In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 30):

OOC: Reasonable to say it's a Support roll. If that is Tracy's intention, go ahead and make the roll.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 27):

Jake gave some thought to moving up the rope while his pards were still climbing. However, after a moment's thought, he decided that having them all spread out along the ropes at the same time would leave them with their britches down (in a manner of speaking), if any of the Yella Bandanna Boys were around to take advantage of the situation.

~Don't seem likely,~ the Texican thought to himself. ~Howsomever, I don't see no benefit in rushin' up to the top like we was in a race. Reckon I'll wait down here for a mite longer afore I commence a-climbin'.~

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 29):

Havin satisfied himself that there is no amush comin from the deadend, Earnest returns to the ledge section where Tracy is perched and awaits the others.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 31):

OOC:

00:42, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 2,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3.  Support, Athletics. Tommy climb.

00:42, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 5,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  Support, Athletics 2.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 34):

Realizing Jake is standing guard below while the others climb, Tommy looks upward. He sees the Professor reappear at the top ledge. Tracy is perched at the second spike waiting, he climbs up to meet him.
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11:09, Today: Thomas Pearce rolled 4,6 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4.  Tommy - Athletics roll climb to 2nd spike.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:14, Sun 06 Dec 2020.

Jake glanced upwards every now and then to see how his pards were progressing, even as he kept watch down below the steep rock-slide. Seeing no lurking threats, the Texican decided to commence his own climb when he would not been nipping at the heels of the man just in front of him.

When everyone had proceeded past the portion of the climb up to the first spike, the Texican looped the leather strap that he had added to Widder-Maeker for just such eventualities diagonally across his chest, so that the rifle itself lay snugly against his back.

Then he began his climb . . .

---

OOC: 14:18, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 7,4 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2.  Athletics Check w/ Rope: Climb to First Spike.

With Windham staying put at the second spike, Pearce climbs up and over, past the investigator. The mechanic joins the professor on the other side, dropping down to the rocky footpath.

The Californian watches the Irishman go over, while the Texican climbs up to the first spike, pausing.

Earnest and Tommy observe the rocky footpath, extending to the north and the south. Because of the various rock formations along the winding rough cut passage, the heroes cannot see much further than 10 yards or so in either direction. The professor, having been here before and already scouted the dead-end to the north, informs Tommy about the footpath to the south, which cuts into the canyon, so to speak. Slow going, Earnest recalls, eventually reaching a stone bridge of sorts, and then the ledge to the bandit's hideout.

OOC: The GM is assuming Tommy went up and over, to keep things moving. Tracy is still at the second spike and may Support Jake if desired. The investigator's Support for Tommy succeeded, adding +1 but the Irishman didn't need it.

Jake should complete the climb with his 2nd roll.

The Judge got the direction of the dead-end backwards. Doesn't really matter -- but the dead-end was to the north and the footpath goes to the south (and then twists and turns and such).

In addition to finishing Jake's climb, the characters need to set a marching order for whenever they proceed. There are some areas where two can travel abreast, but the heroes recall that much of the path requires single file travel.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 37):

Jake didn't make the second leg of the climb as easily as he had the first. Truth be told, he was feeling a little winded by the time he made it to his goal.

~Waal, hell,~ the Texican thought to himself.

~Reckon I warn't cut out to be no mountain goat.~

---

OOC:
14:48, Today: Jacob Richardsen rolled 3,4 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2.  Athletics Check w. Rope: Climb to Second Spike.

Notes: Thank goodness for the spikes and ropes! :)

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 38):

Earnest looks up at Jake and Tracy and grins.

First bit done... drop the rope on this side for later and let's proceed to the next bit!

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 39):

OOC: To reiterate, marching order needed.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 39):

Tracy nods to Earnest and drops the rope as requested. Now at the top of the ledge with the others, the investigator prepares for the trek to the hideout.

“I’ll go first around the path,” Tracy says, gesturing to the south. “Who wants to follow me?”

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 41):

"Makes sense, since you're our scout now," Jacob replied when Mister Windham volunteered to take the lead as the group moved towards the Yella Bandanna Boys old camp.

Turning to face Mister Pearce, the Texican said "I can go second, 'less you want to. I'm a-thinkin' that the Perfesser ougtta be in the middle, with either you or me goin' last."

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 42):

Tommy replies to Jake
"Yes agreed the professor should be in the middle. You've seen this trail before so better if you go second and ride shotgun for Tracy. I don't mind going last"

Tracy leads the single file line of men, followed by Jacob, Earnest, and Tommy. The rugged path has several twists and turns, as well as ascents and descents although it seems to be taking them gradually to a higher elevation over the course of something like two hundred yards. At times, it feels like they are walking in a tunnel and then a few moments later, daylight spills into the passage, reminding the adventurers that they are outdoors. Although it hasn't rained yet, the heroes see the clouds that Jake had noted earlier. The calls of birds echo around them briefly, then things fall eerily silent for a spell before the sounds of nature rekindle.

Windham slows down when he reaches a fork, stopping momentarily to assure himself about the correct way forward and then continuing based on his assessment. The heroes now find themselves using the wall to the right as a hand-guide while negotiating around a sloping, curving ledge with a steep drop-off to the left. So far, at a walking pace, no one has had any notable trouble along the path. Pearce, more than the others as this is the first time he has experienced this trail, has his sensibilities shaken for a moment or two.

