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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 5296494" data-attributes="member: 16069">I would go for one long skill challenge with various stages of success, and create some scenery for the players to react with- rapids, over hanging branches etc, tight twisting corners- not only do the PCs lose Healing Surges but the rafts get damaged (something simple like Raft has 6 points, fail skill check and lose 1 point). The PCs can stop and repair their craft but that may lead to an Elemental Attack.So maybe two stages of the Skill Challenge en route to the Falls, with constant skill checks needed in between these- but with only minor consequences for failing- boat damage, -2 on next check; checks at this point are only Minor Actions.During these quiet times on the river the Elementals Attack so the PCs need to continue with the minor action Skill Challenge (just something like inhabitants of each craft need to gain one success/turn or else some minor damage as above).After one or two Elemental Fights, personally I'd only go for one and perhaps throw in a different encounter with something Fey/Sprite-ish, that the PCs could befriend- some guardian spirit of the Fire Forest (I've not read the module, although I've got it) or else the spirit of the River (actually the later is my favourite)- possibly throw this in as another Skill Challenge, particularly if the PCs stop to repair their boats- really simple Skill Challenge 4/3, the Spirit of the River tells them nothing much but if successful provides bonuses to Skill Challenges to guide the boat down the river.Think Studio Ghibli (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_Ghibli)-" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_Ghibli)-</a> Spirited Away, that kind of thing- with the PCs hurtling along a large Brown Trout leaps out the water and-“Hello” Sploosh.Cue confused PCs.Talking Fish (River Spirit) needs a personality of course, and acting up- something fun to break up the mad Skill Challenge combats, and reward good play if it’s a Skill Challenge, so feeding him is a Success, obviously compliments are good also.The River Spirit is just curious, obviously he’s also a bit pissed what with all the fire, it puts people off, he’s lonely- he wants to chat and just make friends.Obviously if the PCs don’t make friends with the fish then they get no help later on, someone in the boat should figure it out that an aquatic creature would be a suitable ally if they’re making checks to stay afloat.Then the climax with bad guy, and with the PCs having X turns of river left before they're pitched over the falls- the ongoing Skill Challenge steps up, but still can be done with Minor's (although Standard Actions increase likelihood of success), and of course the River Spirit may be there to help them. This with the ongoing fracas with the Lurker et al should keep them busy- obviously the Lurker has to get the box before the PCs go over the falls and out of reach- he gets desperate, even trying to stop the boats from going over the falls.Whatever happens the boats finally go over and either...Continue Skill Challenge as per previous comment (Endurance checks, Acrobatics/Athletics to get to the surface (an individual Skill Challenge (Check = Move Action so can do 2/turn) for each PC (although can aid another)- need 2 successes to break surface, each failure say goodbye to another Healing Surge or Level HP).Or else...The PCs find themselves in a small damp chamber, underwater and having no problems breathing- including the Flaming Zombie guy, and soon after beholden to the River Spirit- which gives you another Plot point in which you can introduce something that's two scenarios from now, a new Patron. Flaming Zombie guy effectively geased- succeed at whatever the quest is or else the River Spirit will release his/her magic and they will become Flaming Zombie guy- set a time limit and make the transformation slow if you like, so the PC become zombified and flaming in slow stages- some of which may be beneficial (flaming hand attack), some of them less so (reduced to 0 HP automatically on critical, or at least takes extra damage on crit.)Make it memorable, either way I think you’re on to a winner, as previous structure- this follows this follows this, obviously you can shift things around (the order, drop encounters etc.). The players have gone off-road, your turn to do the same.</blockquote>

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