The 4 tunnel thugs choose random targets: Willie, Dame Simonetta, Noh, and Noh! They are 200 pounds, dense as stone, and reek of creosote.
Willie and Dame Simonetta nimbly dodge their attackers and keep their grip on the rope.
Noh is double-teamed. Two of the tunnel thugs slam into him like linebackers, and he loses his grip on the rope! Their intention is to dash him against the rocks and knock him out of the fight. But thinking quickly, Willie puts out his hand and grabs Noh as he falls past. Noh catches hold of the rope just below Willie, and the two tunnel thugs tumble to the bottom of the gravel slope and land on their feet.
Round 1
It's a chaotic free-for-all, every Hobbet for themselves! The tunnel thugs have failed to dislodge our heroes from their rope, but the situation is dire as the rock-creatures seem completely at home on the 45-degree gravelly slope.
Dougal has a clear shot looking down from the ledge. His best chance at avoiding friendly fire is to snipe at the two tunnel thugs that have tumbled to the bottom of the slope. He fires with accuracy and wounds (but does not kill) one of the creatures. (He will have 2 shots next round because of his 3/2 racial ability.)
Willie makes a one-handed grab of Noh and swings Noh onto the rope below him (in the lowest position). Noh uses his falling momentum to drive his cudgel into his attacker's skull. With a loud crack, the tunnel thug's head splits open, and it crumples lifelessly to the ground. However, the second creature retaliates, and pummels Noh's legs, crunching his shins.
Kiplyn and Tet are blocked from moving to the top or bottom of the rope, so they attack the nearest target. Tet swats harmlessly with his torch, but Kiplyn strikes true and gives the tunnel thug a vicious stab wound.
Dame Simonetta scrambles to the top of the rope and gets both of her feet on solid ground, side by side with Dougal. But her attacker reaches out, grabs her by the ankle, and casts her down the slope! Dame Simonetta falls head over heels, lands at a odd angle, and doesn't get up, oh no! Her lantern shatters and goes out.
At the end of Round 1, one tunnel thug is dead and two are wounded. The healthy one is at the top of the rope, at Dougal's feet, one of the wounded ones is in melee with Kiplyn and Willie, and the other wounded one is below Noh. Tet's torch is the only source of light. Tet and Willie are injured from the previous fight, and Noh has fresh wounds. Dame Simonetta is crumpled at the bottom of the slope. @kipper does she scream or call out anything as she falls?
What next?
Uphill slopes are a difficulty 2 climb. This means thieves with rope have automatic success, and non-thieves have 5-in-6 success. However, I will apply -2 penalty for each tunnel thug attacker (so Noh is at -4).
Climbing checks (1d6):
Dame Simonetta 5-2 = 3 success
Willie 6-2 = 4 success
Noh 2-4 = -2 fail, Noh falls!
Noh's save vs. paralysis 1d20=13 just barely!
Do you remember I said I wanted to try individual initiative?
Tunnel Thugs 1, 1, 3, 4
Dame Simonetta 5
Willie 4
Tet 3
Kiplyn 3
Noh 2
Dougal 1 but it doesn't matter
Round 1 (in initiative order)
Dougal goes first (missile attack) 1d20=18 hit for 2hp
Dame Simonetta scrambles to the top of the rope.
Willie catch attempt 1d6 = 6 success!
Noh attackers 2x2d20 = 1, 14, 10, 4, hit once for 1d4+1 = 2hp, dropping Noh to 3/5
Kiplyn dagger 16, hit for 4hp
Tet torch 10 miss; he cannot draw a weapon without letting go of the rope or dropping his torch
Noh cudgel 20 hit for 3hp kill!
Willie attacker 5, 3 miss
Dame Simonetta attacker 6, 19 hit for 4hp dropping her to -1/8!!
Does her lantern go out? 1d20 = 7, it does.