Climbing Harness – GearAscendancy.com

From: Aquilarachnid

This harness is equipped with adjustable straps and sturdy attachments that allow Aquilarachnid to scale vertical surfaces with ease. It provides a +2 bonus to Athletics checks related to climbing and allows the creature to climb at double its normal climb speed.

Level: Tier 1

Skills:

Athletics Bonus: +2 bonus to Athletics checks related to climbing.

Cost: 250 gold

Tags: Equipment, Harness, Climbing, Athletics, Mobility, Vertical, Agility, Terrain, Exploration, Mountaineering, Precision, Spider-like, Tactical, Infiltration, Grip, Stability, Traversal, Swiftness, Adaptable

Lore: The Climbing Harness is a testament to the Aquilarachnid’s adaptability and mastery of traversing vertical terrains. Crafted with care and precision, the harness combines durable materials and adjustable straps to ensure a secure and comfortable fit. Legends speak of ancient mountaineers who studied the climbing techniques of the spider-like creatures, seeking to replicate their agility and grace.

Use: When an Aquilarachnid character or creature dons the Climbing Harness, they gain several benefits related to climbing. The harness’s adjustable straps and sturdy attachments provide a +2 bonus to Athletics checks specifically related to climbing. This bonus enhances the creature’s ability to scale vertical surfaces, aiding their grip, strength, and overall climbing proficiency.

Additionally, the Climbing Harness allows the Aquilarachnid to climb at double its normal speed. This remarkable feature enables them to ascend or descend vertical surfaces with exceptional swiftness, surpassing the limitations of conventional climbing methods.

Climbing Harness serves as an indispensable tool for exploration, infiltration, and tactical maneuvering. It empowers Aquilarachnid characters or creatures with enhanced climbing abilities, allowing them to ascend treacherous cliffs, scale towering structures, and navigate complex environments with relative ease.

In the world of Saṃsāra, the Climbing Harness is a specialized piece of equipment prized by adventurers, explorers, and those who frequently traverse rugged or vertical terrains. The following are types of shops where this item might be bought and sold, along with the varying costs depending on the shop and location:

Mountaineer’s Emporium
- Location: Found in cities and towns near mountain ranges, cliffs, and other challenging terrains.
- Description: This shop caters to climbers, explorers, and adventurers. It is stocked with gear specifically designed for scaling mountains and navigating treacherous landscapes. The shelves are lined with ropes, pitons, grappling hooks, and other climbing essentials.
- How Sold: The Climbing Harness would be displayed prominently among other high-quality climbing gear. The shopkeeper, often a seasoned mountaineer, might offer personal advice on its use and share tales of how similar harnesses have saved lives on perilous expeditions.
- Cost: 250 to 300 gold pieces, with potential discounts for regular customers or those purchasing other climbing equipment in bulk.
Adventurer’s Guild Outfitters
- Location: Located in major cities and towns, often within or near adventurers’ guilds.
- Description: This shop supplies adventurers with the tools and gear necessary for their quests. It stocks a wide range of items from weapons and armor to magical trinkets and survival gear. The clientele consists of guild members and freelance adventurers preparing for dangerous missions.
- How Sold: The Climbing Harness would be marketed as a must-have for any adventurer planning to explore ruins, dungeons, or remote locations that require climbing. The shopkeeper might offer the harness as part of a package deal for a group of adventurers or suggest it during consultations about upcoming missions.
- Cost: 275 to 350 gold pieces, with potential discounts for guild members or those who have completed notable quests.
Exotic Trader’s Bazaar
- Location: Found in bustling trade hubs, port cities, and major crossroads, where merchants from various regions gather to sell their unique wares.
- Description: A colorful and lively market where rare and exotic items from across Saṃsāra are bought and sold. Merchants hawk their goods from stalls, offering everything from magical artifacts to rare spices and unusual tools.
- How Sold: The Climbing Harness would be found among other exotic tools and gear, possibly alongside items meant for specific regions or environments. The merchant might emphasize the harness’s craftsmanship and its origins from the Aquilarachnid people, highlighting its rarity and effectiveness.
- Cost: 300 to 400 gold pieces, with the price often negotiable depending on the buyer’s haggling skills and the perceived demand for such specialized gear.
Hunter’s Lodge
- Location: Situated in remote villages, forested regions, or near the outskirts of towns where hunting and survival skills are valued.
- Description: This shop caters to hunters, trappers, and survivalists, offering gear that aids in tracking, trapping, and surviving in the wild. The shop has a rustic feel, with pelts, bones, and trophies adorning the walls.
- How Sold: The Climbing Harness would be presented as essential equipment for hunters needing to traverse cliffs, tall trees, or steep terrain in pursuit of prey. The shopkeeper, likely an experienced hunter, might demonstrate its use or tell stories of successful hunts made possible by such gear.
- Cost: 250 to 300 gold pieces, with possible bartering for pelts, rare game, or other valuable goods from the wild.
Black Market Outfitters
- Location: Hidden in the darker alleys of major cities, in secretive locations known only to those in the know.
- Description: This underground shop deals in contraband, rare items, and tools for those who operate outside the law. The shop is often accessed through hidden doors or by word of mouth, catering to thieves, assassins, and mercenaries.
- How Sold: The Climbing Harness might be offered as part of a set of tools for infiltration and covert operations. The seller might stress its effectiveness in scaling walls or towers unseen, making it an attractive option for those needing to move stealthily in urban or guarded environments.
- Cost: 350 to 450 gold pieces, with the price reflecting the risk of acquiring and selling such specialized gear in secrecy.

