You step through the black portal and onto solid rock.  The landing is firm beneath you, and Etag helps with the adjustment.

You are still in some sort of oversized cave, rounded with a ceiling 100 feet high.  To your left (behind the portal), you see a river of water flowing toward you.  Where you stand is a large rocky area about 30 feet in diameter.  The water flows quickly around the rocky outcropping, which is only a foot or two above the water's surface.

A stone path about 3 feet wide follows the flow of water to your right, going around a bend in the cave.  From that direction comes a soft glow of light.  Natural light, by the looks of it.

The area where you stand appears to be a campsite of sorts, though the camp has been covered by weeds which grow through the cracks in the rock.  It was an apparent attempt to camouflage the camp.

Etag says, "This is where I slept and waited to test my theories, hiding from the giants when they came near.  I placed a resonant marker here so that my portal would bring us directly to this spot.  I knew you would come eventually, but my capture by the giants washed away many of my hopes."

He looks around and points to the winding trail.  "We have little time.  I cannot close this portal and it will be open for over 30 minutes time.  The giants will break through your skillful blockage once their shaman arrives.  I estimate we have about 10 minutes to get across the bridge, but that may be a hopeful estimate."

He assists the gnomes.  Three are elderly and in poor health.  Four are women, and three appear to have been weakened by torture or wounds of some sort.

OOC:  Etag is ushering you to follow the rocky trail.

Your goals are:

1) Escape the giants by crossing the bridge (which you will see soon);
2) Get as many gnomes across safely as you can (including Junar);
3) Keep Etag alive;
4) Get information out of Etag once your danger is over.
5) Whatever else may come your way.

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:45, Wed 23 Apr 2014.

"Anybody strong enough to easily carry a gnome need to do so, starting with the elderly and the injured. We must move fast, or I would say we could devise some sort of wagon to help us move faster." the priest urges, helping an elderly gnome onto his back and testing his movement to see how easily he can be carried.

Borimer uses his arm and stump to carry as many of the little folk as he is able.  "If we can get us a cart I can pull everyone..."

"I don't think I can carry a gnome..." said a very tired and shaky Didit, she felt very tired and everything in her body hurt "...I barely don't need help myself. But I think I can help, I can attempt to hide our path with an illussion, but I won't be able to move very fast while doing so "

"I can't carry anyone.  In fact I might need help myself getting across this bridge.  Though I do have one last Dimension door left I could use to get myself across.  I can't bring anyone along with me though."

"In any event I suggest we use rope to tie the weaker of us to the stronger.  This would be safer as we go across what I assume will be a rickety bridge."

Etag says, "There are no wagons to help us, nor would they.  Around the path is a steep climb, though mere steps to the giants.  The bridge itself is a thousand years old if it is a day, and was used in past generations by the gnomes to cross.  It is too weak to hold giants, so if we can make it across, we will be safe from them for good.  But there is another danger," he says, looking upstream.  "The giants use this route often, as it is their exit to the outside for hunting and gathering beyond the caves.  Their rafts frequently come this way, so they may pose a danger even if the giants from the mansion do not make it through the portal."

He points forward and leads the way.

The three foot wide walkway requires careful treading, particularly since the flow of water here is quick, and accelerating.  In the distance, you can hear a roaring noise that you know must be a waterfall.

The path curves to the right and then you see yourself facing a 10 foot tall sheer wall.  Though the path is wider at the top, the ancient ladders used by the gnomes to climb it have been pulled off by the giants.

OOC: You are a mere 20 yards from where the portal was at, so feel free to cast or do whatever you wanted.

You get everyone safely to the top of the short drop off, but it takes valuable time.  Five minutes or more have passed by the time you, Etag, and the 11 gnomes are at the tope.

You continue down the cave.  Here, after reaching the top of the short drop off, the land is much wider, about 50 feet wide.  It slopes gently down and to the right.  You feel almost like you are spiraling slowly back down.

The waterway is becoming more narrow and running faster.  You can see the end of the cave about 50 yards ahead.  There is a flat area of land where it looks like the giants dock their rafts where the rock becomes flush with the water.

But just a few yards past that, the water flies out over cliff.

You continue going as fast as possible, knowing the giants can't be too far behind, and you reach the mouth of the cave.  It is a full 50 feet high and 100 feet wide at the base, like an archway leading you to natural light.

Standing at the edge of the cliff, you see the sky in for what seems the first time in days.  Clouds move languidly across.  There is no sign of any borken planets or imminent destruction.  It is quite beautiful.  But looking down, you see the cliff face goes down past where your eyes can see.  In fact, there are clouds below you, and you realize you must be thousands of feet high.  The giants appear to use handholds, but that would be far too dangerous for you.

To your adjusting eyes, the landscape outside appears to be nothing but mountain peaks, one after another, like giant stalactites reaching toward the sky.

