laid back apocalypse

Berd would go with the scouting group for a little extra muscle, seeing that the paper gnome was busy looking at papers and fancy stuff. 

Feeling Wawke push his head against her hand, she’d pet. Thank you. I’m okay. She’d give him scratches behind the ears and under the chin. 

The scouting party backtracks to the locked door while the others remain behind to rest and identify the items. 

Xalkas would come to recognize the carvings to be birds, identifying the staff as a Staff of Birdcalls. Then taking a look within the spellbook, the wizard would discover that it was written in a different language. It was easily recognized as a standard spellbook assigned to Crushing Wave Cultist Priests. 

Using the keys, the scouting party opens the door. This room evidently serves as a prison. A half-dozen straw pallets covered by threadbare blankets are spread out on the floor, and a cask of water leans against one wall. A dark, slit-like window looks out to the west. The cultists currently hold no prisoners in this makeshift jail, but it was pretty safe to assume this would be where you’d be brought if you were captured. 

Kerric:

"These cultists are serious about their prisoners," remarks Kerric, looking around at the spartan accommodations and scanning for any clues of who might have been kept here or how recently.  

Perception:  7

Assuming he finds nothing further of interest, he says, "Looks like we are clear to return to the others and have our rest."

Just to make sure, Reghys asks Orric to reach into the water barrel, and feel around for anything that may have been kept inside, seeing as this was the second most likely place for anyone to hide anything, after the straw pallets, which Reghys takes  look at

Investigation: 21 for the barrel, and 15 for the pallet

In the prison room, Berd samples the water from the cask. Ideally before aortic sticks his hand in there, but either way didn’t matter to him. 

Meanwhile Xalkas takes the staff of birdcalls and the spellbook back to T, “Since you are our quartermaster, more or less, I’m returning these to you. I believe Reghys would be able to make best use of the staff and, as much as it pains me to admit this, I am unable to read this book.” He hangs his head in shame at the last part of his sentence. 

Kerric would not be able to determine whether there was any one in here recently. But based off of Orric’s thorough investigation, it was obvious that they were always prepared for prisoners. Regardless of how many crooks and crannies he clears, there truly appears to be nothing of value here. The water wasn’t the most fresh, but it was clean enough to drink. 

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker nods and takes the book and staff from Xalkas with a nod, "Interesting staff. Does anyone in particular want this item for the time being?"

That task done, he sees Anya and the others returning from the prison cells. He looks mildly displeased that she ran off rather than taking an interest in accounting, but says nothing. "Well, we've been here for long enough, let us continue exploring this place before we are stumbled upon." 

Reghys says to T: " I already have my wand of missiles, I don't particularly need the staff. It could be a useful training item for our apprentice casters though?"

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker nods, "If Hawke does not want it, then yes, very well."  He hands the staff to whomever wants it.

Hawke's ears perk up at his name, padding over to T'chal with the staff in question. He gives it a sniff over, thinks on it, then backs up. Gotta agree with Twinkles on this one. I'd probably use it like a whackin' stick, n' I already got one of those!

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker nods and hands the staff over to Berd.  "This is of course on loan and not yours and ....so on and so on.  Please sign this note stating you accept responsibility for the groups item and will take all reasonable effort to prevent it from being lost or damaged....though it's already rather damaged."  T'chal'fronack'zcinicker sees if a simple mending spell can fix any of the damage to the staff and sees to the paperwork, which seems new to the older members of the group. 

Once done, he stands up, "Well, shall our more discrete allies take the lead onwards?" 

Kerric:

”Indeed,” answers Kerric.  Having taken little damage from the previous fight (somehow), he had skipped and kept guard as the others rested.  Not particularly stealthy himself, he gestures for Lathna to join the others in their recon.

Berd does his best to draw a handing flipping the bird and gives T a one fingered salute. “Yes sir!” He adds emphatically, “Anything to help protect the paper gnome.” 

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker raises an eyebrow at Berd, "You're aware that disrespecting your fellow group members incurs a 5% penalty on your treasure shares for one week? I'm sure you are."  He makes a note in his ledger and walks away with a small smirk on his lips. 

