Ruven nods while looking over the body. Yes...the puncture wound here seems to be from a spear, done while prone. Most likely while still sleeping, without even a chance to defend himself...he glances over at the fallen Gundren. It...ah, would have been quick.

He stands up, dusting off his hands. At any rate, it seems that whoever was here is unlikely to return tonight. Here is the place to stop, rest, and restock. Though we should keep a watch posted. Now he looks up at Boona thoughtfully. Perhaps the tall one should be placed on burial duty this time instead of watch duty...

Syzygy, for the most part, didn't feel the distance of death like others. Indeed, its proximity was embedded, wound up in his upbringing, his lifetime ago ways of worship. And despite the aches of a recently fallen friend (and perhaps for the priestess who brought perilous tidings), Syzygy was not easily swayed by the tides of grief. Or so he thought, as the surface thoughts of the dwarf began to softly fade there was one last sweeping cacophony of words/feelings/pain…grief. Syzygy too almost falls on his knees, but refuses and severs whatever thread of thought still connecting through the ethers. 

Noticing Quinn search the ground, Syzygy eyes the walls and cave roof for an entrances or signs of attackers. 

Perception: 6

Bryony was startled again by the sheer size of Boona as she awoke and stood to her full height. It was taking her some time to get used to just how tall she was. As a halfling, Bryony was used to almost everyone being taller than she was, but there was normal tall like a human and then there was Boona tall. Boona could quite easily pick Bryony up with one arm she was quite sure. The halfling wondered if Boona might be willing to give her a piggyback ride. It would be the best one of her life. 

Bryony shook her head. This was no time to be thinking such frivolous thoughts. They needed to find signs of whoever attacked poor Tharden. She gets down on the ground and starts looking for signs of footprints or other disturbances, trying to help Quinn.

Survival - 5

Syzygy examines the walls and roof and sees nothing of particular interest – there are no other visible exits, and the cavern seems to be naturally formed. 

Quinn and Bryony look at the ground. There are fragments of bootprints in a few tiny patches of windblown sand and dried mud on the cave floor, but nothing that reveals helpful information. Peering down into the 20-foot-deep pit, they glimpse a goblin's body slumped at the bottom, dressed in filthy rags. A rope is tied around one of the stalagmites and dangles into the open pit, where they can see possible tunnels leading northwest and east.

Gundren remains collapsed on the cave floor. "I'll bury Tharden. Outside, at sunset tomorrow," he mutters. "I'll dig a grave tomorrow. It's done, it's over. Spies found the mine and killed them both."

The rhythmic thunder of pounding waves echoes quietly throughout the cavern. The stone underfoot vibrates. The waves come about two minutes apart.

It is late.

" Not near ocean?", Boona said in confusion.

(They are probably 40 miles from the ocean, here.)

Ruven watches the dwarf for a moment, then walks over to Quinn. In a low voice that only Quinn can hear, I worry the dwarf will give in to despair here. I presume you know him a bit better than I...perhaps you can console him and revert his thinking back to the task at hand. At any rate, we must bed down for the night. He rubs his hands together again, the shaking hasn't stopped.

Draco can stand watch for us so we can all get a solid rest. 

Bryony starts to unpack her bedroll and gets ready to bed down for the night. The rhythmic echo in the cave might actually make it easier for her to drift off to sleep.

Gundren no longer objects to finally getting some rest. It is late; some of you are thoroughly exhausted.

The mysterious rumbling – about every two minutes – lulls some of you to sleep; for others, it interferes with your rest. A cold draft draws air through the cave.

Unless you have further business, you may pass the night without incident, and receive the benefits of a Long Rest.

Jurgen wakes early after a good sleep and starts to make breakfast for the party. 

Bryony wakes up after Jurgen and helps him with breakfast. After they eat, she walks over to the edge of the 20-foot pit with the dead goblin at the bottom. She notices what look like entrances to tunnels down there as well. 

"Ugh, caves," she says. "Why did it have to be a cave? Why couldn't it be Wave Echo Library or something?"

To Ruven, Quinn replies quietly to ensure that they don’t disturb the others.

”As far as I’m concerned, Gundren is the task at hand. If he’s right, and both of his brother’s are dead, my job is to ensure his safety. 

I could care less about this mine, but I go where he goes. I’ll risk it all to make sure he makes it out alive. That’s the least I can do after what he’s done for me.”

Quinn gets up and walks away to check on Gundren. He squeezes his shoulder and sits next to him silently. 

At dawn, Quinn awakens,  gathers his belongings and moves away from everyone else in hopes of letting them enjoy their rest. He knows they’ll need it. He hones the edge of his battle axe, first removing any burrs and then brings it to a razor sharp edge. He restrings his longbow ensuring its pull strength is spot on.

Once Gundren awakens he’ll stick by his side and help him bury Tharden—if he’ll let him. If he doesn’t, he’ll watch over him from a close distance ensuring that he is safe. 

Ruven nods at Quinn, then moves off to rest. He pulls out a thick, leatherbound book and opens it up in his lap, sitting bolt upright and closing his eyes. He meditates this way for a few hours, then gets up, feeling refreshed, to prepare for the dive into the cave.

He'll also spend some time once he's finished with his rest casting a complex ritual, taking a little over an hour to do so. Once he's done, he has a spectral looking lizard that scuttles up his arm and perches on his shoulder.

Quote from owlbear89 >>

Bryony wakes up after Jurgen and helps him with breakfast. After they eat, she walks over to the edge of the 20-foot pit with the dead goblin at the bottom. She notices what look like entrances to tunnels down there as well. 

"Ugh, caves," she says. "Why did it have to be a cave? Why couldn't it be Wave Echo Library or something?"

" Yes, Cave bad...hurt Boona head."

" Libbrarrie? What that?"

" You want dead goblin?"

She will assist with grave digging if asked and help in any other way requested.

It's morning, although very little daylight penetrates where the dwarves had set up camp in the cavern. It's cold, damp, and drafty here.

Gundren is much improved. He has prepared, cleaned, and laid out his brother's body, removing his cloak and handing it to Quinn. ("It's a nice cloak. You should wear it.")

"We bury Tharden at sunset, outside," he announces. "Th' grave should be mine alone to dig. That's my job today. You all go find Nundro. Mind those spies – "Spider" or whomever – don't have guards. Whoever did this will be back. We will seize this mine by force if we have to. If I see anyone comin', I'll shout bloody murder into the cave."

"That's my rope," – he points at the sturdy hemp rope tied around one of the stalagmites and dangling into the pit. "I bought it at Barthen's last month. Nundro must have climbed down."

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"Ugh, caves," she says. "Why did it have to be a cave? Why couldn't it be Wave Echo Library or something?"

 A flat “ha!” slipped from Syzygy’s mouth,  a flutter of laughter surprising even himself. Otherwise Syzygy spent the morning in meditation, though occasionally opening one eye to watch the weave worker enact some odd ritual. 

…

Syzygy looks into the put. He steps aside, “After you Boona,”.  

Boona climbed down into the pit hoping the rope would hold but not overly bothered if it didn't....

As breakfast wraps up and we start to descend, the mini dragon person lowers his companion Draco to the floor and follows down the rope with the others. 

Ruven sends the lizard, now indistinguishable from a "real" lizard, down the side of the cliff before descending himself.