And between the place you stand and the next mountain stretches an old bridge.  The bridge is at least 1000 feet across where it connects to the next mountain opening.  The gnome-hewn bridge is made of ancient rope and wooden planks, and is perhaps 3 feet wide.  Many of the wooden planks have broken off over the years-- over hundreds of years, by the looks of it.  The bridge can still hold weight, but it dips in the center (about 500 feet out) at least 20 feet lower than where you stand, before climbing back up to the next mountain cave.

Imagine something like this, but 1000 feet in length and between two caves thousands of feet above the ground:



Etag falls to one knee.  You see he is still weak from his injuries being tied to the mast, but you also see that his fingers and hand have become very dark with congealed blood, and his lips are swollen.  "I haven't much time," he says.  "The Black Curse is upon me.  Quickly, get the gnomes across."

OOC:
Giants:  Since you do not know how long until the giants get here, it will be rolled by wandering monster rolls.

Rope Bridge:  The Bridge will take some time to cross.  The key concern is how much weight it can hold.  Your XP will be based on getting across, but also based on how many gnomes you safely get across.  Too many on there at once creates a compounded danger, both of the bridge snapping (and losing them all) and of the vibrations in the rope that will throw them off balance one at a time.

(If the bridge breaks by weight, it will result in the bottom ropes giving out, and then you will be forced to shimmy across on the upper ropes.  The upper ropes will hold everyone's weight, as they are thicker and less worn than the bottom ones.)

Etag: Getting Etag safely across is also critical to get important campaign information and clues, and for other reasons.

Kahan puts his gnome down, reaching into a pouch on his belt and pulling out the portable hole. "Who here would have the easiest time getting across the bridge? Shae? Lukas, perhaps? The gnomes and Etag can fit inside the portable hole, but would only have brief seconds of air. They would weigh seemingly nothing, so weight is not a problem, simply time. This would be the easiest way to get them all across." states the priest, unfolding the hole and spreading it across the ground.

"I do not weigh much and I have one last Dimension door I could use.  It would get me, and anything I carry, about three quarters of the way across.  I suggest myself, Etag, and as many Gnomes we think this bridge will safely handle begin to move about a quarter of the way along.  And then, assuming you lend me the bag, they all jump in and I immediately cast the spell." Tahldar says in reply to Kahan.

OOC: Dimension door at my level has a maximum range of 720'.  For bridge concerns Tahldar weighs 108lbs, plus whatever Etag and the Gnomes might weigh.

When Borimer steps into the light he allows himself an all-to-brief respite just long enough for closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath of the fresh mountain air.  But then he opens his eyes to the old bridge with the emptiness beneath it and sighs inwardly. The warrior unconsciously grips the ivory hilt of the Godslayer.  "I'll stay behind to guard against the giants whie everyone crosses, then I'll follow."

"I'll stay behind too" said Didit "I'm tired, scared and feel pain everywhere, but I want to help and there is a way I can do that. I will buy time for us. I will need help to cross the bridge anyway. I hope not to inconvenience you too much with it" She said staying next to bridge and prepparing her mandoline, she sighed "this is going to be the hardest illussion I've cast"

Cast Improved phantasmal force to project the illussion of a misty dense group of trees creating cover for the entrance of the bridge and the misty covering as much of the bridge as possible. the illussion comes with slight sounds to make it more natural. it lasts as much as I ocncentrate on it

"The gnomes will have to climb in before you cast the spell. The hole has a large opening, ten foot square, and must be open completely in order for anything to enter or exit. But otherwise that is a fantastic idea Tahldar. Anyone that can fit inside should try to get in now. Time is of the essence." the priest states.

OOC:  Tahldar would prefer if himself, Etag and Gnomes made it about a 1/4 of the way across the bridge first then jump in the hole and cast Dimension door.  This way the bridge can be tested to make sure we don't send too many and put too much weight on it.  I could have them jump in now but they would have to come out about a 1/4 of the way from other end of the bridge.  If we weigh too much it could be a disaster.

Hatchman says, "I am duty bound to be the last one here to ensure your safety."  The paladin will remain behind and cross only after even Borimer has started across.

OOC: The only problem is that Tahldar's plan is impossible. The item in question is called a Portable Hole, a large extra dimensional pocket that can be folded and unfolded like a rug. It has to have at least a 10' by 10' flat space to be opened up into, where it can be accessed as if it were a large hole. It cannot be opened on the bridge; it simply won't fit. There should be enough air for everyone to survive inside for long enough that he can cast the spell, then walk to the other side before opening it up. I'm pretty sure, at least. Heath, does Kahan believe otherwise or does he feel the same way I do?

i think these commentaries belong in the commentary thread, but anyway, my plan wwas to have the illussion of mist cover the area around the bridge not the bridge itself

You're right.  The hole has to be opened on a 10 x 10 flat area.  You beat me to the punch.  Kahan would definitely know that because he has used it so many times.  Tahldar has not used it yet.

