"I could send them a message to let them know we're nearby?" Rinn says in reply to Wolfsong's comment about not scaring the people around the campfire.

Robwin tries to organise Lia to help guide them through the ruins and towards the campsite. “Yes I think Lia can help us head in the right direction…. And messaging, might be a great idea, if we can. When we’re close enough”.

Robwin will relay what Lia sees and help steer them onwards through the ruins.

Rinn nods and gets out his copper wire, aiming it in the general direction of the campfire and whispers, "A small group of travellers approach from the gateway. They mean no harm, only bring words of warning about a dragon in the area." He then turns to the others, "I'll stay back and give you some cover in case they decide to do something. I can see well enough in the dark. Plus it seems a little strange that they'd be camping out here in the ruins if something else weren't the matter." He holds up his longbow with a smile and slips away to a better vantage point keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble (Stealth: 25 and Perception: 8).

Rinn quietly makes his way forward around the various walls. After shifting enough you, Rinn, do start seeing the faint light. 

A dwarf holding a long burning wood torch shows himself at the door in the wall. "Hello?!"

Wolfsong slowly makes his way into the light of the dwarf's torch, hands raised, trying to appear as no threatening as possible, "Hail, we mean no harm, we are adventurers from Phandelver coming to warn of a possible dragon attack. We also heard that there are traveling orc bands in the area and came to see if you require aid. One of my companions just spoke to you I believe using some arcane power."

The individual responds with a thick dwarven accent, "Aye! The message 's why I'm stand;n 'ere like a fool. Common into camp. Just me an Grayshard 'ere now. We'll talk."

Rinn watches on, but keeps at a distance to maintain his watch since there has been word of orcs and dragons about.

Robwin, bringing up the rear, sees the friendly dwarf and nods a small bow to them. Lia flutters down silently to sit on Robwin’s shoulder. And they both follow after the party the way the dwarf leads.

"Thank you," Wolfsong nods as he follows the dwarf to his camp. "I am Wolfsong, this is TT, Robwin, and the one over there is the one who sent you the message Rinn." Wolfsong motions to each of the party as he stats their names.

You approach the wall and pass the gate. There is a small camp with a small fire in the north west corner near the wall about thirty feet from the entrance. Another dwarf is sitting by the fire. 

"Ya see; we cleared a lot of the cave in out of the canyon. We started opening up the building; temple I'd say. 'cept we ran into some of those awful jellies. They don't seem to come out of the Ruins but we put a goat and chimes in there just in case."

As you reach the fire, he gestures to the other dwarf who gestures in greeting. 

"Have a seat."

"Greetings" TT says as she sits down at the fire.

Robwin asks, “A cave in? A temple?… Jellies?!…. Hmmm… Where is everyone else? Are you all that’s here? What happened to everyone?…”.

"Ay' That is Dazlyn Grayshard and I'm Norbus Ironrune. We were prospecting for gold when we found evidence of this dwarven settlement buried by an avalanche some time ago in this canyon." , Ironrune says getting more animated and passionate as he speaks. 

"It probably predates Axeholm!", Ironrune finishes raising up again off his seat. Grayshard snorts. 

Ironrune collects himself and shrugs, "Though that is still a point of some debate."

"Anyway, when we started getting into the temple back there, we opened up a nest of them Jellies. Ya' know hungry vermin with those Pseudopod? We lost one of our crew and another was badly injured. No one else wanted to go in after that an we ain't exactly fighters."

"The rest of the crew we sent to Axeholm, they had more resources." 

"if you want to get a good night sleep then check the situation out in the morning, you're welcome. We could definitely do with more than just us on guard." 

"Thank you," Wolfsong looks back to his party. "We will gladly aid in guard duty, then as you said we can get a better understanding of the situation in the morning."

Robwin nods, “Yes that sounds like a good plan”.

He’ll also help with any preparations to get the camp ready for them all.

Just before bed, he’ll also lay an audible alarm ritual spell across the main doorway (two, if the distance needs it). And across any other easy access point onto the camp location. Maybe at the excavation point if that’s near by. Or just around the camp itself if that makes more sense. He’ll allow the spells to let all the party and dwarfs through without setting it off though.

