"Interesting idea." Neya ponders in response to Doozey's supposition, "However, I do not know whether the rope would stay intact, or end up as two smaller lengths. I don't think we have the luxury to experiment at the moment."

She then gives herself the ability to see at night and accepts one of Utar's lengths of rope, "Besides, a bit of brevity on the job every so often doesn't hurt."

Denae smiles. "A small friendly competition then. Utar has two full-lengths of rope and I can cut mine in half, giving each of us some 75ft of rope to play with once each half-length is tied to a full-length. We tie one end of each 75ft length to a tree on this side and aim for a tree on the other, preferably not too from from the shore. Our eyesight has already been equally enhanced--Thank you, Sister--so it is now a matter of placing a wager." She smiles again.

She digs into her pack and pulls out an old but clearly well made magnifying glass from her traveling pack. "I got this as payment in one of my prior missions for the Red Plume. Not exactly a standard form of payment, but I've been told it is a valuable piece of gear. It has helped me in the past, but I am willing to part ways with it should you prove to be a better shot than I, Sister. What say you? Are you ready to place a wager too?"

(@Drache: Should you agree, please place a wager and shoot your shot. It is just an attack roll with a ranged weapon. Feel free to boost your attack as you see fit. We can ignore distances from trees to shore and say the target is 60ft away. Best shot wins, as measure by the highest attack roll.) 

"I've something up my sleeve in case something goes wrong with this contest, Doozey.  Let them have their fun."

Doozey looks flabbergasted at Neya, then looks somewhat disappointingly at Denae. But, he waves them off in heeding Utar's suggestion. In the meantime, both he and Biscuit would focus their attention between scanning the waters for any signs of reptilian sentries, as well as the swamp lands about them for other signs of approaching danger.

(@Lerus: Can't access DDB sheets for whatever reason atm, but shall roll later once I can reconfirm bonuses for any perception checks.)

"Yes, I would," Neya takes off her necklace of adaptation as her wager, "I acquired this in Phlan. This necklace allows breathing in any environment and can assist in steeling yourself against any airborne poisons. There are more in the world than you would think."

"Shall we?" Neya says as she prepares her shot.

Archery contest: 25 (25) 

(1 ki point for +2 to roll for total of 27)

(@Ori: We can go with passive perception for now. I can't access characters' sheet either.)

Denae can't hide her surprise at Neya's offering: "Quite the wager! I'm not confident my own matches yours but let us not delay this any further." She then readies her longbow and roped arrow, allows Neya to shoot first, and then takes her own shot.

Archery contest: 16     

In the mean time, after being soothed by Utar's words, Doozey keeps an eye on the water. In the distance he sees rafts leaving the islands ahead. Thankfully, they seem to be beginning their nightly trip in directions other than the one that would directly lead them to CRAP.  

Denae hands Neya her valuable but mundane prize. "You've improved your shot considerably. Estra would be proud." She then makes sure the rope is tight and offers to cross first. She opts to walk on the rope, keeping her balance.

Denae's acrobatics check: 19  

"Who's next?" she asks from the other side.

(OOC: You may choose how you want to cross, you do not have to walk on the tight rope like Denae did.)

Doozey looked almost wary staring at the rope alongside a more openly worried Biscuit.  But after the two share a look between the other, Doozey motions to the 'bridge'. "Well ya heard the lady. Wouldn't exactly be the first time you had to navigate something perilous." Biscuit lets out a low, rumbling "Boof" and halfheartedly glares down at the stoutling while walking up to the bridge. Then with one last look thrown back at the others, he leaps onto the ropes and channels his inner cat to cross over.

-Biscuit's Tight Rope Crossing(DC 15+): 15.

As he's doing that, Doozey turns to the others, "I'll go last in case the bridge gives or something, as swimming across won't be as big an issue."

Utar waits until Biscuit (and potentially Neya too) make their way across the newly secured tightrope.  Doubting he'd be able to pull off such an acrobatic feat himself, he insteads opts for something that relies on his own talents, but not before offering a little guidance to Doozey to better secure the safe arrival of the last member of CRAP.

Settling hismelf on the rope, he hooks one leg around it, before letting himself hang from it and slowly hand over hand pulling himself over the water.

Athletics - 25

Neya also attempts to cross on the rope as well.

Acrobatics: 20 (20)

"Have half a mind to just unbind the rope and carry on, but best not tempt fate any more than ya need." Doozey mutters as rolls his neck, stretches his arms, and in general limbers up a bit more before making some final adjustments to secure his gear on his way to the rope. Even his shoes are tied at the laces and bound up further with his belt. Then, in much the same way as a monkey, the stoutling moves with an uncanny agility while climbing upside down along the rope.