Didit:  That's what I thought.  You are covering the entry area to the bridge, right?  I assume it will not cover the actual bridge at all, since everyone will need to see where they are stepping pretty clearly.

Shae will be a trailblazer and go across first.  "Unfortunately, I already used my change shape for the day.  I'll have to cross the old fashioned way."

Well as much of the bridge as I can cover

In reply to Shapfren Diditlew (msg # 19):

If you cover the bridge, it will make it so your companions cannot see the bridge either (i.e., where their feet should go), so saving throws or skill checks will be required.

"Covering the bridge with fog is a bad idea. It will hamper our movement much worse than the giants, who likely already know the area very well and know this bridge is here. The only kinds of spells I would say could be useful would be a grease spell on the small path leading up here, a fire spell that could engulf all of the area before the bridge, or some sort of illusion that would make it look like we already fell down the bridge and were not here. Other than that, if you can't teleport us or make us fly, simply crossing the bridge and praying for the best is the only real option. We could always tether ourselves to the top rope with a harness of sorts, so that if the bridge does collapse we won't die, but if the giants cut the rope we still won't survive." explains the priest, ever the down-to-earth realist he has always been.

I meant simulate fog on the outside, mostly to difficult giants navigating the river to see the gnomes crossing.

If helpful and convenient, Shae will use her ancestral spear to help her keep her balance and run it along the top two ropes of the bridge (kind of like a tightrope walker)

Addressing Etag directly, Tahldar says "If you wish I will take you in the portable hole and get you across with my Dimension door.  It's not without risk, but no way cross this bridge is without risk.  Unless you have a fly spell that is, which at the moment I cannot provide."

Etag nods.  He is getting weaker from the disease and can barely hold his spellbook.

OOC: Remember, regarding the 11 gnomes: three are elderly and in poor health.  Four are women, and three appear to have been weakened by torture or wounds of some sort.  Therefore, there are six who appear to need some kind of assistance.

if nothing else, Borimer will strap as many gnomes to himself as he can and walk across

If Etag thinks a slow poison would help, Kahan will cast it on him. Otherwise he will help him into the portable hole and try to convince one of the older gnomes to get in as well. After that is concluded, he will fold the hole up and give it to Tahldar. "Do be careful. The last thing we need is all of you plummeting to your deaths." Kahan states with a slight grin, getting out a length of rope and tying a harness around Borimer, to the rope, and then down the line of injured or elderly gnomes so they can use the rope as support while crossing (only doing a few at a time). He will then do the same to himself, after Tahldar is finished crossing and Borimer has started.

I assume this would be the last ditch effort since the bridge may collapse and the ancient rotting wood planks may break if too much weight is placed on them.

Whoever is crossing normally, please make sure your encumbrance/weight is up to date.  Otherwise, I will eyeball it for the rolls.

Kahan will mention that he can hold anyone's equipment in his haversack and it won't count against his weight since its a magical storage device.

About 3 minutes until the giants are likely to get to the portal.

OOC: Every couple of minutes of game time, I am rolling a random wandering monster roll to see if they arrive, either through the portal or on the river, depending on the roll.

Here's what I have:

Shae is going first across to test the bridge.

I will assume Lukas goes next.

Etag and elderly gnome in portable hole going with Tahldar.  (Don't know what position Tahldar will be in, but I assume second.  Tahldar will cast dimension door to the far side of the bridge when he is about 1/3 of the way across.)

Kahan will wait while people put equipment in his bag so they are not weighed down too much.  He will tie a rope to the gnomes connecting them to Borimer.

Meanwhile, Didit will cast a spell.

I will assume the gnomes who can start crossing the bridge while Kahan is doing this.

Then Kahan will cross, followed by Didit, Borimer, and Hatchman.  Borimer will carry whatever gnomes he can when he crosses.

If you want to change or add to any of this, please let me know.

Sounds good to me.

Yes.  Shae should be about halfway across by now.  She left immediately after telling them she would be a trailblazer.

Didit is just keeping up with the spell, she needs to concentrate on it and risks staying behind because of it.

That's why I put her behind everyone but Borimer and Hatchman.  As a paladin, Hatchman seems to think he should be last to leave the danger.  Borimer also indicated waiting, but he might change his mind with gnomes on his back.  So I will put you as between Borimer and Hatchman.

You begin crossing...

Shae goes first, and she seems to have no problems crossing.  She goes about 100 yards out before the next person crosses.  (Skill roll made.)

Lukas goes next, but he only makes it about 20 yards before a wooden board breaks beneath his feet.  He falls...catching onto the bottom rope and dangling.  (Critical miss on skill roll.)  Lukas is currently dangling and will last only about 100 seconds (10 seconds per strength point) before he loses his grip and falls to his death.

...90 seconds...

(The giants still have not gotten through the warped stone and have not yet appeared.)

Shae is 120 yards out on the bridge.  Lukas is 20 yards out.  The rest of you are still in the cave.

