Beauty and The Beast

Before the Roll: Running full speed, a thick root that suddenly erupts from the ground. You try to leap and dive over it. 

Success: You nimbly flip over the thick root.

Fail: You try to leap and flip over the root only to find yourself face down in the dirt. Glancing back as you pick yourself up to continue your run you see the thick tree root slowly sinking back into the ground.

Before The Roll: You notice a wolf is running with you, keeping pace as you dodge and leap over the vines. Catching the wolf’s eye you are sure it winked at you. You turn suddenly as a large pile of vines reaches for you. You run straight at the wolf and, to your surprise, you find the wolf understands your plan.

Success: You slide on the ground and the wolf leaps over you, blocking the vines.

Fail: You leap into the air, intending to jump over the wolf and use it to block the vines but you smash headlong into the wolf. Both of you tumble for several feet before you are able to get back up and resume your race to the front gate.

Before the Roll: The gate lomes closer with every step. As you dodge and weave around the tangled vines you recall a story you once read about a farmer who used salt to rid his fields of a magical vine. You realize with glee that you still have the small bag of salt from your mess kit in your pocket. As the next large vine reaches out to grab you, you throw the bag of salt at it.

Success:  The bag explodes and salt flies all over the vine causing it to shrivel and retreat away from you.

Fail: The bag explodes and salt flies all over the vine, but it has no effect. You are forced to change direction and run the other way to avoid being tangled in the vines.

Before the Roll: Seeing a clearing in the vines, you begin to sprint at top speed in hopes you can get through before the vines can close the gap.

Success: Running faster than you thought possible, you easily make it through the clearing.

Fail: You push yourself and begin to run as fast as you can only to feel a cramp in your leg. The mussel contracts painfully and you are forced to slow down. You barely make it through the gap ahead of the vines closing in on you.

Before the Roll: Running blindly through the castle grounds in the general direction of the front gate, you find yourself faced with a solid wall of vines blocking your path. Thinking quickly, you drop the rose and scream at the vines, “Fine! You win! The rose is dead! Satisfied?”

Success: The vines pull themselves back into a row of hedges revealing the path forward to the gate. 

Fail: The vines move forward as if attracted to the rose. After losing precious seconds, you snatch up the rose and double back around the wall to find another path.

Before the Roll: Ahead of you a series of stone arches are arranged in a circle. You recognize the formation as being the outer wall of an open air theater.

Success: Remembering that open air theaters are bowl shaped with steep stone stairs, you change directions and run around the outside of wall. As you do, you see that the theater is fill with water, mud and thick vines.  

Fail: You run through the archway, leaping down the stairs. You are unprepared for the thick mud that you land in. Your feet sink up to the ankles and you lose precious seconds trying to free yourself.

Before the Roll: You round the corner and find yourself looking down a narrow stone corridore, not much more than an alleyway.

Success: You realize that this is the perfect place for an ambush. You quickly run along the the grounds seeking another path forward.

Fail: You hope that the vines can’t see you as you race forward. Just as you are about to exit the other end, thick vines come over the wall and block you. You quickly backtrack to find another way around.

Before the Roll: You come to a stop. In front of you is a huge garden sculpture of an elephant. It has come to life and is blocking your way. You begin screaming and run directly at the leafy elephant. 

Success: To your surprise it is startled for a moment, but that is all you need. You slide under it and come up running on the other side.

Fail: The elephant roars back at you loud enough your ears hurt. As your head spins from the deafening sound, you stumble, then run trying to find a way around it.

Before the Roll: You stop for a moment to catch you breath. Ahead lies three paths. You quickly investigate them to see which is your best route.

Success: You make your choice and begin running as fast as you can down your chosen path. 

Fail: You begin running down your chosen path and quickly realize that it is heading the wrong direction. You are heading the wrong way. After a quick backtrack, you choose another path and hope for the best.

Before the Roll: Your boots are not made for running. You feel a blister forming from where the boot is rubbing your heel.

Success: You quickly rip a piece of your shirt off. You stop only long enough to cram into the toe of your boot, before you are off again. You know that this is only a temporary fix, but it only has to last a couple of minutes.

Fail: Your boots are rubbing blisters into the heel of your feet. You have no idea what to do. The pain slows your run more than you want to admit.

Before the Roll: Watching the way the vines move, you think you have figured out a way to use their own mass against them. You run toward a large mass of vines and watch as the twist and pile up trying to block your way. 

Success: Quickly you change direction and take advantage of the opening they have created on the opposite side.

Fail: You miscalculated how quickly and easily the vines can move. You stumble into them suffering more cuts and bruises. Even worse, you lose more time untangling yourself from the vines.

Before the Roll: You smell smoke and remember that you saw a large column of smoke coming from somewhere on the castle grounds. Thinking quickly you change course and head for the glittering of fire light you see between the trees.

Success: Lightening must have struck a tree and started a fire here. You race forward through the recently burnt area, and no vines dare to pursue you. 

Fail: You enter a clearing, fire burning all around. Flames block your way.

Before the Roll: Racing past a tree, one of the roots lifts up and tries to trip you. Your easily skip over the root. As you do, you pretend to trip, throwing the rose high in the air and stumbling forward.

Success: The vines are fooled by your performance. They wait to see where you will fall before closing in. You catch the rose and quickly run toward the gate.

Fail: Your fake stumble turns into a real fall. You scramble to recover the flower from the ground and continue racing for the gate.

Before the Roll: Stumbling, you fall and the vines pile up blocking your way. You plead with the vines, “Come on! Haven’t they suffered enough?”

Success: Several wild boar emerge from the brush. They charge forward plowing the vines. You see an opening and race through shouting your thanks over your shoulder.

Fail: The do not move. You stand up and begin running in hopes of finding another way through. 

Before the Roll: Getting closer to the gate, you find yourself ankle deep in thorny vines. In you call out your god’s name in a desperate pleading voice. 

Success: The clouds part and a bright ray of moonlight reflects off a sword buried in the vines. You grab it and use it to chop your way free.

Fail: The clouds part and a bright ray of moonlight reflects off a sword buried in the vines. You grab it and try to use it to chop your way free, but it breaks on a stone. 

Before the Roll: You feel a vine wrap around the hand in which you carry the rose.

Success: With a deft flick of the rist you push the rose up your sleeve. You free your hand and race on towards the gate.

Fail: You try to shove the flower up your sleeve and miss. The rose drops to the ground. You waste precious seconds freeing yourself from the vine then recovering the fallen rose.

Before the Roll: Racing ahead of the vines, you turn the corner and find a cubby hole in the wall. This may be your chance. You hide in the shadows and hold your breath.

Success: You hear the vines moving along the wall. After the sounds pass, you peek out and see your chance. You double back and find the way is clear. 

Fail: The vines close over your hiding spot. You force your way through regretting the time this has cost you.

Before the Roll: There is no other way around. The only way forward is through the vines and they are piling higher by the second. Trusting in your skills and your boots, you push forward. You are reminded of the time you went hunting for blackberries and got stuck.

Success:  The lessons learned that day come in handy as you pick your way through this patch of thorny vines. 

Fail: You regret the fact that you did not learn your lesson from the blackberry bushes. You move slowly and cautiously, losing precious time.