"I suppose we're supposed to cross in the canoes. I can row one of them. Any volunteers to join. Me?"

Ornwin looks dubiously at the canoes and confesses, "A river runs near our dwarven halls, but we leave the trade on it to men and elves. I have never paddled my own canoe before."

Rasxif scrabbles about on the cavern shore which the party has found themselves on, searching for a stone. Once he happens upon one about the size of his fist, he tosses it into the pool, trying for its deeper portion.

“I guess there is no way to avoid it. Seems our path forward involves canoes. 2x2x1 - one fighter in each. But let’s search the statue and braziers first…”

"Does the water flow deeply? If so, perhaps armor should be removed for the trip, lest a boat capsizes or is tipped. It could be tied to the boat so if there is a tipping, it will not be irrecoverable." Archonia suggested.

The three canoes were convenient- two per craft. Turning to Cassandra, "The Amaranthine Doxy is more comfortable with flying, so you should ride with Ornwin to compensate his inexperience. The Amaranthine Doxy will travel with Brant or Rasxif, whichever is the more skilled boatsman, and..." Archonia paused, to let the half-elf introduce herself, "... traveling with the other."

Since there were enough others to search the statue and braziers, she went to search the canoes and see if there was anything left inside, other than paddles.

(Note- post edited to account for Hieroman the druid)
This message was last edited by the player at 10:15, Sun 17 Mar.

Ornwin sys gratefully, "I would be happy to travel with Cassandra if she will have me. I hate to take off my armor, but I admit I would be less likely to sink without it. Before I do that, though, I would like to take a look at that statue and the carvings on the wall." He goes over and cautiously examines the stones with his dwarven skills, looking for any hidden compartments or other interesting features, though being wary of possible traps.

Each canoe comes outfitted with a pair of paddles.

Brant's tossed stone plunges to the unknown depths of the subterranean pool. If there any that feed upon stone within the pool, they do not make themselves known. As far as the depth of the water, it can only be reasonably be deduced that it's deep enough to warrant passage by canoe.

The statue and the carvings do supply a pleasingly pastoral scene. The snakes loll about upon rocks under the sun whilst the humans shepherd goats in and about the hillocks, conveniently supplied, as noted, with rocky outcroppings upon which ophidians might take their leisure. On a few of the rocks, humans and snakes might be observed taking their leisure to together if that is what it might be called. It's not hard to see why Chester had been attracted to this tale, now apparently quite real.

There is a sixth among you, one Hieroman, lady half-elf extraordinaire.
Did you want to send Brant ahead (and presumably have to backtrack to retrieve the 6th) or set off in a canoe squadron of pairs?

"We should be able to split up, two to a canoe," says Brant. Then he adds, "If we get attacked, the two faster boats can get to safety." He starts to smirk but does a double-take at the sudden appearance of the half-elf. "And where did you come from, then?"

"Damned if I know. Myself and four others were trapped in some kind of giant lidless barrel. No matter how hard we tried, none of us could climb out to see if there were a world beyond. It was the five of us in search of an exit. After time immeasurable, or maybe about a half an hour, a giant hand descended from the sky, if it were sky above, and plucked me from our barrel home. Next thing I knew, I saw the lot of you and joined up as quick as I could."

First one, then the next, and then all three canoes have been launched into the cavern pool with the eyes of their crew fixed upon the murksome depths of the water. At first, predictably, it's smooth oaring, with the waters parting gently for the passage of the three craft across the pool and towards an opening on its eastern side. Then, the water begins to churn and swirl, such that it starts to splash over the sides of the canoes, wetting their rowers. Twisty, scaly, and decadently snouted forms surge towards the surface.

The Float Rises! The Sacrifices Offered!


Disclaimer: The above is an artist's representation and may not accurately depict events, imagined or otherwise. Artist might have been Jim Holloway?

18:41, Today: The Host rolled 3,4 using d6,d6.  surprise check Guests/Float.
Neither the guests nor the float are surprised.

