Ekaterina follows, waiting until both are clear of the bridge. No sense having more weight on than need be. 

Aftari listens to the creaking as people head across and decides to do what Ekaterina did, waiting until she is across before attempting the bridge herself. She grips the ropes on either side tightly, waiting for something to go wrong with each step before she takes the next one.

(Shelley is with you all)

Despite the disquieting sounds of the creaking wood, the bridge holds for now and as soon as you're all across the pit, Yejin uses the pulley system to raise the bridge again and lean it against the dirt wall. Being closer to the wall now, you can make out a dozen or so of scratches in the wall, with many smudged and faded,  but some still recognisable as letters. Not letters, but names, some already faded, some still fairly new. Among those that you can easily read, you make out:
Yola, Sophia, Ralman, Gim

Seeing you notice the names, Yejin falls silent, before adding, almost reverently: "They came before you... Let's hope you're luckier."

     Now that the threat of imminent death is, if not gone then perhaps lessened, Dr.Buddie takes a long moment to look over their guide and try to gauge just how trustworthy they are.

     “Can you tell us where we are?  How we got here?  What’s next?” He asks, rapid fire.  “Last we knew we were fighting.. no, being slaughtered by a lich, far as we could tell.  I thought we’d been killed.  But we woke up here.  We need some information on…  well, everything.”

     Meanwhile Shelley would be sent to scout back a ways and try to determine if they were being chased or not…

Insight on Yejin:  17
Shelley Perception: 19

…

Yejin looks at Buddie, with a kind smile on his lips but sadness in his eyes: "That tracks. Most of us who ended up down here also remember dying at some point- yet we all seem to have survived, or been brought back by something. As far as tell you were you all are- we call this the Ditches. A fitting name, don't you think? To be honest though, I can't really tell you much else about this place, only that it seems to be intent on destroying anything alive, unless we destroy it first. As far as what's next? I suggest you follow me and meet the other Dredgers, warm yourself near our fire and rest up. There isn't really an easy way to tell when it is day or night down here, so we rest when we are tired and get to work after we rested. There's always work to be done to improve the camp and add to our chances of survival."

Buddie, as far as you can tell, Yejin is being completely genuine. He seems sad by having to welcome you to this new fate that you share with him, but seems determined to make the experience as nice as possible by trying to serve as a kind voice in this inhospitable place.

 Aftari studies the names, not seeing the ones she is looking for. When she overhears that there are others she focuses back on Yejin. "There are more down here? Not too many I would guess, surely this place couldn't sustain everyone that dies. Lead on then, I'm ready to meet the others."

     "This is no after lifer," Dr. Buddies says with confidence he doesn't fully have.  "I am not sure what this is... Where this is... But there must be a way out."  It's not so much a question but he does wait and see if Yejin responds in any way.  Otherwise, assuming there is no immediate threat or rush, he follows with his notebook out and takes the occasional note while Shelley sits upon his shoulder and watches...

Ekaterina is ready to follow Yejin to the others down here. 

Yejin gives a brief nod: "Aye, we set up a camp a bit further up. It's as comfortable as you can get down here, thanks to Secher's garden, Lemnor's hunting skills and Abradus' work at the forge, keeping our weapons sharp and repairing the barricades. You'll meet them, Coragnir and Doyenta pretty soon as well." At Buddie's words, the small gnome gives another short nod: "You're not the first to cling to that hope, but in our current state there's no way to break through the sungate. Not that Abradus would have it, at any rate."

With no particular hurry, but a careful eye to the uneven ground, Yejin leads on, down the clammy tunnel. After another ten minutes or so, you pass a room of hewn stone. Metal bars rise from the floor to the ceiling, embedded through the stone, rooting them in place. The construction of the room, the exactness of the bars themselves, and the presence of a metal door looks comically out of place here in the Ditches. Seeing your wandering eyes, he adds: "Was here when we arrived, none of us know who built it or why it's here." He goes silent for a bit. "We did use it in the past though... not everyone can take the pressures of existing in this place, and on occasion we put them here, to protect them from hurting themselves or others."

     “Sun gate?” Dr. Buddie inquires casually, far more curious than he lets on.  “And what sort of things gets one caged?  We’d hate to break a policy out of ignorance…”

Yejin cocks an eyebrow at the question: "I'll let Abradus fill you in on last time. It... didn't go well." Quickly changing subjects, he adds: "Don't worry, as long as you help us against the undead there's no reason for the cell. In the past we mostly used it when people couldn't deal with the reality of existence in this place, the hardships, the loss... Laws have almost no meaning down here. We're fighting for our survival on the daily, and while our resources are dwindling, our enemies seem to form from the very surroundings."

