When even the second attempt to use the Seein Stone failed, Sun fox removed her hand from it with a certain tiredness to herself; she cleaned her forehead from sewat, and then sat down on the rock, turning toward Sun Snake.

"So... what do we do now?"

It was clear that she had no idea on how to react to the discovery that the most powerful magic item currently in their possession had suddenly turned useless.

"We press on.  Not much more we can do at this point, anyways- we can't abandon the mission now just to run back home."

She pushed her Sixth Sense as far as it would go down the next passage and looked over at Sun Fox.

"I know you're worried... blazes, I'm worried too.  But we've got a mission to finish- and I would think that a monastery full of Kai can take care of itself until we all get back."

"Yea we need to keep going. We have to trust the others have it under control, like they trust us with this mission"

Sun Snake's expression did not change from his worried look, but he did gesture to the path that led onwards.

Sun Snake will take the Seeing Stone back unless anyone says anything.

Also, just a reminder Sun Snake will refuse the food earkier unless pushed.

So you Lose 3 END for lack of food, Sun Snake; make sure to note it.

Sun Fox nodded, and then the group moved forward in what turned out to be a very long, descending tunnel; silence weighted heavily over the five Kai, as they reflected on the implications of their failure to contact Blue Snake, and what it could mean for the Monastery.

Eventually, it was Alyne the first to break the silence, turning toward Sun Snake and asking, her tone thoughtful:

"Master, I know this will sound like a stupid question to you, but... why is it so bad that your Master didn't answered your call? I mean, couldn't he just be... occupied, or something?"

It was clear that her question was moved by something more than just curiosity.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:03, Sat 23 Mar 2013.

Sun Snake looked across from considering the path ahead. "I would hope that our reports so far have not been frivolous. We have discovered much that required checking and care to be taken. If this were the first time we had tried to make contact and failed, I would not be so worried. After all, there could be positive matters that take Master Blue Snake's attention." Sun Snake looked quickly to Rain Feather, as if recalling something she had said earlier.

He then looked back to Alyne. "However, I would hope that by a second communication, we might take priority." Sun Snake shrugged. "I cannot say how the stone truly works, but Master Blue Snake has come at the call of the stone before, even when he has seemed busy."

Sun Snake looked ahead. "Still, we have a mission to do and we will do it. Of this I am sure. We do not need the aid of the monastery, the five of us together are strong enough to do what needs to be done. I just fear the consequences of not relating what we know." Whether Sun Snake believed the words or whether they were simply to assure Alyne and himself, Sun Snake's demeanor did not change and he still seemed to have a sad worry.

"Perhaps when we emerge to the light," he said at length, looking to the others, "we can attempt to commune with a suitable messenger, if there are birds around this place that have any love and loyalty of the Sommlending still."

Sun Snake seemed to recall something, and looked to Alyne again. "Did you know that Animal Kinship was the first Kai Discipline I manifest? Well, of course you would not. And it was not the first one I ever mastered. I did not master it for a long while, in fact. And yet it was what made people suspicious that I may have the gift." Sun Snake gave a melancholy smile at the forgotten memory, and then shrugged and looked onwards again.

"...we have to put it out of our minds for now.  If we keep focusing on what may await us at home, we may not get home.  Let's just push on and finish our own mission... and we can worry about what awaits us at home on the way back."

She turned to the tunnel ahead, and stretched to loosen up.

"Let's get going.  It's better than standing around and worrying."

Alyne nodded, and then she too lapsed into silence.

The tunnel the group was into had a slowly, descending incline, and turned out to be the longest they'd had to walk through yet - they progressed through the monotony of it for what seemed like hours, until, eventually, they reached a natural stopping point.

A large, deep fissure opened in the earth in front of them; seeing the bottom was impossible, but they all could see that the tunnel started again on the other side; the only problem was that the fissure in between was over eight meters from side to side, making such a jump an incredibly hard thing to attempt.

However, if just one person could get through the fissure, it shouldn't be then too hard, with a rope at hand, to build some sort of makeshift bridge that would make the crossing easier... but, of course, that would require jumping through the fissure first.

That jump is a DC 12 Hunting roll. Also, if whomever makes the jump has a working bow to use once on the other side, that might make sending the rope back a lot easier... just a suggestion. ^_^

How high is the tunnel? Maybe we can swing and release someone across if DC12 is too risky for Sabre Fox's Huntmastery?

Or at the very least, can we use part of the climbing equipment to anchor a rope in the ground, so a miss will simply mean the jumper falls and is caught buy the rop, and the rope is automatically braced across the fissure on success.

We could maybe have two ropes - one on the side of the tunnel, one on the ground. So we can perhaps anchor those two and have a hand hold and foot hold to shimmy across. Maybe double or triple up the foot rope  for stability.

Those are interesting alternatives, yes; you can do anything you can think of, so long as you hve the means to... just suggest a way you're going to do that, and I will tell you the difficulty and whatnot.

In this instnance, if Sabre Fox were to tie himself to the rope, assuming you can fix it securely enough (which will require for you to tell me how you're fixing it, and perhaps some Hunting checks) then that would mean that he doesn't die on a failed roll, yes. For your other suggestion, you'll have to tell me how you're getting the rope across; throwing it by hand is a DC 22 Hunting check.

