The Adventure: Chapter 2

The chains creak as the machinery thunders into action. All of a sudden the barge lurches forward sending everyone tumbling.

Finn had to endure lectures from both Dwalia and Shale, but it was nice to see the two enemies agree on something for once.

The journey is long and physically grueling. The barge bashes and crashes its way through the tight tunnels, knocked about by the strong current. At every winching station, chains must be unattached and then reattached and tightened, all at a speed that you wouldn't think was possible if you didn't grow up in Kaled Del. At some points, the winching stations hoist the barge right out of the water and up alongside waterfalls.

Is there anything any of the characters want to do on the boat (cast spells, ask questions, etc.)?

The Guild leader speaks with authority on the subject: "The whole trip takes a full-loaded barge about twelve hours before it reaches Rustygate, and then by pole a few hours to Issaca. Should be there by nightfall."

The journey continues for many hours of hard labour and nausea. About two hours from Rustygate, you prepare to ascend the final and largest of the waterfalls. You attach new chains to the heavy iron rings on the side of the boat in preparation for being lifted straight up into the air alongside the falls.

With 50 feet to go, about 150 above the rocks, the boat suddenly stops. The cacophonous machinery above falls silent and as your ears adjust you realize you can hear the sounds of slashing steel and
screaming pain.

Prust is the last to get above decks.

"What in Moradin's name is...?!"

At that moment a Dwarf body falls from the winching platform and crashes into the deck of the barge. A black arrow sticks out of one of his eye sockets.

"Goblins!" Dwalia cries out, the most emotional you've ever seen her.

You can't see what's going on at the platform because you are underneath it, but if you climb one of the two massive chains hoisting your barge (DC 15 Athletics) they will lead you to the platform. Alternatively, there is a service ladder built into the cave wall. With a running jump you could leap off the boat and catch the rungs (DC 15 Acrobatics or Athletics) and climb up that way. If you can find a way to get the boat closer to the ladder, it would reduce the DC significantly. And of course, you could do something entirely different.

Dwalia looks at Torden and gathers her courage.

"Moradin is my strength" she speaks, and her whole body is suffused with a warm glow. She gestures to Torden to take the climb first.

"After you, Torden Stormhammer."

Dwalia casts Guidance on herself.

Guildleader Prust roars into the mists of the waterfall, rage boiling in his veins.

"Bwah! Let us bathe in green blood tonight! CLANGEDDIN SILVERBEARD, Father of Battle and the Lord of the Twin Axes! Witness my ... ouch!"

Dwalia bonks the Guildleader in the head with her mace. "Gods be good, shut your mouth! You watch yourself up there, Shale. The mission loses all credibly if either Watcher perishes!"

"Aye, is that your way of telling me you still care about me?"

She rolls her eyes as she hooks her mace back on her belt, ready to climb.

Failure has consequences, but which ones?

The platform above suddenly lunges, smashing the boat into the cavern wall. A ripple surges through the chain. Aldrik hangs on fine but Dwalia and Prust get their hands caught between links as the chain slackens and tightens back. In the struggle to pull themselves free they dislodge things from storage pouches on their person: Prust loses a precious flask of gutbuster and Dwalia drops a health potion.

Torden takes a worse hit, the whiplash effect smashing him into a rock jutting out of the cavern wall.

They manage to reach the top after that.

Prust & Dwalia take 1D6 bldg each, Torden takes 3d6 bldg and must toss an item of Jabe's choice into the darkness.

Thorin also struggles on the chain when the platform shifts, and like Torden is slammed against the wall. His husband's armor takes the worst of it, however, and you make it to the top.

Thorin takes 2d6 bldg damage and loses an item of your choice to the darkness below.

Finn, if you are planning on staying put on the ship that is fine, but if you want to be up on the platform you'll need to roll a check to jump to the stairs, climb the chains, or trying something else clever. Let us know either way and I'll go ahead and get initiative rolled.