Spells and spiders on the wall
Subject Hp
Ok I have updated the HP for resting for the night. Take a look at your totals and decided if you are going to use any spells or potions or scrolls before you start the day.
Then update your spell lists.
From: Kevin
Subject Moral questions
"I know Ran, though I don't think I am really qualified to make a final decision. I think I will make my report to Anglewing when we return, and let the officers decide on how to proceed. I know that I am in charge of this quest, but I still just a sergant. A decision of this level is beyond me - I don't have the experience or the knowledge to know what the right thing to do is. I know, I know, this is cowardly of me - I should make a decision and do something about it. But this decision, as I have been told many times before, is above my pay grade."
From: Jason
Subject HP
Ragnar has two 0 level spells, which he will use to cure himself since he definitely doesn't need even a CLW. He also has Spirit Weapon, which since it is his domain spell he can't use to cast cure; he'll be ready to cast that if Harp wants him to before he prays for new spells.
Other than that, I've replaced the spells Ragnar used yesterday with the spells he plans to prepare today, and once we've actually prepared them I'll move them over.
Mund's HP could use some attention; Ragnar will bring that up and let Harp decide what to do.
From: Derek
Subject HP
Since it would be wasted anyway, why doesn't Ragnar go over to the room with the hanging key and use the spiritual weapon to attack the mithril wire?
From: Karl
Subject HP
Salix should have a CMW left from the day before which he could cast to get back that remaining HP before replenishing his spells for the day. Also, before praying for his day's allotment of grace, he will suggest to Harp:
"I can ask my god for the ability to climb on walls and ceiling like a spider does. I could get this power for myself and again for another in our party if necessary. What do you think?"
(OOC - I'd also take Fox's Cunning since it might push one of us over the top enough to actually solve the puzzle of the wire/hook setup, but that appears to be one that Druid's can't learn. :-( /OOC)
From: Derek
Subject Spells
Spider climb would also be a good way to get to the wire/key setup. The spell description says you need your hands free to climb, so I don't know if you would have hands free to solve the puzzle. Fox's cunning is also a good idea, if anyone has it. Allistair sure doesn't. I'd say it's worth a try. It's a lot more elegant than the rope trick, and lower level than a fly spell.
From: Kevin
Subject Spells
Harp is still going to suggest that we start with the lowest level spell first, and then use higher level ones as and if the lower level ones fail.
From: Karl
Subject Spells
I already tentatively cleared it with the DM to be able to use hands (or a hand) while not actually climbing/crawling, though he may require a STR check to hang onto the ceiling in that case.
Fox's Cunning isn't a druid spell so if Allistair doesn't have it, it's up to one of the clerics or we do without.
From: Karl
Subject Spells
Oh, I was also gonna suggest Salix pray for SC twice. That way both he and Allistair could climb up and try the puzzle together. Maybe we could get some kind of synergy with two minds working on it at the same time.
From: Mark
Subject Spells
There is a situation called Aid other. I would think it would apply.
From: Kevin
Subject Spells
Harp is still going to suggest using the lowest level spell first, but will bow to the other casters who are actually doing the work here.
From: Karl
Subject Spells
Which would that be? I mean, either Salix asks for SC or he doesn't, and if he does it's hardly a waste to use it since there's no indication of it being needed if it *isn't* used for this.
And from a meta-gaming position, it seems likely that this is going to turn out to be something our DM would like to see us solve as intended rather than simply blow up or dismantle. (ref: the cheese cutter comments.) ;-)
From: Kevin
Subject Spells
OOC: Mage hand is a 0 level cantrip for Allistair. *IF* we can get this string thing undone using 1 0-level spell, that is about as easy and efficient as it can get. Beyond that, we start using 1 or 2 or 3 1st and 2nd level spells to accomplish this. All I am saying is that Harp would like Allistair to try his mage hand spell first (focusing on the string). Between Allistair and Surin, they should have a pretty good idea of how the string and hooks thing is set up, so he should be able to do it from where he is.
From: Mark
Subject Spells
Allistair is sure that he would have to be closer then 40 feet to see the hook system well enough to manuver the string through it.
From: Kevin
Subject Spells
OK, so he rope tricks up closer and then Mage Hands it.
Enough of my comments. Lets let you guys and your characters play it out. I am now shutting up.
From: Mark
Subject Spells
Promises, promises.
He does the same thing in our two RL games.
From: Derek
Subject Spells
After hearing several suggestions, Allistair decides on what he thinks has the best combination of simplicity and likelihood of success. "Salix, I do think that spiderclimb ability of yours would be very useful to get the key down. There might be some difficulty in letting go to manipulate the key with our hands, but if you were to cast the spiderclimb ability on me, I could then use my telekinesis spell to manipulate the wire without letting go with my hands. That spell of yours lasts a full hour, and my telekinesis lasts as long as I am able to concentrate, so I think that should be enough time. Are you willing to give it a try?"
From: Mark
Subject Spells
After sleeping the night Salix is only down 1 HP. Do you want to do the CLW on someone else?
From: Porter
Subject Spells
Mund is still down 19 HP.
