Tarja finds no traps as she risks her spider form poking around the room but also finds no key.  Meanwhile Gundren isn't responsive until Elra heals him, at which time he looks at her with fear and confusion in his eyes and only blinks and shivers a bit.

When Fae opens the southern most trunk nearest the door they entered through she finds a plethora of gear, including the outfit the party last saw Gundren in sitting right on top.  It's dirty and a bit scuffed up, and is missing all of the jewels and fancier bobbles that once adorned it.  Below that she finds a nice set of half-plate armor, a bit worn but in good condition.  Deeper in the trunk she finds the following:

A fine longsword

 A cloth bag with it's drawstring pulled tight

A sturdy, fancy looking shield with a very odd handprint that appears to be burned into it, or something of the sort, with threads of the same color splintering about the face of the shield

As the King falls, Zeke lunges to stand over him, flaring his wings and baring his teeth in a show of strength and dominance.  His measured breathing a strange and stark contrast to his hulk, heaving form.  Spectral figures swirl around him and intertwine against the fallen Bugbear.

It's not until he hears Elra shout that his breathing becomes more normal and his eyes clear. As the rage seeps from his body, the tiefling strides across the room, grabbing the chains that bind their benefactor and yanking them from the wall.  The almost casual movement belies his fury at seeing the dwarf filthy and bound, the sturdy chain and it's wall anchor give under the swift furious assault of the barbarian. 

A quick glance to Tarja and Arvel to ensure that they are safe and unharmed before he gives Fae a deliberate once over - 'Are you safe my friend? Unharmed?' his voice quavers, a near whisper.

Once he's sure there's no more he can do for the Dwarf who set them all on this path, Zeke will shake his shield down into position on his arm, shorten his blade to its sword form and stand watch just outside the chamber to make sure his friends aren't disturbed.   Despite his best efforts to appear inconspicuous, the shield, unsheathed blade and flared wings are enough to draw the eye of anyone approaching the chamber. ..

"It's okay," Elra nods and smiles, "you're going to be okay," she gets up and goes back into the main room. Assuming Fae points out his clothes, Elra will gather them and bring them back to Gundren. She'll place them down near him and look around. "Um... I'll go wait outside so you can change."

(Haha, by all means Pilgrim, glad you went with it.)

Gundren behaves like a feral animal upon the return of his clothes, snatching them and retreating to a dark corner quickly and holding his clothes in a ball against his chest.  A moment after Elra gives him some privacy she can hear him weeping.

Zeke sees no immediate threats in the hallway (but more on that soon).

Elra pulls a candle from her pack and lights it, setting it just inside the room to provide some light in the growing darkness. "I can't begin to imagine what you've been through," she says frrom the other side of the door. "Though I can't think it was good since we've met the Black Spider. I..." she swallows, having a hard time finding the words. "I know you probably won't believe me when I say you're safe now, but I promise you I won't let them do that to you again. I promised Sildar we'd bring you back to Phandalin, because he's worried about you. And because you're our friend and we were worried about you too."

"If...  if you do want to talk about it, I'm always willing to listen..."

Gundren seems pretty out of it and does not respond to Elra.

Elra just sort of nods and repacks her bag, pulling out some of her rations and placing them and her waterskin on them just inside the door. "I'll just leave that there in case you're hungry or thirsty..." she says quietly, before joining Fae at the chests, ritual casting Identify on the objects to see what they are. (about 30 minutes for all three items... if we want to take the time)

A couple of quiet minutes go by, with regard to Gundren at least, but then Elra hears him move and take advantage of the offering of rations and water.  He gasps after his first drink, having been severely parched up until now.

I want to give some of the other players time to catch up, explore the room, RP, etc. etc. before I get more than 10 minutes ahead after the death of Grol.  That doesn't mean don't post, I just won't advance time too much myself.  For now, what item does Elra Identify first?

(The pouch)

Elra confirms that it is a Bag of Holding , although something about its magical properties doesn't seem quite right... its tether to its own tiny pocket dimension seems...damaged and unstable.

