Playtesting: IG's 'The Making of Heroes'

[WarShrike]

"I've never heard that Orcs were such good stone workers. It's good to know." says Thogrim, eyeing the tower wearily.

 

[Arkhandus]

"Hmph. I doubt it. Probably dwarven-made, maybe overrun at some point and infested with orcs. But it does seem like the right place to look." Irathias adds, following Aramil to scout out the place. He gets his bow out and strings it, ready for use if they encounter any sentries or the like.

 

[industrygothica]

The tall pine trees blot out pieces of the fading sun as approach a dry ravine that cuts across your path. The ravine face is almost sheer, descending almost 40 feet to a bed of rock. It is at least 25 feet wide, and a well traveled rope bridge dangles from the other side. Two well-planted posts protruding from the ground in front of you likely served as the stakes to which the loose end of the bridge was once secured.

The tower is some distance beyond the other side of the ravine.

 

[Legildur]

The dwarf peers over the edge of the ravine to inspect the walls. "Humph! Don't be expectin' me to climb that," Dowkan says. "Best we be finding another way across."

 

[Arkhandus]

"Hm. I don't suppose..... Well, let's see if this'll do." Irathias mutters, looking across the ravine and judging the distance. He crouches down and removes his backpack, rifling through it for a moment before digging out the biggest thing he carries - a 50 foot length of silken rope, attached to a grappling hook. With the rope out, his backpack looks practically empty.

He makes sure the hook is secured at the end of the line, and spends a minute getting the rope laid out properly in a loop on the ground, so as not to tangle. Then Irathias secures part of the rope to a post on this side of the ravine, starts spinning the end with the grappling hook around, and hurls the hook towards a post on the other side. He leaves about 30 feet of rope between the hook and the post on this end, and if the grapple doesn't catch, he tugs it back to try again.

 

[industrygothica]

Irathias tosses the hook across the gorge. His aim is impressive, as as hook finds its mark and wraps around the post on the other side. There is still a good deal of rope coiled on the ground at his feet, indicating that the guess of about 25 ft. across was fairly accurate.

 

[Arkhandus]

"Whew. It worked. Well, anyone confident they can crawl across the rope without falling? I'm a decent climber, but not great. Maybe we can salvage some rope from the bridge at the other end and get a second line attached here, so everyone can cross....hmm. I don't know if you two are light enough, though." Irathias says, looking at Dowkan and Thogrim.

"....Maybe we should look for another, easier spot to cross the ravine....but perhaps Aramil and I could carry some of your gear across after we drop off our own gear at the other end. Then you could cross the rope without all that heavy gear...." Irathias mutters.

[sblock=ooc]I think the DC is 15 to Climb across a rope like this... Irathias has a +5 on Climb, so he could do it taking 10.[/sblock]

 

[Legildur]

The dwarf shuffles his feet in the dirt as the rope is secured. "Climbin' ain't my thing," Dowkan finally admits. "And specially not with this armor on. Got any bright ideas?"

 

[OnlytheStrong]

"I know only one way to un-hook a grappling hook, and that way requires being close to it. I will try to cross here, unhook it and help look for a better crossing point. Unless there is another volunteer?" Aramil shakes his head even as he hears himself say those words. He wasn't too eager to trust his life to a rope.

 

[WarShrike]

"Good luck."