Cost in Saṃsāra: In Saṃsāra, the Climbing Harness is valued for its practicality and the craftsmanship involved in its creation. The cost generally ranges from 250 to 450 gold pieces, depending on the location and circumstances of the sale. The item is more expensive in markets where it is considered rare or where demand is high due to the surrounding environment or clientele. Discounts may be available in more established or specialized shops, particularly for loyal customers or those purchasing in bulk.

The Climbing Harness from Aquilarachnid can be used creatively in various environments for both defensive and offensive purposes. Below are examples of how the harness might be employed in different settings within the world of Saṃsāra.

Forest or Jungle Environment
- Offense:
  - Ambush from Above: In dense forests or jungles, the Climbing Harness allows the user to quickly and silently scale tall trees or cliffs. From this elevated position, they can set up ambushes, dropping down on unsuspecting enemies or launching attacks from above with ranged weapons, such as bows or slings. The element of surprise and the height advantage make it difficult for enemies to retaliate effectively.
  - Stealthy Approach: The harness enables the wearer to bypass ground patrols or obstacles by moving through the treetops or along sheer cliffs. This can be particularly useful for sneaking into enemy camps or scouting the area without being detected.
- Defense:
  - Escape to Safety: If overwhelmed by foes, the wearer can use the Climbing Harness to quickly ascend to the treetops, where they can hide among the branches or navigate to a safer location. The harness allows for rapid movement upwards, making it difficult for ground-based enemies to follow.
  - Defensive Positioning: In a defensive scenario, the harness can be used to take up a position high in the trees, where the wearer can observe enemy movements and rain down attacks with a clear line of sight, all while being out of reach of melee attackers.
Urban or Cityscape Environment
- Offense:
  - Infiltration: The Climbing Harness is ideal for scaling the walls of buildings or fortifications, allowing the user to bypass guarded entrances and enter through windows or rooftops. This makes it a powerful tool for spies, thieves, or assassins who need to move undetected through urban environments.
  - Surprise Assault: In narrow alleyways or crowded city streets, the wearer can use the harness to quickly scale buildings and launch surprise attacks from above. This tactic is particularly effective in hit-and-run scenarios, where the user can strike and then retreat to a high vantage point to avoid pursuit.
- Defense:
  - High Ground Defense: When defending a position within a city, the Climbing Harness allows the user to take up a high vantage point on rooftops or towers. From here, they can spot approaching enemies and either pick them off with ranged attacks or drop heavy objects onto them as they pass below.
  - Rapid Evacuation: In case of a sudden attack or when the position becomes untenable, the harness allows for a quick escape to the rooftops, where the wearer can either flee across the city’s skyline or find a hidden place to regroup and plan the next move.
Mountainous or Rocky Terrain
- Offense:
  - Guerrilla Tactics: In mountainous areas, the wearer can use the Climbing Harness to navigate steep cliffs and rocky outcrops, allowing them to harass larger forces by striking from above and then retreating to positions inaccessible to the enemy. The rugged terrain, combined with the harness’s climbing capabilities, makes it difficult for enemies to mount a coordinated counterattack.
  - Targeting High-Value Assets: The harness enables the user to scale cliffs or other difficult-to-reach areas where enemy leaders or valuable resources might be hidden. The wearer can launch a direct attack on these targets, causing chaos and disrupting enemy plans.
- Defense:
  - Fortified Positions: In a defensive scenario, the harness can be used to establish strong defensive positions on high ground, where the wearer can monitor enemy movements and repel advances with a strategic advantage. The harness makes it easy to move between different elevations, allowing the user to adapt to the shifting dynamics of the battlefield.
  - Escape Routes: If a defensive position is compromised, the wearer can use the harness to escape down sheer cliffs or across treacherous terrain that would be impassable without climbing gear. This ensures that they can evade capture and live to fight another day.
Underground or Dungeon Environment
- Offense:
  - Navigating Vertical Shafts: Dungeons and underground environments often feature deep chasms, vertical shafts, or high ledges. The Climbing Harness allows the user to navigate these features with ease, enabling them to explore areas that might otherwise be inaccessible and surprise enemies lurking in the depths.
  - Attacking from the Ceiling: In caves or underground chambers, the user can use the harness to climb up to the ceiling and move silently above their enemies. From this position, they can drop down for a surprise attack or use ranged weapons to pick off enemies who are unaware of their presence.
- Defense:
  - Retreat to Higher Ground: In narrow dungeon corridors or caves, the Climbing Harness provides a means of escape by allowing the wearer to climb to higher ledges or outcroppings. From these elevated positions, they can defend themselves against pursuing enemies or wait for reinforcements.
  - Ambush Tactics: When defending against an approaching force, the wearer can position themselves high up on the walls or in a narrow crevice, where they can observe the enemy’s movements and strike when the time is right. The harness allows for quick repositioning in the complex, vertical terrain often found in dungeons.
Coastal or Aquatic Environment
- Offense:
  - Scaling Cliffs: Coastal environments often feature tall cliffs and rocky outcroppings. The Climbing Harness allows the wearer to scale these cliffs quickly, enabling them to launch attacks from above on ships, coastal fortifications, or enemy camps situated near the shore.
  - Surprise Raids: The wearer can use the harness to climb onto ships from the water, bypassing defenses and launching surprise raids on the crew. This tactic is especially useful during night raids or when attacking in rough seas.
- Defense:
  - Defending Coastal Cliffs: In a defensive scenario, the wearer can use the harness to establish positions on coastal cliffs, where they can observe incoming ships and launch preemptive strikes. The height advantage provided by the cliffs makes it difficult for enemies to approach unnoticed.
  - Escape by Climbing: If an aquatic or coastal engagement turns against them, the wearer can use the harness to quickly scale cliffs or rocky shores to escape pursuit by sea-based enemies. The harness ensures that even steep, slippery surfaces can be navigated with ease, allowing for a swift retreat to safety.

Roleplay Opportunities:

Strategic Positioning: The Climbing Harness encourages players to think vertically, using the environment to their advantage. This opens up creative opportunities for ambushes, stealthy approaches, and defensive holds that wouldn’t be possible without such equipment.
Tactical Flexibility: The harness’s ability to double the wearer’s climbing speed and enhance their grip provides a tactical edge, allowing them to outmaneuver foes and control the battlefield’s elevation. Players can roleplay as resourceful and agile characters who use the terrain to outthink and outfight their enemies.
Escape Artist: For characters who frequently find themselves in dangerous situations, the Climbing Harness can be a lifeline, literally and figuratively. Roleplaying as a character who always has an escape plan or a backup route adds depth and complexity to interactions and decision-making during encounters.

