"I'm glad you still seem fine." Azatch said truthfully. He knew that being suspicious necessarily meant missing out on certain types of adventures, but from before the day he was born, he was a survivor.

Yesterday, she'd have agreed with Azatch as to the dangers of consuming that food.  But, she had reason to feel elsewise now.   As well as a promise, of sorts, to keep. Once she had a clearer idea of what needed to be done.

She assisted with breaking camp; any tasks that needed to be done, saying nothing.

Up early, Sundos was speaking to Lenelle and Cela. "I love this time of the day. Just before Sunrise. You know that Sunrise is the most sacred time of the day? It's when Light conquers Darkness. I love Sunrise. It gives me hope, that even when things are the darkest, if we can hold out a little longer, Sunrise and Light will shortly return."

He smiled at them. "Will you two excuse me a minute? I would like to be alone for little while."

He walked over to the eastern edge of the camp. With arms out stretched, he greeted the Sun at Sunrise. A start to a new day.

After Sundos finished his morning prayers to Pelor, the group broke camp. They folded up the sleeping blankets, packed their bags, and Grog cleared the campfire. Skye took a few pointers from Azatch about his old stomping grounds, and the pair collaborated to guide them through the swamp. The first hour passed as quickly as their brisk marching pace. They admired the cypress trees that stretched languorously from the vast expanse of water.

By mid-morning, their pace slowed as they trudged through muddy waters. They hacked away the tangled vines that hung in their way. Overhead, the sunlight once again dimmed as the tree cover thickened. Soon, the party found themselves crossing a lazy river covered in lily pads and bits of pond scum from adjoining streams. The water they slogged through hit them just chest-high, and Skye found herself straddling Azatch’s shoulders. The water was so murky that they  couldn’t see their own legs.

OOC:

Perception checks, everybody!

Azatch takes the lead, hoping to make up for the day before.

Perception: 18 (with or without adv)

Traill, perched on the half orc, had a look mixed between embarrassment and irritation, as she looked around the swampy water

<OOC: Skye Keenshadow rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  Perception check>

As they set out on foot again, Simon regales the folks with a method of faster travel used in far off lands. Yes: The Tale of the Dog, the Sea-Gar, and the Flying Ship

"In distant Halruaa, magic is part of every aspect of life, even travel. Those who have more monay than time (you know the sort) ride flying ships (galleons and the like that take to the air and go far over the land) to travel long distances.

"Now, these sorts of people thing the world revolves around them, and really dislike not getting their way. Two such were the man and the woman that met on one fine flying ship during a long journey ne day ling past.

"The man had a hobby. He liked the taste of smoke in his lungs. Not pipeweed and a pipe, like halflings, mind you, but a Maztecan herb that is also smoked, but not chopped and flavored and packed in a pipe, rather the leaves are gathered and rolled tightly into a cylinder. The end of the cylinder was cut off and placed in the mouth, while the other end was lit on fire. Smoke was sucked into the lungs much like a pipe, but without the flavoring and herbal additions, it can smell quite disgusting, or so I'm told. They are called Sea-Gars, like some sort of ocean fish.

"The woman, on the other hand, had a more typical hoppy: A small yapping ankle biting  canine. Well, in theory a canine. I'm told it had more in common with rodents.

"Now, placement on these flying ships was often assigned seating on crowded journeys, and the woman and the man had adjoining seats near the guardrail. As you can expect, the dog was left to it's own devices, which resulted in the man's footwear being slobbered on, chewed, and even...well, the little yapper may have relieved itself on his boots. Meanwhile, the woman thought she was living in the center of a Stinking Cloud spell, gasping for air the whole journey.

"As can be expected, the two had words, both thinking the other should do what was necessary for the other's comfort. Eventually, once things became unsurvivable for both, a compromise was reached. Both dog and Sea-Gar were tossed over the guardrail.

"Things became much more pleasant for the two...and the twenty or thirty other passengers around them. Until a sound was heard form over the rail. Looking down, they saw, on the stabilization fin, the dog. You can imagine what it had in it's mouth."

OOC:
I hate just posting the checks, so I added some filler.

22:46, Today: Simon rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  perception.

The hike through the jungle is a pain in the ass, but Sundos is having fun. He's excited to be surrounded by so much life. This is a truly blessed land.

He doesn't know the name of any of the plants or flowers, but he is excited to see any flowers or colorful birds fly by.

OOC:
00:29, Today: Sundos Brightblood rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  Perception.

