You may build or acquire a raft during an encounter.

To build a raft, if you are on a Woods or Forest space and you have an axe, you may declare at the start of your turn that you are building a raft instead of rolling and moving. Then, take a raft card from the Purchase deck if it’s available.

If you acquire a raft, you may use it at the start of your next turn, moving across the river to any space opposite the one you’re currently in. Then encounter that space or any characters on it. Do not roll and move that turn.

After you use a raft, or if you begin your turn with a raft and do not use it before your turn ends, you must place it in the respective discard pile.