Perception of Activation: When the Climbing Harness is activated, the experience engages all five traditional senses and extends into the realm of extra-sensory perception. Here’s what is perceived:

Sight
- Perception: The harness begins to shimmer slightly, and the intricate patterns of spider silk-like threads along the straps seem to glow faintly with a subtle, bioluminescent light.
- Description: The light is soft, pulsating in rhythm with the wearer’s heartbeat, giving the impression that the harness is alive and responding to the user’s intent.
- Positives: The glow provides visibility in low-light conditions, helping the wearer navigate in dark caves or dense forests.
- Negatives: The light could potentially give away the wearer’s position, particularly in stealth-dependent situations where remaining unseen is crucial.
Sound
- Perception: A barely perceptible hum or soft clicking noise, like the sound of spider legs tapping gently on a web, emanates from the harness when activated.
- Description: The sound is almost soothing, like the background noise of a quiet forest. It feels as though the harness is preparing itself, tuning into the environment and heightening the wearer’s senses.
- Positives: The sound may provide a comforting sense of readiness, letting the wearer know that the harness is fully engaged and operational.
- Negatives: In absolute silence, the noise could be detected by creatures with keen hearing, potentially alerting them to the wearer’s presence.
Touch
- Perception: The harness tightens slightly and adjusts itself to fit the wearer more snugly, distributing pressure evenly across the body, giving a sensation of stability and security.
- Description: The materials feel warm and almost organic, as if the harness is becoming an extension of the wearer’s own body. The touch of the spider silk threads provides a slightly tingling sensation, enhancing the wearer’s tactile sensitivity.
- Positives: This heightened sense of touch improves the wearer’s grip and awareness of their surroundings, allowing for more precise movements while climbing.
- Negatives: The snug fit might feel constricting or uncomfortable during extended use, potentially leading to fatigue or irritation over time.
Smell
- Perception: A faint, earthy scent reminiscent of moss, damp earth, and fresh rain emanates from the harness.
- Description: The smell is subtle, bringing to mind the natural environments where the harness is most effective. It serves as a reminder of the harness’s connection to the natural world and the spider-like creatures that inspired its design.
- Positives: The scent can help the wearer blend into natural environments, masking their own scent from creatures with a strong sense of smell.
- Negatives: In certain situations, the smell might be distracting or could clash with the surrounding environment, potentially giving away the wearer’s presence if detected by keen-nosed enemies.
Taste
- Perception: If the wearer’s mouth is open during activation, they might notice a faint metallic or mineral taste, as if inhaling the essence of the earth itself.
- Description: The taste is subtle but lingers, adding a layer of sensory awareness that heightens the wearer’s connection to the terrain they are navigating.
- Positives: The taste might serve as a mental cue, reinforcing the wearer’s focus and determination while climbing.
- Negatives: The taste could be unpleasant or distracting, particularly if the wearer is already dealing with physical exertion or stress.
Extra-Sensory Perceptions
- Environmental Awareness
  - Perception: The wearer feels a heightened connection to their surroundings, almost as if they can “sense” the structure of the surfaces they are climbing, from the texture of the rock to the strength of tree branches.
  - Description: This perception allows the wearer to anticipate the stability of their next handhold or foothold, providing a mental map of the terrain.
  - Positives: This awareness greatly enhances the wearer’s ability to navigate difficult climbs, reducing the risk of accidents or slips.
  - Negatives: The overwhelming flood of information might be distracting or confusing in environments with rapidly changing terrain or unstable surfaces.
- Temporal Perception
  - Perception: Time seems to slow down slightly when the harness is in use, allowing the wearer to process movements and decisions with greater clarity and precision.
  - Description: This temporal shift is subtle, giving the wearer just enough of an edge to react to sudden changes or challenges during a climb.
  - Positives: The enhanced perception of time can be crucial in high-stress situations, allowing the wearer to make quick, informed decisions.
  - Negatives: The sensation of time slowing down could be disorienting or lead to overconfidence, potentially causing the wearer to take unnecessary risks.
- Empathic Resonance
  - Perception: The harness seems to “sync” with the wearer’s emotions, amplifying their determination and focus while climbing.
  - Description: This resonance creates a feedback loop, where the wearer’s resolve strengthens the harness’s effectiveness, and the harness’s performance boosts the wearer’s confidence.
  - Positives: This empathic connection can be empowering, driving the wearer to push beyond their normal limits.
  - Negatives: Strong negative emotions, such as fear or doubt, might interfere with the harness’s performance, causing it to feel heavier or less responsive.
- Aura of Protection
  - Perception: The wearer perceives a faint, protective aura surrounding them, as though the harness is projecting a shield against environmental hazards.
  - Description: This aura is subtle, providing a sense of safety and reducing the wearer’s anxiety while traversing dangerous terrain.
  - Positives: The aura can help the wearer remain calm and focused, especially in high-risk situations where panic could lead to mistakes.
  - Negatives: Relying too much on this perceived protection might cause the wearer to underestimate the risks, leading to potentially dangerous overconfidence.

