Buckling Caravan Bridge
The Broken Bridge is a long, wind-battered span over a foaming ravine, just wide enough for a caravan to cross if every wheel, hoof, and boot is placed with care. Half the planks are split, the old chain suspension sags unevenly, and the entire structure shivers whenever the caravan shifts its weight. This hazard represents the bridge itself turning from a risky crossing into an active battlefield threat, with buckling boards, snapping lashings, and a possible collapse into the gorge below.
Buckling Caravan Bridge
Defenses
Detection
“Splintered bridge timbers groan under the caravan's weight, while rusted chain anchors bite into the stone abutments. Wind whips through missing planks and shakes loose pebbles that clatter into the chasm below.”
Standard Engagement
The hazard begins when a loaded wagon, pack animal train, or clustered group of travelers enters the broken span, or when the bridge takes significant weight from combat, falling debris, or deliberate sabotage.
On the hazard's initiative, if the span is overloaded or a wagon remains on the damaged section, the bridge shudders and threatens collapse. All creatures on the stressed section must attempt the Buckling Span effect. If the section is already partially collapsed, the hazard instead widens the gap by 5 feet and creates a shower of splinters and falling debris that makes the affected squares difficult terrain until cleared.
Once stabilized, the hazard resets only if the bridge is reloaded beyond its safe capacity or additional damage is dealt to the weakened section. Otherwise, the bridge remains shaky but no longer makes routine collapse checks.
The bridge heaves and drops as loads shift. Each round that at least one Large or larger creature, or any loaded wagon, remains on the damaged span, the hazard targets the weakest section. All creatures and unsecured objects on that section must attempt a DC 18 Reflex save. On a failure, a creature falls prone and slides 5 feet toward the nearest edge; on a critical failure, it also takes 1d6 bludgeoning damage and must immediately Grab an Edge if possible or fall. A wagon or other unwieldy cargo on a failure tilts dangerously and becomes wedged, reducing the bridge's stability until removed. If three or more total failures have occurred since the last reset, a 10-foot section collapses, creating difficult terrain where the planks remain and a 15-foot gap where they do not.
Each wagon, mount, or Large creature counts as 2 load units. If the number of load units on the bridge exceeds 4, the hazard activates each round. If the load units exceed 6, the first failure each round is treated as a critical failure.
A creature adjacent to an edge can use one hand to Grab an Edge as normal when the bridge fails, but a wagon, pack animal, or unattended cargo that falls is lost unless secured by rope or another creature's successful Athletics check.
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