Arell rolled his eyes, again, "We'll add it to the list." he grumbled.

He found a reasonably stout tree branch and tapped the spike into the thicker end with judicious use of a rock, making a reasonable hoe-esque tool, and set to help dig.

He also grabbed the rest of the spikes and stowed them in his pack.  Apparently they might be useful...

The little Fey buried and words said over their bodies, the party moved on.

The woods were alive with birds, insects, and small animals. Occasionally the noises of larger animals could be heard in.the distance.

The trees became denser, the ground foliage thicker occasionally broken by a forest meadow.

The day was cooler beneath the tree boughs. The smell of Pine thick in the air.

Then almost without warning there was the river. 150 feet across at this point and as far as the eye can see either way. The water was somewhat calm at this point and the coloration indicated deeper.

Now all it would take is crafting a way across.

dc 20 to craft an item to make a functional raft, small boat, or canoe.
If someone has survival and can make a DC 15 check the DC drops to 18. A successful knowledge nature DC 15 roll will drop it to school 15. I'll allow one person to roll to craft it. Then I'll allow each of the other 5 to roll 'aid another checks' DC 10 to add +2 to the roll as long as each has a unique and distinctive way of helping...ie cutting the logs, sewing the vines together, etc
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:54, Thu 19 Oct 2017.

Rennick digs into his survival knowledge, to think of some way to help build a raft, but he can't think of anything useful.

12:17, Today: Rennick Hitman rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Survival check to help craft a raft.

Nomerendal took a few moments to admire a stretch of river he'd not been able to dip a line into... at least not yet. His trained eye watched the surface for signs of currents and he even went so far as to fling a few stones with his sling out toward the center of the water. He surveyed the situation and thought he saw something favorable on the far bank.

Nature DC15: Taking 10 for a total of 15.

"Say Arell, you're looking particularly ladder-ish today! Mind hoisting me onto your shoulders so I can get a better look at yonder bank? There may be a calm spot or three which we could steer towards, keeping us from drifting too far down river."  Without waiting for an answer, the little gnome began moving toward the paladin with intents of summit.

"In any body of flowing water, there are portions that move faster than others, these are currents. There are also portions that move significantly slower, almost still, held in place by the rush of said currents. Fish like to hang out at the bottom of those still places and watch for food going by as it takes less energy than holding a position in the current. If we can negotiate the river in such a way as to hit as many of those 'dead spots' as possible, then it will be much less wear on our vessel, and much less effort on our part!"

Glancing over at Rennick, Nom gulped. "Sorry, poor choice of words."

Once he'd finished his observations, he began to hum the bars to a well-known ballad that had a lively pace and helped his companions to focus on their tasks as he lent his small hands to whatever chore was needed.

"A-rafting we will go, a-rafting we will go,
All aboard that's going aboard,
A-rafting we soon go...!"

Varianna nods to Nomerendal, glad someone knew a bit about being on the water. She never really liked it much. "I have some rope we can use to help bind the raft together." she says, producing 50ft of silk rope. She knew a little bit about how machinery worked but crafting a raft was not her forte. Still, her skilled hands could tie good knots.

Arell sighs as he's used as a look-out post.  He knew there was a reason he never had kids...

Once Rendal's done, Arell draws his sword and considers it a moment.  It wasn't really meant for this kind of work, but he had used it on tougher stuff than a bunch of trees.

So he got to work.

OOC:
17:47, Today: Arell Kirkwood rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  DC 10 STR Aid Another.

I've got the STR roll.  Details are vague in case someone wants to pick the trees using WIS.

Tarack looked at his companions and animals. The one idea in his head was that it was very likely that all of them where going to be very wet. A raft should be simple, but ....

At least he had an axe and knew how to use it.


20:19, Today: Tarack Bulslagson rolled 13 using 1d20+11.  Survival.

