending (and decending) warforged, and taps its own shoulder in a substitute for the throat-clearing sound softfleshes made to call attention to oneself.

"Corporal Erran, we have a tactical supply issue," he says. "The horses and mule cannot climb the boulders. Yet their presence when we let them go may indicate out own to enemy scouts. In addition, Small Dog will need assistance with the ascent. This unit has rope to assist with the ascent, but will be overburdened with gear if forced to abandon the mule."

Dog hesitates for a moment, and glances at the placidly-grazing mule and the half-dozen horses.

"The animals may come to harm if allowed to wander," it adds rapidly and a little quietly. "They could fall into the hands of the enemy." Tacking on a tactical reason to his last comment seems to make Dog a little more comfortable.

 

[Redclaw]

Any suggestions, Dog? I fear that heading into an immense collection of caverns isn't the best choice for them either.
For now, I would suggest we use your rope to haul Small Dog and supplies up the boulders, and then redistribute the gear so that our stronger members carry much of it.

 

[Kaodi]

3AC-42X shifts his shield to his back and retrieves the rope and grappling look from his pack. Once he has found suitable purchase, he attempts the ascent.

Climb: 1d20-3=13, 1d20-3=14, 1d20-3=12

Despite being perhaps the bulkiest of the bunch, he ascends easily.

" Some of the supply units may be suitable for rough terrain, " he says, pointing to a mule. " Resources should not be surrendered to the enemy if it can be avoided. "

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

3AC-42X had a point, but the rough boulders were a substantial obstacle for any hooved creature but a mountain goat. The corporal's idea was practical and straightforward, and his orders, of course, would trump anything. Still, he had asked for suggestions.

"The mule, at least, would be useful for... future needs. Kamma, what further obstacles lie ahead?" Dog asks the goblin, addressing him directly for the first time.

 

[Mellubb]

[sblock=OOC] Sorry for the prolonged absence. There was a huge srorm here and I lost power late tuesdaynight. I am back now and redy to go.[/sblock]

Climb check number 1 (1d20+5=16)
Climb check number 2 (1d20+5=15)
Climb check number 3 (1d20+5=23)

Fixem easily makes his chacks and will aid anyone else who needs it although hi will tease them as he does so.