Dominique frowns at the predicament this gnomish wagon has found itself in, but leaves it to the others to deal with--he'd be only another person in need of saving if he were to go into the water in his plate armor. Instead he dismounts and sets about lending aid where he can--taking rope from his saddlebags to pass to Kael at his request, tying off their own mounts as the others take action, and blessing others with Guidance where it is needed.

"It's stuck in there good. Let's try with our horses." To show what he means, Kael quickly ties one end of the rope to the saddle horn on his horse, then waits for the signal to start pulling again.

I hope we are not pulling in the opposite direction?

It seems like time is of the essence and the group springs into action. In order to help one must first reach the wagon (OOC: DC 10 Swim Check) as standing on the shore isn't going to be very helpful when the wagon pitches over.

The next step is unhitching the horses (OOC: DC 12 Handle Animal check). While they are still hitched and thrashing around any attempts to stabilize the cart will likely just cause it to tip over.

Finally once the animals are unhitched it will be muscling the cart upright. (OOC: DC 26 Strength check but 4 additional players can assist the main character.)

Cara looked on. The water was to deep for her and she'd never be able to swim with all her equipment. Still there were ways that she might help despite her lack of training in animals in general.

She could call upon her gnome heritage. Gnomes could talk to animals. She called upon her ability to speak with animals, something she'd used very rarely in recent events. "It's okay, don't be frightened, we are going to help you. First you need to calm down so that we can help," she told the ponies through her racial ability. To the others it sounded like she was neighing to them.

She wished she knew open/close. That would be something to transition to in the future. She turned to the others. "Do any of you know open/close, while I can talk to the ponies if any of you know that cantrip you can open the harnesses from here and let the ponies go free, and while I talk to them they will hopefully come to me," she asked the others.


OOC:

Use Speak with Animals to talk to the ponies. I don't have handle animal but since I can speak with them hoping that Diplomacy will work to calm them down.

Speak with Animals will last 4 minutes.

12:52, Today: Caramip Scheppen rolled 22 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 11.  Diplomacy.

Elena grabbed the other end of Kael's rope and waded into the river, using the butt of her polearm as a walking stick as she navigated the speedy current.  The gnome's pony-drawn wagon had managed to make it halfway through the water before becoming fouled, and Elena was confident that at 12 feet tall and over 1000 lbs, her magically enlarged body could power through the same path to reach them.

Quickly tying off the rope to the stranded wagon, Elena turned her attention to the panicking ponies.  She didn't know the "Open-close" spell Cara was talking about, unfortunately, but she did have a very sharp blade or two to cut the animals loose.  She could only hope that whatever Caramip was neighing at them worked, because the sight of a gigantic, armored figure advancing on the wagon with a blade drawn was unlikely to be a very reassuring sight for the frightened animals.

OOC: I'm not sure if there's a limit on how many things we can do per post, but here's Elena's intended actions:

1: Drink potion of enlarge person, as per my last post.
2: Advance through the river, using her large size to avoid swimming.  (I rolled strength and got 25.)
3: Tie off the end of Kael's rope to the wagon.
4: Cut the ponies free. (Hopefully Cara's 22 diplo and magic can take the place of a handle animal check, because if it's up to Elena, she got a 6.)

"Well, if we can't pull the wagon out, maybe Elena can carry it pick it up and carry the damn thing to the shore." Kael comments as a giant paladin wades in, only half joking. He stands ready to assist when the time comes.

Not really Kael's field of expertise, this. He can swim (or at least float), but that's about it. I got no points in Handle Animal and his strength leaves much to be desired. If I need to make a strength roll to assist, can I use the strength of Kael's horse instead of his own?

"We can make it work. Come on Kael put your backs into it." Borric tied off one end of the rope to his saddlehorn before taking a firm grip. "On three. One, two, PULL!"

---

Aid other to pull the rope
rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8.  Aid Other (just barely. hehe)

Aid other w/mount
rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8.  Aid Other (8's are popular today)

Cara starts shouting from the shoreline to calm the horses down but even though she can understand what they are saying that doesn't make it easy to communicate with them. The ponies are still just frightened dumb animals but then again Cara isn't trying to negotiate a complex treaty with them, just keep them distracted while a 9' warrior wades through the river with a giant sword brandished.

OOC: RAW explicitly says Diplomacy can't be used on Animals with Int of 2 or less and Speak with Animals doesn't override that in any way. HOWEVER You rolled an 11 and needed a 12 and I would say that being able to speak to the animals lets you use Handle Animal untrained with your natural CHA bonus instead of WIS for a 15 which is a success!


While the ponies don't really understand what Cara is saying at least her tone of caring comes through and the ponies are distracted long enough for Elena to cut them free.

Now it was just a matter of righting the wagon...

Elena make your STR check. Don't worry about the aid another bonuses, I'll tally those up as they come in.