"Be right back..."  Borimer moves at a fast walk to Lukas's position and pulls him up before moving quickly back to the gnomes.

Untying himself from the gnomes takes a precious minute, but Borimer does so, rushing out to help Lukas. ...45 seconds, 44 seconds... Meanwhile, Lukas is beginning to lose his grip, his legs dangling precariously over a surely deadly drop.

Borimer gets on the bridge, realizing just how unstable it is as it takes on his massive weight.  ...30 seconds, 29 seconds, 28 seconds...  He begins his way, seeing Lukas about 60 feet out on the slightly downward sloping rope bridge.  From where Borimer stands, all he really sees of Lukas are fingers grasping desperately to the side of the rope.

Lukas is struggling to get his legs up, but this shakes the bridge all the more as Borimer attempts to cross, slowing down the fighter.  ...15 seconds, 14 seconds...

Borimer sees Lukas as one hand drops.  He is now hanging by just the tips of the fingers of one hand.

The strong fighter reaches down and clasps the forearm of the rogue gnome just as Lukas is losing his grip.  Borimer raises Lukas up to the platform, sets him on his way, and returns to the cave entrance to tie the gnomes back up to himself.

The giants...still have not made their way through.

OOC: Every one minute in game time, I am rolling a wandering monsters roll to see if the giants get through.  That is the primary effect of any delays.  So far, the rolls have come up in your favor.  My original concept was that you would be running out of the cave and crossing the bridge with the giants in hot pursuit, but that changed with Kahan's spell, so I am improvising. ;)  But this has also given you a lot more time than I initially anticipated.

Tahldar packs up the portable hole, takes a deep breath and begins to cross.

OOC:  Tahldar will endeavor to cross a 1/3 or the bridge with either Lukas or Borimer's help before casting dimension door.

With help, you can get a +2 per person helping you to your dexterity skill roll.  3 successful rolls per person are required to get across without incident (1 for Tahldar because he is only going 1/3 of the way).


CROSSING:

Remember that you must roll your dexterity score or lower, as modified below:

Dexterity rolls are made at a -4, -2, and -4, in that order, based on the difficulty of getting across (i.e., this helps you get a lower roll, which you want). The center of the bridge is also the most unstable, and therefore has a harder roll to make.  A 20 is always a miss.

Dexterity rolls are made at a +1 per every 2 people simultaneously crossing the bridge (rounded up) (because of the slight shaking of the ropes).

Tying ropes between people does not affect the roll except in case of failure of one person.

A missed dex check is followed by a saving throw to determine if you catch your balance.  Depending on how far you make or miss the saving throw will determine the exact effects of the fall.  A critical fail on the saving throw (i.e., a roll of 20) would result in a complete fall and instant death.


I am also averaging 10 minutes of crossing time per person.  If you rush, this can be sped up to 1/2 that time (-4 to dex checks) or 1/3 that time (-6 to dex checks).

Other factors:  If you fall and someone comes to help you, their distance will affect if/how long it will take them to help.  They will need to adjust their speed, per the above, based on if they rush to help.

Each time someone needs to help another, regardless of the number of rolls to cross, at least one additional roll must be made.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:43, Mon 05 May 2014.

In reply to Tahldar of Tyrannia (msg # 38):

Borimer is tied to the gnomes.  He will have to untie himself again to help Tahldar.  Lukas can help if he wants to come back or wait, but he might be a little nervous given his close call.

Tahldar takes the opportunity to cross while there are fewer people on the bridge.  As he moves though his lack of coordination undoes his efforts and he falls!

OOC:  Tahldar will cast dimension door to save his butt from falling.  He missed the dex check and the saving throw.  He will target a spot as far down the bridge to the opposite side as he can.  Let me know if he needs any other rolls to pull this off.

Kahan begins looking around the cave to see if he can do anything to slow the giants down. He will cast a spell as he does so.

Didit kept concentrating on her spell, unable to much to help. At this rate she would have a hard time following the others through the bridge.

Tahldar slips and falls, tipping over the side of the bridge when a gust of wind blows.  He was about a third of the way across and casts as he falls...

His dimension door opens up near the top of the stairs close to the far side.  He steps through while falling...[skill check missed]... and makes yet another unfortunate fall as he lands on the fragile planks and they break beneath his falling feet.  (5 hp damage.)  Tahldar reaches out in panic...[strength check successful]...and manages to catch himself on the rope and planks at an awkward yet acceptable angle, and he pulls himself up.  He then...[Dex check successful]...makes it successfully to the far side at just about the same time that Shae makes the final few steps to solid ground once again.

Tahldar begins to immediately spread out the portable hole to let Etag and an elderly gnome out while they still have air.

<red>...wandering monster roll...failed...

You hear a commotion behind you.  The giants have made their way through the portal.  Lukas is just past halfway across the bridge.  Everyone else is still on the close side.

