"May as well." responds Draíocht.

Alsen will Identify the Axe, Potion, and Arrows:

The Axe is of course the Greataxe of Amalkim. A Greataxe of Elven origin, bladed on one side and inlayed with precious emeralds at the hilt. The axe was given to the elven hero Amalkim after singlehandedly fighting back an orcish takeover of the city of Ish Alora. It functions similarly to a Greataxe, +1 . Alsen will warn you though, that the weapon seems changed somehow. "Perhaps it's time spent below the ruins of Kholias has changed it somehow. Although i'm sure it will serve you well against your foes."

The Potion is a straight up Potion of Hill Giant Strength and if imbibed will give you a Strength of 21 for 1 hour.

The 20 arrows are incredibly fine magical elven arrows and function as Arrows, +2 . 

You can all decide who takes each item. And whether or not you want to use them.

Amiz is keen on the great axe but using it would mean not using his shield which has spared him from several attacks. He decided against using the great axe. "I can carry the axe. I agree with Thelanis we can go back to town for now" 

Thelanis answers back on the stone, “g’Ruek was dead when we got here but we fought him anyway. We have the axe. g’Ruek was digging underneath the madness plague and was successful, we think, until the necromancer got him.”

Liarona won't be able to respond until the next dawn, which is still a few hours away.

As you all pack up to leave the mine, Alsen will quietly ask "I suppose I was hoping to find The Eaters down here, and end them once and for all. But the trail has run cold again." He let's out a sigh, "I guess it's probably for the best. My vengeance will have to wait for another time." He resigns himself and goes to follow you out of the mine.

Are you all leaving? And have you decided who will take what magic items?

Yes we are leaving unless someone wants to stay. Amiz will carry the Great Axe. We can split the coin once back at town.

Last time we left, the necromancers took over and Alsen was tracking them. There may be a point to seeing if we can finish them, though g'Ruek's wife running off to raise the alarm is certainly a complication. Fine with heading back since we should be able to forge some bonds with Liarona and the Scarecrow as a result of our success. But just something to note.

As you go to leave the sanctum of g'Ruek, you come across a very strange sight. Coming up from the water beneath the bridge are two fish-men. Purple of skin, with webbed feet, spindly bodies, and the heads of fish. You know these creatures as the subterranean dwelling race Kuo-Toa. As they help each other up from the water, they turn around to see you and throw up their hands, frightened. One of them speaks in a guttural broken Common, "Please, no hurt. We hide from the hobgoblins, then from the undeath. We just want leave. We heard much, we can tell you." They seem somewhat desperate, their hands hovering over their spears and nets.

Valar looks to the group, "I think we should hear what they say."

Draíocht nods in agreement and gestures for the Kuo-Toa to continue.

The Kuo-Toa look relieved, "We hear much. When the undeath people here, they talk, they argue amongst themselves a lot. They turn Hobgoblin's into slaves to be guards, and then they take the Hobgoblin's helper, I think he name Sanford. They take this man and they go below, into the Underdark. They looking for a church down there or something, I don't know." The Kuo-Toa looks as you expectantly, "Is that it? Can Tooluuga and Rronkopp go now?" He motions to him and his compatriot when he says the names.

Valar thinks on it, "Church, or perhaps did they say the word, Temple? Is there a temple in the underdark?"

Amiz will says "Do you happen to know for what being the church was made for. Was it a god or some demon?"

Valar Religion check: 22

Valar remembers from his teachings that there was a temple to his god Helm in Ancient Kholias. The city was old well before the Catastrophe that befell it, and the church was said to reside in the ancient city below the modern city above. It is possible that Ancient Kholias is still accessible through the Underdark.

Amiz - Tooluuga looks at Rronkopp, shrugs, and turns back, "We not know. But the advisor, Sanford, he was from Kholias. Maybe they took him to show them the city's Secrets."

Quote from drumdigby >>

Valar Religion check: 17

Amiz frowns "Anything involving Sanford is trouble. Perhaps we should get some rest outside and wait for the Sending Stone to recharge to notify the others. We might be pressed for time to stop whatever is happening in the Underdark" He looks at the fish people and says "Don't worry we won't harm you. You can go"

The Kuo Toa will look at you appreciatively then ask, "Undead people broke the lift, how we get up?" 

You will have to figure a way of climbing up 120ft to the top of the shaft.

"Depends. How comfortable are you with webs?" asks Draíocht.

[[ Suggesting wildshape into giant spider and spinning some webs either as a lattice work or creating a pulley system of some sort. ]]