Rope trick, rope/string, Kal, Allistair takes a look
Subject Rope trick
Ah. So at double height, reaching a 30 foot target would be like a normal person jumping up and reaching a 15-foot rim.
I don't see that happening.
From: Derek
Subject Up the rope
Allistair considers their options as he talks quietly with the other three. "In the meantime, Salix or Mund can feel free to climb the rope if you like, this spell lasts for about 6 hours so there is plenty of time if you want to take a look yourself. To get the key though, I think we have two decent options. We can either wait for me to memorize a fly spell so that one of us can fly up, or we could try and pile up 10 feet worth of things for me to re-cast the rope spell off of."
"Even if we went and got all the tables, it might be difficult to get a l0 feet high. So the fly spell might be our best bet. However getting the key off of the wire looks to be some kind of a puzzle, and it may not be solved easily. Furthermore it seems to be made of mithril, and most likely will not be cut easily, if at all. The fly spell only lasts for 6 minutes which may not be enough time to solve the puzzle."
"The rope trick spell lasts 6 hours, but you can't use both of your hands while climbing a rope so that could be a handicap, unless we get the rope all the way to the ceiling, whereupon one person in the room could hold another person's legs so they could work at it two-handed."
"Perhaps instead of trying to get a 10 foot high pile of tables, we could just enlarge Mund or Harp and have them hold a table over thier heads, on top of which I cast the rope trick spell."
"Those are some of my ideas. In the meantime I want to climb the rope and get a look at the wire and key myself, and see if either is magical."
Assuming no one is on the rope, Allistair climbs up the rope, takes a look at the key and wire, and casts detect magic to get a better look at both.
From: Karl
Subject The rope/string
(OOC)OK, I'm a little confused. In the lines describing the key setup you mention key, string, thread and rope (not the rope-trick rope). At first I thought the key was tied to the (probably mithrail) "string" which was threaded through the hook system. Is this right? Where does the rope come in? (/OOC)
Salix hears the report from Surin and motions the group back towards the door. "Delver, it seems we need to confer with our companions regarding this key setup. We will leave you for a short time and return when we have figured out our next steps. We will also need to rest and tend to our own food needs. It will be a few hours before we can come back. We'll have more gold for you when we return if you will keep an eye on the key for us and not damage it."
If there are no objections, Salix will lead the group back to Harp and the others and report what they've seen and tried.
From: Kevin
Subject Rope/string
OOC: Up, up and away, in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon.
Mark, if we do decide to rest for the remainder of the day (which I think is likely) Harp will want he and Ragnar to use what remaining grace they have left to heal as much damage on everyone as possible (incuding using those little Cure Minor Wounds). I will go in and update my list later today.
From: Derek
Subject Ideas
OOC: I sent out a mail last night where Allistair talked about his ideas for getting the key, but for some reason no one got it. I'll just re-cap his actions and save the discussion for when everyone is together.
IC: Before leaving the room, Allistair tells Salix that he'd like to climb the rope and have a look a the key itself. Allistair then climbs the rope, and casts detect magic to see if the key or the mithril wire is magic in any way. Once he's satisfied with the layout and he's learned all he can, he'll descend. If no one else wants to climb the rope and have a look, Allistair will cancel the rope trick spell and take the rope back with him as he leaves.
From: Mark
Subject Rope/string
There is the standard rope that Allistair used to cast the rope trick. The "string" that is supporting the key seems to be possibly made of mithral and is not actually attached to the ceiling. It is attached to a complicated hook system that will require the "string" to be manuevered through a complicated pattern until it is released.
Is that any clearer?
From: Kevin
Subject Rope/string
OOC: Mark, I think the confusion came from your write up in where Surin describes the "rope" as going through some hooks or some such thing. We had been thinking "thread" and then saw "rope" and we, as simple minded players, wondered when a string became a rope.
It does not really matter. Somebody will have to fly up and undo it.
Was Surin or Mund or whoever else climbed up there able to determine (guess) approximately how long the mithral string might be? Just thought it might make a nice snack for the nice Xorns.
From: Mark
Subject Rope/string
It does not seem to be more than a foot long.
From: Karl
Subject Rope/string
Yes. I thought that's what it was, but could not be sure from the writeup.
Thanks for the clarification.
From: Karl
Subject Rope/string
Or alternatively, we could have one of the Xorn "fly" up and just take a bite out of the string and give us the key. ;)
From: Porter
Subject Rope/string
As long as we trust the Xorn to not eat the key.
From: Mark
Subject Rope/string
There is a simpler way.
From: Porter
Subject Rope/string
Where's the fun in that?
From: Josh
Subject Kal
OOC: Is Kal anywhere near by? Or does he have no idea what's going on?
