Jayson takes a look around getting into the group formation and take the time to go into a stealthier approach.

Jayson Stealth:  11

No roll needed. In a stoney area, Broma finds twenty stones. 

MAP link (intermittently open -- I'll 'start session' everytime I take a screenshot, but then it closes after a period of time)

Alaina moves down the corridor as stealthily as her need for a light source will allow. She will light a torch only if it reaches total darkness. Stealth: 26.

Lorken takes his cue from Alaina, and follows after her, perhaps 20 feet behind. Like her, he tries to be stealthy. Unlike her, he can't help the occasional click of his hooves on the rough floor, the chink of unguarded metal against the wall. (Stealth: 16)

As he is, the scientist is not built for stealth. His armor was, previously, but he had found it's close combat capabilities left something to be desired, and so had switched to his Guardian schematic the morning of. He is now facing the consequences of that decision, though he does not regret it. This, too, will have it's use in time, and Broma finds himself eager to discover how, even as he dings, clanks and clamors through the cavern. 

[Stealth: 7]

The entrance tunnel leads into a large natural cavern supported by a pillar of rock, a ginormous fusion of a huge stalagmite and stalagtite that descends from the rough cavern ceiling 30 feet above your head. The tracks lead into the cave and spread out, showing this place to be well trod. As they diverge Alaina recognises the differences, some tracks are goblinoid, some are dwarvish and human, some are stranger still. There are the paw marks of some great cat, cloven hooves as if a horse or camel, some are even more unclear. Animals that do not make their home in normal forest.

In the western part of the cave, behind the pillar, are three bedrolls and a heap of ordinary supplies: sacks of flour, bags of salt, casks of salted meat, lanterns, flasks of lamp oil, pickaxes, shovels, and other gear.

Amid the supplies, you see the body of a dwarf, dead for far more than a week, decomposing and bloated wrapped in an immaculate cloak.

The northeastern section of the cavern has collapsed, forming a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-deep pit. A sturdy hemp rope is tied around one of three stalagmites in the cavern and dangles into the pit.

Even from this distance, Gudrune recognises the body as that of Tharden Rockseeker.

Alaina inspects the rope and chasm, seeing what she can.

Jayson moves to check the body, Kneeling and says, "Mystra please watch over this body. They didn't deserve this.  They deserve better my goddess."

Jayson looks around checking for things out of the ordinary, the Cloak, any notes, maps things that stand out.

Lorken heads in the same direction, and starts to prepare one of the lanterns, filling it and readying it for use. He holds off on lighting it just yet, though.

Quote from Charwoman_Gene >>

Alaina inspects the rope and chasm, seeing what she can.

 Alaina sees the rope descends into the pit a good twenty feet. There is something at the bottom, another body, unmoving. Though it is dark in the cave, it is only within the pit that things are truly shadowed, with the dim light leaving the stalagmites below lightly obscured. 

Two darker shadows can be seen: one at the north-west of the pit and then another at the east of the pit. They seem to be tunnels that lead onward to deeper within the cave. No light shows what is within them, the darkness absolute. Pitch black. 

Quote from Cwreando >>

Jayson moves to check the body, Kneeling and says, "Mystra please watch over this body. They didn't deserve this.  They deserve better my goddess."

Jayson looks around checking for things out of the ordinary, the Cloak, any notes, maps things that stand out.

 Jayson sees no evidence of maps or other hidden things, but the corpse is long dead and partially decomposing. Despite the putrid form of the dearly departed Rockseeker, the cloak that he has been partially wrapped within remains lustrous and rich, untouched by the miasma of those morbid natural processes. There is something magical about the cloak. 

Alaina approaches the others near the departed Rockseeker, but not too closely. "There are some tunnels at the bottom of the pit, as well as another body, although I couldn't get a good look as it is pretty dark down there."

Broma carefully picks and prods the corpse, showing no restraint in handling the corpse itself. However, flesh and blood has broken down into gas and fluid. He is very cautious in his examination, attempting to parse a Cause of Death without agitating any pressurized gases that may have built up within.

Quote from Lambastard_13 >>

Broma carefully picks and prods the corpse, showing no restraint in handling the corpse itself. However, flesh and blood has broken down into gas and fluid. He is very cautious in his examination, attempting to parse a Cause of Death without agitating any pressurized gases that may have built up within.

 Tharden's body shows evidence of one big puncture wound, directly through the sternum. With a gentle turn, it is clear that the blade that killed him ran him through from front to back. This was an execution, the angle between the two punctures too straight for Tharden to have been able to make any movement away from the blow, or to have been able to defend himself. 

Capone doesn't have much to offer but the occasional encouraging remark made telepathically. He scurries underfoot and tries to stay close the the party but not be in anyone's way either.

Jayson wonders why the body has been left here and with such a fine cloak adorning it.  Perhaps to delay the rotting of the flesh.

"Would it be possible to resurrect the body or raise the dead and do we have time for it or access to someone who could?  Why here in this spot.  Are there any other exits from here.  I believe the cloak is magical.  I'd like to examine it further during a rest.  I think the body should be returned to the family for closure. That may not be realistic at the moment.  The question would then be how to bless the body and store it for us to take back later?  He is also concerned with removing the cloak and not being respectful of the body.  Out of respect Jayson ask the others if they mind if he removes the cloak to examine it."

Though all Tharden's family are either dead or held captive within the mine themselves, Jayson hopes they would appreciate the care and thought that he shows their brother's body in their absence. 

Broma's keen mind recalls Faith's dubious account. It seems that Tharden's death was not fabrication, and perhaps his brother's remaining to perform the rituals of Dumathoin over Tharden's body was no lie, either. It is likely that Tharden's soul is already beyond the reach of all but the most fabled divine magic users of the realm, seeking its eternal rest in the realm beyond. 

Body of Tharden image:

Jayson says, "I can dig a grave for the poor soul. I think the individual would want someone to put the robe to good use before I bury them, I'll remove it for further study."

"I will pray to Mystra to bless this body and his family should they be captured down here somewhere.  Mystra help this soul along if needed.  Bless his kin please."

Jayson finds any tools to dig a grave or some help from others that might be able to help dig a grave for them.

The ground is hard and rocky, but there is a pick and a shovel amongst the camp supplies and Jayson spends an hour digging a shallow grave. 

After burying and blessing the dwarf’s body in his own way, Jayson looks at the cloak once more. It is unsoiled and woven from common cloth, and yet… 

He definitely sees the warp and weft of Mystra’s weave alongside its mundane patterns. With a further hour to rest and study it, he is sure he would understand its purpose. 

Jayson says, “If we have time to spend an hour more to examine the cloak I think I can figure out its properties.  If we need to go we can press on and I’ll finish this when we stop and rest.”

If allowed he’ll finish his study of the robe.  If not he secures the robe for study later.