"Yes, as much as I would like to stay in the relative comfort of the Lodge, I too think it would be best to press on. The faster we can get to the bottom of this, the faster we can all spend more time in the comfort of a soft bed."
Past the lodge, a wooden-slatted rope bridge spans a ravine. It looks fairly solid, but sways in the gusting icy wind. The planks are covered in a sheet of ice as well. The far side can just be discerned through the snow, a mass of snow-cloaked trees
“Now that I do not like the look of,” comments Malden, seeing the swaying bridge. “Is there no other way around? If we must traverse it, perhaps it would make sense to send one person out first, roped to the others, to test the bridge’s sturdiness?”
"I recall that the path down the ravine was on the other side. I'm not sure how long a journey it is to go around," Gaelin says. "I think your plan is a good one, though. This route looks treacherous."
"If the lodge has used fireplaces, we can also go back there and gather cinders to spread along the bridge to make it safe for all," Alikai suggests, "It will take a few minutes but might be shorter than going around, and definitely safer than going across that ice."
She regards Maldin speculatively for a moment. "Would your goddess warm the path and melt the ice if you went across first? If not, forgive my ignorance and believe I mean no disrespect. If she will not, I can go first. I have 50' of rope to start. But I fear for our moosey friend on that narrow, slick, swaying path."
You can almost hear the grin under Malden’s scarf. “Oh, I know you would not mean disrespect where my goddess is concerned Alikai,” the priest replies. “Sarenrae is a great lady of the sun, and fire. Now fire is excellent for melting snow and ice … also it is very good at burning ropes and timber. I fear that the bridge itself may not survive my goddess’s gifts.”
"Wellll," Alikai drawls, trying to keep a straight face, "I thought someone so experienced might have good control, you know? Time for more mundane means, I s'pose."
Tying the expensive silk rope around her waist, she hands the bulk to Malden, drops her heavy pack, and hefts her boar spear in one hand. Clutching the rope bridge railing with the other, Alikai starts across the bridge, stepping carefully and pausing occasionally on the way across to chip at the ice with the boar spear to see if the snow and ice can be easily knocked loose.
"Sometimes ice sticks like alchemical glue, other times it knocks off pretty easily," she explains as she starts across, "May as well check, eh? Try not to burn my good rope, Malden."
Ecaterina eyes the bridge with a look of worry. "One at a time is definitely the way to go, the last thing I want is to fall to my death out here because an old bridge collapsed under me. And the moose should definitely be going last." She eyes Chtonthoth with even more worry than the bridge.
As the group examines the stoutness of the bridge, Jeydavu notices them looking at Chtonthoth. "Do not worry about Chtonthoth, he is still young and has not reached his full height. We have safely crossed more precarious bridges than this together. To be careful, we can spread out his load amongst the group to minimize the weight. We can bring up the rear."
“Help me with this if you would Gaelin?” requests Malden, passing a stretch of rope to the tall warrior. “If I let Alikai fall I’m sure she would not let me forget the matter.”
"Of course," Gaelin says taking the rope. "Once one or two are across, they can secure the rope to something stable on the other side."
"If you drop me, I'll haunt you," comes a faint call from the bridge, drifting on the wind.
Alikai heads out over the gorge. The water 20 meters below froths, the sides of the chasm rimed with ice.
[dice=Ref]1d20+7
[dice=Ref]1d20+7
Alikai gets about a third of the way over the icy bridge when a gust of wind sways it sideways. Her boots slip on the iced planks and she pitches over the side
Malden braces as Alikai suddenly loses her footing and the rope stretches taut.
The rope whizzes out as Alikai falls. Malden and Gaelin brace themselves as the rope goes taut. It bites cruelly into their hands, dragging them forward a bit, but they hold fast.
Alikai watches in an odd state of calm as she hurtles closer to the frothing, icy river. The rope suddenly tightens against her middle, and she swings toward the cliff face, her momentum arrested
“Hold on Alikai!” Malden calls over the noise of the wind and the creaking bridge. “I don’t want to be haunted! Gaelin, help me pull her up if you would?”
Sahsara will also grab the rope and help pull Alikai up.
Alikai dangles, rope cutting into her waist as she tries to keep hold of her boar spear, annoyed by the blood dripping down her face and off the end of her nose.
Any reply she might make dies aborning, as she is unable to draw a good breath past the pressure of the rope.
With the party hauling, Alikai gets pulled back over the edge of the ravine. Blood drips from several gashes, but she is still alive.
"Bridge is... slippery... from spray," she reports while she catches her breath on the edge of the ravine, "Ice isn't... coming off." She scoots back, clambers to her feet, and brushes off, smearing the blood back into her hair. "I can try again - leave the spear, hold the rails with both hands, and get a rope across. We can get over eventually. It'll take some time, especially the gear. Might be quicker to spread dirt or cinders in the long run."
She winks at the three still holding the rope and mouths thanks with a smile.
Ecaterina eyes the scene being played out with a calm demeanour. Once Alikai is up, she steps forward.
"Well... that was exciting now wasn't it! Do you need help with that?" She waves her hand in the direction of Alikai, you think indicating her wounds.
