Dahme'dre, you find in your search a stash of staves. They seem no different from the one you are holding, but one seems to call out to you. When you lay your hand on it, it feels... right. This staff seems to contain a secret of sorts. (Figuratively, I don't recommend breaking it!)

Ashehee, you find a a shield that bears an emblem of the Silver Flame. The shield itself seems quite old, but when you test it... it is still sturdy. Still useful. (Gives an additional +1 to your AC, woot. aka, better than your current shield.)

Aurelia, the shortbow you see seems different from the rest. You can't put your finger on it, but it definitely has something special to it. When you touch it, you feel greatly empowered, but you aren't sure how.

Slade, while you peek around at many objects and gauge their usefulness, you manage to find a strange device. It is much like a pocket knife, but each piece are different tools for unlocking doors, chests, or even disabling traps. (Counts as thieves tools, additionally, grants adv on related checks.)

There are saddles.

While examining his strange new gadget he assumes a pensive expression, "Strange. My old mentor had something like this. Quite the useful little tool. Never saw another since he went missing. No matter, any thoughts on our new mission?  We might want to egress through the sewer again. Walking out the front might prove somewhat complicated."

Slade also snaps up one of the staves casually giving it a practice twirl before stowing it away.

Dahme'dre twirls the staff a bit less elegantly than Slade, but, with a flourish, she leaves it spinning in the air before her. She reaches into the pouch at her side as she examines the staff. She speaks a few arcane words as she catches the staff from the air.

Dahme'dre taps into her inherited power. She bears a Dragonmark on her back between her shoulder blades, but its faint glow isn't visible hidden beneath her hooded cloak. (Cast: Identify on the staff, the bow will have to wait 'til later. 1/day)

When everyone's ready to move she picks up a saddle and encourages the others to do the same. "Yes, the back way out will serve well, we can cover ground quickly if we use the horses we left down there."

Dahme'dre learns this staff seems to have magical qualities similar to that of khyber shards she has worked with before. There seems to be some sort of 'lock' on it. The condition for unlocking appears to be based on timing. A guess makes her feel she may learn something valuable from this staff anywhere from a week or a month from now.

(SO quick question: saddles. They are for the magebred horses, yes? I don't think we covered what happened with the horses. I am assuming you left them at the last place you had a short rest at since you had to make a quick getaway. Or are these for other horses inside the fort? If so, you will have to leave through the front gate. This decision on how to leave is up to you.)

(OOC: Oh I didn't give it much thought, but I suppose that makes sense. I was assuming we left them in the sewer.)

Aurelia takes the bow, feeling its qualities. She is unsure of what it does, but it seems like it will be useful in the coming days. She turns to the group. "What time is it? We have not rested in what seems like an eternity."

OOC: I vote we take a long rest. All my daily spells are depleted, and so is Ashe's lay on hands.

(OOC: we gained the benefits of a long rest when we arrived here with our level.)

(OOC: Thanks for the clarification on the rest. I think we should try to get the magebred horses, perhaps we can take regular horses and then go pick up the magebred ones?)

(OOC: I think it might be too heavy over there. The cultists have a MO of not looting.

DM's ruling on the last known location of the horses?

They may be out of our hands for now. We can locate them after things have cooled down, though I think Klobs may be more concerned with their whereabouts at that time.)

(Insight: 11 or perception: 18 How does Dahme'dre feel the cultists will react if they find the horses or has she seen anything here to help with that judgement?)

Dahme'dre leaves the saddles realizing how uncertain she is about the location of the horses. She goes to locate Linan to ask after Lucy before they depart.

You last left the horses at the short rest house. This is in the opposite direction of the church you mean to rescue.

Dahme'dre is completely unsure of how the cultists would react. On one hand, they may have taken them as the cultists seem to be looting now. Perhaps they left the horses alone. There is also a chance the horses were slaughtered by now. It is uncertain as these are all possible.

How far timewise are the magebred horses? It seems the distances haven't been that far, so if it's 30 mins or less I'd vote for getting the magebred horses.

(OOC: is Aurelia more concerned with the wellbeing of the horses or the people in the church?)

(OOC: She is concerned about the people in the church, but the magebred horses are something that will help a lot. If we run from fire to fire and don't stop to think about the right tools for the job then in the long run we are doing less good.)

(OOC: This town is pretty small and it will be hard to avoid being noticed on horseback. Slade doubles movement speed outside of combat in citys due to his urchin background too. I'd rather head straight to the church.)

(OOC: when we rode here we had "a few miles" to cover, however, the town of Ardev is about 300 yards across. 15 combat rounds. A minute and a half. Going for the horses will probably mean combat. Lets get them after the church if they live. Otherwise there are other horses in the world.)

"Linan, is Lucy with you? I just want to be sure some one is watching after her."

[edit: what's my new staff look like? I presume it will work as an arcane focus? Is it wood? Shillelagh likes wooden staves.]

(OOC: Sounds good, let's go for the horses after the church. My body is ready.)

Ashehee eyes a shield adorned with the crest of the Silver Flame and says a brief prayer of thanks. This will do nicely, she thinks to herself as she drops her old shield.

(ok sorry was out for a bit. what's next?)

Linan shakes her head, "No... I thought Lucy was with you?"

The staff you found looks like this: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/2/2a/Manikin-Oak_Staff.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/145?cb=20120305234613

It's an oak staff and it can be used as an arcane focus.

Slade gathers up his gear and suggests, "Time is wasting friends. We need to get those people out of there. May I suggest again we leave through the sewer?"

"Please, try to find her. She was with us when we came out of the sewers. She should be safe in the keep, but there is a battle going on. We are going to help a group trapped in the church. I will come find you when we return."

"Alright, I'm with you, Slade, lead the way."

When they climb down the ladder Dahme'dre will release Shape Water to clear the barrier and again proceeded by her floating torch she will walk casually but keep her hems dry as though they were walking a clean dry hall.