Mechanik’s Union

The Cable Recoiler is a simple yet effective climbing aid developed originally from friction grips and locking cable slides used by mountaineers and construction workers in subsurface shaft mines. A cylindrical metal case rests on a thick leather harness which runs across a normal humanoid body to distribute weight. This harness takes a full round to don hastily and the same to wriggle out off. One end of the casing has a sturdy metal ratchet lever which must be griped to slot back and forth. From the other emerges a thin fibrous steel cable that ends in a circular eyelet loop to prevent it being dragged back into the cylinder.

The cable spools out from the cylinder to some 50ft in length easily when the ratchet lever is disengaged. When the lever is set forward however the cable must be forcefully removed with a DC18 strength check (no matter what length is being spooled out). This stores energy in the torsion coil built into one end of the cylinder that can be unleashed by releasing the ratchet-lock. This immediately draws in the slack cable and anything it is attached to, back to the point of origin. This process can be slowed in necessary by using the lever as a brake. Incidentally this braking process can be used to descend the full 50ft from a fixed grapple without physical harm.

Cable Recoiler

• Length - 50ft
• Base Strength - 18 [torsion coil]
• Lift Weight - 30ft per round up to 100lb | 20ft per round up to 200lb | 10ft per round up to 300lb
• Hardness -5
• HP – 10
• Special - torsion for a recoil can be gained either through a Strength Check [DC 18] removing the cable manually before recoiling it, or by using it to rappel down a wall. This device can be plumbed into the firing mechanism for a wrist-harpoon with a Craft: Weaponsmithing [DC 10] or Craft: Clockwork [DC 15]. The metal cable is to thin and frictionless for most people to climb, making the base climb [DC 20] but can only be broken with a Strength Check [DC 23].

Cost: 200gp (not including grappling hook or other attachments)

Upgrades:

quick release latch [detach cylinder from harness as a swift action] 25gp

additional cable [up to 100ft total length] 25gp

miniaturized steam engine [str 23] 1500gp

collapsible grapple (wired) [release fixed grapple from point of origin as a move action] 100gp

Craft: Clockwork [DC 25]