"This is worrisome." Zaid says to Shimei. "I get the feeling that goat is bait."
Nombir moves forward to keep an eye on Zaid and wait for something to happen, one way or the other.
Perception in the goat clearing (1d20+3=16, 1d20+3=19)
He replies to Zaid, "You may be right."
Shimei peers into the gloom. He casts light on a few pebbles and tosses them out around the goat to get a better view.
He pauses a heartbeat then continues, "I am surprised you came city man. You can not know how much this goat would mean to Hadrod and Hadrah. I expected it would be me and the hills-woman out here."
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The mishaps and pratfalls finish with Shimei and Zaid beyond the cactus field on a small ledge in the shadows. As they both look around they can see that Rombard is actually tied to a small bush jutting out between a large rock and a smaller one.
Running along the far side of Rombard and the rocks, the ground drops into blackness.
Now that the pair of adventurers have time they can see that the large white goat is on its last legs, it has dozens of needle like spines driven deep into its neck and flanks, with rivulets of blood congealed down its sides. Again the goat bleats in pain and attempts to pull free of its tether. His eyes are wild and staring madly all around.
"It is true I have spent most of my life in big cities." Zaid tells Shimei, "But the desert is my home and scholarly exploration is my calling."
"Watch this."
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After two attempts at freeing the knot, it is apparent that this is tight and cannot be lifted and pulled by such magic. At one point the straining magic almost appears to break apart in its attempt to save the goat. But that would have been very unfortunate.
Rombard bleats out loud, "mmarrhhh!" and a "hallooo," comes back from Hadrod.
"It is true I have spent most of my life in big cities." Zaid tells Shimei, "But the desert is my home and scholarly exploration is my calling."
"Watch this."
Shimei grunts, whether in response to your comment or your magic is not clear.
Rombard is about five feet away on the same ledge, it is getting more desperate to escape now that it realises that may happen soon. The roped goat twists back and forth.
"Mmarhh.....mah.......mmmarhhh!"
"Take this. " Shimei hands Zaid the coil of the rope. " I will tie this end around the goat's neck."
Shimei walks down the ledge toward Rombard, speaking softly to ease the goat's attitude. "Easy Rombard. Calm. Hadrod is here. We will soon have you back with your family."
Shimei will check that the rope currently holding Rombard is not on a slip knot. If not then he ties the new rope through the loop of the old one. If it is a slip knot he ties a new very snug loop around the goat's neck with the new rope.
Then the desert dweller casts cure light wounds on the goat, hoping to ease some of its pain and make it more tractable.
Preparations made, Shimei grasps the old rope near the rock where it is tied and cuts it with his dagger.
All going well Zaid and Shimei can both lead or drag Rombard back to Hadrod.
Seeing that shimei and Zaid have made it safely ish through the cacti obstacle I shall stay here and await there return no point in too many people being over the other side just incase they need help on the way back.
"Nice, Rombard. Easy, Rombard."
In order: Two dex checks , two acrobat checks if needed (1d20+2=11, 1d20+2=19, 1d20+2=9, 1d20+2=12)
Erizi stomps his feet, and yawns. He can't understand why such a fuss is being made about a stupid goat. Bored he loos around the immediate area for anything interesting, keeping his ears open for sounds of danger or conflict.
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The goat isn't having any of it, and the fates conspire against Shimei's good plans. As Shimei tries to deal with the knot, Rombard runs right round him, not once but twice, and its tether upends the priest catapulting him over the edge and into the ravine. Luckily he still holds the rope.
Worse the goat slips and falls off too, dangling and bleating for its life by that tether. Slowly and surely the creature begins to choke.
"marrhh, ma-"
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Shimei disappears as the rope is ripped from Zaid before he can stop the fall. Suddenly it stops paying out.
Shimei
"marrhh!" Zaid can see two hooves attempting to scrabble up the ravine wall without much success. Dirt and gravel is flying everywhere.
"How is my goat?" comes a voice from beyond the field of cactus.
"Can we get some help over here!?" Zaid yells to the rest of the party. He then peers down at Shimei. "Shimei?" he inquires.
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Zaid can see Shimei now. He is about fifteen to twenty feet off the ground lying in a bed of spines, on an enormous cactus. The rope is dangling over one of the cactus arms.
Between Zaid and Shimei is the desperate goat, Rombard. It has given up trying to climb and is hanging, kicking desperately as it chokes.
"Hang on Shimei, we will get you out of there."
Zaid will uses mage hand to retrieve the rope and ties it off to the bush so Shimei does not fall any further. The he waits for someone stronger than himself to pull Shimei up.
Shimei lies motionless on the cactus. It hurts more when he moves.
Erizi starts at the cry for help. "I am on the way" he yells, and rests his earthbreaker in its holder on his back. Then drawing his battleaxe, and shield he begins to work his way to his companions, using his shield to protect his face as he moves quickly forward.
"Dammit looks like this venture into the wilderness doesn't come without risk." She thinks to herself as she makes her way after Erizi through the cacti patch. "Lets see if i can dodge the thorns, now this should be fun."
Shimei disappears as the rope is ripped from Zaid before he can stop the fall. Suddenly it stops paying out.
Zaid can see Shimei now. He is about fifteen to twenty feet off the ground lying in a bed of spines, on an enormous cactus. The rope is dangling over one of the cactus arms.
Between Zaid and Shimei is the desperate goat, Rombard. It has given up trying to climb and is hanging, kicking desperately as it chokes.
Zaid peers over the edge again.
"Let go of the rope Shimei!"
Hadrod looks at Dashki and Nombir, "shall I go too?." The scout shrugs and turns away saying, "he can decide. I'm not your keeper."
The goat kicks one last time, its halter tight around its neck.
The bush roots start to appear one by one, ping, ping, ping
Shimei shifts himself off the most painful spikes and asks the Bow-father for aid and easing of his suffering.
"Eirizi, you are the strongest. Will you pull Rombard up while we help? The we can pull Shimei up."
Erizi arrives on the scene and quickly analyzes the situation.
"All that screaming about a goat". "Dash through a spiked gauntlet for a goat". "Well since I'm here".
Erizi firmly grasps the rope and attempts to catapult the goat up out of the ravine.
"Well done Erizi, i'm afraid I am not strong enough to lend a hand in this situation there wasnt much for me to do here,i'm not as strong as you."
Shimei is amazed at the explosive assent of the goat. He waits stoically for rescue.
Erizi will throw the rope down to his fallen companion, and attempt to retrieve him as well, if a little more gently.
"Hadrod stay here! Help keep an eye out as something else is going on I feel" Nomibir looks around to try and see or hear anything else that might be lurking.
The herder, Hadrod waivers between his love of his goat and the danger of disobeying someone.
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As Erizi puts all his weight behind lifting the cleric, he feels the ledge give a little, but soon enough he gets Shimei up and away from the cactus. For once luck runs with Erizi.
Meanwhile Hadrod shakes his head and ignoring Nombir, starts running through the cactus, trying unsuccessfully to avoid the spines. He bursts out onto the ledge just as Shimei reaches safety, his robes are covered in small bloody wounds.
The man looks down in horror at his hung goat just lying there. "What is this? Rombard!"
"Oh crap I dont know whats dumber, the goat or its owner."I will try to stop Hadrod coming closer."Look Hadrod we are trying our best to rescue your goat from a very dangerous situation, now let us handle it before many more of us are cut or hurt in either way, this is a very risky enterprise for all concerned, so please just stay there."