Aside from that he’ll happily chat and tell stories around the campfire and eventually settle down for a nights rest.

He’ll offer to take first watch with Lia if that suits everyone…

Robwin’s perception: 11

Lia’s perception: 18 

It does not take much to set up your tents or use part of the existing camp. 

The first watch goes well with no alarms.

A little way into it, the clouds blow over and you can see directly up into the stars. 

A little before the second watch the moonlight starts to crest the rim of the canyon and you can start to see the contrasting ridges. 

By the middle of second watch the moon light shines all the way down the canyon. You can see the walls are some eighty to a hundred feet high on the north face that would lead out to the plains. The canyon floor itself is eighty feet wide north to south along the black gate and thirty feet east of it carved steps begin rising toward the temple. The temple doors are only thirty feet beyond the first steps. The double doors, each ten foot wide stone are currently closed. A goat, chimes and Robwin's alarm are set up there. 

The son rise is visible in the east looking up over the canyon temple, but it does not fully reach the floor of the excavation for some time. 

You all wake well rested (long rest).   

What would you like to do? 

((OOC: Long rest taken. Spells prepared. And Robwin’s blue moon egg regains 54 gp replacement component value (not exceeding original maximum).)).

Before the others wake up, Robwin takes 1 minute with his blue moon egg (and spends one of its charges) to prepare one more spell that he doesn’t already have prepared. ((This enables him to prepare all of his non-ritual spells, so that he has everything ready)). And he uses the Cantrip Formulas he’s been working on to swap out toll the dead for mind sliver.

As always, in the morning, he also casts mage armor which also triggers his Arcane Ward (+12 hp ward).

And he also makes a huge fuss over Lia.

Eventually, perhaps over breakfast, he suggests, “Should we check out this site then, while we’re here? Clear out any of these Jellies we might come across?”.

"Aye, we are here lets us offer what aid we have." Wolfsong agrees with a nod. "I have never hunted one of these Jellies before, would make for a fine addition to my trophies."

Wolfsong laughs a little at the thought of the hunt to come then turns to the pair of dwarfs, "Anything you can tell us about these creatures? Are they venomous, poisonous? Do you know their numbers?"

Norbus Ironrune coughs as he removes a boiling pot of coffee from the fire and places it on the stone circle caging in the flames and coals.

As he hands Dazlyn Grayshard a cup of the rucksack brew, he says, "There is plenty if you want. You can get cups from that pack over there if you don't have your own."

"If you want to help us with the jellies, we'll certainly reward you.", he continues, "As far as I know they are deep down dwellers. They shouldn't be this close to the surface, but maybe they didn't know where they were with all the stone and soil we've removed."

Grayshard snorts.

"Alright, I know it wasn't that funny, but at least I tried.", Ironrune continues.

"They don't really think as far as I know, but they follow food sources when they have to. They're opportunistic and when you slice them up, you make more smaller versions until you really destroy them.", Ironrune adds taking a sip of the brew.

"An if you hadn't had this brew before, let it settle a bit an don't drink the dregs."

"Grayshard and I can swing a pick like anything, but I saw three big ones. Slashing at them with a sward is kind of pointless. I already said that. You really have to frees, pound or burn them. Acid and poison doesn't really bother them. They can lash out some sixty feet with those pods of theirs. Course smaller can do less. An they can squeeze through about anything."

"Course, goes without saying we want to get rid of them without destroying the temple and the artifacts inside."  

Robwin considers all this. “Well, fire and ice: I can do”. He says with a serious nod, but also a knowing glint in his eye and a brief smile to the two dwarfs.

“That 60 foot reach sounds pretty punishing! But I’ve got some range on me too… I say we head in and get a feel for what we’re up against…”.

Robwin looks at the others, “Any thought on tactics aside from ‘take down anything that moves’?… …Wolfsong, I can cover you if you want to get in close? But we don’t want to get surrounded or overwhelmed!… Hmmm”. He thinks, rubbing his beardless chin.