What's the plan?

I vote to force the crossing here.

You mean try to fight the gnolls and then cross?
Honestly, I'd rather go upstream

In reply to Daphne Peatmonger (msg # 504):

Some of us distract them while one person tries the swim.

But what does that one person who swims supposed to do on the other side?

In reply to Daphne Peatmonger (msg # 506):

Oh sorry, I'm thinking they drag a rope across with them (and maybe tie it to the remnants of the posts as they go) to help those of us with bad Athletics make the crossing.

I'm just worried that they'll kill me while I'm trying to tie the rope

Fair. I don't really have a better plan, so farther up the river it is I suppose.

Okay. Someone post in the game thread what you intend to do.

Is everyone okay with going up river to look for more privacy?

Yup

Yes. That's fine with me.

Yes

Fine to me. Assuming going upriver means we go away from the barricaded town/earlier area we had crossed already.

How far are the trees from each bank?

I assume 'very far' meaning there is big clearing near the rivers so there is nothing to tie ropes to (that is what my char IC specifically looked for).

I suppose as a last resort I could use my Quarterstaff to help secure the rope, digging a small hole to plant one end in

Yeah, you could. But also could tie the rope around your waist and sit down and become a living anchor that way. Also as we have now 100'ft rope there can be another person on the other side of the river working as a second anchor.

That makes sense as well

There are no trees on the opposite bank of the river.

If you backtrack, there are trees on the near side of the river, the closest of which are about 30 feet from the water.

Seeing no other solution, Daphne will take one end of the 100' of knotted rope and cast her Alter Self spell, in order to become aquatic and swim across the river.
It was a strange sensation, changing her body into someone else.  Into someTHING else.  She could feel her body getting slightly scaly, and her hands and feet grow webbing.  And the air, while still breathable, also tasted different, as if filtered differently.  But she had no time to revel in her magic.  She stepped into the river and started to make her way across.  She found herself swimming much better than she could have ever imagined but was it enough to cross the river.   She moved through the water almost like she was flying.  The worst part was, though, when she needed to submerge and breath water.   There was a moment of panic, as she had to force herself to ignore everything she knew about how her body worked.   Then she was breathing.   Breathing underwater!
It was incredible.  But, again, there was no time to revel in it.  She had work to do.

Heading to the other bank, she walked out, still feeling exhilarated.  Looking around, she found a good solid spot, and dug two holes for her feet, where she could brace herself to help others cross.  When she was finished, she waved to the others to send the bard across, with other people anchoring that side, as they had agreed.

In reply to Daphne Peatmonger (msg # 522):

Post this on IC thread :)

Oops!  sorry, I got confused.  My apologies.

Are we making an athletics check to cross? Is it with advantage because of the rope?

Yes, an Athletics check with Advantage from the rope would be appropriate.