With the Pony's out of the way, Elena put her shoulder into the wagon and did her best to force it back to safety, while the others hauled on the rope with all their might.  Unfortunately, a slick riverbed with a fast current running over it didn't exactly make for ideal conditions to do hard labour: Elena's feet began to slip on the rocks, and she nearly lost her footing.

Bracing herself with the butt-end of her glaive, she spared a glance at the nearby gnomes.  "Do you have any way you could help with this?"  She asked, her voice rough from exertion, but relatively unconcerned.  After all, while the situation may be an emergency, it wasn't her emergency.  She would do her best to help of course, but it's not like any lives were at stake.  Honestly, she was just relieved that she wasn't going to have to watch any ponies get crushed and drowned.

00:45, Today: Elena Sazikova rolled 12 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 7.  Heave Ho!
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Kael's help is unfortunately decidedly unhelpful.

Made two rolls, one for Kael and another in case he can use his horse instead. Not that it matters with these rolls.

17:30, Today: Kael Valleni rolled 5 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 4.  Aid.
17:31, Today: Kael Valleni rolled 6 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 3.  Aid (Horse).

In reply to Elena Sazikova (msg # 14):

"Watch out!" Borric called out when he saw Elena slip in the river. "Hold on. I'll come down and help you." He drink a potion of Enlarge Potion. His form grew to match that of Elena with each step into the river. Borric grabbed as much of the wagon with his enlarged form. He shouted to his mount and pushed.

---

rolled 19 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 15.  STR Check

rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8.  Aid Other from mount

As Borric took his turn putting his shoulder into the wagon, Elena wedged her glaive under the axle and tried using it as a lever to lift the wheels out from where they were lodged into the riverbed.

OOC: 22:50, Today: Elena Sazikova rolled 17 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 12.  aid another.

"It's stuck in there good." Kael readies himself for another try at pulling the wagon out of the river.

Managed not to mess up this time. Should I also roll for a mount? Four other character can help out, so Elena, Kael and two more?
16:04, Today: Kael Valleni rolled 14 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 13.  Aid Another.

Caramip saw the horses cut free and called, "Come" to them holding out her hand hoping the ponies would come to her on the shore.

The group tries again and again to right the wagon but every time they start to make progress something catches on the river and threatens to tug the whole cart right back over.

Meanwhile Cara works to get the ponies back to shore. Not that they were keen to stay nearly drowning in a raging river anyway but still her commands from the side lured them to safety on that side of the shore.

DC 26 strength check. Make sure to designate a primary and only 4 people (or animals) can combine to aid another so. You would estimate that you have 2 more chances left...

Elena felt a flash of anger as the wagon wedged itself back into the riverbed.  What were the gnomes doing through all of this?  It was their wagon, and they didn't seem to be helping at all!  None of them even responded to her shouting, they were just...just standing there like bumps on a log while she risked her back and her body in an attempt to save what was theirs.  What were they even doing out here, trying to ford a river in troll-invested woods if they couldn't take care of themselves?

Drawing on her frustrations, Elena wrapped her arms around the wagon in a massive bear hug, putting one last burst of strength into hauling the wagon out of the rushing river.

OOC: First roll was a 15.  Since this couldn't succeed even with help, I rolled for the next round.  24!  Just need one successful Aid Another.

12:40, Today: Elena Sazikova rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  Last chance.
12:33, Today: Elena Sazikova rolled 15 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 10.  Heave ho!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Thu 24 Mar 2022.

With their horses properly lashed to a nearby tree, Dominique rushes in to lend his aid in pulling the floundering wagon from the river. Despite not being as gifted in might as many of the others, the sheer weight of his full plate armor forms a considerable counterweight as he grabs tight to the leading rope and leans into the pull.

20:42, Today: Dominique Telvari rolled 19 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 18.  Aid Another.

Borric stepped next to Elena. He brought his hand on the other side of the wagon and pushed. "It's moving!"

---

rolled 15 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 11.  Aid Other

There is a groan, a creak,  a snap as the water finally starts overtaking the leaning wagon. Elena sees it starting to tip over and in a last act of desperation she grabs the rails on top and throws herself backward putting all her strength and weight into moving the wagon upright. Her strength is formidable, doubly so under the magical enhancements but it still isn't enough. The river too fierce, the angle too steep.

But Elena isn't alone. Seeing their comrade's last attempt the group on the shore haul as well on their ropes and the jerk from Borric and Kael and the others finally pulls the wagon back over its tipping  point and the wagon finally lands on all four wheels in the middle of the river. While it is still going to be a lengthy process to get it out of the river, at least it is no longer at risk of tipping over and as long as the group brings it in carefully, the danger is passed. The cargo is saved and there is a group of very happy gnomes lining the shore.

The leader of the gnomish expedition introduces himself as Jubilost Narthropple.

