Deciding to perhaps come back later for the Owlbear lair, the group moves on after Kazmir left to go back to town.
Several hours later, nearing what would normally be sundown if the sun were shining you hear the unmistakable sound of a wide river gurgles just ahead. Though the night is dark and the water stretches beyond your sight, it is obvious the stone bridge that once crossed here has been destroyed — large sections of stone break the water’s surface near the riverbank. The bridge on your side of the river has collapsed into a steep ramp descending directly into the water.
"Do you think it is shallow enough to wade?"
"Probably not considering they built a bridge here." Ordrud replies to Rask without malice.
"Who else is packing rope? Someone might be able to jump over the missing sections and secure ropes for the rest of us to get across. If anyone falls, we could catch them with rope if we had enough."
|
Sirasa thinks about Ordrud's request, "As a matter of fact." Sirasa then digs through her backpack and hands Ordrud 50' of hemp rope. "I know, what is a Sorceress doing carrying rope? I am also from a mountain dwelling Shoanti tribe. I learned to carry rope."
The Sorceress will also look at the possibility of jumping from parts of the stone bridge to another part. She will think to herself about how difficult this would be.
Ordrud sheathes his longsword, secures his shield, and unpacks his grappling hook and rope. He ties his grappling hook to his rope and knots it for easy climbing. Then, he gives the coil of rope to Lothalian. "It will be easier to secure this rope over there with the grappling hook and for us to climb with it knotted."
Then, he helps Sirasa tie her rope around Lothalian in case he falls and the other end around Ordrud. He will not let Lothalian go alone. "I will be the anchor."
Rask will keep watch for any ambush, bow in hand.
As he ties the rope around him, Lothalian takes comfort in Ordrud's words. And a sturdy anchor you are! The Elf says with a smile. He recasts light on his holy symbol so he will be able to see when he flying through the air. With his teeth gritted, Lothalian will take a running start and jump through the air yelling Lahala egila!
Rask thinks hard about the little he knows concerning the Dark Wood River, this far north of his homelands, and thinks he heard something about a shallow crossing perhaps two miles to the east, but looking over the edge, towards the river he figures that it would be very rough going to follow the river bank that way, and at the speed the water seems to be flowing wading across here would be quite dangerous.
Ordrud securely ties the rope to Lothalian and to himself, and the elf takes a running start and is able to easily jump to the first portion of the bridge that is still standing. There is no place there to secure the rope. He will have to make two more jumps, one to one of the bridge supports, then one to the bigger portion of the bridge that is still standing.
Lothalian breathes a sigh of relief as he lands on the support. Not wanting to tarry to long, he makes the next two jumps shouting Lahala egila! each time.
Lothalian jumps to the bridge support, and teeters for a moment on the edge, but the elf reflex allows him to recover. His next jump to the main portion of the half destroyed bridge is easy and he searches about finding a place to secure the grappling hook as an anchor for Ordrud.
Taking a running start on the first jump, Ordrud.....
Come on over, Ordrud! Be careful on that second one, it's tricky! the Elf shouts to the Half-Orc.
While the nimble elf starts hopping across the river, Harek begins to remove his armor and securely strap his gear onto his pack. He sets aside his coil of rope and keeps his javelins, shield, and shortsword out and easily accessed, with a dagger stowed in his boot. Everything else gets strapped and packed.
"Dunno if ye wanna strap up, but I fell in a river like this once. Damn near got dragged down with my gear before I hit the shore and dragged my soggy butt out. Ot something I'd care to repeat, honestly."
Once everything is packed to his satisfaction, the dwarven warrior takes his rope and javelins and keeps a close eye on their foward scout.
Ordrud double-checks his gear is secure and sits on the edge of the broken bridge. After a silent prayer to the Inheritor, he jumps off and waits until he nearly stops swaying. Then, he climbs his knotted rope to the other side.
[dice=Climb -armor check penalty vs. knotted rope]1d20+4-6[/dice]
Ordrud 11 (FF)
Lothalian 12 (FF)
Harek removes his armor and gear, and after it is packed to his satisfaction readies himself with his javelin, keeping an eye on Lothalian.
Ordrud readies himself and his gear and also ties another rope to himself so that folks can retrieve the anchored rope. He then scoots off the edge of the bridge pushing away from the next small pieced and the bridge support so he is hanging off the section where Lothalian is and he just manages to climb up the rope and get to the big section of the broken bridge.
As Ordrud climbs up, and unhooks himself from the ropes, and the others still on the south side shore of the river start to retrieve the anchored rope, two crossbow bolts come from the other side of the river, one hitting Ordrud and one hitting Lothalian. Both of them find a soft spot and do significant damage to the flat footed adventurers. Lothalian cannot see their attackers, and Ordrud can barely see an attacker, who seems to blend in with the darkness at the limit of his darkvision.
Lothalian
Ordrud readies his shield and drops prone taking cover behind the side wall of the bridge. "Crossbowmen are on the other side. Take cover." The half-orc calls to his companions.