-Athletics: 22. (Includes guidance)

Of all CRAPers, Biscuit is the first one to follow Denae. The mastiff is uncertain but clearly trusts Doozey's orders. With steps much lighter than its bulky frame would suggest, the four-legged beast manages to cross the rope successfully, much like his master insisted he could do. Neya steps up next, easily balancing herself across with steps even lighter than those of her Sister (or Biscuit's, for that matter.)

Utar goes next and adopts a different strategy. Relying on his upper body strength, the half-orc recalls his troop days and methodically pulls himself to the other side. Doozey, who had insisted he goes last, foregoes more elaborate plans and copies Utar's tactic across the rope. The halfling can't hold back some simian-like movements as he goes.

Now on the other side, and effectively within the many small plots of land that make up the Ringcurrent Islands, CRAP has a better look at what is very clearly an abandoned village. Up close, it is obvious that some of the huts have been physically knocked over or crushed, with logs snapped like twigs. However, many more of them are oddly destroyed, and the remains show signs of being dissolved or rotting away. Further inland, you see several pairs of ragged winged shapes hanging like decorations high in the tree branches.

The silhouette of a large and powerful lizardfolk appears from behind the trees. It jumps high in the air, grabs one decoration in each hand and rips them from their ropes. It lands, throws them to the ground, and stomps them flat. The lizardfolk strides into the gloom.

@Doozey: Based on your previous knowledge about lizardfolk---specifically, that "your learn everything" roll from a few weeks back---you realize that what you just saw was a lizardfolk variant called a lizard-king, which is more powerful and smarter than the average lizardfolk.

"What in the name of the nine hells was that?!"

"A reason to keep a look out for undesired company," Neya says with a concerned look. "Though I am curious what it was doing."

Neya tries to get a look at the decorations the lizardfolk destroyed, trying to ascertain what it may have been.

Perception: 19 (21)

The moment Doozey laid eyes on the creature and recognized it for what it was, he began to feel his skin start to itch and guts squirm in all too familiar pattern of an oncoming change. But he resists. Barely...

"That... was a Lizard King. And it's certainly not one to be idly trifled with." Doozey says with a grim look. "It's also one of our targets. For so long as both them and the dragon -- or what we suspect to be a draggon -- is around, the other lizardfolks will not be able to easily turned away from their current course." He further explains, then glances up to the decorations, searching for any signs of stirring among the rest that might suggest some liveliness to them as well.

But, realizing they would likely need to get closer to them to be sure, he continued to whisper to the others, "Now may actually be our best chance to deal with the king, as its no simple process in which another may be come one. The question is, do we try to follow them discretely or search elsewhere for the captives? My vote is to follow, as he could very well lead us to them. But, odds are we'll run into any lingering lizardfolks that remained to guard this place."

Denae clicks her tongue: "Rolf had mentioned that something powerful attacked the lizardfolk villages and killed a powerful lizard leader called Scalecrusher. The islands certainly show the direct results from the attack, but do we think Scalecrusher somehow survived?" As Dane points out the nearby destruction, you note the eerie silence in the air (apart from the loud boom of the drums, of course.) You find no obvious evidence of any other living lizardfolk in this destroyed village (apart from the brief sighting of the lizard-king.) In fact, you spot lizardfolk bodies in the rubble of some of the ruined huts.

@Neya: From this distance, it is hard to be completely sure what the destroyed objects are, but, if you had to guess, you could deduce that they are some sort of crude dragon effigies.

@Doozey: From this distance, the other winged hanging objects seem to only move in response to the wind. 

(OOC: If you decide to try to follow the large lizardfolk, please roll a survival check in addition to any other check you find appropriate.)

"If that is Scalecrusher, they might be a common ally against whatever it is tried to usurp their position. A better idea might be to give them both the swerve and get these missing folk back home before we get noticed again."

 "If that IF Scalecrusher, either he's become something of revenant, or the rumors of his death are greatly exaggerated. Otherwise, could just as well be another lizardfolk granted a similar blessing in his stead, as two lizard kings is..." Doozey trails off for a moment, rubbing his chin. "Honestly, t'is unheard of! Perhaps in the rare instance of twins being born to a tribe, but... hm-..." The halfling catches himself and shakes his head.

"Either way, I don't like our odds of getting them out of here. At least not without dealing with the two I mentioned earlier, but, eh... it can wait... I suppose." He frowns. "We can keep explore'n for now. See if we can even -find- our captives first. And to do that, I say we circle around the island and see if we can pick up tracks where they might've frog marched to on the islands. Neya, if you would?" Doozey tries to mirror whatever gesture Neya might've made while using her shadow magic,and perhaps fail in the endeavor. But his meaning would be clear all the same.

Neya nods as she applies her cover once more.

"Whomever it is, they seem to be not fond of dragons. Or more specifically, the one the rest are trying to appease. I do not know what it means for us, however..."

Stealth: 34