18:43, Today: The Host rolled 2,1 using d6+1,d6.  Init Guests/Float.
The guests have initiative.

1 Float of Crocodiles
1 Large  AC 4 (near 2nd canoe)
4 Normal AC 5 (2 near 1st, 2 near 3rd)
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:19, Sun 17 Mar.

“A curious tale. But wherever you were matters not- you now travel  with us through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind, as we journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of shadow and substance, of things and ideas. Despite no signpost, the Amaranthine Doxy thinks our next stop- The Forbidden City!"

The crocodile attack, with the giant one near herself and Rasxif, the two squishiest members, was upsetting, as she had no desire to be eaten in this manner today. She cast a sleep spell.

Ornwin readies his axe, but not wishing to risk overturning the canoe, he does not strike at a crocodile unless one is close enough for him to hit without risking overbalancing.

Brant draws his sword but wishes he had the 30' pole arm. He waits to see the effect of Archonia' spell.

Rasxif begins to speak the incantation for the color spray illusion, intending to direct it at the large crocodile, if it is unaffected by Archonia’s sleep enchantment.

Cassandra paddles faster to try to get her canoe away from the crocs. She can do little to disable or effectively attack the crocs, but she can help move the 3rd canoe and try to maintain balance for Ornwin.

Brant jabs at the croc near his canoe.

21:23, Today: Brant rolled 13,5 using 1d20+1,1d8+1.  attack croc. – 13,5.

Arch casts sleep, the two crocodiles threatening Orwin and Cass's canoe and one of the two threatening Brant and Hieroman's are affected and sink to the bottom of the pond, if bottom it has.

Rasxif targets Papa Croc Duvalier with Colour Spray:
10:17, Today: The Host, on behalf of Rasxif, rolled 1 using 1d2.  Number of rounds blinded.
Papa Croc is blinded for this round.

Brant wounds the croc near his canoe for 5 dmg.

Orwin passes.

Cass reconsiders. There are no crocs near her canoe.

Hieroman casts Hold Animal, targeting Papa Croc:
10:24, Today: The Host rolled 0 using 1d20-4.  Papa Croc Save v. Hold Animal.
Papa Cros is held, per the spell.
Does the largest croc of the float float when immobilized? I do not know.

The only member of the float able to float of its own volition flees into the unsounded depths of the pool.

Combat Over.
Announcement: The Easter Egg Hunt has already begun!
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:31, Wed 20 Mar.

"Perhaps we should paddle all the faster, in case they awake and come back," Archonia suggested, "or before something decides to investigate the smell of blood and the splashing."

Brant heeds Archonia's concerns and doubles his effort at rowing.

Ornwin paddles as strongly as he can, though clumsily.

Although Rasxif lacks the stature of his companions, he endeavors to row with all of the strength he can muster, eager to set foot on dry land once more.

Hieroman looks to keep pace with Brant, but doesn't have his strength, and can't pull the paddle through the water as quickly as him.  Soon her breathing is very labour, but she keeps going.

The natural caverns end here in a small beach. Extending from the beach is a passage of worked stone. Two canoes have been pulled up onto the shore and the footprints of many creatures mar the smoothness of the sand. These prints are jumbled and old, making it impossible to identify the type of creatures that made them.



I think the 200' refers to depth although I couldn't say for sure. The passage does end in a stone door on the eastern side of the map.

After landing at 3, Brant steps onto the beach and takes a look around. If nothing appears, he takes a few steps into the passage north and listens for any sign of life/danger.

The two jagged lines with 200' next to it is a cartographers way of showing 200 feet of straight corridor has been omitted from the map.

Hieroman also steps out of the canoe but holds the side as Brant moves forward onto the beach.  As he makes to look around, she grabs the front and then with a heave she uses her body weight to drag it onto the sand so it is more firmly lodged.  At only 100 pounds, it doesn't move much, so she takes out her backpack from the front and pulls again until it is secure on the beach.

Archonia exited the canoe. As before, she checked the other ones already present, seeing if anything had been left inside.