Rennick uses the handaxe, which he has especially bought for this purpose, to cut trees and remove branches from them.
He carries the tree beams to the place where the raft is going to be constructed.
He put down the supplies which he had bought for constructing the raft near Veriana:

Hempen rope (50 feet)
25 nails
hammer and handaxe (this one after he's ready with cutting trees).

OOC: Rennick is not the one going to make the craft check, cause his INT is only 10! 11:10, Today: Rennick Hitman rolled 5 using 1d20+2.
Con check DC 10 aid another.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:15, Fri 20 Oct 2017.

so we have a DC 18 Target Number for the craft check.

Variana and Arell have both succeeded at aid another with 2 +2's making it a effectively a 14

Rennick Failed.

left to roll for either the actual craft check- Lorn, Nomerendel, Tarack. One of these three have to make the formal check. the other 2 the aid another. If you fail, youll still have a raft just each subsequent crossing theres a chance it will come apart or sink.....the alternative is swimming.... or going up stream to the shallower streams that can be forded. which will add a lot of time.

Tarack takes it upon himself to make the raft. He is not really sure how it is done, but seen enough lumber floated down the river to give it a go. Once the job is done, he pretty much acts as though it is something he does every day.

Tarack Bulslagson rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Craft Raft.

Between Tarack's guiding hand and Arell's strong arm cutting trees, Nomerendal pointing out the right trees and foliage to help and Varianas deft fingers in raiding rope and tieing knots the group has a raft that can carry even Lorns horse across. It will take but one trip for the lot of you, so well crafted is it.

Tarack give yourself a bonus skill point in Craft Rivercraft.

Nomerendal stood with hands on hips and observed the companions' work with a critical eye. "I should say that those lads in my tale ought to have invited the lot of you on their outing! Well done indeed! By the Bones Tarack! I never would have guessed you were so talented! It's a wonder the loggers haven't recruited you."

The little gnome hopped aboard gamely, though it should be noted that he stood very near the center of the raft...

"That spot on the far bank which Arell helped me find should be our target. Isn't this exciting?" He glanced nervously across to what seemed now to be a very far shore.

Rennick was amazed by the dwarf's skill in crafting the raft.
"This is wonderful, Tarack, really, outstanding, I think we can all get to the other side! I'm so proud of our cooperation in this endeavour!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Fri 20 Oct 2017.

Lorn had been standing look out during the crafting of the raft. But mostly he didn't want to be in the way. He had no experience crafting wood and wasn't the physical type either so his contribution in this matter were limited. To make matters worse, he didn't relish the thought of crossing water either since he didn't know how to swim. But everyone seemed pleased with the craft so he set his faith in their skill and in Pharasma. If she wanted him sooner rather than later, so be it.

All of this would have gone unnoticed by his company unless they were paying very close attention to him, as his thoughts were only betrayed by some facial expressions of uneasiness. Lorn lead Helga, his horse, on the raft. It soothed his nerves to see how calm the mere was despite being the first time on any sailing vessel to his knowledge.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:05, Fri 20 Oct 2017.

as The Raft was repared to cross the 150 feet of water, Rennick gathered up the hammer, nails and saw he had brought. the majority of rope he had brought had been put to good use.

The group had 3 stout 20 foot poles to assist in manuevering the raft across the river. It was easily 50 foot square with stout logs and bindings. easily able to take everyone across in one trip...and so they began to load up...

Arell, Rennick, and Varianna took poles and began pushing off...while tarack calmed the animals. Nomerendel stayed towards the center..and Lorn stayed near his horse...

13:40, Today: DM Dread rolled 76 using 1d100.  15% river encounter.

Though all had heard about the dangers of the forest, so far nothing had appeared to give pause...

I need whoever wants to roll either a survival check or aknowledge nature check both dc 15 to manuever straight across the river. How far you fail determines how far downstream you end up. only a natural 1 will cause you to capsize. Only 1 roll allowed. ...there can be only 1 ship capt ;)

Tarack guides the raft across the river while trying to compensate for the current and avoiding other driftwood.

