You follow the tracks for a couple of miles before they end on the east bank of the Dessarin River. Gouges in the mud show where several keelboats recently landed.

Sparks and flutter look around the area to see if anything was dropped or if anyone continued down the river bank on foot...

Perception:  18  Sparks giving Flutter the help action...

Tangle looks up and down the river.  "Well.  Shit." 

She looks at the group.  "We'd have to head up north to Yartar, or down south to Womford to find a place where keelboaters dock. In either location we could ask around. Seems like a shot in the dark. I recommend we head to the tower.  If we don't turn up anything there we can head further on to Womford."

Coldin crouches at the riverbank, picks up a handful of mud and lets it run through his fingers before standing back up. "Tha tower sounds good. One place ta check off our list a' least." 

Sparks finds a dirty boot, a dagger, and a broken paddle buried in the mud.

Sparks drops the three items on the ground near the group and shrugs.  He nods his agreement for going to this spire or whatever it is.

 Torvin nods and says: " Aye, lets head to the tower."

Tangle prefers to travel in the wilderness and drops her illusion, appearing again as her purple skinned, winged, wooden mask covered self.  She looks like she's about to take flight, her large dark leathery wings opening up.  Then she looks at the river, then back and the group.  "Right. Everyone here know how to swim?"  She sighs heavily.  "We may yet end up at Womford on our way to the tower." 

She begins leading the group on a trek south through the hills, following along beside the river.  She's watching for any place where the group might be able to ford the river.  Barring that, they'll cross at Womford when they end up there.

Dawani looks at the flowing river. "If we need to cross it we can. We should be able to all hold onto a log or something and swim together. You could even try to guide it in on the other side, Tangle"

Coldin looks apprehensively at the river. "Ah canna' swim. A stout dwarf like maself sinks like a stone. If'n we find a place ta cross tha' is shallow ah should be able ta walk across though." 

Sparks just shrugs and heads down the direction Tangle is going, moving to scout along the bank.

Stealth 14

perception: 7

flutter perception:  24

You continue down the river, but the unprecedented rainfall this season has swelled the waters of the Dessarin River, and you cannot find a comfortable location to attempt a crossing. Womford is a good two days’ journey to the south.

After realizing no spot to ford will be found easily, Tangle pipes up, "We'll probably have to go all the way to Womford to get across.  We have a couple days of hiking ahead of us." 

As Tangle leads the group through the wilderness, she sings a quiet haunting tune, her clear voice catching on the wind. 

"In western lands beneath the Sun
the flowers may rise in Spring,
the trees may bud, the waters run,
the merry finches sing.
Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night
and swaying beeches bear
the Elven-stars as jewels white
amid their branching hair.
 
Though here at journey's end I lie
in darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun
and Stars for ever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell."

Sparks keeps scouting the area ahead of the group, with flutter helping him spotting things as they go.

Dawani will catch up to tangle. "That's beautiful, do you mind if I use it?"

Tangle's wooden mask covered face regards Dawani. "I do not own it, it is a song of the world. Sing it as you would." 

Balmar closes his eyes as Tangle sings and begins absentmindedly humming the melody. 

Coldin eyes the river warily as they walk. "Ya know, am really wishin' ah'd learned 'ow ta swim at this point. It's a lot ah walkin' now."

Torvin thinks of the stories he has heard about the crazy weather as he walks alongside the swollen river.

perception: 18

You stop for the night beneath a weeping willow beside the river, and resume your journey at dawn of the following day. It is not until early evening of the second day that you approach the Ironford bridge, two miles north of Womford.

Do you want to stop in Womford for the night, or cross the bridge?