Kahan begins casting...and seems to go into a meditative state of some kind.

Didit's spell has created a mist all around the cave area.

Borimer is now tied to the elderly gnomes.

All of the able bodied gnomes are going across, thrown into fear by the sound of the giants.  They will be tugging at, and perhaps untying themselves from, Borimer if he does not immediately start across the bridge.  Borimer is holding the two remaining elderly gnomes.

Hatchman is committed to being the last person to cross so as to protect the rest of the group and give them what time they may need.

Please let this work, please let this work... Didit was still concentrating on the spell hoping none of the giants were smart enough to se through the illussion.

With practiced skill, Tahldar shouts out the simple command word for the powerful spell he is about to cast.  And cast he must if he does not wish to find his frail body splattered on the ground below.  If he had the time he might reflect that saving a bit of strength to always be able to cast a feather fall would be wise, but for the moment he will reflect on such thoughts later.

Selecting a spot as far down the bridge as his ability will allow, he instantly finds himself falling onto the swaying bridge, albeit at a much farther point along than he just was.  Nearly to the bridge's end.

With a painful crash on the planks below he finds himself in danger falling again!  Ignoring the pain emanating from his side his panicked mind wills his weak limbs to grab forcefully on the bridge and haul himself up.  Carefully he shuffles on wobbly feet as he makes his way to the other side.  Falling to the steady ground just past the bridge, his heart beats wildly as his mind races with the notion he was very near death.  However knowing the inhabitants of the portable hole have little available air, he allows himself no more time to reflect and quickly opens the magic container at his side.

Giving Etag a helpful hand out he says breathlessly, "We made it, though barely."

Pointing a nervous finger back the way the came he adds "The giants come.  Can you help them?  My supply of spells is exhausted."

While she has a minute with nothing to do, Shae will cast cure light wounds on Tahldar.   Then she will look aroudn her surroundings to see what's there.

Borimer takes off down the bridge with the elderly gnomes while deciding that saying a prayer to a god now and again may not be a bad thing-
"To the hells with the gods, I think I'd rather risk dying."
Borimer sprints...

PM

OOC: I get the image of Borimer dragging the gnomes along as fast as their feet can carry them like dogs on leashes across a precarious bridge.

lol me too

Kahan casts a spell then follows behind Borimer.

After Kahan gets partway across, Hatchman tells Didit, "Go!  I'll be right behind you."  He will wait until Didit is about 1/3 of the way across before sprinting across.  He draws his sword and has it at the ready.

Borimer begins running across the bridge, dragging the gnomes behind him...

There are 8 gnomes tied to ropes, and two elderly ones on Borimer's shoulders.

Before he gets one third of the way across, 4 gnomes fall.  Borimer stops to hold them as they dangle from the ropes.  His strength is great, but the knots--not so much.  One of the ropes comes loose, and a gnome falls screaming down into the chasm.  Borimer now only has 7 gnomes.

He continues across...

The bridge is swaying widely from side to side by the time he reaches the center.  A heavy wind is blowing between this crevasse between the mountains.  One of the gnomes topples over the ropes, taking two others with him, and again Borimer must stop to help them up.  But the rope moves and slices as Borimer backs up, creating tension and cutting across the sharp edges of the broken wood slats.  He finds it difficult to move with 2 elderly gnomes on his back.  And then it happens.  The topmost gnome falls loose, hitting the next gnome below him, and all three of them go screaming to their deaths into the chasm.  He notes that one of the gnomes who has just fallen is Junar, your friend and guide for the last day.

Borimer now only has 4 gnomes left (plus 2 on his shoulders).  He continues across...

Again, Borimer has no problems with crossing, but again the gnomes can't keep up.  This time, the wood slats break beneath the unsteady feet of the gnomes, and all four of them fall through.  This time, however, Borimer is able to pull them all back to safety.

Borimer is now only 100 yards from the end of the bridge and the safety of the next cave.

However, it is at this time that the giants make their way onto the scene...

Kahan is following behind Borimer, watching the tragedies unfold from a 100 yards or so back as the tumbling bodies of the gnomes fall down into the clouds below.  Then he has to worry himself as his own balance is lost from the bouncing, unsteady bridge.  He finds himself toppling over the edge...

But he catches himself, noting when he passes the 1/3 mark.  He makes it to the halfway mark without further incident.  It is about this time that the giants arrive...


Didit and Hatchman remain at the cave.  Didit has bought some time with her spell, as it has genuinely seemed to confuse the giants.  But upon Hatchman's command, and seeing the rest of her companions at least halfway or more across, Didit runs to catch up.

She sprints...and makes it 1/3 of the way across without any problem.

Hatchman is there when the giants get through the mist and size up the situation.

There is not just one or two, but 8 of the mountain giants.  One of them is some sort of shaman or leader.  He points at the bridge and yells, [Language unknown: "Fired po pa roder!"]  Two of the mountain giants run to do his bidding while the other 5 look down at the nuisance human paladin, pulling out clubs and giant-sized spears and smiling...

