Skip to main content

Rigged Rope Bridge

st tier (
Challenge
DC
Area
(less than 1 hour)

A gorge ahead can only be traversed via a bridge made from planks of wood between knotted ropes that sway in the wind.

Fly Away. The use of fly or similar magic (except levitate ) triggers a critical success for that adventurer.

Trap. This trap can be detected by a passive Perception of 14 to notice the central board of the bridge has been rigged with razors that sever a pair of loadbearing ropes. If the trap is not detected, it automatically triggers a critical failure.

Possible Solutions

Making it across the bridge requires a group Acrobatics check. Alternatively, a thieves’ tools check can disable the trap but has disadvantage due to the precarious positioning of the trap’s mechanisms.

Critical Failure: The bridge suddenly breaks and the party has to scramble or be dropped into the gorge! Each adventurer makes a Dexterity saving throw to grab and hold onto the rope as they swing down into the sides of the gorge, taking 9 (2d8) bludgeoning damage from the impact. Any adventurers ahead of the break fall towards the far end of the bridge, and those behind the break fall back towards the bridge’s start.

On a failed save, an adventurer falls 50 feet down into the river below, taking 17 (5d6) bludgeoning damage when they land. Climbing back up requires a successful Athletics check, with advantage if a rope is thrown down.

Failure: The bridge breaks as above, but the adventurers have 1 round to react after the process starts and advantage on their Dexterity saving throws to grip the rope. Grabbing both sides and holding the bridge together requires a Strength check at the end of each round.

Success: The adventurers safely make it across the rope bridge.

Critical Success: The adventurers safely make it across the rope bridge and notice something important while doing so. Roll on the Boons and Discoveries table.