Marchosias starts to object, to support Onyx's callous - but correct - evaluation of their situation.  But looking around the party, they were looking battered, some of them perhaps not far behind the Hunter in their race towards oblivion.

"Fine," he half spits.  "I can stand watch while those who are hurt can tend to their wounds."

Onyx sighed and nodded. "Most of us need the rest. To storage then."

Hmmrh Grahl grunts and pouts a bit. What way to storage? he asks. 

A bit reluctant but knowing he will need the party for the possible foe's still down here he will walk with them to the storage. 

Begrudgingly, he looks to the stairs and sighs, heading for the mine shaft (opposite the direction of the Refinery/away from the stairs)

About an hour later, you've gone back up to the mine shaft and back toward the three way split. Entering the storage, it's clear this was the least affected area. There are no markings on the wall, the stock in the room appears near full/untouched. It is quiet, as the walk back had been, whatever died in the gas seemed to be causing the omnious feeling. Perhaps the foul smell had a hallucinogenic property, who can say.

The night grows close to midnight as the last of you enter the room. The hunter sits on a nearby crate and lets his head rest on the crate behind him.

Arbon will check the room, having a look at some of the crates (Investigation: 20).

Chazrael will check the room as well.

Investigation - 10

Onyx lit another torch; he seemed a bit nervous, as if he would rather have saved it. As soon as it was strapped to his staff in place of the one he discarded, he began assisting in searching the crates.

(( Investigation Roll: 17 ))

"If someone could lend me a spare torch," he said, turning to the others, "I can take first watch."

Arbon looks about the crates and finds the first one filled with iron lamps. They have no wick or oil, but there's alot of metal in there.

Chazrael is more fortunate in his findings and manages to pull open an armory chest. Damascus weapons (standard weapon +1 damage\+1 hit) of every kind and variety, with a selection of sharpened broad-head arrow heads at the bottom in a padded box catching his eye. 

Onyx cracks open a box of finery, with a dozen silver necklaces and many many MANY sparkling green gems. At the bottom, once again in a padded box, a dark green, so deep and black was its center you couldn't see all the way through, precious stone lay covered in dark cloth. More precious than any other emerald that he had ever seen, it looked like a verdant diamond, the stone radiated beauty and power as he held it in his hand. (spell casting with this stone may yield interesting results...)   

"Well!" exclaimed Onyx with a bit of surprise. "I thought these would be empty, and had hoped for some food or lighting at least... but it appears we may have found a little treasure trove!"

He held up a silver necklace, a green gemstone and the padded box. "I'm not personally here for the wealth, although raiding abandoned mines for loot does seem to be fun!

"However, I'm sure some of this can make excellent spell components as well. We can split most of this, but as far as this large one here, I'll try to see what it is before deciding if I need it." He shrugged, and in a somewhat embarrassed tone explained, "After all, we're in a bit of a pickle here, so.... spellcasters first!"

With that, the warlock pulled the box out and began to lay out its contents openly, hoping for one particular bit of treasure that he'd not yet seen. "Anyone find a pearl or some incense and herbs in any of these, let me know, I'll likely need them far more than this." He shook the padded box, offering it as trade for his needed materials, then resumed laying out the necklaces and green gemstones into six neat piles.

(( Intelligence Check to know exactly what gemstones they are, including the dark one: 5 -- doh!

The dozen necklaces split evenly, but should the "emeralds" (presuming that's what they are) not do so, Onyx will take one of the shorted piles, and even offer to make up anyone else being short, so long as it leaves him with at least a single emerald. ))

"I found some weapons if anyone wants some," Chazrael says as he takes a shortbow, one of the shortswords and ten of the arrows. He'll leave ten of his former arrows and one of his shortswords to the side. "I have what I need."

Arbon grumbles, hearing Onyx and Chazrael finding treasures, but then shrugs and pockets some more metal. He wanders over to the crate Chazrael indicated, "Thank you, my friend. I will look at taking another mace I think." And he reaches into the crate and brings out his new mace, swinging it to feel its weight, "This will do nicely," he smiles. Arbon holds onto his old mace, for use of the metals in forging new items.

He turns to Onyx, "My apologies my bookish friend. I did not find, nor do I own, any such materials for your spell casting."

"Would anyone like me to craft them some equipment? It seems our weapons are taken care off..." he gestures towards the crate Chazrael found, "However I can look at other things. Perhaps a steel mirror for scouting? Or maybe a set of tools that one requires?"