Summary of Positives and Negatives:

Positives: The Climbing Harness’s activation enhances the wearer’s senses and environmental awareness, providing crucial advantages in climbing, navigation, and tactical positioning. The combination of sensory and extra-sensory perceptions creates a powerful tool that can significantly improve performance in challenging environments.
Negatives: The intense sensory experience and empathic connection might be overwhelming or distracting, particularly in prolonged use. The harness’s visual and auditory cues could give away the wearer’s position in stealth scenarios, and over-reliance on its protective and temporal perceptions might lead to dangerous overconfidence. Balancing these benefits and drawbacks is key to effectively using the Climbing Harness in the world of Saṃsāra.

Crafting Recipe: Climbing Harness of the Aquilarachnid

Materials Needed:
- Spider Silk Weave (x2 rolls): Harvested from the web of a giant spider or an Aquilarachnid, known for its strength and flexibility.
- Durable Leather (x3 strips): High-quality leather from a creature with natural climbing abilities, such as a mountain goat or a large lizard.
- Reinforced Metal Buckles (x4): Crafted from lightweight but strong metals like mithral or adamantine, these buckles are designed to withstand extreme stress.
- Climbing Hooks (x2): Sharp, curved hooks made from tempered steel, used for securing the harness to surfaces.
- Enchanted Thread (x1 spool): A spool of thread imbued with minor enchantments to increase the durability and flexibility of the harness.
- Essence of Agility (x1 vial): A distilled essence extracted from a creature known for its agility, such as a panther or a raptor. This is used to enhance the harness’s effectiveness.
Tools Required:
- Leatherworking Kit: Includes knives, punches, awls, and other tools for shaping and treating leather.
- Metalworking Tools: Hammers, anvils, and molds for crafting and shaping the metal buckles and hooks.
- Needle and Thread: A strong needle capable of sewing through leather and spider silk, with enchanted thread for added resilience.
- Enchanter’s Anvil: A magical anvil used to imbue the harness with its special properties.
- Alchemy Set: Used for handling and applying the Essence of Agility during the crafting process.
Skill Requirements:
- Leatherworking (Advanced Level): Proficiency in shaping, treating, and assembling leather materials.
- Metalworking (Intermediate Level): Knowledge of crafting durable and lightweight metal components.
- Enchanting (Intermediate Level): Ability to bind magical properties into the harness, ensuring the enhancements are stable and effective.
- Alchemy (Basic Level): Basic understanding of handling and applying alchemical essences to enhance the item’s properties.
- Tailoring (Advanced Level): Skill in sewing and assembling the various materials to create a cohesive, functional harness.
Crafting Steps:
- Prepare the Leather:
  - Begin by treating the Durable Leather strips to ensure they are both flexible and strong. This process involves soaking the leather in a mixture of water and the Essence of Agility for 24 hours, allowing the essence to infuse the material with its properties. Once soaked, stretch and shape the leather to fit the contours required for the harness.
  - Cut the leather into the appropriate lengths for the shoulder, chest, and leg straps, ensuring that each piece will be comfortable and secure when worn.
- Craft the Metal Components:
  - Use the Metalworking Tools to shape the Reinforced Metal Buckles and Climbing Hooks. The buckles should be strong yet lightweight, capable of adjusting the harness’s fit without slipping. The hooks should be sharpened and tempered, ready to grip onto any surface.
  - Once the metal components are shaped, polish them to ensure there are no rough edges that could wear through the leather or silk.
- Weave the Spider Silk:
  - Using the Needle and Thread, carefully sew the Spider Silk Weave into the leather straps. The silk should reinforce the leather, providing extra strength and flexibility. Focus on areas where the straps will experience the most stress, such as the shoulder joints and the ends of the straps where the buckles will attach.
  - The Enchanted Thread is used to stitch the silk into the leather, adding a layer of durability and ensuring that the harness can handle the strain of supporting a full body weight under duress.
- Assemble the Harness:
  - Attach the Reinforced Metal Buckles to the ends of the leather straps, securing them with multiple layers of stitching using the Enchanted Thread. Ensure that the buckles are positioned to allow for maximum adjustability and comfort.
  - Attach the Climbing Hooks to the harness’s back and chest sections, where they can be easily accessed and used during climbs. The hooks should be secured with reinforced stitching and additional spider silk for extra strength.
- Imbue the Harness with Agility:
  - Place the assembled harness on the Enchanter’s Anvil. Perform a ritual or incantation to bind the Essence of Agility into the harness, focusing on enhancing the wearer’s climbing speed and agility. This process may take several hours, during which the harness absorbs the essence’s properties, becoming more than just a physical tool.
  - As the essence infuses the harness, the spider silk threads will glow faintly, indicating that the enchantment is taking hold. Once the glow subsides, the harness is ready for use.
- Final Inspection and Testing:
  - Inspect the completed harness for any weaknesses or flaws. Test each buckle, strap, and hook to ensure they function as intended. The harness should be able to withstand significant weight and stress without compromising the wearer’s safety or comfort.
  - If possible, conduct a field test by using the harness in a controlled climbing scenario to ensure that all enhancements are working properly. Make any necessary adjustments before finalizing the item.