Suddenly, that guide-wall to the right simply ends, like it was chopped off by a giant axe. A brief feeling of vertigo passes, before each man sees a vast chasm to the left and right. Most of the time, there has been some sort of barrier on both sides — or at least one side. Now, the men find themselves crossing a manner of stone bridge, plenty wide for easy navigation, but leaving each of the heroes thinking it’s best to continue a deliberate pace on this stretch. Running through here seems, at best, like an act of desperation.

Finally, after roughly a quarter mile, the currently ascending path opens into a field of boulders, similar to the rockslide the men had climbed not long ago. This time, a single, large chunk of sand stone impedes progress while the boulders form a sort of mound around the rising chunk. Windham, Rinngenberg and Richardsen remember the  narrow ledge to the right, about five feet above their current position and a short distance over the rock-strewn field. Up there is the narrow ledge that leads to the bandit hideout. Getting up there is easy, they recall, while traversing the ledge itself was another matter.

OOC: The Judge is pausing here for any narrative, discussion, preparation, skill checkds, etc., the men wish to take before continuing.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 44):

Earnest negotiates the path so far without problem, having been here before. Looking at the small ascent, he knows he will have to take it slow.

Once we're up on that higher ledge, remember that it exposes you to the camp area eventually... go slow and keep a good lookout lest there are still bandits there. We also have that gap to jump, if you recall.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 45):

Tracy nods. “Thanks for the reminder, Professor.”

Quickly, Windham surveys their immediate surroundings for any signs of activity before they progress again. ~We’ve come too far to run straight into an ambush if we can avoid it,~ Tracy thinks.

OOC:

16:57, Today: Tracy Windham rolled 7,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4.  Survival, nearby area.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 46):

Tommy finds the winding trail manageable. He feels fairly confident since he is following the others and can see ahead of him how each of the others navigates the terrain. When the Professor mentions a gap to jump he thinks to himself this may have been the easy part.

Replying to the professor: "Maybe we should sneak up nice and slow when we get to that point"

Tommy pauses for second and looks behind for signs of any bandits somehow getting behind them
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18:31, Today: Thomas Pearce rolled 5,5 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3.  Notice roll - check trail behind group.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 46) and Tommy Pearce (msg #47):

When the investigator scans the immediate area he finds signs of nature's activity, but nothing of mankind, recently. He can tell others have traveled this way before, from signs he would have missed a few months earlier. A slightly smooth edge to the foothold the heroes had used last time under Red Shirt's scouting, for example. Which reminds him of the various fauna the heroes witnessed in their travels around the canyon with the Paiute. Mule deer, mountain lions, snakes -- and all manner of smaller critters.

Pearce, keeping an eye behind the group, observes no sign of anyone behind them. At the same time, the mechanic recognizes how daunting the path backwards is. Comfortable while following Tracy, Pearce also realizes how lost he might be iffin' he got separated from the others. Even if he tried to retrace his steps, the Irishman wonders if he could actually make it back to the rockslide.

OOC: The climb up is easy, no roll needed. If Earnest were climbing this alone, he would have to make a roll. The Judge would say 0 modifier but the usual roll with TN4 is needed.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 48):

The Texican's rifle lay diagonally across his back, secured by its leather sling, leaving both of his hands free so that he could steady himself as needed.

He hitched up his britches as he felt a burst of nervoud energy. ~Wonder how far back in them caves that old-timey knights' treasure is gonna be? We're gettin' close, now. I jest hope that them Yella Bandanna Boys ain't already found it, an' carried it off somewhaere.~

As he was thinking such happy thoughts -- waal, 'cept for the one 'bout the Yella Bandanna Boys mayhap havin' beat 'em to the treasure -- Jake glanced overhead and studied the clouds that were starting to build up.

"I'm thinkin' that we might want to bide a wee, 'til we see what what them clouds is gonna bring us," he suggested to his pards.

"I'd not wish to be up on that narrow ledge that's just up ahead durin' a drivin' rainstorm -- nor even high winds, for that matter."

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 49):

“That’s a good idea, Jake. It doesn’t seem like anyone has been in the area recently, so we should be safe to wait here.” After a brief pause, the investigator adds a question. “So we’ll wait until the clouds pass?”

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 50):

Earnest looks to the clouds... He knows some science about the weather, and being out west has made him somewhat savvy to weather changes, but he still defers to his more experienced friend.

If you think that's the wise thing to do Jake, I'm with you! That ledge ahead is not too difficult, but with a wind? Whew!

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 51):

Tommy looks up at the clouds as well. He's seen a few rain clouds in his time but the weather out here in the West is more violent and dangerous than what he knew in Ireland. He also defers to Jake's experience.

"Yes looks quite dark up there, let's stop for a bit and grab something to eat..keep our energy up"

OOC: For how long do the characters intend to pause? There's no problem with pausing just need to know intentions so the Judge can adjudicate appropriately.

OOC: Insofar as Jake is concerned, he (IC) is waiting to see if the approaching clouds are going to bring bad weather to the pards (or not). So, it kinda depends on the weather and how fast it is blowing in. :)

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 54):

The heroes rest a spell while they keep their eyes on the clouds above. Pearce sips some water and eats a bit of food. After ten minutes by the professor's watch, clouds

OOC: Hmmmm. What if the rain clouds stay all day (they don't "pass")? Are the men going to camp here? Hoping this post and OOC note helps to clarify what the Judge needs ... maybe it's going to rain all day, maybe it's not going to rain at all, maybe it's gonna be an hour before it starts to rain, maybe it's gonna be in 5 minutes ....

The Judge needs more direct input from the heroes ... something more than "wait until it's okay" (my words, but that's how it sounds to the Judge).