Onyx sighed at Arbon's apology. "No worry. Perhaps something will crop up later."

As he started handing out the piles of treasure--including to the hunter--he cocked his head at Arbon's particular find. Handing the cleric his share, he asked, "Are you able to spare any of those lamps? If we come across a pint of oil, it'll last as long as six torches. Plus, it might be able to fill in for a brazier."

Upon spotting the crate Chazrael opened, his eyes widened. "That pattern in the metal... are those Damascus weapons?! I've heard of them, but never seen one!" Taking out a dagger from among the others, he examined it; rather than testing its weight, balance and sharpness, he mainly paid attention to the aesthetics and craftsmanship. "Excellent work!" he murmured, clearly imagining the history of the blade, before opening his holster and swapping out his mundane dagger.

(( @DM: Are these weapons just naturally +1/+1, or are they considered magical? Also, how many "emeralds" do we each get? ))

Arbon shakes his head at Onyx, "These lanterns are not serviceable unfortunately. Not only do they lack oil, but also a wick. However, if you wish for torches, I have a handful here in my pack that you may have." With that, Arbon takes of his backpack, and takes out 10 torches and hands them to Onyx, "I've no need for them, when I can cast light easily enough."

(( RETCON: Alongside two silver necklaces each, Onyx tried to hand a 40-lbs. bag of emeralds to each player. You can each decide if you take it, or a lesser portion, etc. And there are apparently enough bags that if you want more than you can carry, you can have at it. He will actually try to keep an entire bag himself, despite understanding the risk of being weighed down. ))

The young man smiled graciously. "I do appreciate it, Arbon. I'm hoping my patron can help out here, but until he does... the idea of being down here without light..." Onyx just shuddered rather than finishing the thought aloud.

"Still, as I promised, I can take the first watch if the rest of you wish to sleep for a bit."

(OOC - Onyx can take the torches, I have removed them from my inventory. Also, Arbon will only take the necklaces to use the metal later on if necessary. He doesn't take any emeralds.)

Grahl will sit on one of the crates while looking around as the others search the crates. Once they specify what they have found Grahl will get up to walk to the weapons, clearly having his interest. He will pick up a few but try to find a replacement for his greataxe and spear. 

Grahl will smirk as he waves around his new axe. Then suddenly he will use it to smash one of the nearby crates suddenly creating a lot of noise. He turns to the others and chuckles Grahl test weapon hehe. 

His old greataxe he will hand to Arbon, Grahl need grappling hook. (not sure if he can make it from the axeblade)

He does not take any of the emeralds or necklaces, not wanting them to weigh him down or alert his enemies if they make noise walking. Grahl no need shinies, fight first, come back for these later. 

Grahl would prioritize the battles that might still be needed in these mines and assume after they can come back here and take the gems when they are done. 

Grahl smashes the nearby crate, but the wood takes the blow, carving a deep chunk out of the top, but not shattering it at all.

Grahl became aware that he hit something much harder than standard wood, and beneath that, something that refused to break entirely. It felt solid, and the blade came away like it was a strump, from a freshly felled tree, refusing to be pulled from the Earth. When finally released, the ax revealed a hole that something gleamed in the light from beneath. 

Grahl also noticed that the blade was wet. 

Grahl reacts shocked to not being able to shatter the crate. A bit embarrassed he glances around if anyone notices. Then tries to pull back the axe feeling it is somewhat stuck and needing to place a foot against the crate to pull it out again. 

Seeing the axe is wet confusion is visible on his face and he looks to what he hit. Hmrnh? What the... Strange magics. He says as he looks to the others for answers. Grahl then takes a step back not trusting this magic. 

(perception for looking at the hole before stepping back 3 yep Grahl has no clue what hes looking at)

(( Perception Roll for Onyx to notice what it is: 15 ))

"Whoa, hold on a second, Grahl," asked Onyx as he stepped toward the box. "What sort of items were they keeping in here?" he muttered to himself as he knelt down to examine the crate.

"Huh. Well, if any of you can craft woodworkings, then here's your chance to improve your tools. This wood is from a Tree of Life, the strongest wood around!

"And that," he said poking the bottom of his staff at the hole the axe had created, "looks like... ice? Not sure why that hasn't melted. Very strange."

Onyx turned his torch toward the ice, attempting to melt through it.

"Maybe we should open the rest of these crates before taking a rest?" he asked as he kept the flame just above the hole in the crate. "At this point, even finding a ring of three wishes down here wouldn't be terribly surprising."