Borimer stops and unloads the remaining gnomes, "Go to the cave quickly and find the others!" He runs back at full speed to aid the paladin, still having no intention of praying.  Don't look down, don't look down, don't look-

*stopping as soon as the giants arrive, leaving the gnomes at the 100 yard mark
This message was last edited by the player at 23:15, Wed 07 May 2014.

Hatchman sees the giants, knows he is outnumbered and the situation is helpless, and he turns and runs across the bridge as quickly as possible but at least staying behind Didit to keep her protected, sheathing his sword as he does so.

"Run!" he says.  Then, just before getting to the bridge, he throws the key from the downstairs crypt that he took off the giant's neck. "Here's your key!" he tells them, hoping to distract the nearest ones enough to let him escape.

"NO!  Don't go back.  It's suicide!  They said they are going to cut the bridge!"  Tahldar shouts to Borimer.

Borimer sees Hatchman take the better part of valor when Tahldar's warning reaches his ears, and so he turns back and runs for the end of the bridge and the cave entrance beyond.

Didit no longer cared about the spell and so began running for dear life. Everything had gone from bad to worse and then straight into nightmare land. She regreted the moment she had decided to stay behind, she had blindly gone ahead with what resulted in the greater good, but that had been stupid, she was no warrior, there was nothing in her befitting of a hero, she was just a scared, tired and wounded girl who needed being rescued herself. She was in panic and wishing this was all a terrible nightmare and that at any moment she would wake up in a random tabern or inn, back then when her only worries were hiding from orcs.

Kahan continues on, going as fast as his unsteady and very uncoordinated feet can take him. He prays to himself as he continues forward, hoping the others behind him hurry up and that the giants have a harder time than he knows they will with the bridge cutting ceremony.

OOC: I had some really bizarre rolls again, and not in your favor.


Hatchman's ploy successfully distracts all but one of the giants.  He jumps on the bridge and begins running.

While Kahan and Didit continue on as fast as they can, the giants scramble over each other for the key.

But the giant who is not distracted lets his spear fly through the air at Hatchman.  (Critical hit.)  The blow is devastating to Hatchman as he is skewered by a spear the size of a pole.  He flips over the edge of the bridge and...[critical miss on saving throw]...plummets and tumbles as he falls down into the clouds and into the crevasse below.

Kahan continues running across as Borimer turns to switch directions again.  Kahan is about 200 yards away when he breaks through some rotting wood planks.  (Critical miss.)  Kahan catches himself (saving throw made) but is now hanging by the boards.

Didit sees what happened to Hatchman and redoubles her efforts.  She makes it about halfway across when the giants finally regain their senses.  They scramble around for a blade since the spears and clubs just won't do.  This has given Didit and Kahan some extra time, but now the nearest giant slashes down at one of the four ropes connecting the bridge to the cave...

The rope snaps...

Kahan miraculously manages to keep his hold on the plank of wood as the entire bridge shakes violently and one of the ropes goes slack.

Didit is not so lucky.  She falls flat on her face onto the wood planks, but she manages to grab the nearest ones and scramble back to her feet to start running again. Now the bridge is lagging and bouncing even worse than before.

The giant gets ready to cut the next handhold rope...

Sensing the impending danger, and very desperate Shapfren remembered a provision she had made for a situation -not like the current one, but a situation none-the less-. She was convinced she wouldn't leave the bridge in time, so she needed to ensure her own survival and quickly. With a quick movement of her arm she unsheated one of her concealed daggers and used it to slash and release a good portion of the now limp rope, leaving enough length of rope manageable enough to tie her own waist in away that would allow her to climb down. That way she could hope to stay in the bridge long enough to be rescued or attempt to escape by other means.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Mon 12 May 2014.

Kahan thanks the gods that they decided to spare his life, at least for the time being. Knowing that things are only going to go from bad to worse, he makes sure the rope he had tied around his waist is still tight before attempting to move across the board, hoping to get to one of the sides so he can grab the rope part of the bridge (preferably not the side the giants already cut). If he can do that, he wraps it around his hand as best he can before the giants cut the other ropes. He plans to let the bridge fall at this point, and simply ride it out, making sure his back is turned to the cliff wall that he will eventually be swinging into.

where is borimer?

Error: I was confusing yards and feet.  The bridge is a total of 350 yards or so long (about 1000 feet).  I meant to say that Kahan is 200 feet away from the far side, and Borimer is 100 feet from the far side (not yards).

So at this point, Borimer is about 100 feet from the far cave, and another 100 feet from Kahan in the opposite direction.

Borimer sprints the last hundred feet to the end of the bridge and lashes one rope to his stump and then grips the other with his one fist.

As far as the make up of the bridge, there are two ropes to use as handholds, one on either side.  There are also two ropes at foot level, to which the wooden planks are attached.  So there are 4 total ropes.

