Results from the group arcane check:

Scrolls: Off to a rough start, while using the lamp light to go over the scrolls, one actually catches fire and ignited so quickly that you’d think it was doused in oil. Of the other four, while going over them, Viilgahan almost missed the fact that at one time, he was even in possession of two of them.

Broach: Viilgahan knows with certainty that there is no magic

Cuff links: Viilgahan feels magic may have been used in their creation, but there is no inherent magic in them now

Bottle of misty pink: Absolutely a magic potion, and although the color and bottle itself aren’t something Viilgahan has even used, he can deduce that it’s some type of medicine (possibly to act as an antidote or heal wounds, fatigue, etc) but not sure exactly what. It has five uses.

Twin black metal rods connected by a rusty chain that might possibly be nunchucks: There is arcane traces not necessarily in the rods, but a magic connecting them to something. The magic comes from another source, that the ‘nunchucks’ are drawn to.

Crumpled piece of paper: Appearing to have been ripped from a large piece of writing, what isn’t torn or smudged beyond being legible, (In celestial) “Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three.”

Silver ring: Viilgahan detects no magic associated with it. But there is an inscription of four words inside, or at least a place where four might have been as two seemed to have been scratched out “- from - Lake.”

While most of the party was engaged in identifying loot, Nik approached Herrpees, with the first truly serious look on his face that any of them had seen, since meeting. 
“Now listen. The contract you made wit me was protection to an’ from the ruins. You’re at tha ruins. From what we can see, ya suffered no bodily harm. Way I see it, we still hold’n up r end. You end it now, you forfeit tha contract, and we owed payment.”

Nik huffed and stood in front of Herrpees, looking up at the elf.

”Fine. Then get me out of here. I came to study abandoned ruins, not ones swarming with spectral knights, cultists, and horrors from other planes of existence.”

Watching the exchange between the dwarf and the elf, Anearis did a double take over the last thing mentioned by the elf. "Other planes of existence? What manner of creature have you seen here? What do you know about it?"

"Don't forget this one..."  Austin says, pulling the staff she got in the last chamber from the side of her pack.  "Would like to know what it is, if it is at all magical..."

"Two...one Scroll, Broach, Cuff links (magic forged), Bottle of misty pink (likely healing), ‘nunchucks’ magically drawn to something else, a page from a children's book, Silver ring, and a stick, 150GP, and 7SP." Virgil lists off as he writes. "I would like to reiterate, that once we are in a more secure location, I can properly identify all of these things. As riveting as the inventory and an object lesson on why you should always get a contract in writing is, everything in this ruin aside from this elf and a pathetic noble has tried to kill me, so I'm not terribly fond of the place."

After going through the items, Viilgahan takes the two scrolls that were originally his and keeps the silver ring he found, adding it to the same hand as the other silver ring. ...gaining a collection I see... He ignored it and gestured to the rest, telling about them each in turn. Reading the paper out to the others. "Settle it as you see fit, the potion should be tested as to its exacts so perhaps Uthal or Virgil might want to take a sip to better experiment." He blinks as Austin holds out the staff. "Why was that..." he makes a dismissive gesture and attempts to peer into the staffs potential arcane use, drawing upon the assistance once more.

Gnarled Barkly Staff - Arcana: 10

While the party was discussing the division of loot, Herrpees chimed in, at the mention of gold. "25 of that gold is of my own. Taken by my captive, Viggo."

Ander, who had previously been near the door this entire time walked over to the large chest of more common items. "These I can put to actual use," he said, taking the backpack, bedroll, blanket, and messkit. Following Virgil's dictation of what he had written down, on his way towards the door, he addressed the bard. "Your skill as a scribe leaves much to be desired." But expected to response, as he continued on back out into the tunnel corridor.

Viilgahan's arcane check of the quarterstaff provided the same results as that of the nunchucks. That no magic originated from the item itself, but that it was bound to some other unapparent magical source.

