Lehai is already waiting below at Qui-Lin and whoever might follow. They are at a loss as to how the passengers might be ... extracted from their vessel.

If the passengers were to exit the ship, would they fall? How deep is the drop?

"I EXPECTED THEM TO CRASH HARDER THAN THIS!" screams the ranger against the howling wind of the storm.

"BE GRATEFUL FOR SMALL MIRACLES!" Atraxus shouts out in reply. He runs after Qui-Lin, moving as quickly as possible down the stairs. When he reaches the end of the stairs, he frowns as he surveys the scene.

"I CAN EITHER CLIMB DOWN AND CARRY PEOPLE UP, OR TRY TO HAUL PASSENGERS UP WITH A ROPE!" he calls out.

Zynobia starts to say, "Wait, there are..." as Qui-Lin Xiang hurries down the stairs, but pauses as its clear the Monk is not waiting.

She continues for the benefit of any who didn't rush ahead.  "You know... things.. that must be magic, and magic is always like a beacon to creatures.  Draws them in, all the time.  Good ones, bad ones, hungry ones. And the holes... stay out of the holes.  Dwarf tunnels are okay, caves are not okay."

"The Howley Holes!" Petunia says.  "Where the wind Howls, and the creature things live!  I could go, and guide them around the Howley Holes!  Where's the string?"

Petunia still wants to go.  Fairies can be very stubborn in the face of refusal.

 “You can’t, Petunia,” Zwiddle explains.  “The winds.  It’s too much for any of us to fly against, and a strong wind can pick you up and smash you against the cliff.  Even if you are walking or climbing.  No, this is a place we cannot go, it is for those who are big enough and strong enough to stay put when the wind begins to blow.”

Petunia pouts, but other Fairies agree:  they are small and light, and the winds, even now as the storm is dying, would toss them around as if they were autumn leaves.

They descend the stairs, some faster than others, but even the fastest must pause...

  Deluzion Break is a long, vertical fissure in the cliff face, as if some imaginable force split the stone.  The walls are close to vertical.  The fissure extends for miles deep inland, and it provides a convenient notch in which the stairs were built.

The stairway connects the main terrace of the Guesthouse with the broad ledge far below.  It is built into a wooden scaffold, which is solidly bolted into the rock walls of Deluzion Break.  Still, it looks a lot less trustworthy today, in the storm, than it did when you climbed them!  The stairs are very weathered wood, and some look like they are attached very questionably to the framework built into the fissure.

In addition to the stairs, there is the hoist, of course.  Perhaps not taking the hoist was a good idea, because of the risk of it being blown around in the wind.  Even now the heavy ropes are snapping back and forth.

  Halfway to the ledge, the stairs come to an abrupt stop.

Or rather, an interruption. Approximately 20 feet worth of stairway, including the framework it is built in, is gone.  A few bolts and framework pieces remain secured to the chute walls, and the gap is uneven, but what remains certainly isn’t a stair.  Just a few scattered pieces.  It looks like it was broken when the ship hit it.

The lower, remaining section picks up again though.  It looks to be in good condition and continues down to a very wide, very long terrace that continues north and south out of sight.  Getting there, that might be a trick.

There are splotches of odd reddish brown in the sky, blowing in the wind of the chaos storm.

Clinging to the stair, huddled against the wind, and clutching her rope, Qui-Lin tries to size up her options.

OOC: Is it possible to use Acrobatics to cross the gap?  Failing that, is there any place to secure rope so she could make a guide line?

It is possible to use acrobatics, but dangerous.  It's a nasty fall on a failure.  There is lots of places to tie a rope- the stairs themselves, until the break, and still sound.  They are built inside a wooden scaffold, which is basically an open framework of wood.  Plenty of tying opportunities!

For a moment, she hesitated, wanting to use her skills her teacher had taught her to skip across the gap and keep going.  But the fall was ominous.  And besides, the others would need a way to cross.  So, she quickly began roping a guide line to cross the missing section of stairs.

Dal watched on as the rescue effort began. He was curious to see what the plan was, but wasn’t able to make much of a contribution at the point. As he observed he couldn’t help his eyes straying to the winds and the sky, watching the storm in full effect. It was indeed a thing of wonder. He smiled...

<< From Deluzion Break <<

All things considered, Kealoha was tempted to offer Petunia a refuge inside her collar so the little fairy could come along with her out into the bluster.  But the last thing she needed was for the sprite to end up whipped away by a stray wind and cast out into the storm - she couldn't handle being responsible for the doom of someone so adorable!  Thus it was the rare occurrence that the Half-Elf paid heed to wiser words and took out into the lingering storm alongside the other sturdier folk.