Result: The finished Climbing Harness of the Aquilarachnid is a robust and versatile tool, perfectly suited for traversing vertical surfaces and rugged terrains. It provides the wearer with a +2 bonus to Athletics checks related to climbing and allows them to climb at double their normal speed, making it an indispensable item for adventurers, scouts, and mountaineers in the world of Saṃsāra.

Tale of the Sky-Climbing Harness

Long, long ago, when the world was yet young and the mountains touched the heavens, there was a creature unlike any other. It was called the Aquilarachnid, a being with many legs and eyes that could see into the hearts of stones and the whispers of winds. In the days when the earth was still shaping itself, the Aquilarachnid roamed the high cliffs and deep valleys, always seeking the heights where the sky and the earth meet.

One day, as the sun was setting beyond the farthest peaks, the Aquilarachnid discovered a crevice so deep and narrow that not even the light of the sun could reach its bottom. It was said that within this crevice, there lay a treasure more valuable than gold, more precious than jewels—a treasure that could give one the power to climb not just the earth but the very air itself.

The Aquilarachnid, driven by curiosity and the desire to explore, descended into the crevice. But the walls were slippery, and the rocks were sharp, cutting through even its tough skin. As it climbed deeper, the darkness grew thicker, and the air colder. The Aquilarachnid began to tire, its many legs struggling to find purchase on the treacherous rocks.

In that moment of despair, when it seemed that the creature would be lost forever in the depths, the spirit of the mountain spoke. “O wanderer of heights and depths,” the spirit whispered, “take from me the gift of the Sky-Climbing Harness. With it, you shall move as the wind moves, and climb as the eagle climbs. But beware, for the power it bestows is not without cost.”

The Aquilarachnid, desperate to escape the abyss, accepted the gift. From the shadows of the crevice, the harness emerged, woven from the silk of the strongest webs and the hides of the swiftest beasts. The creature donned the harness, and immediately, it felt the power coursing through its limbs. With renewed strength, it began to climb, faster and faster, until it reached the surface in a matter of moments.

With the Sky-Climbing Harness, the Aquilarachnid became a legend among creatures and men alike. It scaled the tallest mountains, crossed the widest chasms, and even touched the clouds themselves. The harness granted it the ability to explore the farthest reaches of the world, and no place was too high or too deep for it to reach.

But as the years passed, the Aquilarachnid began to feel the weight of the harness. The power it once found so liberating became a burden, for every climb took something from the creature—its strength, its vitality, and its very spirit. The harness, though a gift, was also a curse, binding the creature to the endless pursuit of heights, never allowing it to rest.

One day, after many years of wandering, the Aquilarachnid vanished, leaving behind only the harness, which was found by a group of mountaineers who had heard of the legendary creature. They took the harness and used it to conquer peaks and explore places no one had ever seen. But the story of the Aquilarachnid was forgotten, and with it, the warning of the spirit of the mountain.

Moral of the Story: The pursuit of power and achievement, while alluring, often comes at a cost. One must be mindful of the burdens that such gifts can bring, lest they become ensnared in an endless quest for more, never finding peace.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)