Turning away from his concern about financial property, Herrpees looked towards Anearis.  "That's what this place is, at least partially. They kept me in here, because they intended to use my skills to unlock some further understanding of this place. With the help of some scrolls, that your friend there had in his possession," the elf pointed towards Viilgahan, "I discovered that part of what they're doing here is trying to open a doorway to another plane, specifically one known as Xoriat. I believe this place was built by someone completely capable of doing so, and for some reason, these cultists are trying to reopen it."

"Oh, Ander, you're still here? I hadn't noticed." Virgil remarks. "There's always a portal. I really miss the old tales, when villains threatened the world with their own two hands without calling on some "ancient evil" or "other plane." How terribly typical, Anton" Virgil sighs. He turns to Herrpees. "They're attempting to open this doorway, though, as in, they haven't already and won't be able to without the assistance of your knowledge and those scrolls? That's the short of it?"

"Seems like we need some time to discuss this all."  Austin says with a frown.  "It also seems many of you need to get some rest.  Should we shut that door and rest here?"

"Well it seems that for now the the only present danger is one that can go through walls anyway. I don't like it, but if we feel its necessary, I'd ask we at least move these bodies outside, I'd rather not rest next to death if I don't have to."

Uthal looks up at Virgil from his place on the bed. "My guess is that no matter where in this castle you go you're resting next to death. At least be glad that the vengeful spirits seems to be on our side." 

"Are they on our side though? Or have we only been lucky enough not to cross their path?", suggested Anearis.

"Yes, but the situation is easier to stomach if I don't have to smell it."

As the party discussed their next steps, Herrpees interrupted, "I don't know how far they've gotten.  I've been here less than a day, and was brought straight to this room. For all I know, they've already stumbled across everything, and I'm just here to help them make sense of it. Either way, I'm done with this place, and I intend to leave at once." The elf made it clear that he had no desire to rest or continue on with the group, but rather to escape and leave everything about the place behind him.

A headsplitting scream echoed into the room from somewhere out in the tunnels.  The same scream that the party heard when opening the crypts and then again before finding the 'half' cultist.  The sound was immediately followed by some heavy footsteps running in the corridor, getting further from the room.  Every member of the party was accounted for, with the potential exception of Ander, who had already previously moved from the room and back into the tunnel.

Uthal stands back up. "Hells. Knight! Get back in here!" As he moves to see where Ander got to he answers Anearis. "Judging by the fact that we let them out and they haven't killed us, I'd say they've decided we're friends for now." 

"I don't think leaving on your own or without properly discerning what these fools are up to would end well for you or anyone else for that matter." Virgil stops as the scream echoes through the halls. "See?" He says, eyebrows raised at Herrpees. Virgil then hears the footsteps. "Please tell me Ander is not stupid enough to go running off towards a murderous ghost on his own?"

 "I also suggest not to go out right now. Mainly because of the giant bat-like creature roaming outside." Anearis adds nonchalantly.

Noticing the absence of Ander too, he goes after Uthal.

As Uthal goes to locate Ander, he sees the knight no longer right outside the room. Infact he doesn't see Ander at all. However, looking down the tunnel, Uthal does see light from around the corner of the northbound tunnel.

"Giant bat?! What are you talking about?" Herrpees shoots Anearis an almost incredulous, confused look.  As if everything that was mentioned up to that point had been normal place.

"Guess the tired ones don't want to rest yet..." Austin says as she hears the footsteps outside. She moves to follow the others.

"Looks like you either join us, or take your chances back in the chest, I know where I'm most likely to survive." Virgil stows his writing utensils and follows after Austin. "You coming or are you guarding your fallen dwarf friend?"

Virgil quickly mutters while writing the words in the air with a flourish,

"From his fastened lantern sprang burning light,

Dispelling all the dark laid before him." 

Virgil casts Prestidigitation on his hooded lantern to light it.