Aubrey shakes his head slowly at Dawntreader's question but nods at Rohuzar's suggestion. "As long as we can find good cover within sight of that tunnel entrance we should have an advantageous tactical position." He says, ready to move on.

Grugga confirms that he's ready when everyone else is. "I'm happy to take either spot. And I also have no spells to silence, so it looks like we'd be best off splitting up." He nods to Rohuzar and asks, "Is it the front door or the cave tunnel for us?"

The elf grabs a stick and sketches out a small map so you can see the layout he is trying to describe, and why both ends of the complex need to be guarded.

“I vill listen to the team. The tunnel vill be dark, and likely trapped. It’s vhat I vould do. But there are many opponents here. How does team feel?” 
Rohuzar looks to each of the team for comment. “I suggest the tunnel and hope for best. Grugga is talented at dealing vith traps if Leelan can spot them.” 

"I'll go with whatever you decide but those that can see into the cave should be the first ones to go inside." Guilim says once the others finish talking.

"If we find any traps I'm sure I can disarm them, but I was under the impression that Dawntreader would be tackling everything inside, and we'd just be sitting at an exit to make sure the artifact didn't get away." He ponders for a moment, "So really the only choice is if we want to fight the enemy we know," he nods toward the unseen cottage, implying the group of zombies, "or the enemy we don't." Implying whoever is in the tunnel or cave. "I'd rather fight the zombies at the cottage. They seemed pretty grouped up - I think I could limn them all in Faerie Fire. But," he shrugs, "I'm ready for either."  Grugga punches his fist into his palm to show how ready he is.

"I can also move the magical light from the hydrospirators ((2 of which are still glowing at all times)) to our frontline's weapons, that way we can all see." If Rohuzar and Guilim want, Grugga will tinker their weapons so they cast bright light in a 5 foot radius and dim light in an additional 5 foot radius. If we want to retain the element of surprise, just keep them sheathed until we join battle and the sheathe should block the light.

"Well, taking the cottage and then just stay and hold the tunnel sounds reasonable." Aubrey says and nods. "We should have a plan for taking care of any necromancers inside the cottage though, any ideas on that?"

"I’m no tactician, although I believe they hold an advantageous position inside the cottage. If we could find a way to draw them out instead of pushing them down the tunnel, we could get the upper hand. If we make them believe they have numerical superiority, they might abandon their position long enough for us to ambush them.", comments Leelan.

While the group discusses strategy, Grugga turns his attention back to the Elf. "I've been trying to place you..." He starts, then takes a breath and continues, "When I was a young boy, Fidelis and Tinduanor went back to war for a while over a - I think term used in the books was - 'traitor to the Ancient Elves...'" He lets the term hang in the air and looks at Dawntreader appraisingly. "But it wasn't a traitor, was it? Because the Elf was never allied with Tinduanor, was he?"

He looks over the Elf to Guilim and asks, "Guilim, you're from Fidelis, aren't you?"

Grugga lets the talk of strategy continue. He knows his more veteran comrades will choose the right plan for the group and he trusts their choice. He will be ready when he's needed.

The elf listens to Grugga.  "You're smart.  But are you smart enough to recognize that - past a certain point - knowledge can be dangerous?  If word gets out that you met me, someone is going to come to see you with questions.  Maybe your Emperor.  Maybe my cousins in the East."  He takes a long, sober look at the artificer.  "Maybe some of your friends in Tucker Hills."

"If that happens, then the less you know about me, the better it will go for you."

Insight DC 12:

 He clears his throat, addressing everyone.  "It's time.  I need to know how you want to do this, or I will decide for us all."

Insight: 10

Grugga grumps a bit. "Where I come from, all knowledge is valued," he says, feigning unawareness that value and dangerousness often go hand in hand.

He looks to to Rohuzar, "Sorry, cousin, I haven't been listening that closely to the back-and-forth. What did we land on? A frontal assault? Or is it to the cave with us? I'm ready for either."

He tinkers the haft of his axe so it gives off a bit of light (one of the hydrospirators winks out) and stows it in the bedroll attached to his backpack so it doesn't shine until he draws it in combat.

Rohuzar has been staring at the map. 

“Dawntreader… vhich end did those dead fellows try to go?” 

"The Screaming Banshees?  I had only just arrived and hadn't scouted the area yet.  They showed up a few hours after I did.  They said they would work with me... said they would wait for me to come up with a plan."  He shakes his head.  "I was headed down the hill to see if any defenses had been established outside the cave mouth.  Next thing I know I hear their battle cry - I think they took their name seriously - and figured they were trying to doublecross me.  I hadn't told them about the cave yet and I guess they thought the phylactery would be easy pickings inside the cottage.  I decided to stay down there and cover the cave.  No one tried to escape.  When I returned to the top, two skeletons and a zombie were down, but the three of them had just been taken as replacements.  I didn't see the fight so I can't say for certain how they died."

"That was two days ago."

“Vell… then it seems obvious ve should not go vhere other men die. Ve take the cave.” 

Guilim nods at the question about his origins. "I am but was only there while I was very young. Probably no older then six or so." He admits as he moves to stand near Rohuzar, drawing his halberd once more.

The elf nods in acceptance of your plan.  He recasts pass without trace on all of you and you leave Dandelion behind with Winifred XIV at the makeshift camp.  The rain continues to fall, heavy as ever.  The ground is soft and muddy, and in no time at all you are back being soaked.   When you walk the short distance back to the cottage, you immediately can see that the four undead outside remain in the same positions, squatting in a diamond pattern outside the front door.

Dawntreader shows you to a path in the forest on the south side of the cabin.  "I'll give you 10 minutes to get down there and get ready.  Then I will move on them.  Take care on the way down as the ground is slick.  This will lead you round and down the hillside to the cave entrance.  It will be on your right.  You can't miss it."

He is correct.  When you reach the bottom of the hillside, you see a cleft in the rock that leads into a dark cave.  The opening itself is 15ft wide and extends up the rocky hillside to a height of perhaps 30ft, but all but the bottom 10ft of the opening is covered by thick vines growing down from above.  There is no sign of any sentries or other hazards outside the cave.  There are a few small pine trees in a 30x30 area outside the cave opening and then it is solid forest.

Perception DC 12:

 Darkvision:

 You arrive outside the cave with perhaps 5 minutes to spare.  What do you do?  Do you enter?  Do you setup outside?

Aubrey perception: 16
"Did you hear that? They seem to have horses inside the cave. We should expect the necromancers come out riding them. Can we set any traps for them?" He says looking at the others. Unless he can help anyone with any preparations Aubrey will find a spot within 90 ft. and clear view of the cave entrance where he takes cover and hides, ready to blast away at whatever exits the cave.
Stealth: 9 Perception: 13

Perception: 14

Thanks to his darkvision, Leelan does spot the horses in the cave. 
"Perhaps we could release the horses while we still have time. This surely ought to confuse our runaway dark arcane practicioners. What do you say?"

Stealth : 14 (add +10 from pass without trace)

Perception: 9

"Aye. I can see where they keep the horses up to the left. Maybe we can open their pen and spook them out before they get a chance to use them. Poor old beasts, they don't deserve to have to be ridden by necromancers..."

Grugga thinks for a moment, "Actually... I have a bag of ball bearings for my inventions. They won't do any good in the mud out here, but on the cave floor..."

"Good thinking Leelan, I'll cover you." Aubrey says with a nod. "Be careful, they might have undead sentries or some kind of alarm."