Chrys Survival 2

(To clarify, she is just flying among the trees, nothing fancy).

Falkas sighs and grabs an oar. "Oh you all kill my familiar and  I have to row.."

Strength Check: 0

Strength check: 10 (in game log)

As a quick study, Elovar seems to pick up the technique a little faster than Falkas. On the other hand, he is clearly more of a scholar and a poet, with a slight, Elven build. But he's eager to pitch in for the group and makes an honest effort with the oars.

Worried about the threats from Bert and his muscular friend, Elovar tries to inspire 12 with tales of the feats of legendary monks.  

(@LorenzotheGreat, 12 gains an inspiration die (1d6). For 10 minutes, he can add it to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. This can be added after seeing the roll, but before knowing the outcome.)

12 gets acclimated to his rowing role with a natural grace and strength. He smiles at the opportunity to relax and work up a sweat.

Athletics: 22 (nat 20, game log)

Sinak does a passable job of cleaning, he doesn’t get into all the corners but the captain is pleased enough.

By staying in the tree tops and looking for signs of monsters, Chrys manages to avoid the many monsters and guard animals patrolling the area. They are left with the impression this would be harder on foot.

Sorith and 12 both do a great job at rowing, Bert and the other regular crew are impressed. Elovar manages to pick it up well enough and inspiring the others they are able to keep the boat moving forward.

Falkas sits down, but after 30 minutes of trying different positions they are unable to even lift the oar let alone row with it. This causes great amusement among the crew. Bert notes "Now I see why you needed a Fairy for a familiar, it was to do all your lifting for you!". Eventually Vrakhazar takes Falkas aside, sits him down with the older passengers and gives him a cookie and a pat on the head.

Capt Thread ably navigates the boat into an underground channel. As the cave mouth swallows you, you hear music over the echo of a distant waterfall.

The cave’s ceiling rises high above your heads, and dancing lights bob around hanging stalactites. The river winds through the casino floor, splitting the cavernous chamber in two and passing under arched stone bridges at various points. Card tables and other gaming stations surrounded by chattering patrons fill the open space. A cheer rises from deeper in the cavern, which is decorated to suggest excitement, opportunity, and excess.

Capt Thread steers your boat toward the left bank, and your boat rocks as it bumps up against a wooden dock. Capt Thread then raises one hand, gesturing at the glittering sights before you, and intones in a deep, raspy voice: “Welcome to the Afterlife. Temptation awaits.”

What do you do?

Well, that's not fair, Sorith grumbles to herself in thought as she takes a moment to stretch before she puts the oar handle down and stands, her attention on Falkas, who'd been rewarded for doing no work whatsoever. "How 'bout the rest of us? Can we have some cookies?"

"Just take the cookie." Falkas hands it to Sorith when Vrakhazar isn't looking and gets off the boat. Looking around he tries to forget the entire ordeal by checking out nearby patrons, guards and the locations of the mirrors that they need to be careful of.

Perception: 10

You see a large notice at the docks

RULES IN THE AFTERLIFE:

Stay out of the River Styx.

Don’t cheat. (Cheaters never prosper.)

Don’t accost or threaten other patrons or the staff.

Keep your weapons hidden or sheathed at all times.

Only employees may pass through

green-trimmed doors.

WIN, WIN, WIN!

In the area opposite the docks, over the river that runs through the casino, you see three-dragon ante tables and copper slot machines. Just south of the game tables are two cashier booths. Just north of the games area is a secluded lounge that holds a small bar as well as chairs and couches.

 A security mirror hangs in the southeast corner overlooking the games area. Another security mirror hangs on the north wall, above the chairs in the lounge area

In the area adjacent to the docks you see rows of copper slot machines and five life and death tables. All clearly marked with signs encouraging people to play. You see numerous patrons moving around the casino, it is very busy.

You are distracted by all the new sensory inputs and cannot pick out the guards you are sure are around.

"That wasn't at you?" The dragonborn blinks when Falkas shoves the cookie at her, though she takes it with a shrug before quickly shoving it into her mouth and, after chewing a few times, swallows it. Killing that drake and then having to row all the way here did make her pretty hungry, and so, Sorith turns her attention to Captain Thread before asking, "Do you know where to get something to eat around here? I'm still hungry."

"Well if you are really hungry, Nessus is a restaurant located below the casino, look for a spiral staircase. Otherwise try one of the bars.  Tell 'em Thread sent you." Thread replies 

Falkas rubs his chin in thought, staying nearby the trusted mop wielder. He pulls the map out and opens it slightly to compare where they are to it, "seems right. Let's not tarry too long here, else I'll start playing three-D."

As 12 and Sorith are leaving the boat, Bert runs up to both of them and says "Look you two really put in the effort back there and we appreciate it. Hardest part of the trip that rowing. So while you aren’t exactly crew, here is your share of the tips." He gives them both 12 gold each.

"Noted, thank you, Captain Thread," Sorith replies, reaching out to give the man a hearty pat on the shoulder before she strolls over to where Falkas is busy looking over the map. 

"Hey, you didn't have to give me your snack," she says quietly to him, "but thank you, it took a bit of the edge off. Soooo, any idea where the restaurant called Nessus is? Captain Thread mentioned something about a 'spiral staircase'."

Elovar passes the other three on his way off the boat.  He stops for a moment to thank Sinak, the deck swab, for his work aboard the ship.  He gives a slight wink, saying, "I hope you find good employment here.  It's my first time at the Afterlife Casino, and I'm excited to take a look around!"  He then walks away on his own, adjusting his fine cloak and fashionable hat.  His thinking is that if they're planning to steal something, it's best not to be identified as one cohesive group right from the beginning.

After he's off the boat, he looks back toward the river as though pondering the way they came while actually looking for Chrys.  If he sees her, Elovar waits to see where she's heading.  If she's headed toward the group, he tries to to signal to her to join him on the docks.

Either with or without Chrys, Elovar would first like to walk along the river into the casino, looking curiously at the games on the left, passing the bar and the circus, all the way to the overlook over the waterfall.  He'll spend a few minutes there before crossing to the other side of the river and walking back past the tournament, the spiral stairs, past the games, and almost to the docks, just on the other side of the river this time.

Elovar wants to see whether the Circus is running at the moment (and if so, what animals are there) and whether the tournament has already started in the tournament room.  He wants to get a sense of what games are available and keeps an eye out for anyone who looks important or especially wealthy.  If Chrys landed near him and came with him, he'll carry on some idle smalltalk while they walk around.

Perception: 18

Elovar see's a poster proclaiming 

"Cirque Maladomini performs here for the enjoyment of all. Hour-long performances occur here once every four hours. Each show presents a mix of acrobats and trained animals, all performing to music"

The star of the show is a trained lion named Emrys, which leaps through flaming hoops on command.