From: Porter
Subject Kal
Not yet, but we'll be there soon.
From: Mark
Subject Kal
He would be out in the main room with Harp, Ragnar, and Ranthir.
From: Kevin
Subject Rope/string
Of course, we will not get a hint of that until after we fail in this.
From: Karl
Subject Rope/String
Salix would trust a Xorn not to eat a copper key on the promise of 100 gold pieces in exchange for said key (and the obvious possibility of a bloody death if he DOES eat the key). But he wouldn't make a fuss of it if no one else want to try it that way. Still it IS a possibility if it turns out none of us can unwind the dang thing.
From: Karl
Subject Spells
Does Allistair have "Shatter"? He could cast that on the string.
From: Mark
Subject Allistair takes a look
"Well I have several ideas, some of which might actually work" replies Allistair with a grin. "I was thinking enlarging Mund and having him throw you at the key and have you grab it." The halfling looks up, startled, until he sees the grin on the mage's face. "The big lug", Surin smacks Mund on the knee, "would miss and throw me right into the wall. Then I would be as ugly as he is." Mund sputters in protest, not sure to be more upset about the comment about his aim or the one about his looks. "Let me go up and take a look" Allistair says, "it might give me an idea to see it up close."
The mage goes to the rope and looks at it with even more trepidation than Surin did. "Never did like rope climbing day back at the academy on physical activity day" the mage thinks to himself. He grabs the rope and starts to work his way up. Taking his time so that he will not fall, he is exhausted by the time he reaches the space at the top of the rope. "I'm going to rest for a few minutes before I take my look. Don't mind me."
While they are waiting for Allistair to recuperate, Delver signals for Salix to come over. When the druid approaches the Xorn speaks. "Friend Salix, we have met you and your three companions. You mention that there are four others. We have never met creatures from another plane before and we have been discussing it and we would like to meet the others in your group, if that is ok with you?" Salix replies at once "I think that is a wonderful idea, but I will have to ask my leader about it first. However, he is good fellow and I would be surprised if he said no. Let me send Surin back to ask." The druid then tells the halfling what Delver would like and the halfling moves out the door.
Allistair pokes his head out the hidden space at the top of the rope and says "OK I am going to come out now and take a look." The mage works his way onto the rope and holds himself in place where he can see the key. He spends several minutes studying it and then shimmies down the rope. "Where's Surin?" he asks. Salix explains Delver's request and the mage smiles. "Great, anything that does not hurt anyone but keeps them happy. We are going to run out of gold eventually."
About then Harp enters the room. It takes everyone a second to figure out what is wrong with him. He looks naked without his armor on. Salix leads him over to Delver and introduces him. The next half hour is spent on introductions. Eventually, after the Xorns have met everyone Salix and Allistair speak to Delver. "We have been working at getting out of this place for days now and have had several battles before we met you. We are going to go back to our room and rest for a while, so that we may heal our wounds, pray to our gods for blessing and relearn our spells. We would ask you to join us but the area is crowded with the eight of us."
"That is fine friend Salix, we will stay here. However, let me try something first." Delver moves slowly towards the door. When he gets there he gingerly takes a step and crosses the threshold of the room. He makes some sort of weird noise and gesture with his hands and then moves towards the wall of the hallway. When he gets there, Mund and Ragnar are startled when he seems to disappear right into the stone. There is no hole or ripple in the stone. He just seems to fade into the rock. A second later he pops back out, rumbling at an almost earth shattering volume. All of the party members have to cover their ears it is so loud.
The other Xorn all rush towards Delver. Mund grabs his brother and his axe and moves out of the way while the other party members scatter. Salix is sure that all hells is about to break loose when Delver switches over to common. "WE CAN LEAVE." The Xorn rushes over to the druid "Friend Salix, we can move through the walls out in the hallway. We can find our way home. We thank you for your assistance. There is nothing we can do to help you here, and we want to leave before the gods change their mind, but I can do this. I will pass word to the Xorn people. I will tell them about you and your friends. If you ever meet a Xorn or come to our plane, mention my name. You should be greeted as a friend." With that the Xorn holds out a clawed hand. " I know from what I have heard that this is how you say goodbye in your culture. Goodbye, Friend Salix."
As the other Xorns move out of the room and into the wall outside, the druid clasps the claw, feeling the hidden strength within. "Go well and safely, Friend Delver. I hope you make it back to where you came safely." Delver bows once, stiffly, and follows his companions. The party stands for a few seconds in stunned silence before Surin breaks it. "Ok was that a good thing or a bad thing?" The party is unusually silent as it makes its way back to the main room to rest.
OODM: You guys can role play anything you want for the overnight party.