Alikai reddens. "My father would have said to enjoy the pain of healing up naturally as recompense for my clumsiness. The healing gifts are not to be squandered on failure." She quirks an embarrassed half-smile at the Jadwiga. "He was not a nice person, yet there is sense in his words."
"I am just glad you are in one piece," Gaelin says. "I've never been haunted before and I don't want to start today." He grins at Alikai, impressed by her resolve to attempt the crossing again.
"Day's not over yet, handsome," Alikai grins at the strapping blond, "There's still the gorge to cross."
Alikai reddens. "My father would have said to enjoy the pain of healing up naturally as recompense for my clumsiness. The healing gifts are not to be squandered on failure." She quirks an embarrassed half-smile at the Jadwiga. "He was not a nice person, yet there is sense in his words."
"Nonsense," snorts Malden. "If Sarenrae had wished you to heal naturally she would not have put me on your path, yes? You will want to be at full strength should you meet something nasty on the other side of the bridge."
Alikai turns Malken's healing touch into a quick hug. "Is it any surprise I adore you?"
Turning to Ecaterina, she explains, "He gets grumpy when I bleed on stuff. Besides, sometimes he's more right than my father. Thanks for the offer. Hope it's an open one; I may still need it."
Adjusting the rope more comfortably around her waist, Alikai takes good hold of the hempen handrails and ventures carefully but smoothly across the ravine.
Safely on the other side, she finds a good, sturdy anchor for her end of the rope and ties it off, then waves at the group on the other side, bouncing up and down. "Made it! Let's get stuff across! Maybe another person to help anchor the rope at this end?"
Turning to Ecaterina, she explains, "He gets grumpy when I bleed on stuff. Besides, sometimes he's more right than my father. Thanks for the offer. Hope it's an open one; I may still need it."
"Of course. You are all that stands between myself and the hoards of nature. I want you as healthy as possible!" You're not quite sure whether shes joking or not.
Safely on the other side, she finds a good, sturdy anchor for her end of the rope and ties it off, then waves at the group on the other side, bouncing up and down. "Made it! Let's get stuff across! Maybe another person to help anchor the rope at this end?"
Starting off towards the bridge, Ecaterina announces, "I'll go, I fear for the stability of the bridge and I'd hate to be the last one across and have it give way."
"No surprise to me," replies Malden with a sort of good natured smugness. "Now, get across that bridge!"
Malden murmurs a quiet prayer to Sarenrae as Alikai attempts the crossing a second time, and breathes a sigh of relief when she makes it across.
At Ecaterina's words he nods. "Right, hold tightly to the rope and take it slowly. Perhaps Sahsara next? Then Jeydavu and his elk? If they can make it across safely together, then Gaelin and myself should have no troubles. "
"Are we planning on leaving the rope tied to the bridge or taking it with us? If we are taking it than I would volunteer to go last, not only would I be easier to pull up the cliff but I think I have better balance."
As Alikai nears the edge of the other side a small flying blue form emerges from a treetop and breathes a blast of icy air in her direction
Alikai, alert for trouble alone on the far side, ducks the freezing blast.
"You blue jerk! What do you think you're doing?"
She unslings her bow and takes aim at the thing. "Back off!"
The flying blue creature screeches and then points at Alikai
As Alikai comes under attack she leaps the last span of the bridge, hitting the other side solidly. As she dodges the icy breath of her for she manages to wedge the rope into a shattered tree trunk on the other side
With a yip of pain, Ali moves well clear of the end of the bridge and fires again at the blue meanie.
"Hey, ugly! Over here!" She tries to lead the thing away from the bridge and her companions, who might be vulnerable while crossing.
Gods, I'm going to have to admit to Malden and the Jadwiga that they were right about the healing.
Jeydavu quickly ties a rope around Chtonthoth. "Chtonthoth, fen fo foro" barks Jeydavu in druidic. The moose begins to cross the bridge while Jeydavu holds onto the rope in case the moose slips.
Once the moose safely crosses the bridge he begins to cross himself. He crosses carefully taking his time.
With a yip of pain, Ali moves well clear of the end of the bridge and fires again at the blue meanie.
"Hey, ugly! Over here!" She tries to lead the thing away from the bridge and her companions, who might be vulnerable while crossing.
[dice=bowshot, FE fey +2]1d20 + 7
[dice=dmg, FE fey +2]1d8 + 1Gods, I'm going to have to admit to Malden and the Jadwiga that they were right about the healing.
"Treacherous fey!" Gaelin wails, recalling the deal made with Vrixx. Despite his desire to smite the attacker promptly, he remains cautious on the bridge. He helps no one if he is at the bottom of the ravine.
"Treacherous fey!" Gaelin wails, recalling the deal made with Vrixx. Despite his desire to smite the attacker promptly, he remains cautious on the bridge. He helps no one if he is at the bottom of the ravine.
[dice=Reflex]1d20+2
Gaelin slips as the treacherous bridge pitches him over
Gaelin grabs at the silken rope , but just misses it as he falls to the side.
Falling into Water: Falls into water are handled somewhat differently. If the water is at least 10 feet deep, the first 20 feet of falling do no damage. The next 20 feet do nonlethal damage (1d3 per 10-foot increment). Beyond that, falling damage is lethal damage (1d6 per additional 10-foot increment).