08:10, Today: Tarack Bulslagson rolled 27 using 1d20+11.  Survival .

The raft easily is navigated with tarack pointing out the currents and the shoals for the party to mauever with...until they arrive at the other side and beach the raft, getting off it and then before they head out towards the monastery, they briefly think...what do we do with the raft. Its now early afternoon.

It will be dark by the time they reach the ruins.

"Not bad, not bad at all!" Nom congratulated Tarack on his navigation of the river. "Nothing nearly as exciting as a giant raft-eating whirlpool, but look! We've gotten a long way today! I suppose we ought to tie off the raft here and somehow mark our location?"

The gnome took a final longing look over the river, vowing to himself to one day return to this location and try the depths for fish as big as himself.

The woods on this side seemed a little darker, but then again perhaps it was the time of day. All the same, Nomerendal took his shortbow from across his back and used his knee to string it. "Ready when the rest of you are!" he announced.

Tarack stroked his beard "Lets drag the raft in the bushes over here and cover it with some brush. We will use it to get back across as well."

"I think it will be dark by the time we reach the ruins. Now that won't bother me much ... and some of you have better than average vision ... but we should take a poll if we want to search the ruins in darkness. It may be good to camp some distance from it and enter at first light."

Arell weathers the crossing with his usual stoic cussedness.  One of these days he was going to get himself one of them bottomless bags so he wouldn't have to worry about leaving crap behind...like a wood axe, or a shovel.

He considers Tarrack's point and he doesn't like it one bit, "People will start dying by the night after next.  If we think we can grab everything, even if we stop now, then let's not take the risk.  If we can't, well, then the risk is worth it."

Varianna assists in hiding the raft, just in case they need it in the future. "I think time is not our ally and we should press forward if possible. Arell is right. she says.

Rennick says: "yes, it's a good idea to drag the raft to the bushes. I'll leave the rest of the rope, which we used to craft it, there too.
It may be dangerous to enter the ruins by dark, but we don't have much choice. We're in a terrible hurry."

Its takes the whole party to pull the raft up onto the shore as large as it is, and then hiding it becomes the task at hand.

Satisfied that only direct scrutiny will discover their way back across the river the party begins the trek in the direction of Droskars Crucible, the ruins of the Dwarven Monestary. The forest does indeed become thicker and darker for the first few hours and going is slow through the Forested hills. Its dank and darker and spirits sink a bit beneath the thick boughs of The Darkwood.


Soon the travel goes more up than nought as you begin the climb into the foothills of the mountains and the forest begins to lighten. Its not too long before they find a worn footpath leading to the once proud monestary. Sitting squat at the foot of an imposing mountain, a ruined monastery comes into view between ancient gnarled trees. Made of simple stone blocks, worn smooth with the passage of time, the stout building is falling apart. Sections of the slanted shale roof have collapsed and portions of the outer wall have crumbled. Weeds and wild thorn plants run rampant across the field leading up to the place, leaving only the slightest indication of a path that ends
at the ruined front doors. Beyond, an overgrown yard sits in shadow.

Map: https://1drv.ms/i/s!Aptb6Vt5lI7mnloAkZTYqFDffwX5

Tarack looks over the place and mumbles a bit to himself "Hope there are no goblins or other critters there." Then a bit louder to the rest "There is no way all of us will be silent and unseen in that place. The footing is too perilous to travel without a light and we are searching for mushrooms. We may as well go through the front door and see whats around. I'm going in first ... I can be silent and I see in darkness."

Before moving forward, Tarack casts a spell on himself to give him a bit of an edge (Guidance).

19:55, Today: Tarack Bulslagson rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Stealth.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:42, Thu 26 Oct 2017.

Nomerendal crept along, finding the prospect of exploring old ruins - in the dark - both exhilarating and frightening at the same time. He had his small bow at the ready. "Who's got a torch?" he asked quietly.