The giants just cut one of the handhold ropes on the far side.  This is not too detrimental yet because there are small ropes tying the handhold ropes to the floor ropes.

then borimer takes the two ropes that didit and kahan are grabbing, and if that's not possible than he takes the bottom two ropes of the bridge and will haul the whole bridge back to his side of the canyon
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Fri 09 May 2014.

Not quite sure I understand.  Right now, three out of the four ropes are still properly connected, so the bridge is still secure (for a few more moments, at least) to both sides.  There is just a sag where one of the four ropes was cut.

Kahan is hanging by a plank because he fell through, not because of the bridge itself.

(Perhaps in your mind you pictured the entire bridge swinging down and slamming against the wall nearest you, but that hasn't happened...yet.)

Borimer decides the bridge is very secure for the moment and fires off two arrows at the giant who's trying to cut the ropes.

Borimer is firing a called shot from 900 feet away?

Borimer's arrows fly far, but they come nowhere close to hitting the giant...or his hand.

lol that would be quite a heroic shot. I haven't been clear on the distances here for a bit now. Borimer will prepare to help any of his friends when possible.

OOC: Borimer never completely crossed the bridge, but I will assume he untied the remaining gnomes and let them cross the last 100 feet, rather than keeping them in harm's way 100 feet from the edge of the cave.  In other words, Borimer is not tethered to them now.


Currently, here are the distances:

Bridge length: 1000 feet
Borimer: 100 feet from edge (firing arrows)
Kahan: 200 feet from edge (hanging precariously from a wooden plank, feet dangling)
Didit: 400 feet from edge (Continuing forward; I gave her an extra 100 feet or so since the last roll)

Kahan cannot move until picking himself up.

Didit can still continue running/walking/carefully treading up the bridge (please indicate which, as it will affect modifiers to the rolls).

Borimer can go to the safety of the cave, try to help Kahan, or continue trying to get his arrows to fly 900 feet, or whatever else suits his fancy.


Since we are now at feet and seconds, instead of yards and minutes, here are the modifiers:

18 seconds to cross each 100 feet at full speed/run
30 seconds to cross each 100 feet at walk/fast walk
45 seconds to cross each 100 feet at slow/careful pace

For the above times, subtract 2 seconds for every movement score you have over 9, and add 2 seconds for every movement score under 9.  I.e., if you have a 12 Move, you can make the last 100 feet at a full speed/run in just 12 seconds.  If your Move is 8, then it takes 20 seconds.

Modifiers to Dex Roll (with partially broken bridge)=
Running: -6
Fast Walk: -4
Careful Pace: -2

(After a failed roll, a new Dex roll must be rolled.)


Time to second rope being cut:  10-20 seconds
Time until third rope cut:  30-45 seconds
Time until last rope cut: About 1 minute or less.

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:10, Mon 12 May 2014.

Shapfren is no longer running, she has stopped to tie herself by the waist, prepparing herself for the incomming fall of the bridge. If given enough time she will jump on her own in order to better control her own fall.

How much tether is she giving herself?  Remember that she will be falling in an arc downward with a 400 foot radius.  It might hurt a little...

How far away is the water below?

Water?  Who said anything about water?  There are clouds a few hundred feet below you, and that's all you can see from here.  You are thousands of feet up.

I didn't want to come off sounding like adaran of old, but wanted to let you know Borimer did unload the gnomes and move to the end of the bridge. its been cluttered in the thread with questions and things are easily missed :)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Mon 12 May 2014.

Shapfren will attempt to jump in a way to avoid falling in a pendular way (by jumping between the planks), then start climbing down the rope as fast as possible without hurting herself while swinging towards the slope. Basically reducing the impact by getiing closer to the slope. With any luck to reach the slope before the bridge falls.

In reply to Borimer (msg # 78):

I think I missed it because that was when you were unclear on what the situation was and had reposted when i explained that the bridge had not yet been totally cut.  In my mind, though, i had thought Borimer completed that action.  So I guess it all worked out.


To Didit:

By "climbing down the rope," what rope are we talking about?  The rope bridge toward the cliff edge or the one Didit is tying to herself?  If the one she is tying to herself, what is the length of rope?

I'm using the bridge rope, the one the giant just cut...

Okay, I'm a little confused.  Here's the picture of what I envision the rope bridge looks like:



So the giants have cut the right side upper ropes used to hold onto.  Therefore, it went slack, but the interweaving ropes connecting it to the bottom of the bridge (going up and down in the picture) mean that it does not simply fall down.  It's still connected.  It's just laying flat by the wood planks.  And of course, it's still connected at the far end, meaning that it doesn't have much effect for those more than 1/2 of the way across the bridge.

So does this mean Didit is holding onto that rope while crawling military style across the wood planks?

Kahan will attempt to start pulling himself up. If Borimer indeed is going to shoot arrows at the giants, he'll yell for him to help him instead of wasting his time.

