Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn

Krackle would continue to bounce excitedly around as them make their way through the forest. When he spots the river he would move down towards the water and quickly refill his waterskin and wash his hands off in the cool water. "So do we need to cross here?" Krackle would ask looking a little concerned to his companions.. "that water looks too deep for me to stand in.."

Perception 14
Acrobatics 17

"Careful, everyone. No telling what might be dwelling in the rapids here."

Acrobatics: 11
Perception: 22

Lumen perception: 6

"Anyone have some rope? We could tie off a length to that tree on this side, and use it in case someone loses their footing. Or at least some of us can hold onto the other end."

Athletics for any rope-holding: 25

Acrobatics: 10

"Dwarves an' water usually don't mix," Chrys says dubiously.  Still, she takes the proffered end of Lumen's rope, once it's secured, and attempts to cross the river.

Perception: 18
Acrobatics: 19, if the rope gives advantage, 20

"I could turn into a fish and swin across maybe if needed.. they you could throw me a rope and I can tie it to the other side" Krackle would suggest as he looks over to water.

(I don't think you can turn into anything with a swim or fly speed yet)

(Enkida's right. Creatures with a swim speed don't come until level 4)

Perception:9

Acrobatics:19

(Maybe I could turn into something small enough to throw across, also dont think Krackle would realize that he couldn't be a fish... could be fun for hin to jump into the water only to realize he isnt turning into anything)

(Well he wouldn't be alone, according to most of our acrobatics rolls, LOL)

You stand there at the edge of the river and wait for Lumen to tie the rope onto the one of the trees. When it's secure, you space yourselves out, and then step into the rushing water while holding onto the rope for added safety and security. Krackle goes first, and being the diminutive height that he is, he finds himself wading deeper into chest high water.

Immediately, his clothes and body are soaked, but he keeps forging his way across, his clawed feet finding good purchase along the rocky bottom of the creek. The flow of the water pushes steadily against him with moderate force, but with his hand on the rope and his steady footing, he's able to remain upright, and keep moving. After about six or seven steps, he's through the deepest section, and with just a few more feet, he emerges safely onto the other side of the bank. 

Seeing the short, and not very strong kobold successfully navigate the crossing, the rest of you each take your turn. Grabbing onto the rope, you step out into the stream and try to follow the same path that Krackle took, with Kess in the lead. The first few feet offer decent footing, which allows you to remain steady against the current. A couple more paces, and you all continue into the deepest part of the stream and feel the current pushing harder against you. The rest of you stand waist high, although Chrys finds herself in water that comes up to the middle of her torso. 

It seems to be going well, and you move slowly and deliberately, one at a time.... until you step onto a very slippery section of cobbles that immediately throws you off balance. Kess goes first, and with a brief shriek, she loses her footing, which inadvertently causes her to let go of the rope. The current sweeps her downstream, and for a few brief moments, you see her flailing and swimming in the middle of the river. Fortunately, it only lasts a few seconds before she's able to fight her way over to the other side and emerge on the opposite bank about twenty feet downstream. She's soaked from head to toe, but otherwise unharmed and is now safely across. 

Thinking that perhaps they can avoid whatever caused Kess to slip, Lumen and Chrys go next, and just as happened to the elf, they two go down in pretty much the same spot, and spend a few wet, chilly seconds awkwardly flailing and swimming before ending up on the other bank right near Kess. Finally, the usually agile Vesper takes a slightly different path across the river, but also slips on the same patch of moss-covered rock and ends up doing the same ungraceful tumble as she too ends up soaking wet on the other bank with the rest of you.

"Maybe next time.. I can turn Into a bull or something and carry you all across" Krackle would say as he moves to collect some dry sticks. A moment later he would cast produce flame and start a small fire to help dry their clothes. "Here! Maybe this will help! we dont want to get sick again" The small kobold would add.

Vesper casts Prestidigitation on everyone. "Here, this should get it done quicker."

"Thank you, Vesper. Very helpful. That was... not graceful." Lumen harrumphs, shaking water out of his ear. He checks to make sure his instruments and other things are safe, and tries to grab the rope and secure it to the near bank. "Well, shall we keep moving?"

"Oh wow thanks Vesper!" Krackle would reply as he kicks the few small flaming sticks into the flowing water. "Let's go!" The kobold would shout excitedly as he bounces towards the front of the group.

"Thank... thank you, Vesper," Kess finally manages as she is dried by the cantrip, though for a moment her hair remains drooped straight and wildly over her face before taking a moment to catch her breath, straightening and fixing her wild locks to once again look presentable.

She tries to seem unperturbed, but the violet blush of Kess' cheeks make it clear that she is VERY embarrassed at slipping and falling. By the Lady Three-in-One, she was Tel'Quessir! Such a lack of grace was uncharacteristic.

Following your terribly awkward crossing, you all scramble further up onto the bank of dirt, rocks and fallen leaves and regaining your composure. Taking advantage of Vesper's and Krackle's cantrips, you do your best to dry your thoroughly waterlogged clothing, which feels heavy, wet, and quite uncomfortable beneath your armor. Fortunately all of your possessions are intact and nothing was lost in the river, including Lumen's instruments.

While you're taking the time to situate yourselves and get ready to continue, Chrys and Vesper both catch something out of the corner of their eyes. Looking up, they see a group of four figures standing higher up on the bank, about twenty five feet away: a human female, two half elves, (male and female) and a dark haired male elf with coppery skin- you almost didn't notice him, as he's fairly well obscured in is position among the trees. 

All four are wearing dark green cloaks over studded leather armor and holding long bows pointed down, but in your general direction with arrows nocked in the strings, but not drawn. They are looking down at you with what appears to be a mix of slight suspicion and curiosity. The rest of you don't notice these figures, until you surprisnigly hear the voice of the human female speak out from a short distance away.

"Well, that was entertaining to watch. Not very experienced in the wilds of the wood, are you? What's a rag tag group like you doing floundering around in the streams inside the High Forest? Speak quickly, or we may decide that you are foes and do something rash."

"Foes? We don't aim to be. Perhaps not very adept at crossing rivers, though. I am Lumen, a humble musician. We are simply on our way looking for the welfare of a friend of a friend of ours. Our friend is Master Dundragon, who hasn't been around here in a while, maybe you know him? Our goal is to stay on the path, check in on his friend's welfare, and then get back to Noanar's Hold. Nothing more. I hope you don't do anything rash. Not a good way to start out the day."

He's doing his best to be charming and affable and not threatening.

"Hi! My name is krackle!" The kobold would shout with a wave. "Yeah we got really wet.. the rocks were awfully slippery. I told them I should turn into a fish and swim across or something and then I could have tied a rope to a tree maybe... I don't know... I guess I probably needed a bath anyway and my friend Vesper here helped dry out our clothes so it isn't so bad." Krackle would reply excitedly as he hold up his mostly dry robe. 

"Damn! I got my bath o' the year," Chrys complains as she does her best to dry herself off.  She smiles thankfully as Vesper and Krackle speed up the process exponentially, though her hair suffers terribly for it, going almost as wild as it usually does upon waking up from the quick-dry.

She pauses as the other strangers make themselves known and question them, and adds on to Lumen's statement:  "Yeah.  His friend's name is Phelannie.  She's a dryad 'round here somewhere.  He's worried 'cause he hasn't heard from her in a bit an' sent us ta make sure she ain't in any sorta trouble.  We were thinkin' ta find her somewhere near where the River Dessarin enters these woods, but honestly, I'm completely lost already," she adds a bit nervously.  "Y'all ever heard of this Phelannie, or know where she lives?"