Feel free to discuss this; IC or OOC is the same in this instance, I think.

"I'll make this clear right now" Fox said suddenly. "I arent jumping over that!" he exclaimed

Sun Snake made a face at Sabre Fox, then made it again, but in the direction of Sabre Fox's pack. "You have the climbing equipment. We can secure two separate ropes to the side wall and to the floor with pitons. Sun Fox and yourself could even use Nexus to boost a jump across. If you fail, we'll be holding the rope and it will be anchored to the tunnel. And if you succeed, we'll have a dual rope line you can attach to the floor and wall on the other side. If you can hold at least one of the ropes across there, we can all inch our way across the fissure." Sun Snake gave a small smile. "I daresay a tale or heroism that might get some appreciative looks back at the order. But an endeavor that should be safe in execution."

Sun Snake looked to Sabre Fox, then the rest, to see if his idea had merit.


Bah, where's our leading man and gosh darn bravery when we need it! Oh, and if Rain Feather has Brotherhood magic, then does levitate work on other people? Either way, that's an alternative too.

Sun Snake will man up and attempt the jump - with some Nexus assist x 2 and any magic that can be spared - otherwise, but I suspect I'd burn through WP and FPs and maybe still not have Sun Snake manage it.

"Oh well, when you put it that way then I'll have a go" Fox smirked

I'll wait for preparations before a roll

Now that's creative thinking! I approve. ^_^

You might remember Wol-Dumar casting a group Levitation back on Toran? Of course, none of you is as powerful as him, but as long as it's just taking a single person along, somebody with Levitation would be able to cross safely - although they would need to spend one use of the spell for each back-and-forth journey across the chasm.

As for Nexus and Mind over Matter, they can both, indeed, help; spending one Nexus push would add an extra +2 to the roll. As for using Mind over Matter to manipulate the rope across the chasm, that can be done easily, but it would not include securing it, so you'll still need somebody on each side to secure it.

Inching across a rope spread over the chasm would be a DC 8 Hunting check; securing the rope by tying it solidly to a rock is a DC 4 Hunting check.

Any other ideas you want to suggest?

Also, Sun Snake, you might roll for a jump made by somebody else if you want, as you can read here:

Sun Fox looked in disbelief at Sabre Fox's sudden show of hesitation, then laughed and said to Sun Snake, with a chuckle:

"Don't worry, Sun Snake, if Sabre Fox doesn't feel like doing it, I will; and using Nexuys to push somebody mid-jump is something both me and Sabre Fox can do... although the maximum strenght of the wind is indipendent by the number of people who're raising it, so just one between me and Sabre pushing would suffice."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:47, Sun 24 Mar 2013.

"No one gets my humour" Fox said sadly. "No, if its the best option I'll be the one to make the attempt"

Ive made a roll for the casm jump or whatever it will be, lol, but ill keep it secret until the prepartions are complete
This message was last edited by the player at 19:42, Sun 24 Mar 2013.

Seems Sabre should also secure the two ropes first, if they are hunting rolls.

Sun Snake can make a Pathsmanship/Divination attempt to get a feel for the most secure and least dangerous spot to stake pitons. Let me know if you need a roll, and if it would cost anything.

Nah, that seems something you can gather without any excessive effort; if you're using Sabre Fox's climbing equipment, you can just describe yourself as doing it, and I'll accept the place you picked to fix the rope is solid. I still want somebody to make the DC 4 Hunting check for securing the rope, though.

Sun Snake looked around while awaiting Alyne and Rain's input, then crouched on the ground. His hands slid across the floor and then the wall, moving oddly with the contours liek the snake of his name. His eyes did not seem to focus on the rock too much, even though his hand seemed to understand the form of it well enough. His eyes seemed unfocused, as if he was as usual weighing choices and thinking things through.

This time, he was listenign to the land around him as it spoke to him, in its way, letting him know the weaknesses and strengths of itself. And meanwhile he allowed his mental senses to intuit a feel for danger. Methodically he tested the strongest seeming points, his two senses overlapping in his mind like seeing the vibrating sourse of a noise. The paths of probability stretch out before him, and he picked the two safest seeming places, ones his senses of danger seemed calmed by.

"Here and there," said Sun Snake to Sabre Fox, pointing to a spot on the wall and a spot on the floor. "I presume you will want to ensure the fixtures are secured yourself, like any climber. But I believe those two spots should be the best."

"I'll take a look then" Fox said. "But you know me and climbing. It's all about the instincts. And anyone got a bow and arrows to lend me? Will help returning the rope"

Rolled a 'refill' roll or reroll it should have said of 9 :)

Don't you have the best bow in the world in your backpack, Sabre Fox? ;P

I do, but I recall it being in pieces :( unless someone can fix it?

I don't think I've described the idea well enough. We're trying to create a rope bridge with you jumping with the rope, ends tied on this side. If you tie them off the other side, then we have a rope to stand on and a 'handrail' to hold. The fact the secured lines would also stop you falling to your death was purely a unintended byproduct :p

The bow idea would have been good to not encumber you with two strands of rope on your trip across, but with a 9 rolled I assume it's not an issue :)