Borimer makes haste to his friend and helps him back to the cave-side of the bridge.

Ok, crawling tied to the rope and cutting it from the smaller vines connected to it.

Borimer begins sprinting across...

13 seconds pass while Kahan is trying to pull himself up but failing.

Didit is crawling across.

It takes this full 13 seconds for the giants to chop through the left side handhold ropes.  Each blow sends a shiver across the bridge, jarring Kahan from his grip.

He feels himself ready to fall, and then...[roll missed]...he cannot hold longer and sees his imminent demise.

But Borimer is there just a few seconds after the other handhold ropes are cut, reaching down and grabbing Kahan by the wrist, pulling him up.

Borimer and Kahan are now 100 feet from the ledge.

Didit is crawling along the way, being very careful with the rope.  She does not fall or lose her balance, but the going is slow.  She is now 350 feet from the ledge.

The giants prepare to start hacking at the right side rope that holds the planks up.  Cutting it will be a big blow to your ability to maintain balance.

Tahldar sits and watches and rubs absentmindedly at the contusion on his side.  He can only hope against hope that no more of his group fall and wish he could do more to help.

"Talhdar, cast Feather Fall under our feet on the bridge!" Kahan commands, moving down the bridge towards Didit until he can cast the same spell from his Rod on the bridge under her.

Didit continues crawling forward, and Kahan moves toward her, pulling out the Rod of Absorption.

The giants hack twice, and the right side bottom of the bridge tilts down.  Being more than halfway across, it does not cause any of you to lose your balance, but the bridge sways and creaks.  It is so heavy that you begin to wonder if the last rope will even hold.

Regardless, the giants are moving toward it to cut it.  Once they do, there will be no stopping the bridge from arcing downward and slamming against the mountain wall.

Kahan is within casting distance from Didit already (at 200 feet out, 100 feet from Didit, and it has a 210 foot range).  Borimer is still 100 feet from the edge of the cave.  Didit is now 300 feet from the edge.

Borimer sprints the rest of the way to the end of the bridge and then readies himself to grab ropes to support his friends and the heavy bridge as best he can.

Kahan begins cast the spell on the elf, moving as fast as he can towards the safe end of the bridge. "If you can't hold on, simply let go! The spell should last longer than the fall." the priest states as he moves.

Didit kept on crawling. "Ok I will!" she said while still hanging on for dear life

Tahldar waits anxiously as he watches the dimwitted Giants slowly cut the rope bridge one rope at a time.

PM to Borimer:  Your comment is consistent with my thinking, which is why I was thinking that feather fall will have some effect, even if it can't fully support the weight as the bridge is swinging, since it's not technically supporting the full weight of the bridge, just the amount that is not being supported by the nearer cave where it is tethered--sharing in the load, so to speak.

Didit and Kahan prepare for it, and then the giants do it.  The last strand of rope is cut with one fell swoop of a giant's arm, and the bridge begins to fall.

It is held partially by the side still connected to the cave, but Kahan releases the feather fall spell from his rod of absorption at the place just behind Didit, and this slows the fall of the bridge until it swings beyond about half of the pivot point (45 degrees).  Then the spell cannot hold the increasing weight of the swinging bridge.

Kahan and Didit feel the bridge disappear from under their bodies, with only their arms and the ropes keeping them from falling to certain doom.

But now the bridge is swinging toward the wall.  When they hit, Kahan and Didit both have the wind knocked out of them.  You hear a thousand cracking sounds as the wood planks hit the side of the mountain and shatter, falling to the clouds below.
Didit holds on but Kahan loses his grip and begins falling down -- toward Didit and whatever lies below.  But then Kahan gets a firm grip as he falls, his hand wrapping around ropes.  But the impact against the wall has left its mark...

Didit hits hard against her shoulders and legs.  (13 hp dmg.)  Kahan managed to fare better, perhaps because of rebounding off the wall and falling.  He suffers only minor damage to his back.  (6 hp dmg.)

Didit and Kahan begin climbing, and Borimer pulls up on the rope.  It takes a few minutes, but at last, you are all safely in the mouth of the giant cave.

Nearby, Etag sits wearily, his back against the stone wall.  He is looking more ill than ever, weak and groggy from the disease that plagues these mountains.

Across the chasm, the giants stand dumbfounded, staring across the 1000 foot abyss in disbelief.  You see them arguing, and one of them gets pushed out of the cave, screaming as he falls down, down into the depths below.

Didit was very tense, and started to weep as soon as she was fully safe, the whole experience from the beginning had been too much and she needed a respire. She latched onto Thaldar seeking some kind of relief.

Borimer speaks quietly to Kahan, "We need to find a way to help Etag, or we're going to lose him."

Goals Completed (XP to be divided among survivors):

6 gnomes saved:  6000 XP
Keep Etag alive: 3000 XP
Survive Bridge/Giants: 9000 XP
Other: ???