James tags along as well.

"Hey, wait up!", he will shout if the rider begins to outpace him.

The rider rides to within hailing distance of you and then reins in his horse.

"I will not hide my identity from you.  I am Iddawg (ith' oc) son of Mynio.  But for the most part it is not by my name I am spoken of, but my my nickname.  I am called Iddwag the Embroiler of Britain."

"I was one of the envoys at the battle of Camlan, between Arthur and Mordred, his nephew.  And a spirited young man was I then!  I so craved for battle that I kindled strife between them."

"When the emperor Arthur would send me to remind Mordred that Arthur was his foster-father and uncle, and to ask for peace lest kinsman fight kinsman, I forsook my duty.  Arthur bade me speak the fairest words I could, but I spoke his words the ugliest way I knew how to Mordred."

"And because of that, the name Embroiler of Britain was set upon me.  And because of that was woven the battle of Camlan, the battle that forever broke the might of Arthur's Britain."

"For my crime, and disloyalty, a heavy penance was set upon me.  Until the day that Arthur is once more king, I must ride, and remember my deeds."

"But Owen has told me that the end of my penance may be near.  He has sent me to help you cross the River of Change."

"Thank you Iddawg. Might you answer some questions for us first? Do you know of a bell that is missing from the shrine of the knights? Do you know where we might find Bedivere?"

It's a bit suprising to think of this man, who looks to be about 20 as someone who has been riding for all eternity.  

"The bell has been taken by the King's enemies- secreted away in one of their lairs-hidden with shadows and guarded with death.  I am to understand that you have been blessed with visions that will guide your way.  Sir Bedivere, devouted servant to the King, undertook the quest you are now on himself...and failed, I fear."

"Well, Iddawg, I don't mind what you've done in the past, and I'm sure you're really sorry."

"So then, how do we cross the river without getting changed like the sheep?" James asks.

Iddawg gives James a smile, but it does little to mask the shame in his eyes.  He leads you to a spot where the river narrows slightly.  He points out an area of the river where the water is shallower.  The area is bounded on both sides by stones sticking out of the water.  The far side of the river ford is marked by an 8 ft tall spear embedded in the rock of the bank.  Running from the socket of the spear are three streams of blood.  The rivulets of blood trickle down the rocky bank to mingle with the water of the ford.  

"Stay within the boundaries of the ford, no matter what happens" Iddawg cautions.  He spurs his horse and enters the ford.

James pauses to remove his shoes and socks, and to roll up his pants. He then follows Iddawg, wading into the river.

Nick does the same

Iddawg rides out into the water, followd by Nick and James, and then Sabrina and John a little further back.  The water is flowing fairly quickly and by the time you reach the middle of the ford is about 3 feet deep.

Suddenly, there is a thundering splash that showers you with water.  Through the spray you see an enormous grey alligator burst out of the water and lunge at Iddawg's horse, knocking it on it's side.  "THE ADDANC!" screams Iddawg over the beast's roar as he tries to draw his sword.

I couldn't get this photo to paste into the post, follow the link:  http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/wcgator.asp  

That just gives a size reference for the beast.  Yours isn't dead and tied up

What do you do?

Sabrina decides to let the rider deal with the alligator-thingy and pushes on

John presses on also, but has his shotgun ready. If they're still fighting when I reach the other side, I can take a shot at the gator thingie then.

Nick slashes at the creature as he covers the rest of the group so none get pushed out of the ford area.

Keeping clear of the monster (but still within the boundaries of the ford!), James takes out his slingshot and tries to pelt the huge beast in the head.

The addanc chomps down on Iddawg and then pulls him away from his horse.  The beast has its mouth firmly clamped around Iddawg's torso, and the water is rapidly turning red.  Iddawg manages to draw his sword and stab at the creature's head, but it doesn't faze the monster.

Nick slashes at the beast with his rapier and slices the scaley hide.  (7 points of damage to Addanc).  James fires a marble at the creature with his slingshot but misses, sending the marble wide right into the water.  John and Sabrina keep slogging ahead through the river and are now caught up with Nick and James.  The party is about halfway through the ford.

"Iddawg...", James says in horror as the huge beast clamps its teeth around the horseman, letting his sling go limp in his fingers. If we don't move, it will get us next!, he thinks, but on the other hand he doesn't want to simply abandon Iddawg to a grisly fate... He looks up to his sister and her friends for direction, his eyes wide with fear.