Homebrew: Totem of Carrowkeel

OOC: After playing a Halfling Bard in Out of the Abyss I learned to appreciate light sources even if you have Darkvision

OOC: Darkvision is black and white only (colors cannot be discerned). So to see/find traps etc is harder is my point.

Erevan you can see 60ft around you in black and white but no great detail e.I. carvings or magic etc...you would make investigation checks for those at disadvantage without a light source. Are you stepping off into the water?

Pitero: Darik is the only one how needs light to proceed.

Andulra flashlights aren't around yet lol

The murmurs and chanting in deep speech are growing louder again as well as the stench of decay!

In any case, we have a light source now. Erevan  looks into the water for signs of danger (perception: 21 ) and if he doesn't see anything will step into the water and off to the side to let the big guys lead.

When Erevan moves Saarebas will move to the front to take the lead.

"Quickly we must find the source of the chanting and stop it."

Erevan you can see there's bones in the shallow water. There are broken sarcophagi which have been dumped into the water as if something or someone was searching for something inside them! On the sarcophagi there are only the druidic symbols.

Erevan can roll an arcane check as well as history to read them properly.

Saarebas roll an investigation check.

Investigation: 19

Arcana: 5

History: 20

Erevan you know they're druidic symbols but don't know what or if they do anything magical. The ones you can make out"here lies the bravest of the brave" on several of the inscriptions but little else is recoverable from the wear, age, and destruction of the inscriptions.

Saarebas You only notice the water you're now trudging through but the bones because Erevan pointed them out. Do you continue?

The marching is as follows: Erevan and Saarebas are in the water at the bottom of the steps. Aldaryn, the tied Goblin chief, and Brida are reaching the final steps. Andulra and Pitero are middle of the steps and Darik with his glowing bit of rubble in one hand is in the rear having taking a few steps into the stairwell now that he has light.

Checks?

Saarebas will keep his eyes out for anything popping out of the water and lead the group towards the chanting.

Perception: 8 

Saarebas You don't see anything odd and you can only faintly hear the chanting ahead of you. As you moving towards the chanting your foot catches on something below the surface of the water but you can not make out what it is, roll a dex save please!

Dexterity Saving Throw: 12

Perception 24

Seeing how Darik keeps falling for traps and such he will keep his eyes open thanks to the light spell they cast.

Perception: 11

Investigation: 7

[To look for any traps my party may have missed.]

 [Crit!]

Saarebas: You fall forward face down in the water and are now prone! Roll a strength check!

Erevan: You then see skeletal arm grasping Saarebas' ankle and now crawling up his body pushing him under the water! As more skeletal remains, some whole bodies other just upper torso begin to crawl from the water towards you as well as the steps!

Darik and Andulra: The chanting is now is a distinct rhythm, although you do not speak the language, you can tell it's the same three words over and over the voices are a mix of monsterious and humanoid! You both also see the water is now teaming with bones, breaking the surface.

Everyone/OOC: about perception and investigation checks (my DM preference) perception is noticing differences in naturally occurring things ei the sight, sound, smell, touch noticing things with your senses about the environment or other living or undead things in a setting; investigation however is for finding traps, secret doors, magical items, and looting etc... unnaturally occurring things. Please ask which would work best in a situation ei explain what you're noting before you roll because after/editing the posts just makes me think you're trying to manipulate the situation. From this point on the rolls until you leave the stairwell everyone has had a chance to making another investigation/perceive check once in the water but that it ok? Pass or fail we can't just keep rolling and rolling on a single area or room when you or others fail to catch DCs. Can you dig it? Thanks!

Strength Check: 8

"Get up saar!" Erevan  uses bardic inspiration on Saar and draws his rapier.

Saarebas: I'll let you use Erevan's inspiration on your next strength sav saving throw on your turn in initiative after this surprise round!

Everyone roll initiative!

Brida 5 J8

Aldaryn 19 I7

Seeing this happen Aldaryn kicks the bound and gagged goblin off the stairwell into the water, it takes 9 of bludgeoning damage and is instantly swarmed by skeletal remains, the pulled under water!

Skeleton on Saarebas 11 D4

Skeletal torso 5 B8

Skeleton full remains 12 D12

Skeleton full remains 6 B12

 Seeing the bones Darik clenches his great sword and prepares for an attacks.

Initiative: 11