While Qui-Lin and Atraxus took the stairs, Kealoha lingered up at the top of the cliff side with Daladin.  She peered down over the precipice and had to brace her balance as the winds rushed up to billow from below.  "Y'know, climbing down a cliff is always harder than climbing up, even on the best of times."  she grumbled to the magician.  From her satchel she produced a handful of sturdy steel pitons, a hammer, and a lengthy bundle of rope.  "We need to figure out a back-up plan to get people off the ship!  Those two are gonna exhaust themselves in no time if they think they can carry people back and forth."

How far down from the top of the cliff is the airship?  Kealoha only has about 45' worth of rope, assuming 5' or so of it will be bound up with anchoring knots.  But her climbing supplies should make a retrieval effort safer, at least.

Qui Lin has reached the bottom of the gap in the stairs, using the rope to lower herself past the broken section.  Going up will no doubt be harder.  The others are strung out above, following in her path and reaching the same broken gap.

  The stairs here look normal again, stable and sound, in fact, like the stairs above, they feel sounder than they look.  The stairs continue down, but not very far.  Ahead they reach that very broad, long terrace, the one you remember from coming up.  It seems to offer an easy walk towards the airship.

The airship is visible, but only as great air filled bag.  It is still not possible to see the lower section.

Out of the swirling storm, a vortex of grayish, brownish blur is spinning and whirling its way through the atmosphere.  It lurches this way and that, but overall it is getting closer.  It swerves left and right, coming closer, and it begins to rain... mud.

Spatters of wet mud start hitting the cliff wall.


From where she is, on the stairs close to where they end at that big ledge, Qui Lin Xiang can see that there are really two options ahead.  Once at the ledge, she could walk along the ledge until she is over the airship, then climb down.

The other way would be to find that switchback trail, the one that zig zags from the dock up to the ledge by way of a few carved tunnels.  She'd have to take that down until at the right level, and then work her way laterally across the face of the rock- which is not impractical given how uneven the cliff is below the big ledge.

Well, there could be a third way, descend all the way down to the dock again, then walk along the base of the cliff and then climb up, but that seems roundabout.

Dal nodded at Kealoha’s observation. “I have some more rope, back in my room.” If requested he would happily retrieve it for her.

He ducked as a large blob of mud flew over his head. He grinned again. This was getting very interesting...!

A little artwork to clear up the Geography here.  Here is a sketch showing the positions of the Guesthouse at the top of the cliff right at the Break, along with:

The guesthouse balcony, with doors and windows cut into the cliff
The stairs
The break in the stairs- Qui is just below this.
The broad ledge
The switchback path
the Dock
The black spikey rocks where the airship is stuck.

 

http://europa512adgame.pbworks...Deluzion%20Break.png
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:58, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

Frowning, but not daring to hesitate, Qui-Lin worked her way towards the airship along the great broad ledge.

What she would do when she got there... well, she'd figure it out.

Nice! That visualization is what I needed!

Climbing mountains isn't one of their big strengths. Lehai decides it would be best to haul the survivors up to the ledge instead of making them climb across the wall. But who knows? For now, the ranger sticks to the monk woman.

Lehai Quandar is arriving on the ledge, Qui-Lin Xiang is already on it, moving along it.  The others are following behind, with the aid of the rope Qui put it place.

Scattered along the cliff below, in the general area of the airship, are the great spikes of glossy black stone protruding in clusters from the cliff.  Some of them are twenty or thirty feet long, and they look almost like giant black crystals, growing out horizontally from the wall.  The ship has apparently collided with one of these clusters, and is wedged onto on, although you cannot see the exact situation with the big balloon in the way.   From here, it looks like it is about 200 feet long and 40 feet wide, and has come to rest against the side of the cliff wall, probably trapped by one of those giant rock spikes.

Ahead, the ledge continues on along the cliff, a great and very fortunately placed stone sill.  It turns around a bend to the north, past the location of the ship.  There, weather blasted dwarf trees grow, tough and twisted.  Not the healthiest looking specimens in the world, but life must be tough on a cliff that sees occasional mud storms.  And who knows what else.

Speaking of what else...

About a hundred feet ahead of Qui-Lin Xiang, about where she'd have to climb down to reach that ship, one very twisted and gnarled looking bush, about five feet high and looking like it has fought the weather here for a century, opens an eye.  It blinks.  And... growls.

Without even bothering to slow down, Lehai approaches the growling bush until there is 60 feet between them and stretches out a hand. Their white hair bellows in the wind and their blue eyes flash an icy color. The ranger's lips move but instead of a sound, there is only the cold emanating from their entire being.

The target has to beat a DC 13 Constitution Saving Throw or take
08:40, Today: Lehai Quandar rolled 2 using 1d6. Frostbite potential damage.
damage and have disadvantage on the next weapon attack it takes before the end of its next turn.

"Blast it all," Atraxus grumbles as he sees the bush start to move. He moves toward it, pulling his crossbow from its position affixed to his side. At about eighty feet from the bush, he takes aim and fires a bolt at it. The Half-Orc cannot help but grin as the bolt buries deep into the bark of the plant-beast...

