Erdthar, after carefully inspecting his route makes it to the top.
Reaching the top was no easy task, the last leg of the climb is pitched out over the ground a bit and the apex of the climb is a slight overhang.
The strong Orc makes the climb look so easy that one wants to attempt to follow right behind him. However the last bit of the climb seemed the hardest, when he had to reach out and pull him self up feet first.

OoC:Use rope DC:10
Once the rope is in place Climb DC:5

Pulling himself up past the last hard section of reverse slope, Erdthar keeps low as he looks over the small nest for the best place to tie off the rope.  Unwinding it from around his waist, he loops it securely around a large rock well off from the edge, and ties a perfect bowline to hold the loop firm.  wadding up an old sack from his pack, he pads the rope where it falls over the edge down to his companions below.

OoC:
Take 10 (for 13) on use rope

Vespian takes her turn on the climb, using the rope let down by Erhtdar to assist her.

Climb Check 8-  Do you need to make a Rope Use Roll for a climb assist? Its not she's doing any fancy knotwork or anything.

Vespian heaves herself up the rope. With little effort the lass is able to reach the peak and pull herself up.

The road ahead seems clear. The mines are still just a bit in the distance. The days few remaining rays of sunshine filter across the valley floor. Creating long shadows over the trails and foothills.

OoC: "Still need a few Climb checks DC:5"

Pello looks towards the top of the cliff, and then at the dangling rope. Wrinkling his nose he makes a small disgusted sound, and then casts a spell on himself. Ignoring the rope, he quickly scampers to the top, finding hand and footholds where there apparently are non.

Spider Climb

Quindil climbs up the rope and joins the rest of the party.

Take 10 on climb for total of 10.

When everyone else goes up, he ties the rope around his waist and figures that if he somehow falls, someone will pull him up. He climbs up the same way everyone else did.

Taking 10

"Show Off," Vespian sticker her tongue out at Pello.

"No tongue."  Erdthar grumbles gruffly, "Tease."  Then he grins and chuckles.  "We are busy here working, you know."

"Prude," Vespian laughs along with Erthdar and then gives a few curvy jiggles to bounce along with while studying the area from this new vantage point.


Vespian St.Brandi rolled 26 using 1d20+12. Spot.
Vespian St.Brandi rolled 15 using 1d20+12. Listen.

Most of the party makes the climb, some with magical help some with brute strength.
From the top of the spire the trail to the mine seems clear. Almost too clear. No more sentries can be seen from this vantage point, and from here you have a nice view of the mine and its approach. However, you are also somewhat in the open, up high like this, but the ground below has many places to duck into if the need arises. Large scrub oaks dominate the valley floor with large boulders hiding in their branches. Pine trees and Oaks speckle the sides of the trail from here to the mine.

Erdthar pulls the brass whistle from his pocket, and looks it over carefully.  "I have my own whistle something like this one."  He pulled out his own signal whistle.  "The sound can carry for quite some distance."  He looked out to the distant, clear mine entrance.  "Probably to the mine entrance there."

He judged distance, times, and locations.  "If someone up here was to blow this whistle, while most of us were down around the mine entrance is positions of cover."  He thought aloud.  "We could move in behind whatever force came out to investigate, and ambush them."

Gimuld thinks over what Erdthar says. Well... if I were the whistler, I could probably hide from what would look in this direction. Or maybe I should better aplicate my stealth skills to the ambush?

"Well, if I do it, I could hang on the side of the cliff, out of sight. And it would keep your most valuable party member out of danger. Win-win, eh?"

"Sounds like a stout plan" Vespian swings her flowing hair to the side. And reaches down to pinch Pello's cheek "so little one? How long does that spell of yers last? Perhaps you should blow the horn, and surprise any stragglers that make it up here with your magic." Pointing to some boulders clustered near the trail "Perhaps we can sneek up and wait there for the enemy to pass?" She looks to Quindil and Erdthar waiting their responce.
This message was last updated by the GM at 20:42, Thu 26 May 2005.

"The spell lasted ten minutes last I checked. Though I think I've gotten better lately.

Pello scratches his cheek

"And technically I guess its a whistle, not a horn."

It should work, yeah.  Good plan, I like it.  I'm gonna take one shot with my bow before using my spear, tho.

The party seems to have a good plan coming together, now for the details.

There are many spots along the trail between here and the mine that would work well for hiding. Large boulders, overgrown shrubs, and many trees could be used as cover.

You are currently on the East side of the trail with the mine being due north. Cave entrance is just over 500’ away.

First: who is going to blow the whistle?

Second: What side of trail does ambush party want to wait at? And  how far away from the spire will you be?




OoC: Once we get a plan I will get a map, and we will see if you can spring this trap. Good idea btw:)

Also Hide rolls from any that wish to stay out of sight.

5:00pm 4th of Fading

OOC:
Who has the best spot?  If he directs us, and we work quietly and carfully, we should be able to take 20 on a hide.  I say we get as close as possible to the mine entrance - say 100 feet or so, before placing ourselves.

From real-world army infantry training - I know a prepaired position is practically impossible to find from a target's eye view if you do it right, and having someone out at the target side, helping should allow us the time to get it 'perfect'

Taking all that time, of course, runs it's own risks as we might do something to alert our quarry while we are setting up, or simply run into a shift change or something.

I think Pello or Muk are good choices for whistle-blower, they both have decent ranged options, and neither particularly wants to get into melee.

I have +12 spot. Both pello and Muk should stay back as whistle blowers, to cover each other

Ooc:Map Notes: Grid Square = 10’
Rock formations are in gray. Each contour line represents 10’ increase in elevation. The closer the line are together the steeper the grade.

Green star burst are trees or shrubs. Can be used as cover.


chose your ambush location, and give me some checks, Hide Move silent...ect

let's move into J23 and K22 - that's enough room for eight of us.

I think wee'll be taking 20 on the hides - if anyone with a good move silent want to move across the road to g/h12 area, that could be good too.

I might have an average Move Silent if I lose my chain shirt, but that is a very secondary skill based only on my Dex Bonus. Don't we have anybody who specializes in that kind of thing?

Yeah I specialize in the sneaking. I'm not a stratigist but I was thinking of going either around the NE rock or something. But maybe g/h 12 would be better.

You might get good cover at the tip of this rock, between the tree and the rock.  Might be a good spot for a bowmen.

Quindil refers to v34-w34, that region.  Prolly a good spot for me to hide with my bow...I could take one or two shots at em, then cover Pello with my spear.