Dav'eed assembles the various items into his pack, arranging them to suit his own mannerisms and preferences. He then examines the thin tube - first the exterior, and then what's inside. (Perception:19 Investigation:14 Thieves' tools:8)

Zelaerys helps with the investigation of the tube, but from a different angle. He tries to recall where he might have encountered such a specimen in his readings (History: 9).

After Dav'eed and Zelaerys take over the examination of the thin tube, Hilke steps over to the fallen Shaman. She takes a look at the pair of earrings that Zelaerys' magic had identified earlier. (Investigation, if needed: 10)

"It looks like this was a burglar's hideout before the troglodytes came," says Zelaerys who feels that he isn't much help identifying the tube. Seeing Hilke experimenting with the earrings, he tries to remember if he can recall any information of earrings used by shamanistic cults (if it applies, History: 18). "We should let the guards know about the place. I'm sure it will get new inhabitants eventually."

With so many hands reaching for the long thin silver tube Hilke decides to pluck the earrings from the headdress of the shaman instead. Delicate studs with a single glittering stone. The metal is worn with age, yet the stones shine as bright as when they were created. A faint warmth as if they were alive. Without proper study Hilke can not tell what they do, she will need to spend time on that later.

The silver tube is an elegant cast, the metal alone is worth a few dozen nobles. A beautifully engineered cap pulls off with a tight snick. a bead of tree resin to keep the moisture out. Within the tube you manage to shake out a trio of parchments. One is a thin scrap, tight dense script in a language you don't understand. The other two are written in a different hand, simpler and more plain. One has a list of names and numbers, half are scratched out with a different writing instrument, The third has three names, the only one you recognize is the current mayor of Abiersheir, Ceredwin Masonce. No context is given for the reason of the listed names. 

Huttmoff has been near stunned on the ground, gradually resting and recovering. "Well, what do you think? Should we go back now? I believe the mayor will want to know their name is on a list, especially one that has names scratched out. Do we think the shaman is the source of the problems? Or should we explore some more? If Zelaerys has expended much of his divine power, I still have something left if we need to explore more."

"The names are likely part of a different problem the city faces - an active thieves' guild, or worse, a part of a greater criminal network. While important, doing something about that portal and restoring water to the city remains our priority. If we're ready, let's swim back. Zel, you seemed to have the hardest time...why don't you use this ring and just pop on over to the cavern?" Dav'eed takes the magical ring off his finger and hands it to the cleric. 

Once back in the portal cave, Dav'eed will search again for any sign of how to disestablish the portal. Are there runes scratched on a cave wall, or any  other potential means to disrupt the magic? If the team can't find anything in 15 minutes or so, the rogue will suggest that they head 'upstream' and investigate what happened at the source of the flow. Perhaps it's just a physical barrier that they can dismantle or remove...

Zelaerys refuses to use the ring, he rather not expend resources for his own comfort, "Thank you, but I'll manage," he says and dives back like everyone else. 

"Perhaps, we can disrupt the magic in some way?" Zelaerys offers to Dav'eed when he investigates the portal. (I know that interplanar spaces sometimes may be collapsed by bringing two together, like with a bag of holding but I'm not sure how much Zelaerys would know about that. He is not proficient with Arcana for a start.) 

While Dav'eed investigates the portal, Zelaerys ventures a look and listens into the downstream part of this river (Perception: 24, including 4 from Guidance). "Someone must have put this portal here and all the water goes down. Perhaps, someone down there needs water and created the portal here?" he asks half to himself. 

As the group returns to the main chamber and investigates more, Huttmoff will first put Vigilant Blessing on Hilke (advantage on next Initiative Roll). Huttmoff will then ritual cast Detect Magic again, and examine the area closer and closer, looking for anything that can solve the mysteries they are investigating. (Investigation (with Guidance): 14)

Hilke slips the earrings into her pack, intending to more thoroughly examine them later.  Before the others might leave, she says, "Should we take a further look here first? I mean, perhaps water is flowing from that other chamber into here then going out of here?  It doesn't seem to be the case, but we should see."  She pauses a moment, looking back at the water for a moment. "Umm, I guess we start just looking from here. But we might need to look under the water." She starts to look around for any signs, both along the edge of the water and along the walls.

(Perception, if needed: 12) 

Dav'eed will dive down into the pool to check on Hilke's thoughts, and if there is nothing to find he will swim through the tunnel to the main chamber...

Hilke stays behind as the three of you dive into the water and head back to the Portal. Dav;eed takes his time to search for any exits, not finding any but the way thy came in. Ne notices that the three eggs, the ones tossed into the pool were no where to be seen, neither was the Female Trog that fled.

Hilke pokes around for a few minutes but finds little else of interest, she dives in to join the others.