  Grog will pat down his various wounds, shrug, and raise his hand to just below his pecs.

  Grog will smile, and offer a better reply. "I good now."

Grog will chuckle a bit at them throwing the dogs over the guard rail, and again at that line.  He finally appeared to be paying attention to one of Simon's stories.

((Grog rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Perception Check.))

OOC: 10:00, Today: Cela rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  perception.

Cela does not like trudging through the swamp, complaining about the water but staying near the front (just behind the guides)

She brings up a concern.  "We'll need to carry the supplies back to the ship on a cart.  It won't be easy to bring them this way."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

Simon waits a bit then nods, "Yes, a brick, of course."

Lenelle Toreth rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  perception.

Pond scum never did anything for her mood.  Not that she'd ever had any direct encounters with it previously.  There was a first time for everything.   Nonetheless, there was a deeper sense of purpose she'd not possessed before.   It centered her, increased her determination.

Traill atop Azatch's shoulder made her briefly smile. And she was some impressed with Simon's capacity to relate a longish tale, while keeping his footing in the mud, and plowing through the deep water.

"Maybe we can hire some help?" she ventured, in response to Cela's very relevant concern.

Lenelle also ceased moving momentarily, to focus do something she should have done earlier...

Casting Mage armor
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

In reply to Lenelle Toreth (msg # 186):

Simon shrugs, "Well, depending on how much it all weighs and how many trips I'd need, we could just put most or all of it in my pavilion."

Grog actually seemed engaged by Simon’s latest tale, while Sundos appreciated the large blooms of Magnolias on the river bank. They could be forgiven for failing to notice the large submerged mass that swept past them in the murky waters. Cela jerked forward when she felt movement at her back that seemed like a massive log briefly break the party’s marching order. She double-stepped forward with a quickness that caught the attention of everyone except Grog & Sundos.

Lenelle & Skye spotted movement in the water as it stirred the water in a large ripple to their left. Azatch cautiously scanned the area, well-verses in the creatures that stalked the swamp of his boyhood! His eyes darted toward the river bank ahead, noting the bushes and reeds that looked as if they’d been smushed by an overturned oak tree. He realized what likely lurked in the river waters near them!

Although Simon regaled his party with another tall tale, that didn’t mean he failed in maintaining his vigilance. A splash nearby told him that the Efreet upheld his end of the pact once again, as a large claw that glanced harmlessly resulted in the creature attached being shoved upriver! The Warlock and Barbarian realized that they only had seconds to leave the river! A quiet voice in Simon’s mind whispered of a menace quite families to those of his desert homeland, a threat equalily familiar to Azatch in the swamps near Deadwater: Crocodile.

To make it worse, Azatch and Simon realized with dread awareness that they would soon face a Giant Crocodile!

OOC:

You have a head start in exiting the river with a Swim check. The Giant Crocodile swam 50 feet away and circled back.

 
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:05, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

"That Crocodile that's been watching us is back." Simon heads for high ground while prepping his first defense.

OOC:
10:07, Today: Simon rolled 5 using 1d4+4.  False Life.

Edit: Swim Check:
11:08, Today: Simon rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  Swim: Athletics .

Edit 2:
12:09, Today: Simon rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  initiative.

This message was last edited by the player at 19:09, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

"Wait..what? Aww... shit."

Sundos sticks by Grog and pushed him towards the nearest shore line. "Let's get out of the water, everybody."

EDIT Forgot the swim roll


12:43, Today: Sundos Brightblood rolled 17 using 1d20.  Swim.

EDIT EDIT
14:27, Today: Sundos Brightblood rolled 10 using 1d20.  Initiative .
This message was last edited by the player at 20:27, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

Cela heads for the shore as quickly as she can.

13:33, Today: Cela rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  swim.
If I can use feline agility to double speed here, I will do so.

15:06, Today: Cela rolled 23 using 1d20+3.  init.
edit: adding initiative
This message was last edited by the player at 19:06, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

Grog was quick to act when alerted, and swam with a bit of a slow start.  Assuming he wasn't grabbed and pulled under, he'd likely only gain time from here.

((Grog rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  Swim (Athletics) Check.))

((Well, knowing how far we need to swim (from here) would be nice.  It likely has (at minimum) double our swim speed not accounting for speed penalties.  Just a request, not a requirement. :P ))

((EDIT: Grog rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.))
This message was last edited by the player at 20:01, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

Lenelle Toreth rolled 6 using 1d20-1.  swim check.

