The Statue Shatters (Eberron Round-Robin IC Chapter 1)

[Son_of_Meepo]

(OOC: Things are starting to get back to normal after the birth of my daughter, hopefully I'll be beck to regular postings soon enough.)

Mirror follows the group, awkwardly silent while humming a tune in his mind.

[fireinthedust]

A daughter? Cool! Way to have children!

question: if you're Son of Meepo, does that make her Grandchild of Meepo?

[Asmodeus]

{OOC: Take it to the OOC thread.

And someone kick our DM and tell him to respond damnit.}

[Mantid]

Spoiler

Show

Roll to hit DM with unarmed strike - (1d20+2)[12]

I think I missed. Probably gave the DM an AoO on me too...

"Are you planning on climbing over the gate?" Celvic asks, watching the Artificer examine the stairs. "It could be a disastrous fall if one of us slips or part of the gate gives away. I will search for an easier way while you see if it is safe to continue that way." With that Celvic opens the glass doors and heads inside.

[Xian]

((Ow, that kick hurt! *Rockslide* Everyone dies. *sulks*
And congrats on the kidling, Meepo.))

Clarifications: The steps off of the current balcony curve up and around the building, mirroring the architecture of the first balcony, meaning that they probably stop at another balcony a few floors up. Of course, the gate's in the way, but it should be no problem to deal with.

All that can be seen through the glass doors is a dim view of the large round table. Everything else fades into darkness.

The bridge connecting the buildings is at the roof, so about another 10 stories up.

[Asmodeus]

The artificer will test the gate, checking to see if its locked.

[Mantid]

((Heh... guess Celvic isn't the only one that's blind. I kept reading that as the gate can not be opened for some reason. ))

[fireinthedust]

{OOC: Take it to the OOC thread.

And someone kick our DM and tell him to respond damnit.}

((Hey Asmodeus: could you be a little more civil and significantly less bossy? I realize you're a moderator elsewhere, the OP for the round-robin, and according to 4e about to be upgraded with divine ranks. But the rest of us didn't sign on to be bossed around or told not to step out of line. This being a game, we're all here for fun and to relax. While I get your point, Xian's currently the DM; eventually the rest of us will be. ie: group of equals playing together. ))

[Xian]

The gate is locked with what have must once been a secure bolt, but is now crumbling and quite rusted.

[Asmodeus]

The artificer forces the lock open.

str - (1d20)[10]

[Xian]

The lock crumbles in the warforged's hands as if it were made of the snow piled on the ground below. The gate sways slightly, creaking faintly on its hinges.

[Asmodeus]

As soon as the path is clear, the warforged starts traversing the stairs, aiming for the top of the tower, and hopefully, to the bridge.

[Xian]

With a sense of deja vu, the warforged ascends the stairs as they wind around the tower to the next balcony. The deja vu ends as abruptly as the balcony - half of it has crumbled away. There is enough left to connect the top of the stairs to a solid wooden door leading into the towers, but a long drop separates the remainder of the balcony from the next flight of continually escalating stairs. The stairs are not completely out of reach, however; a solid jump or some clever use of a rope, ladder or pole could bridge the gap, but it is too far away to simply step over.

Spoiler

Show

Rough ASCII sketch, not to scale
|____|
|____| <--Far stairs
|____|
|____|
|
|
|----\
|......\
|.......|
|........\
} Door..\___
|................|
|.................\
|..................|
|_____|-------|
|_____|
|_____| <--Current Position
|_____|

The wooden door is nothing terribly remarkable, but it is in unusually good condition, if the hinges look a little rusty. It seems heavy and solid, but the ornate handle provides a means to open it.

[Son_of_Meepo]

"Perhaps a little more of your magic can turn that door into a bridge," wonders Mirror, addressing the other warforged.

"I think we can remove it from its hinges easily enough."

((Mirror will move over next to the door waiting for help.))

[Asmodeus]

The warforged takes a look at the balcony, hoping to ensure that its stable before trusting any weight to it.

"We should consider rigging some kind of rope harness to the heaviest person and have them go first, to check the stability of these crumbling pathways."

In response to Mirror's suggestion, he says "I don't have access to that kind of magic, but perhaps we could use some more mundane methods though. If the door is tall enough, it could make a bridge on its own. Otherwise, some simple rope work might be in order."

[fireinthedust]

ooc: wish I'd thought to bring a set of spring-shoes!

IC:

Jo takes in the gap, and looks around the tower for anything that could help them get across: cracks in the stone to climb along or, failing that, materials (rope, wooden beams, etc.) to build a bridge.