"We should probably avoid using this for anything right now," Elra says. "Something about it seems... damaged is probably the best word for it."

Tarja tries to reassure Gundren.

You're safe now. Sildar's back in the town. We'll get you back soon, heal you up all right and good.

 The plate, blade and shield in the first chest do not much interest Tarja - perhaps they were Sildar's? She does wonder if anything interesting is already in the Bag of Holding. If there is, best get it out, unstable pocket dimensions don't seem like the best thing to keep around.

She checks in the second of the three chests to see if Grol had kept anything she might be able to use.

Elra nods in agreement of Tarja's comment of something inside it. "I get that, I'm just worried if we try opening it in here... something bad will happen. Maybe I should step outside to check it?"

Ethan lets out a relieved breath as Grol dies, before looking around to make sure his friends are ok.

As Elra searches for Gundren and Tarja searches for traps, Ethan collects all the cut pieces of rope and then heads over to see what Fae has uncovered.

As Elra finds Gundren, Ethan looks in from behind, but steps aside as Zeke strides in with purpose and fury to unbind Gundren.

As Elra starts the process of identifying the 3 items found, Ethan checks the other chests and opens them to search for what is inside.

At Elra's claims about the bag, Ethan comes over and asks to take a look.

Ethan examines the bag for a few minutes.

"Hmmm, this actually reminds me of the, ah, incident, that almost destroyed my gauntlet."

"I forgot to add the needed stabilisers and, after putting most of my tools into the storage, the gauntlet kind of half imploded, half exploded, and I lost them."

"It looks like some of the sigils that keep the compressed space stable may be malfunctioning..."

Ethan spends some time looking over the bag, tracing out the various patterns and components that make up its construction.

"Hmm, I might be able to make use of this to upgrade my gauntlet, uh, if everyone is ok with me doing that?"

"My gauntlets storage space is tied to a part of my life energy. You see, most of the work for creating my magical devices, isn't really that hard, or time consuming."

"The one thing that takes the most time, and is the most delicate, at least until it is finished, is the power source."

"So for devices that need a constant power...well those of us who have limited regular magical energy's, we have to find reserves where we can, and the Artificers on Lantan found another source that works great for powering devices like this."

"I know a process by which I could carefully transplant the power source from this item, to power my gauntlet storage, that would then allow me to make us of my energy reserves for another device."

"But the process would render the bag mundane, so I wouldn't want to do that unless everyone is ok with me taking the power source for my gauntlet..."

Ethan looks at his friends, hoping they will say yes, but nervous they may want to sell the malfunctioning device.

Tarja checks the chest closest to the door Gundren was held behind and finds...

A wizard's spellbook

An odd set of looking glasses, or something of the sort that many would not be familiar with

A marble elephant statue about as big as your fist

A fine chain shirt wrapped around an odd looking gold scimitar that is likely of elven make

Lastly you find Sildar's longsword and armor, which he wore when you met he and Gundren at the Driftwood Inn to begin the party's adventures together.

"Where did Grol get all this stuff?" Elra asks as even more stuff is uncovered.

Ethan replies to Elra,

"Kidnapping people?"

"I suppose..." Elra agrees, "but wouldnt there be more people asking around about people who were kidnapped?"

While Tarja checks one chest, Ethan checks the other.  This third chest is brimming with assorted coin, jewelry, gems and the like.  One unique item that appears to be less for show and likely has further significance is an emblem of some kind on a gold chain that has several types of small gems embedded in it.  Some educated, well traveled or simply social or urban based party members may recognize the symbol as being that of Lathander, the Morninglord, God of light, life, creativity, dawn, renewal, birth, vitality, youth, etc.

(the total value of all valuables other than the holy symbol would equate to 7,278 gold once counted or sold as would be required to liquidate.  We can break it down further if people want to keep jewelry, gems, etc.... says the DM while thinking of Ethan ;)   )