Lenelle simply wasn't a strong enough swimmer to manage what most of the others were doing.   She knew a moment of panic, as she realized she wasn't going to make it out before that thing circled back.   But, resolve came in on the heels of that; and she readied herself as much she could.  The words of the spell she thought, prayed would be most effective, at the forefront of her mind...

Lenelle Toreth rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:58, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

Azatch, a half-orc of few words, reaches for something at his belt while reaching up to put a bracing hand on the halfling's shoulder. His other hand came up out of the water with a stoppered potion. He yanked the cork plug out with his teeth, then gulped down the potion which caused his body to surge then Enlarge to double his normal size.

He stepped toward the shore, scooping Lennelle on his way, then deposited her and the halfling on dry-ish ground.

The now-giant Azatch turned to confront and intercept the croc.

Initiative: 14

Traill, at her vantage point, recognised the signs of the animal before she saw the ganger, her hand closing tightly on Azatch's shoulder. "Get me as close to the shore as you can and i can cover you" she muttered, her other hand grasped on her shortbow.

<OOC: Skye Keenshadow rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  iniative.

When I get close enough to wade to dry land, Traill will jump off and cover people with her bow.

…even simon  >

Cela’s hatred of being wet fueled her feline speed, and she reached the shore first with much hissing and spitting. Lenelle wasn’t much of a swimmer, so she prepared herself for an ordeal with a crocodile the size of an oak tree by readying a spell. Despite his muscled bulk, Grog successfully closed the remaining distance and stumbled ashore!

Not far away, Azatch saw Lenelle’s distress and acted. He grabbed the Potion of Growth, popping the cap and chugging the pungent brew. His limbs spawned and elongated, as the Barbarian doubled in size and proportionate strength! Standing nearly fifteen feet tall, the giant snatched up Lenelle and strode toward shore. When he walked within six feet, he tossed her gently on the river bank.

Meanwhile, Simon surprised himself by keeping up with Cela & Grog! A speed born of desperation brought the Warlock ashore, too, and he wasted no time casting his False Life spell. Sundos meant well, trying to help Grog, but the Minotaur managed without him. He sloshed out of the water the same time Skye leapt off the enlarged Azatch’s shoulder. The Halfling tumbled off, quickly springing to her feet and pulling her crossbow.

The Giant Crocodile raised a fearsome snout from the water, making the party’s jaws drop when they saw the intimidating size of the reptile! It swam toward shore with astonishing speed. However, a fifteen foot tall Azatch stood between the huge beast and his companions!

OOC: Combat begins the next round, same order of Initiative!

Initiative

Cela
Lenelle
Grog
Azatch
Simon
Sundos
Skye
Giant Crocodile
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:59, Fri 16 Apr 2021.

Simon considers nipping into his pavilion for his crossbow, but settles for his ever popular Flaming Rays of Mediocrity. Even when he hits, it's like his stories: No one gets the punchline.

OOC:
22:38, Today: Simon rolled 6,2 using 2d6+2,2d6.  scorching ray 2 hits (I think).
22:37, Today: Simon rolled 18,10,23 using 1d20+4,1d20+4,1d20+4.  Scorching Ray x3.

If an 18 hits, 8 fire damage, if not, only 4.

Still dripping from the disgusting swamp, Cela pulls out the javelin strapped to the side of her pack and hurls it at the snout raising from the water.

09:16, Today: Cela rolled 22(hit),4 (dam) using d20+5,d6+3.  throw javelin.

It was a little challenging to process all at once:   Imminent crocodilian doom...striving to get her wits together for a spell...suddenly being snatched from harm's way by a goliath barbarian...back on reasonably dry land, and...right; the spell!

She changed her mind from what she'd been planning; resorting to her mainstay instead.   She took aim, desperately wanting to hit; to eliminate the threat to the one who'd bravely aided her.   That desperation became a silent, inuitive invocation to a deity she still didn't have a name for:

Cast Guiding bolt (at croc) as 2nd level spell ::
Lenelle Toreth rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  guiding bolt.
Lenelle Toreth rolled 6 using 2d4.  favored by the gods. -added to attack roll
Total to hit = 20
Lenelle Toreth rolled 12 using 5d6.  (Ugh, mediocrity... but Simon's still the king!)

Next attack on Croc advantaged, due to lingering glow   (Azatch, I believe, based on Grog's choice)
 
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Fri 16 Apr 2021.