From the moment they first arrived at the Rivergard keep, tracking of time slipped away. Then the further down the rabbit hole they went and into the Temple ruines, the more obscure it got. One thing felt certain. Reghys' hint of a long rest was enough to ground one in the moment. It had been a while. Although it was not currently dire, it was something to keep in mind as the group pressed forward into the belly of the beast.

Having held it for some time during his review, Xalkas would be able to tell that the staff of birdcalls was not at full capacity. He'd not that it had approximately 5 charges remaining and wouldn't be scheduled to replenish itself until dawn.

Should one consult with their resident druid, based off of the precipitation effect on his fur and low airflow carrying in stale scent, Wawke could guesstimate they were greeting dusk, not dawn.

Ebele had fallen silent for some time. She was listening, taking in the groups reports. "If we're strategic about how we sweep the place, we may be able to secure an area, should we find ourselves in desperate need of recouping." This room for example was a bit cozy, but still not as secure. There could be better places. Reghys had also given her an idea. The monk would reach a hand out for the found keys. "Hide our 'get out free jail card'," She jingles the keys. "and maybe some spare weapons, in the cell as a contingency plan if we get caught."

With a jut of her chin Ebele would gesture for Nayreen to come over. "Hide these, and anything T'chal'fronack'zcinicker is willing to spare for the cause." She'd pass over the keys. "For your own good, try not to offend him." She'd add with a dip of her head as a wink.

Turning to face their armoured warrior, Ebele would offer a suggestion. "I believe the sound of the rushing water could counteract the sound of your gear. Kerric, perhaps you and Reghys could review our options from the bridge while Hawke and I review the hallway to the north. Once we gather information, we can review it together to decide our next course of action."

Should there be no objections, the group splits up, within reason, to collect data on their surroundings.

Map Update
(Very rough estimation for covering all angles. The group would be able to report back all the different paths presented to them for consideration.)

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker raises his eyebrow in appreciation when Nayreen shares Ebele's plan, "A devious and keen idea. Yes, let us go hide some thing...." 

While the other scout out their potential paths forward, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker goes with Nayreen and nodding for Anya to follow, heads to the prison.  There they hide the keys at the bottom of the water, and then a number of daggers in the rubble around the cave if they can make them very well hidden.  If there is room for anything larger, they'll hide some short swords and perhaps a suit of chainmail for the elf, and a crossbow or two, but only if they're able to hide them well. 

One bit of book keeping.  We found a scroll of haste and a scroll of wall of water a while back. I didn't mark down who had them, but I assume Xalkas does.  Please confirm, thanks!

After having had a look from the bridge, Reghys whispers to Kerric, once they are nearer to where the rest of them are: "I think, Xalkas and I standing at the rear should be able to stop anyone coming across this bridge or out of the water, if we stand somewhere within the corridor. The rest of you can advance down along to the north, and may be able to take on each of the rooms in turn. That way we might provide covering fire should you need it, either to the front or the back."

Kerric:

Searching ahead as he speaks with Xalkas, Kerric responds, “That seems like a good plan.  Good thinking.”

Perception:  14

Kerric:

If he sees nothing of interest from the bridge, Kerric prepares to follow Reghys' plan.  He wants to follow perhaps 15-25 feet behind the stealthier scouts -- far enough so that hopefully the noise of his movement won't impair their stealth, but close enough so he can be there quickly if a combat occurs.

Hawke would be able to confirm that the hallway was clear of any threats. He’d lead the way down to the pair of doors for Kerric and Reghys to inspect. While they reviewed that area, he’d usher Ebele to the end of the hall. Finding a door just around the corner, it has an iron plate about one foot square set in its middle. He pauses to take a listen. Wawke’s sensitive nose picks up a mix of smells existing in the room beyond. He wouldn’t be able to make out anything being said. It all sounded like wonwonwon won won. 

Kerric and Reghys discover that the two rooms they were sent into were identical. These large rooms are strewn with crumbling masonry. A dry pit lies in the middle of the floor, ringed by a five-foot-wide walkway. After spending some time in these two rooms, Reghys would be able to tell that they were once granaries for the dwarven citadel, but any food stored here rotted away long ago. The silo spaces are each 30 feet deep. Other than the possibility of a nasty fall, these rooms provide safe places for the party to rest.