Ilezenya should be first with the longest-range darkvision =)

Mullo will be in the rear.

Devin has Aslan sit on his shoulder and allow him to see through his eyes.  He stays second to rear in front of Mullo. He has the driftglobe in his hand ready to go if needed.

Torunn will be second.

The party sets off to explore the mine. After 5 hours they’re pretty sure that they have expired this level thoroughly and except for a few broken pieces of mining equipment, the odd scare from giant rats and bats fluttering around them there is nothing else of interest. On the far edge of this level there is a ramp heading downwards.

The group steadily explores the level, checking each area quickly but quietly to avoid making unnecessary noise that could bring every inhabitant of the area to them. After many fruitless hours, they finally come to a ramp down to the next level. Ilezenya will lead the party down the ramp rather than back track and wait for the lift again...

(OOC: Dork would be towards the middle with Beedo in the rear and Vark up front alongside Ilezenya.)

"It seems we have found our alternate egress. It is... strange, however. I had half-expected at the very least to encounter other slaves under the more direct control of the giants." She comments on quietly as the group begin their descent via the ramp. A move she at the very least did not gainsay Ilezenya on taking, at the very least. A much more cautious Vark however does stop for a moment to check the ramp of recent activity of giants of humanoids having made use of the passage to make use of their current level.

-Survival: 2.

But being no expert as such things, he hurries to take back up his position at the front of the procession and quietly passes along any findings all the same. "But then again, it is possible they've already mined as much as they felt required, or have simply abandon this level for the moment... Still, we should exercise caution, as we will eventually have to deal with more than just a few stray giant beasts before long."

The party makes their way down the ramp. As they reach what appears to be the next level they can see that the ramp also continues to go down. So what’s next?

"Seems to me this mine isn't very active.  While I appreciate the thought of making sure what is behind us is clear, we will exhaust ourselves if every level is like this.  As we make our way down if it doesn't look like the level is being actively mined perhaps we should just keep going down.  Or we will end up camping out in empty mines for a couple days before we reach the bottom." Devin says. "I could send the Arcane Eye down the shaft and spy out the area around the lift stops and go all the way to the bottom and determine where we need to go." 

"Perhaps your spying eye can make a quick scan of this level - see if we should spend any time here or move downwards. We can also take half of an hour to check out the area near this point while the srying eye moves ahead or in another direction," Ilezenya offers to the group. "We don't want to spend more time than we need on each level, but we also can not rush into our own doom."

As Devin and Ilezenya each make their offer, D.O.R.K cups a hand about her chin in consideration of the proposal. "Having come this far, and with the shaft at this point a fair ways from here as well, a non-insignificant amount of time would still be consumed in backtracking alone. So, I second the Dusk Warden's Opinion. However, once we've discovered where the next level intersects by the shaft, and provided the next level is infrequently visited as well, we can post up there so that you may do a thorough search via this arcane eye." D.O.R.K states, but refrained from pressing on or putting her foot down further on the group's course of action. Not yet, at least. If push however came to shove, then she was mentally prepared to see things through Ilezenya's way, as the group couldn't afford to stall out forever.

"Check things down with the arcane eye sounds good to me. The less time we spend here the better " says Toruun. 

"It took us 5 hours to walk the last level.  I can only concentrate on the eye for an hour before it is too much and I must let it go.  I simply do not have enough arcane power to scan each level with the eye. It also moves no faster than we can walk.  If you wish to walk this level as well I will not stop you.  But I will wait here and use the eye to go down the ramps and see how much can be seen and how many levels there are to go." Devin says in reply.

With that said he breaks his concentration with Aslan and focus his power on forming the Arcane Eye.  He then sends it down the ramp and will look about the first 120 feet of each level and then send it down another level.  Unless something of real interest pops up or there is some sort of evidence that the level is being actively mined he'll continue working his way moving the eye down levels. 

"It took us roughly that amount due to thoroughness and -- though minor obstacles -- dealing with those giant rodents and bats along the way." D.O.R.K conveys before holding up an index finger. "However..... point taken. Small compromise then." She turns to Beedo and Vark. The former of which upon meeting her gaze, immediately frowned in anticipation, but for once in his life held his tongue. "As there is a non-zero chance that more of such beasts roaming this and the above level might make their way down here, you two are to stand watch over Devin." She then looks to the remaining party. "Meanwhile, provided the rest of you are accepting this, we shall continue our explanation of this level, but limit to a half hour or less as previous prescribed. Agreed?" 

"Concur - clear the immediate area and magically scout the levels below. Let's move quickly but quietly." The Dusk Warden is ready to lead a group around this level for no more than 30 minutes! Although not very stealthy, he will try to move as quietly as he can... (Stealth w/ disadv: 4 :: Perception: 8)

Ebonitus is feeling somewhat blind, so he simply stays by Devin, with a hand on his shoulder so he does not get separated.

Opting to not explore the played out levels of the mine in the same detail as they had the first level; the party moves somewhat faster deeper down into the mines. It still takes them about 10 hours - one hour per level - before they reach an area where the workings are more recent and they can hear the occasional clang of iron on rock.

Devin has sent the arcane eye down the levels, what does he see when he sends it down to the bottom?

Apologies for tardiness in replying still working off iPhone which is giving me the pip.

The Arcane Eye lasts an hour. Is Devin renewing it every hour or did he send it straight to the bottom level. I need a bit more detail on how he is using it?

Devin is sending it down each level and will look about the first 120 feet of each level and then send it down another level.  Essentially exploring the immediate area near the ramp before going down to the next level. Unless something of real interest pops up or there is some sort of evidence that the level is being actively mined he'll continue working his way moving the eye down levels.