notes:[sblock] Thanks for the input, Rae. I'm not sure the best way to handle this. I did hit the pool this morning to test it out a bit. I'm no Thorpedo, but I'm a good swimmer and in good shape. I found I could swim the length of the pool on top of the water without stopping for breath, barely. This is only 73 feet. I couldn't even get that far underwater on one lungfull. I think the swim checks are very generous. I suppose I'm not a hero, though, unlike our PCs. The roots can be carried by anyone who can take -2 on their swim check. Let's assume Ogrin & Razh were carrying the roots you cut. Hogarth is swimming along just fine (as well as anyone else, anyway)[/sblock]
Rinaldo continues to swim as the others struggle to help Ashnar. I'm going to assume he must slow down once he's swimming in the darkness. Continuing at half speed, he hits the air at round 14.
Round 14: Rinaldo surfaces in the dark. Ashnar flounders. His companions push him another 5 feet (to 105)
Round 15 & 16: Ashnar manages to get his act together and makes good progress for awhile. (to 135). Rinaldo catches his breath.
Round 17: Ashnar looses his rhythm, but Nurlan keeps him going some. (to 140.) Rinaldo catches some air in his tube, which seems to work rather well.
Round 18. Rinaldo dives back under and heads back towards the light, which is now almost on him. In fact, Ashnar keeps it together and surfaces this round.
Everyone surfaces in the damp cave. Heading to the sandy shore, the group realizes that the log is in fact, a log. Unfortunately, the passage out of the cave yeilds nothing but a dead end.
The party's first full-scale foray underwater has been succeeded, although it was scary and not much was gained. And Rinaldo seems to have stumbled upon a way to extend the lungpower of one swimmer.