"Well that doesnt sound promising at all" Haliday whispers hoarsely pulling his flask from his belt and taking a swig

     "I'm not entirely sure I accept the reality of this existence, to be honest," Dr. Buddie admits.  "It's no afterlife I am familiar with, definitely not the world I know and yet it seems more than a dream.  Yet if I accept it or not, this is the reality that I have to deal with for the time being and not doing so would be reckless..."  Dr. Buddie otherwise follows their guide and tries to study everything their is to look at along the way.  The owl familiar Shelley, too, keeps an eye out and tries to take in all the details.

Ekaterina lingers near the back of the group, constantly looking over her shoulder for anything that might be following them. The whole situation was very unsettling for her and the last thing she wants is to be surprised by more undead…

A low conversation comes to a stop as Yejin navigates you past a barricade, the creaking of rotted wood alerting those beyond to your presence. Stepping inside, you find a small, secluded blip of civilization. Four dirty, ragged people sit huddled around a fire, and turn to you as you enter the cavern. “Dredgers, meet our newest members,” Yejin declares, indicating you with a sweeping gesture. The rest of the Dredgers smile weakly, and give you weak hellos. A half-elf with a wrinkled complexion, silver whiskers, and a shaved head stands to greet you. “My name is Abradus,” he says. “You’ve had the unfortunate luck to wind up stuck here with the rest of us. But! You’ve found a good company here, beds softer than stone, and fire warmer than the grave, hah! I welcome you, and you should find places in beds and near our fire, so long as you contribute to the cause.” “I don’t see Lemnor with us,” Yejin says, a hint of panic in his voice. “Is she—?” “Our fine hunter rests in her bunk,” Abradus replies calmly. “You know how her need for exploration can take its toll. But not to worry, our fine apothecary Secher has seen to her wounds, and she will be fine in a day or so, thanks to their efforts.” The half-elf turns to you again, and says, “A Dredger’s life span is somewhat short in this hellish place. Please, feel free to join us and find what solace in company you can, as we try our best to endure.”

Throughout the short interaction, you can't help but be intrigued by the theatricality of Abradus' very being, from his bombastic statements and ever-so-slightly-too-loud voice to his precise, yet sweeping gestures. Behind him, you notice a small figure, seemingly carved from wood and rolling their eyes at the thanks that they receive for helping to mend Lemnor. Next to the wooden creature, you see a sullen young human woman with shoulderlength black hair and wearing plate armour, but seemingly still feeling the need to put her guard up, as she stares quietly into the flames before her. The last of the group is a blue dragonborn, stoking the flames that glisten off her shiny scales, revealing tiny lettering on some of them. Her robes are cut  and bound at the knees and elbows, likely for practical reasons. There's clear interest in her eyes, as she takes you all in, but for now she remains quiet, indicating that Abradus or Yejin are likely the leaders of this group of survivers referring to themselves as Dredgers.

Haliday nods to each of the group as they are introduced after wincing with trying to raise his arm

Aftari gives curt nods, sizing them up and looking for signs she might recognize of any group affiliations that the folk here might have had in another life.

     Reminded of his groups injuries, Dr. Buddie pays little notice to the niceties but once done hurriedly asks “Is there an out of the way place our group could have a few minutes to rest and assess?  There are some wounds and injuries I really should give some attention to…”

Yejin looks to Dr. Buddie: "You can rest here, or come with me to our sleeping cots, where Lemnor is already resting. If you want to be out of earshot, that's going to be a bit more difficult unfortunately, as what you can see here is what we got, there's not really any more space down here." The gnome looks genuinely sorry, having to once again be the bearer of bad news.

The elder half-elf, Abradus, stretches his gauntleted hand towards Buddie: "I get your concern, friend, but like it or not, there's only two sides down here: the side of the living, and whatever else is left. Come, sit by the fire, take off your burdens and relax, Secher can tend to your wounds too. " His smile seems genuine, warm and inviting.

Haliday winces as he sits by the fire

"Obliged to ye. It seems that my shoulder is a little off.  Wouldnt happen to have any drink would you?" He asks hopefully