Lothalian will pull an arrow from his quiver. Hiding in darkness are we? Let's see about that! He then casts Light on the arrow and nocks it. As he does, the light on his holy symbol winks out.
Realizing he can't see the enemies, Rask stow his bow and swings after Ordrud, trying to reach the other side.
Harek swiftly moves to support his allies, swinging over like the paladin to the bridge support as best he can.
climb/swing
Lothalian
Ordrud
Lothalian pulls an arrow from his quiver and casts light on it and prepares to shoot towards where the unseen attackers are.
Two more crossbow bolts come out of the darkness, both hitting Lothalian and Ordrud.
Rask grabs the rope and swings out, and climbs up the rope and quickly releases it so Harek and Sirasa can join them. He also just sees a creature on the east side of the bridge, blending somewhat into the shadows. Sirasa casts a spell on herself, making her harder to be hit by the bolts and ducks behind the low bridge wall. Ordrud brings up his shield and drops to the ground behind the low bridge walls. Harek furiously reels in the knotted rope, ties it around his waist and hands the other rope to Sirasa so she will have an easy time reeling the knotted rope back to herself.
Lothalian UP
"There! Be careful!"
Rask points at the hidden enemy.
Lothalian will fire his arrow in the direcrction that the bolt that hit him came from.
He doesn't hear a yelp but his glowing arrow does reach the other side.
Ordrud grits his teeth again as the second bolt slips past his armor. He pulls out both crossbow bolts and leaves them near the cleric.
Then, he keeps his head behind the low bridge wall and his shield and crawls past Lothlalian.
Lothalian 15
Rask 18
Lothalian shoots an arrow towards where he believes the crossbow bolts are coming from, and it lands in the middle of the road, illuminating an area that shows that there are two small creatures that almost blend into the shadows.
Filthy, reeking black rags wrap these small humanoids from head to toe, leaving only their hands and pale white nose visible as it holds onto a light crossbow.
The creatures continue to shoot crossbow bolts, this time at Lothalian and Rask, hitting them both.
Rask steps aside so the next one to cross will have room to climb up. Ordrud continues to stay down and moves up. Sirasa begins casting a spell, that will summon a creature soon. Harek, swings out, climbs up the rope and unties it.
Lothalian UP
Lothalian will call on Serenrae's healing for himself, Ordrud, and Rask.
Harek steps up, drawing his shield and javelin, attempting to block Rask from further crossbow action.
Ordrud pulls out his sling keeping his head down. He hates ranged combat.
Lothalian 15
Rask 18
Lothalian calls upon Sarenrae blessing and the three wounded folks feel significantly better.
The two foes continue to shoot crossbow bolts as no one has closed yet, and one wounds Lothalian undoing some of the healing.
Rask shoots an arrow at the closest foe, but misses. Sirasa celestial eagle flies up and attacks the foe, but misses also, while she pulls out her crossbow and gets ready to fire. Ordrud takes out his sling and prepares for ranged combat. Harek moves up with shield and javelin ready.
Lothalian UP
"Come get some, ya creepy little buggers!"
Harek dashes to the edge and jumps for the next bridge segment.
Acrobatics (jump 5')
reflex
Forgetting that he is a dwarf, Harek fails the jump, slamming into the far side with an "oomph". Grabbing for any handhold possible, he gets only loose stone, falling into the water with a splash.
Lothalian will aim at the creeper not engaged with the eagle and let fly an arrow.
Turnabout is fair play! he says as the arrow hits its mark.
For Last Round, if able
Rask starts firing arrows against the enemies (any of the crossbowmen, each one in turn until they drop, then moving to the next).
For this Round
Rask keeps firing as fast as he is able...
"Harek, are you ok?"
"...stupid...water....hate....swimming..."
Ordrud hears that dwarf miss the edge and go into the drink. He leaves his sling and shield where they are and gets up to dash toward the edge looking for the edge of the rope to haul the dwarf out.
Lothalian 15
Rask 18
Lothalian continues to stand and fire arrows. He hits the foe on the west side of the bridge and scratches it.
Both foes continue to shoot crossbow bolts, but this time fortune favors the group and both go just wide.
Rask fires arrows at both of the foes rapidly, and hits both of them. Sirasa eagle continues to claw at the foe on the east side of the river, but it cannot seem to penetrate the rags the creature is wearing, while it's mistress fires her crossbow but at this range it misses badly. Ordrud was about to use his sling when he hears the "oomph" of Harek hitting the next portion of the bridge, falling and being carried downstream. While he looks for a rope end, there is not any as Harek had untied the rope from himself and left it back so Sirasa could cross.
Lothalian UP
Rask keeps firing.
"Sirasa, check on Harek, we will cover you!"
Seeing Harek go over the ledge and knowing that he does not have the strength to pull the Dwarf up, Lothalian will continue to provide cover fire with Rask.
Swim like you are swimming to Torag's forge Harek!
Swim
Harek is anything but a graceful swimmer, especially with his shield on his arm. Anger at the unprovoked attack from the darkness spurs his arms and legs, propelling the dwarf through dark waters with much splashing and swearing.