The Portal has not changed, still cascading a small fall of water to throw mist and noise into the the chamber, echoing off the walls. Another arrow just evaporates at the touch, and not knowing much else he keeps his hands away. Zalaerys isn't much more help but a thought occurs, a bucket with a hole, didn't someone say a leak? As he looks downstream, the water trickles over a washboard into the darkness below. The Chamber Huttmoff came from originally is still dry, the lip a foot over the waters edge.

Huttmoff points out the water line, a stain on the walls of the chamber. "If someone needed water downstream they would have had a lot more of it last week, the portal is not filling this room as the river previously had"

Dav'eed nods, admitting that they did not possess the knowledge or means to dispel the portal. "Well, let's travel uphill then, and see if we can't find the blockage. We need to stay alert, though - there are likely other things down here that are not friendly...Shall we keep the same routine, where I scout ahead about 25-40 feet with you all following?"

Huttmoff nods in agreement, "I'm not one for stealth, so I will take up the rear of the group, and keep an eye out so we do not get surprised from behind. Let's see if we can determine why the flow of water has reduced." As much as possible, Huttmoff would like to continue ritual casting Detect Magic to help him see anything magical that is out of the ordinary.

"I'd stay back with Huttmoff, but I can communicate with you over a hundred feet by whispering Messages," Zelaerys suggests when he nods to Dav'eed's plan. 

Hilke nods. "I can stay up front, a bit behind our scout Dav'eed. Just signal back if you need us to hurry to you."  

The ancient river bed climbs upward, the  slope was little noticed on the way down. The incline is subtle yet it works against you as you climb, the muscles of your legs burning with the effort. Hoisting your packs high on your shoulders, you trudge forward into the dark. 

No light dares penetrate the passages, even with the boon of darkvision the world is a swirl of shadows, painted in hues of grey. The sound of dripping water, a steady cadence in this damp and cold environ joins the echoes of your own boots. The steady foot falls crunching on the gravel and detritus of eons collected underfoot. Occasional howls, screams or just the wind erupt from the distance. Is it a trick of the gentle breeze, or something alive and dangerous, or dying deep beneath the weight of the world. 

Feeling less rushed than before, the townsfolk returned and the Troglodytes removed, you climb back to the stinking basement, the entrance you used to descend. It takes you longer to return, time spent to inspect the walls, the cracks where water flowed elsewhere, many too small for even Zalaerys, naked to crawl through. Many fissures escape from thee main river passage, in your mind it evokes an image of a Delta, thin tributaries branching off to find their own way to the sea.

Entering the widened river bed where the sewer bisects, you notice the bodies, the thieves killed by Ferdy the Wizard, are missing. No movement betrays any threat. The Left sewer passage remains untouched, the archway jammed with stone, and wooden beams creating a makeshift but solid looking barrier. The Right passage is open, it appears quiet, dark, and unused as well. Except for a torn bit of black cape at the base of its wall.

The passage continues on a short ways further, leading back to where you descended. The glow of faint light first reveals itself a surprising ways before you reach it. Only a thin beam, thrusting through the cracked floor above, it beckons you upward, back into the light of the sun.

The dry river bed continues North from this position, a tumble of large rocks and boulders that will force you to clamber over their rounded surface. No easy trail is visible.

If you decide to continue on as you are, spread apart marching order, Dav'eed in the lead. No torch or light source, using your Darkvision...

As a default, there are no light sources within the dry river bed (Unless I describe it otherwise). Darkvision in total Darkness allows you to see as if in Dim light.

Dim light has Disadvantage on Perception checks. Everything is in shades of grey, no color. Details are hard to make out.

Stealth- Please roll a Stealth check twice to start off your next post. Do not roll with advantage or disadvantage. Example: 1d20+5 twice : 8 2nd roll: 12 

Dav'eed scouts ahead until they reach the area that leads up to the basement, letting the others catch up to him. From here on, they are in new territory. "OK, team - we're going to an area I haven't been yet, and it's challenging even for me to make out details. I think we'd be better travelling together from this point - I can still scout a little ahead, but only to the edge of the torchlight (about 30'). Try to stay silent, and we'll count on twists and turns blocking the light. Ready?"

When all give their consent, he continues on, closer to the group than before and able to make out more details with the torchlight closer behind. (Stealth: 16; 17)

“But you really think we need a torch? If you think it is better, I can carry one. If we encounter anything hostile, I’ll just drop it,” Zelaerys suggests. “Meanwhile, go with Yondalla’s blessing (Guidance).” Zelaerys lights a torch and carries it along with his shield. He keeps an eye open for evidence that this way had been travelled since it dried out and tries to figure out how high the water had been (Survival: 15; Perception: 16)

(Stealth rolls: 12, 8)

Hilke points to the bit of torn cape at the base of the passage. "Seems someone has gone that way. Perhaps a bit of cloak from one of these thieves' bodies?"  If the group indicates they want to do that way, Hilke will continue on near the lead, right with Dav'eed this time. 

(OOC - I assume an hour has passed and we don't have Eyes of the Night functioning any longer?)