The Veiled Lady, holding onto the rope, gingerly takes ahold of the pole again. And, seems to glide over the river with ease.
Seelah is not nearly as graceful as the Veiled Lady, but makes it across without touching the water.
Everyone is cheering for Haohji to make it across...
Many of the other teams have had a lot of trouble with this trial.
Only Bluetongue's Brawlers, Without Trace or Fail, and Fangs of the Remhoraz seem to be keeping up with you.
The next day's trial takes place on the open ice in a valley between stands of trees.
Among the tall drifts and dunes of snow and ice, a small hollow reveals signs of life. A large fire pit is encircled by tents and snow shelters as officials stand near the warmth of the blazing fire. Beyond the camp, a large sheet of exposed ice is marked by race banners. In the middle of the ice, a delicate ribbon lies partially frozen in the sheet.
One of the race officials tell you, "This trial recounts the tale of Balgird’s brave survival on the open ice. While camping in the tundra, Balgird lost some precious equipment to the wind in the night. The following morning, he followed a trail of gear to discover one of his scrolls frozen in the ice. With great care, he moved across the thin sheet to where his scroll lay trapped. Balgird created a lens from a piece of the ice itself, focusing the sunlight on the ice to slowly melt it away from his scroll until he was able to free it."
When it is your turn to collect the ribbon, The Veiled Lady notices that someone has recently cast water over the ice, polishing the surface to a smooth, glossy finish. Moving across the ice would make balancing on the ice more difficult.
Using a rope and pitons or some similar method to increase traction and stability can negate this penalty.
Who would like to try?
The ice looks 'thin' in some places and 'thick' in others. Haohji would still have to make some checks. If Haohji intends to do this, please plot a line to the ribbon, and indicate where the spike/piton will be used on the ice.
I assume that Haohji will make a running start then go on their belly at the edge of the ice.
If that is what Haohji is attempting, please make (1) an Acrobatics check to 'land' on the ice properly, (2) a Reflex save to place the stopping device properly, (3) an Athletics check to hit the ice with the stopping device to attempt to not break the ice at that point, and (4) an Acrobatics check to effectively stop at the ribbon.
If this seems overly complicated, Haohji could just make two Acrobatics checks to balance their way across the ice. I remind you that Haohji has a Hero Point in reserve.
Haohji makes it most of the way to the Ribbon. But, slips and falls, the ice under Haohji cracks.
Another Acrobatics check to get to the ribbon.
Flailing around, Haohji is unable to stand, and manages to crack the ice just south of him...
Haohji stands up, and makes it to the Ribbon.
Recap: The ribbon is frozen into the ice. The task is to retrieve the ribbon without damaging the ribbon at all. Standard methods are using Thievery to retrieve it, rogue-style or using Nature to make an ice-lens to concentrate sunlight to melt the ice around the ribbon. Still, any method that cannot damage the ribbon is allowed.
From the lake shore you could Aid Another to help Haohji's check. You do not need to be next to him, unless your method absolutely requires it. For instance, Benkost is +6 to nature. Benkost could tell Haohji how to make the lens, roll to Aid, and if successful, would add to Haohji's check.
To help you,
Benkost, Nature +6, Thievery +3
Haohji, Nature +0, Thievery +2
Veiled Lady, Nature +8, Thievery +3
Seelah, Nature +0, Thievery +4
Except for Seelah, everyone is fairly decent in acrobatics, and has a good chance of getting to the ribbon.
You might consider getting someone with a better Nature or Thievery plus out there. Of course, if you roll like Haohji has, there will be more cracked ice and more danger of falling into the freezing lake.
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Looking at Haoji somewhat struggling but able to reach the end, Veiled Lady slowly claps her leshy hands to commend the fighter's effort. "Well done!" she shouts across the thin ice. "Now you do this carefully to not break that ribbon, my friend." She then instructs him how to carefully extract the ribbon out of the ice.
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Trying to focus the sunlight on the ribbon, Haohji's unsteady hand makes him thing better of it, Benkost, you think you could do it if I got you out here? With Lady's help you surely can do better than I?
The young fighter throws the end of the rope out and, using the piton from his climber's kit to hold him steady, gestures for Benkost to join him...
Although Benkost cannot affect the ice with their impulse, Benkost can easily heat up one of the pitons held by Haohji. Haohji can then use the heated piton to melt the ice around the ribbon. Then, it is a simple matter to remove the ice-encrusted ribbon from the frozen lake surface.
Now that Haohji has the ribbon (probably in a backpack or pocket), Haohji can attempt to get back to shore.
Haohji falls down, and the ice behind cracks.
Another Acrobatics check, please.
The race officials congratulate your team for successfully retrieving the ribbon.
Some of the other teams are struggling, and at least one team is being forced to stay longer at the checkpoint since more than one of their team has fallen into the bitterly cold water.
After the ribbon checkpoint, you will need to move on to the finish of the race.
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➤ Haohji
➤ Veiled Lady
➤ Benkhost
Only Without Trace or Fail seems to be keeping up with you, although even they are far behind you. Every other team can't even be seen.
A broken sled lies in the snow at the edge of the path beside an old bridge. Fresh blood marks are clearly visible against the white snow as large, crimson swaths. Equipment is scattered across the snow and onto the frozen surface of the lake.
The Veiled Lady determines that the blood is fresh, and the blood trail leads across the bridge.
Seelah also draws her weapon and shield, leading the way to follow the trail with Veiled Lady. "I go first," she tells the leshy to be their guard.
Seelah and the Veiled Lady investigate the small island, while Benkost and Haohji wait on the other side of the bridge.
Among the debris from a prior attack are two minor healing potions.
On the far side of the island, some weapons and broken skis are in a snow bank.
While looking at that site, a large, bear-like beast rises up from the nearby island in the ice-covered lake, and gets ready to strike.
➤ Veiled Lady
➤ Benkhost
➤ Haohji
Beast
Seelah (AC 17/19)
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Veiled Lady quickly juggles her mind to recall something about the beast. He then surrounds herself with thorns and then raises her wooden shield.
◆ Recall Knowledge, Nature +8
◆ Vibrant Thorns
◆ Raise a Wooden Shield (+2 to AC)
Haohji's sling bullet misses the beast, and bounces harmlessly across the ice.
The Veiled Lady can recall nothing about such a beast, grows thorns, and raises their shield.
Benkost burns the beast.
The beast reacts strongly to the fire, and moves towards the Veiled Lady.
, and takes a damage from the thorns.
, takes another damage, and slashing damage. The shield prevents 3 damage, but 2 damage are dealt to the shield and to the Veiled Lady.
➤ Veiled Lady
➤ Benkhost
➤ Haohji
Beast
➤ Seelah (AC 17/19)
Veiled Lady's Shield
As Benkost moves onto the ice, they must make an Acrobatics check to maintain their footing.
Benkost's fiery blast misses the beast.
Seelah will take a five-foot step to the edge of the island, and , then she will raise her shield.
➤ Veiled Lady
Benkhost
➤ Haohji
Beast
Seelah (AC 17/19)
Veiled Lady's Shield
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Haohji rushes the creature from the opposite side, hurdling the little Veiled Lady and coming to a stop next to Seelah!
You combine an attack with quick grappling moves to throw an enemy off balance as long as it stays in your reach. Make a Strike while keeping one hand free. If this Strike hits, the target is flat-footed until the start of your next turn or until it’s no longer within the reach of your hand, whichever comes first.