Skill Challenge: Fixing The Lightning Rail

Today is all about Eberron. The Eberron Player’s Guide is finally in wide release and earlier today we posted the skill challenge Maintaining the Karrnathi Army. As an added bonus, here is another Eberron-specific skill challenge.

The lightning rail is a key component of transportation and daily life in Eberron, so when service is disrupted the commerce of the Five Nations is effected. This skill challenge provides the DM with a quick encounter for the PCs that could lead to further adventure and intrigue.

Setup

House Orien has hired the party to repair a section of conductor stones on a lightning rail route that have been damaged.

The PCs are riding the lightning rail which has had to make an emergency stop due to damaged conductor stones. The PCs are asked to assist in the repair.

Complexity

1 PC level +0 (4 successes, before 3 failures).

Primary Skills

Athletics, Arcana, Endurance, Nature, Perception

• Each skill can only be used to accomplish 1 success towards the overall skill challenge unless noted otherwise.
• Skill checks denoted as assist do not count as a success or failure towards the overall skill challenge.

Athletics (moderate DC, maximum 2 successes)

Athletics checks are required to move the conductor stones and ensure they are placed in the proper position.

Arcana (moderate DC)

Arcana is required to re-power the dragonshard contained within the conductor stone.

Endurance (hard DC)

You ensure that your fellow PCs are taking proper precautions with a day of heavy lifting.

Nature (moderate DC)

You ensure that the ground underneath the conductor stone is properly packed to prevent the stone from sinking.

Nature (hard DC)

You ensure that the conductor stones are lined up to prevent derailments.

Perception (moderate DC)

You ensure that the conductor stones are lined up to prevent derailments.

Perception (moderate DC)

You stand watch ensuring the party isn’t attacked while completing the repairs.

Success

You successfully repair the lightning rail. House Orien looks favourably upon you, providing the party with a +1 circumstance bonus on skill checks the next time they deal with House Orien.

Failure

While you have repaired the lightning rail, it is only a patchwork repair and will require House Orien sending another team out. House Orien provides you with lacklustre thanks; you’ll need to do better next time.