"Aw," Katia was touched, "it eats!" Trying not do make a sudden moves, she tried to through another bat to the frog.

Crouching down and watching from where he is, the old man snickers, "Well. Aintcha a biggin. How's about you and I be friendly?" and tosses another Bat along with Katia Speaking low to his cohorts, "Thinkin' they be serious they rode the thing? Or same board from last water? or whatever that cat finds."

17 (If you wanted another animal handling check)

Hearing no harm come to Red, Harley moves closer to the new cavern. Assuming she can see from Daelnar's light, she continues listening carefully and looks around the cavern, without stepping out from the pathway and into the actual cavern yet. She especially makes sure to look up, wondering if bats still inhabit the area.

Perception check?: 12

(If a survival check is needed or can be used instead, just add 2)

Harley can hear the unmistakable chitter of bats in the cavern.

Old Croaker catches Malik's bat in midair with its tongue, yanking it back into its mouth with incredible speed.  The giant frog turns around and sits, facing north, on the pool's edge, waiting...

 "May be we have to take more bats with us and get on his back? Then than thank him on the other side?" Katia was so curious that risked it and was first to step on the back of the frog, offering Malik hand to climb after her.

Shagar, hesitant to trust the beast, stays put, bow drawn, till everyone seems safe then will join them

Red Chanter doesn't like the prospect of trusting their continued wellbeing to a monster frog. She calmly walks back to the cave entrance and lifts the plank they used to cross the first pool and carries it back to put over the current obstacle.

Red finds that the plank at the entrance has disappeared.  Perhaps the elven bandits carried it with them...

You see Red Chanter return empty-handed, shaking her head and muttering curses.

Daelnar follows suit and steps gingerly onto the back of the giant frog. "Gotta be a first time for e'rythin'... So lon' as he don't toss us up an eat us half way, this could be fun."

 Shrugging and trotting along with the other two accepting Katia's aid will climb on up, "Eh, wouldnt' be the first chomping I sufferred. Less teethen this time."

Growling quietly, Red Chanter climbs on as well. She stays crouched and ready to jump off and grab for a wall.

Harley follows her companions back to the other fork in the path. She looks in the barrel to see how many bats are left. If she can get past the frog, she then dips a hand in the water, trying to see how cold it is.

Old Croaker waits patiently as Daelnar and Malik climb onto her back. After another moment, she slides easily into the ice-cold pool, kicks gently, and glides across with a single stroke. Once at the other side, she crawls halfway out of the water, allowing the two to step off onto the northern rocks. She repeats this process as often as necessary, accepting any bats the party cares to spare. Once done, she reclaims her resting place at the bottom of the pool.

Ahead there’s a sharp turn in the tunnel. Somewhere beyond, a flickering fire casts a pale light and a series of dance shadows against the wall. A faint chanting can be heard echoing through the tunnel.

(Actions?)

Red Chanter slinks through the shadows to get a better view of the tunnel ahead. If she senses danger, she'll slink back. If she's discovered, she'll dash back.

Stealth: 18

Perception: 21

Red rounds the bend.

A warm rush of heat comes from a massive fire burning in the center of this cavern, its smoke venting up through a narrow stone chimney. The flames illuminate a rough painting of a five-headed dragon that dominates the north wall. A bedroll is spread out beneath the mural. Near the crackling blaze, a dwarf bundled in a heavy cloak sits on a stone chest beside an elf whose face is covered in dragon tattoos. The dwarf’s face is streaked with pulsing blue veins. Near them, another elven bandit cleans his weapons.

The dwarven female and the tattooed elf appear to be in a meditative trance, chanting incessantly as they stare into the flames.

They appear not to notice Red.

Daelnar dismounts from ther impromptu barge and looks around on this side to see if there are any more bats lying around that can be used to pay the ferryfrog for the return journey. If not, he will call to one of the others coming across on a later journey to bring some with them.

As Red moves forwards, Daelnar makes an effort to hide the glow from the hand axe, now returned to the tie on his belt. He moves carefully forwards, glaive at the ready in case things go awry.

Stealth: 7

Slinking back, Red Chanter tells the others what she's seen.

"Should we rush in and kill everyone and then look for the relic?" She eyes Daelnar. "Or announce our presence and try to talk?" She looks to Malik.

"Kill?!" Sure these were cultists and bandits that steel something from the village, but... just marching in and kill two unaware people? "Let's at least try to talk."

(3 people)

Red Chanter shrugs. "It seems like a recurring theme with this group so I figured it was best to put it on the table to see if anyone reached for it."