"And as you can well imagine this is the Narthropple expedition. You see I had heard about Brevoy's decision to settle and explore this border far too late to join the initial expedition. If I had I would have, of course, helped keep things on track."

From beneath his leather armor he pulls out a small journal that is full of scribblings. He flips through a few pages and then nods to himself.

"Ah yes, you must be Borric then, the self-appointed ruler of these lands."

Jubilost points at Elena before nodding to himself and making another note.

"And you must be Kael" he says pointing at Borric. He proceeds to misname almost everyone, except for Cara who he correctly identifies without even having to consult his notes.

"Ah, the poet Caramip Scheppen. I have heard a tale composed back in Rostland about how you convinced one of the Stag Lord bandit camps to completely surrender? One song had them in tears and throwing their weapons down at their feet. Remarkable, really. I would never have imagined a place as savage and barbaric as this to have such sophisticated methods of diplomacy but, as they say, the pen is mightier than the sword."

He grins at her and then goes back to writing down more notes in his journal. After a few more notes he puts the journal away and turns back to Elena.

"Ah, perhaps I haven't introduced myself properly as you don't look like you realize what is happening. I am the Jubilost Narthropple and I am here create a proper map of this region. Even the great maps in Absalom use a carefully placed illustration of woods and rivers to cover up the fact that nobody seems to know just what this area looks like. I just came through the most unpleasant swamps and for a modest patronage I would be more than willing to offer my services as a consultant for your own cartography. I think you'll agree that proper information is one of the most valuable weapons in both diplomacy and in war."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Wed 06 Apr 2022.

Breathing heavily from her exertions, Elena risked leaning against the newly stabilized wagon as she tried to catch her breath.  She didn't pay particularly much attention to the hot air coming out of the gnome's mouth as thought over the next steps of hauling the wagon out of the river.  Was it worth trying to hook the ponies up again and have them pull it out?

She took a moment to size up THE Jubilost Narthropple, trying to judge the man's competence based off of his gear and bearing.  Most likely, it lay somewhere in between the uselessness of his immediate impression and the extreme confidence he was trying so hard to project.

Once the moment had passed, she spoke. "Are you going to keep talking all day, or are you going to actually start helping us haul your wagon out of the river?"  Her tone suggested she was supremely unimpressed with the explorer's talents so far.

Kael looks like he is about to correct Jubilost, but then just shakes his head and continues working on pulling the wagon out of the river. "Yeah, I am sure we will all be properly impressed with meeting such an important personage once we are not standing in the middle of this damned river."

Caramip's cheeks turned a bit rosey in color at the mentioning of her tales being told far and wide. To think that it had been heard in Rostland, surely word would travel soon.

She spoke to him in their native tongue, [Language unknown: No t poeiie Icamanugh Butresovebut, Plhieric si Itch anyectugh thi Promenate n Icalinerelar. Ancata i omearteen eceau alrut nterutfor beica ol eima omthsi. I o u yinichstitha u ndany ofate Rillloic Dinillwil'bleast, san beith orederenchis n oul linesttin somwaskor at ressetyin fordayles, beei liant tho lar ratnotoul preintart k ear? ]

She turned to the others reverting to common, "There is always time to be polite. We might learn more of the swamps from him and he could possibly aid us. Still perhaps first we should correct some inaccuracies."

She pointed to Borric, "That is Borric d'Tor, Lord of Rivermarch."

She pointed to Elena, "That is Elena Sazikova, Master of Arms of Lord d'Tor."

She pointed to Kael, "That is Kael Valleni". She intentionally left off his title, it was probably best folks not know he was the Spymaster she figured. After all once word got out you were a spy, pretty soon you couldn't spy anymore.

She pointed to Dominique, "That is Dominique Telvari, High Priest of Rivermarch."

"As for the wagon I believe my fellow gnomes are perhaps to small to haul it out of the river. I'm almost no help either other than getting the ponies here to the shore. I don't suppose you could summon something larger to pull it out? Say some oxen or draft horses Dominique?" she asked seeking to perhaps find a solution.

Borric smiled when he was introduced. A master cartographer was a great boon. "Well we should compare maps. Since we've spent quite some time mapping the region ourselves. But we must deal with the first order of business - getting your wagon prepared for travel." The potion he drank had the same effect as that of Elena's potion. He was equally as large. "Elena, let's get this done." He turned to Kael and the others. "We should probably make camp and dry ourselves off. We can compare notes and discuss national security matter too." Having updated maps was great. But he was worried about any of his enemies having a map directly to his front door.

Jubilost looked past the group at the wagon as if suddenly remembering it was still stranded>

"Yes yes, deal with that first. I shall consult with my colleague here while you finish saving our supplies."

He turned and opened up his book and thumbed through a few pages.


Abruptly he shifts back into Common as he continues speaking.

"Really they only have themselves to blame. A problem of their own doing."

He gives a nod towards the wagon and the group slowly but surely bringing the wagon back to shore.