Here: half of you climb inside my *HANDY HAVERSACK*. I'll carry us across, then we can toss my silk rope back: the others can tie the rope around the handles, then climb in, then I'll yank them back over the gap. Easy-peasy

[Mantid]

"I have no desire to be shoved into a bag," Celvic replies. "I think we should try to bridge the gap with the door first. If we can't pry it loose, I believe there was a table in the room below."

[Asmodeus]

{OOC: Since I doubt the ASCII is to scale, can we get some kind of estimate on how large the gap is? 5 ft? 10 ft? more?}

Looking at Jo, the warforged says "We'll call that Plan Zebra."

If the balcony looks safe after scrutiny, he'll walk over to the door and try to get a measure for whether or not it will bridge the gap. As he does so, he continues to speak. "The Zil gnomes have a saying... Something about if you hear hoofbeats, before you see the creature, is your first thought a horse, or a zebra? I forget the exact wording, but the point is that when you come across a problem, look for the simplest, most reliable solution first, rather than trying to concoct an elaborate plan that is complicated and unlikely to succeed.

The simplest plan, assuming the gap is too far to jump safely, is to bridge the gap somehow. A platform would be safest, but if that won't work, stringing a rope across would be the next logical course."

[Xian]

((The ASCII is very much not to scale; I think I'd kill myself trying to make it so, particularly since past experience has shown me that the board will render too much blank space weirdly by ignoring it.

Anyways....The door is approximately 7' tall, and the gap between the balcony and stairs is about 10'. The door will not bridge the gap, at least not completely.))

[Asmodeus]

After taking a look at the situation, the warforged pronounces "The door won't work. Too short.

We'll need to string a rope across. Jo, your idea actually has merit. It just needs a bit of tuning.

First, secure a rope on this side. Then, put 1 person in the haversack... Someone small, and good with knots. Tie the haversack to the rope, and fling it across the gap. That way, we don't risk anyone falling to their death. If we miss with the throw, we just reel in the haversack back with the rope and try again.

Once its across, the person inside climbs out and ties off the rope, and the rest of us cross via rope.

How's that sound to everyone? Anyone want to volunteer for the ride?"

[Goblin Music]

It sounds like you want me to go. Rarinn says looking at the warforged. i volunteer.

[fireinthedust]

I think two should go in the sack. There may be nothing on the other side, and two bodies can offset the weight of anyone climbing across much more easily. Also, this is 60ft. of silk rope; I'd rather not leave it behind as we may need it later. Whoever is last can have the Haversack thrown back to them, tie the first end of the rope to it, climb in and have the other side pull them across.

[Asmodeus]

"We'll use my rope then.

I'd be worried about them both fitting, or rupturing the bag. If there is something to secure the rope to, just one person should be enough. If only I had an immovable Rod handy... "

Visually looks around for something to securely tie the rope to on each side, while he retrieves his own length of rope.

Spot - (1d20)[18]

[Son_of_Meepo]

Mirror listens to the suggestion being currently passed around.

"I have to admit I am unfamiliar with how these magic bags work. Are you certain that those inside will simply be able to climb out on their own without anyone being there to open it? Also, how will those people inside know when it is safe to come out? I'd assume they can't necessarily hear or feel what is going on outside the bag."

[Asmodeus]

"As long as we don't tie the bag shut, whoever is inside should be able to climb out freely.

Good question about knowing when to come out though. My suggestion would be to just count slowly... 1 Karnnathi, 2 Karnnathi, 3 Karnnathi... until they get to 20. By that time, we will have had time to throw the bag across, or haul it back up if we miss."

[Mantid]

"Why bother with the bag at all?" Celvic adds. "If Jo'Natar believes he can climb over, then just give him the end of the rope and let him carry it. Besides, it isn't a very big gap. I'm sure one of us could jump it."

Spoiler

Show

((OOC: Unless Xian has some nasty surprise for us, its only a DC 10 jump! A reflex save to grab it if you roll better then 5!))

[Asmodeus]

"I'm just worried about someone falling to their death. If you feel that confident, then go ahead."

[Xian]

warforged:
While there is nothing so convenient as an eyelet to thread the rope through, sections of stone jut out enough in places on both sides to tie a secure knot around to create a sturdy line bridging the gap.

((OOC: Due to the lack of something so convenient as an eyelet, tying the rope off will require a Use Rope check to ensure it doesn't slip off while being used. There's a +2 bonus for the silk rope, but a +2 to DC due to the makeshift conditions. According to RAW, it's a check made in secret, so I assume that means I would make the checks, one for each knot, the first time the rope is used. Of course, if I'm misinterpreting this, please let me know.))

[Xian]

((*poke*poke* Everyone still alive? Did I overlook some action that needs to be resolved?))

[Asmodeus]

{OOC: I'm waiting for Celvic or Jonatar to either make a jump, or else tell me to go ahead with my plan}