Since the lead seems to be a popular postion, Armandia follows last to guard the rear.
So in addition to trying to spot any possible dangers in the water, she looks behind now and then.
Also, I will be out of town tonight and tomorrow. This will probably be my last post till Sunday. Please DMNPC Grn'nak as you wish to help keep the story moving. Thanks....I, too, will probably be unable to post until Sunday.
The river is relatively calm and there doesnt seem to be an undercurrent or any rips that could sweep you away. However by the colour of the water you can tell it gets deep about halfway and you would have to swim. It is also abundant with fishes and eels. Your sharp eyes pick out a few variaties that you recognize; the darkmoon water trout, the firesoot river salmon and the slasher eel, none of which are particularly dangerous, though the slasher eel is known to nip flesh if it is left exposed in the water. The rocks look particularly dangerous as closer observation reveals a thin layer of moss on the stones which would make them extremely slippery.
As for the vegetation in the area it all seems fairly standard. Reeds and rushes line the banks of the river that would provide shelter for wading birds and other animals, whilst other plants grow in abundance near the edge of the river. These plants seem to be faviorites of the local deer as they keep edging out of the forest to take a bite out of them before darting back in the forest at the slightest noise.
Also there does seem to be a few solid trees closer to the bank on the other side
Brit wades into the river as the cold water quickly engulfs the lower half of his body. The water is very cold, much colder than this climate would suggest. The first boulder is only 10ft away and Brit quickly reaches it with Lord and Felmor close behind. Armandia wades in afterwards whilst Grn'nak stays on the bank examining the area with Mezari. As Brit reaches the rock and attempts to grab hold his fingers slip against the surface and he looses his balance...
"Well, I suppose there's no way around it...."
Making sure her bolt pouch is tied shut (water won't hurt them too much, she hopes), her crossbow held securely in place, and her other belongings unlikely to sweep loose or pour from her pack, she wades out into the water until its knee-deep then makes to swim to the other side, doing her best to ignore the cold. She was never that great a swimmer, but her luck here is better than it would be taking the rocks....
Grn'nak seeing many of the folks attempting to brave the river, takes out his length of rope and gets ready to try and throw a line to anyone who might be swept away. He will take up a downstream position by a little bit to give himself a little leeway in timing.
Brit's hand slips on the rock and he falls backwards, but manages to keep himself above the water with some quick swimming skills. Mezari is not so lucky though and manages to swallow a mouthfull of water, coughing and spluttering her head goes under the water.
Felmor sees the Gnome lady drop under water, and his sailors instincts take over. He dives in after her, strugging to reach her before she drowns.
Grn'nak seeing Mezari sink under water will gather up the length of rope and try and toss the rope so that it will stretch across (and hopefully sink some) where she went down.
To hit area:
Felmor dives headfirst into the water and swims like its the most natural thing in the world to him. He grabs mezari from under the water explodes out of the water in a hail of water droplets.
Armandia and Brit take their time with the swimming and eventually get to the other bank, soaking wet but alive.
Grn'nak throws his rope and it lands just a couple of feet where Felmor and Mezari are.
If not then Swim check
Grn'nak will keep the rope out there, as long as it's close to Mezari and Felmor. Once they get past how far his rope is thrown, or it drifts further away, he'll reel it back in and hold it for another toss if necessary.
Once everyone makes it across, he'll start across the rocks, and try to make it to the other side that way.
Acrobatics:
Felmor powers through the water dragging Mezari behind him reaching the other bank in no time at all.
Grn'nak, seeing that everyone is safe, starts across the rocks. Bounding gracefully across the rocks, Grn'nak's jumps are easily enough to reach the rocks but he finds it difficult to keeps his footing as their seems to be a slippery coating on the rocks.
Acrobatics:
After falling into the water, Grn'nak will try to splash his way to the top and swim the rest of the way across.
Swim:
Hacking and coughing for air, she simply lets Felmor drag her along, more interested in clearing her lungs than her dignity. She mutters a thanks to Felmor once she's able to speak again then sets to making sure her belongings aren't too waterlogged.
Felmor watches Mezari, a look of concern on his face, until he sees she will be OK. Really it was no different than when that child fell overboard one day and he ended up rescuing her. Of course, this was no child. Aye there needs ta be more respect for the sea, she can be a harsh mistress. Hopefully these landlubbers have learned that lesson.
Grn'nak ploughs through the water like the fin of a shark through the ocean, his strong arms making short work of the water as he reaches the other side.
All our adventures are now on the other side of the bank. It is roughly 3pm on the first day and the sun blazes through cracks of light that the trees allow into the forest.
Grn'nak shakes himself off after he gets out of the water. "Brrr, that's cold."
After making a quick check of his inventory and making sure that everything is still there, he'll look around, "I hope that's all the swimming we have to do, it's still a bit early in the year here... So, which way from here, and you think we can make it before sundown hits these accursed woods?"
"Well, I think goin' up to tha tree now would be fer th' best." Felmor chimes in as he also dries himself off as best as he can, but with a spare set of clothes, he still is wet and somewhat bedraggled.
Perception:
Assured her belongings are in sufficient shape and all the water wrung out of her clothing Mezari nods agreement to Felmor and Grn'nak and sets her gaze off to the west towards where she recalls the tree to be. She has her crossbow back out and loaded as she goes, not willing to be caught off-guard again.