From: Mark
Subject Spider on the wall
Harp nods at Ran's comments and the two discuss it for a while. They then return to the others and prepare for the night. Harp takes a double shift at watch so that the others can get more sleep. He also does not seem to be eating less than usual. He seems no worse the wear in the morning though, his usual chipper self. "Ok you maggots" he yells with a grin. "You gonna spend all day sleeping. We are burning daylight." Ragnar is the only one who is not startled by this rude awakening, seeing has how he has lived in the chapter house for the past many years. The others shoot Harp a dirty look, but his upbeat attitude is not diminished. "What's got you in such a good mood today?" Mund growls. "Isn't it obvious?" the 1/2 orc asks? "Once we get this key, there is only one more to go and then we are out of this place. We could be headed home today."
Mund realizes that this is true but is still in a grumpy mood. "We could all not be going home too? Did you ever think of that?" He is about to continue when Allistair places a hand on his shoulder. The barbarian cuts off the next remark. As the party prepares breakfast Salix speaks up. "Allistair, you know that Obad-Hai is a god of nature. Most of the blessing I can get from him follow from that. You have seen that I can change shape in to animals and summon them to me for aid. Another blessing that I can ask for is the ability to climb walls like a spider. It lasts about an hour and I can ask for it for others. Would climbing up to the ceiling and being that close to the wire help any?"
The mage is stunned at the revelation. "Help? My friend Salix you have solved my biggest worry,which has been how to get close enough to see the rope and the hook system well enough to complete it. Even from 10 feet my cantrip I was going to use would have been difficult at best, and hanging from a rope while doing it would have made it even harder. This is wonderful news. Now I can just go up and work the puzzle by hand." Salix holds up a hand. "Wait, that is something I was going to mention. While the effect does not really make the hand and fingers all that sticky, it does make it a little bit. Normally it does not cause a problem, but fine finger work maybe a problem."
"Not a problem." is Allistair's reply. "I can still use my cantrip. As long as it does not take more than the hour your blessing lasts, I should be fine. Thank you Salix. This is wonderful news." The whole party is infected with anticipation. "Would you mind if I joined you at the test?" Salix asks. "It might be useful to have a second pair of eyes." Allistair thinks for a moment. "If it is ok with Harp I would welcome your consul and company." "As long as the two of you think it is safe you are the experts on this stuff. I just stick swords in things" is the reply.
The next hour is a mixture of quiet and action. Those who must pray or study do so while the others, Mund, Ran and Surin wonder around picking up the camp a bit. The sense that this might be their last day is suddenly staring them in the face. They want to make sure that they do not leave anything important behind. Surin even counts the 9 keys they already have, just to make sure they are all still there.
When they are ready the party moves to the room where the key is. Salix and Allistair take their places next to the wall. "You might want to take a seat, this might take a while" the mage says. "Ok Salix, ready when you are." Salix takes out a small bit of bitumen and a couple of spiders he had found that morning. He sticks a small piece of the bitumen to the back of each spider and then chants his prayer. When he is done he hands one of the spiders to Allistair and says "Eat it. Swallow everything." Allistair is a little taken about, but he had eaten worse as a child with Mund and even in the mage training. He takes the spider and eats it. Salix chants again and does the same with his spider.
The only thing they feel is a slight tingling. Salix goes to the wall and places his hand on it. He starts to crawl on it, like he would the floor and his hands stick when needed and he starts up the wall, just like a spiderman. Allistair follows him and the two work their way up the wall and across the ceiling to where the key, string and hook is. For a few seconds, when he goes upside down, Allistair starts to feel the blood rush to his head, but the feeling quickly dissipates. "Ok Salix, once I start my cantrip and concentrate on the string, I will not be able to do much else other than talk to you a bit. It will require most of my concentration." The druid nods and the mage chants his cantrip.
Allistair focuses on the string and where the hook puzzle starts. He directs the loop on the string with his mind. He moves it slowly so as not to mess up the string and make a knot. Every now and then he asks Salix for his opinion on what to do next. Over the course of the next 1/2 hour the mage very methodically works the string along the path he has figured out(Several DC15 INT rolls, some failed, most success) before he started. There is an almost palpable sigh of relief when the key finally falls free into Salix's hand. "We got it" the mage yells down. We are coming down now." Sweat dripping from his brow, Allistair looks over at Salix and says "Let's go get the last key."
OODM: Reactions and what next?
From: Porter
Subject spider on the wall
"Hey, can I have that wire? It might come in handy, if I ever need to cut some really tough cheese," he says with a silly grin.
From: Derek
Subject Spider on the wall
"Sure," Allistair replies. "Let's see if it will come off of this puzzle apparatus." Allistair continues to use the mage hand to work the wire off. If it will come off, he will let it drop to the floor. If it won't, he'll try and use the wire to cut through whatever framework is holding it in place.
From: Mark
Subject spider on the wall
The wire is attached to the key. The other end is what had a loop in the hook system. Now you have a key with a foot long thing piece of mithral attached to it. Mund can use his special knife to cut the mithral from the key.