OOC:

Action: Crossbow attack vs. bush
20:25, Today: Atraxus Wildheart rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  Crossbow Attack vs. Bush.
20:29, Today: Atraxus Wildheart rolled 15 using 2d8+2.  Critical Dmg.

Dal manoeuvred along the cliff edge, keeping as a safe a distance as he could. It wasn’t obvious if he was trying help or just enjoying the show. He glanced down, seeing some folks preparing weapons and spells, and tried to see what they were up to.

How far up am I from the climbers and/or growly bush thing? Can I see them from my position?

Continuing to advance, Qui-Lin blinked as the bush came to life.  Was this a creation of the chaos storm, or had it always been... like this?

She didn't have time to figure it out.

She continued to advance, hoping she might be able to talk her way past it, when a crossbow bolt whizzed past her and thunked into the bush.

Probably not going to want to talk now, she thought.  If it ever had.


She ran towards it, weaving as she went.

OOC: Move, then Dodge action.

The Shrub-thing doesn't seem too badly injured.  The frost did a little damage, and so did the crossbow... but Dunadain quickly sees that "plant beasts" in general are highly resistant to skinny pointy piercing things.

Which makes sense.  No one cuts down a tree with a spear.

It does seem panicked, though, as if it was not expecting an immediate, fearless response, backed up with magic, no less!  It awkwardly shuffles back and then retreats, pausing at intervals to see if it is being chased.

As soon as it is confident that it is not being chased, like a small dog, it turns around and growls.

It actually speaks!  Simple, but clear:  "Go Away!  MY place.  MY place.  Not YOUR place."


The party is now strung out along the ledge, but as the ledge offers the easiest movement of this journey so far, catching up and regrouping will be easy, if those in front slow down!

Qui-Lin is above the airship now.  She could climb down onto that giant pillow like balloon... or climb further to reach the strange ship that was slung under it.  It is tied on with giant ropes, you can see them criss crossing over the balloon.

Lehai, Alexus, and Daladain are all on the ledge behind her, but the path ahead is easy for them.   They can all easily see the growly bush, past Qui-Lin.  But it is not an easy target now- it has backed away and Qui Lin is in front of it on the ledge.

 Kealoha is just getting off the base of the stairs, bringing up the rear.

Qui-Lin began scrabbling down towards the airship.  She was hoping to get down to the gondola, but she'd do the best she could.

"Well, that's certainly unexpected," Atraxus mutters when the shrub turns around and talks. He lowers his crossbow to his side.

"We have no desire to take your place!" he calls out over the cacophony of the storm. "We only wish to pass and rescue those in the ship below! Apologies for the shot, friend! I did not know you could speak, or that you were only protecting your spot!"

Daladain raised an eyebrow. “So the shrub speaks! Not sure I should be surprised, considering all we have been told!” he muttered to those around him.

He had an idea. He shouted down to the strange plant. “Good shrub! Please accept our apologies, you took us by surprise! We are trying to rescue those poor folks on the flying ship! If you could aid us we would be most grateful, and would happily reward you with whatever you desire... some fresh water perhaps, or some warm llama dung if that takes your fancy!”

Okay, I’m taking to a bush in the middle of a storm. I like this place!

Lehai was not interested in diplomatics. They follow Qui-Lin down to the ship.

Apparently, having been shot and magic blasted has put the bush-thing-whatever into a bit of a bad mood.  It has no wish to discuss things now, and retreats from the party.

Muttering and growling.

Qui-Lin, followed closely by Lehai, begins the climb down.  As far as mountaineering goes this is a fairly easy stretch- the sheer cliff higher up towards the Guesthouse would be much more difficult.  There's also some comfort in the fact that falling would probably mean landing on that huge balloon.  It doesn't look like it would hurt.  It might even be fun.

Climbing down they finally get a view of the ship under the balloon.  They can see where the ship struck against the spikes of stone.  A few of the stone protuberances have broken off, and there is some damage to the hull.  At one point, a very large spike has speared through the ship, and it is why the ship is stuck.  It is big enough to crawl across- or walk if you are small enough- and it would take you to the hull, where you could either squeeze in through the gash it has made, or crawl up to that large open bay in the middle of the ship.  The stone spike embedded in the ship is big enough to move carefully along the top of it.

There’s another way.  There is an open top deck, directly under the balloon.  It is close enough to some of the rock spurs to make it across.

The balloon has clearly gone a little soft, but only a little- it sags down over the top deck but it would still be possible to move around under it.     Towards the front the balloon is propped up onto a large weapon, like a giant crossbow, mounted on a turntable on the deck of the ship.  A ballista.  It looks like there might be one under the balloon in the back as well.

There's a sound from within the ship but it's not a cry for help.  It's...

Shrieking maniacal laughter?

"That doesn't sound good," Qui-Lin commented to the others as they came up behind her.

"I'm going to try for the open deck.  Anyone want to join me?" she asked.

Whether anyone did or not, she set off towards the open deck of the magnificent airship.