Talion steps will into the room, seemingly some sort of reliquary. The first two alcoves hold interesting little items:

• A small, mummified, yellow hand with sharp claws on a loop of rope
• A small knife....

Talion, at the sight of the latter item, a small gasp springs forth from your mouth - this is your item!

Looking through to the “water room” you see clearly that there is an old rusty portcullis blocking the way. Inside that chamber seems to be a thick fog or mist...when you look inside for more than a moment, the drumming and chanting suddenly stops....

Talion is drawn to his knife, but remembers the reason he's hiding in the room. Get it later! Focus. He remains at the North wall, edging a little closer to Erven, but he keeps the portcullis in sight. His eyes quickly scan the room and the other exit before being drawn back again to the portcullis. He tries to peer through the mist...

(( The moment he heard the portcullis move he will move away))

Bertolt will stick to the back of the group, keeping a tight hold on his bag and his crossbow. As they move further down into the strange area he listens and stays close.

Sho leaned against the stairway and peered down into the darkness as the sound of chanting came in waves. He stared wide-eyed as Talion followed Erven down the stairs, a few moments the incessant chanting came to an abrupt halt - it stopped. Sho waited for a few more moments in the newly instilled silence, hearing his breath in the quietness. What happened the last time Talion took the lead? He sighs to himself, then starts downstairs and moves beside Erven.

Seeing Sho appear in the place beside Erven, to which he had planned to flee, Talion begins to retreat towards the pair. He tries to squeeze into the space West of Erven.

He then quietly tells them both all that he has seen and heard, finishing with, "I was hoping to glimpse what they are doing in the mist. Whatever comes, is better to fight further up the stairs..."

If they don't try to stop him, he warily sneaks forward once more...

The portcullis is down, blocking that way currently. 

He's just going to watch and listen a little longer from the North wall. Do the chanting, drums and water sound all stop?

"They know we are here." Sho says. "They've always known we are here. If they wanted to come to us, they would've done so a long time ago. What do you think they are waiting for? Maybe they can't leave. Like Rose and Thorn. Like Esme."

He gives Talion a look and lets him sneak towards the water chamber again. He goes around and checks all the alcoves in the reliquary room.

Talion grimaces. "My guess is that they are waiting for us to go where they want us. Where we will be most vulnerable."

While Sho investigates the alcoves, Talion remains vigilant.

"Taking something from one of the alcoves may upset them too...."

Quote from Ereshion >>

He's just going to watch and listen a little longer from the North wall. Do the chanting, drums and water sound all stop?

 The sounds stop if you gaze into the chamber - like look through the portcullis into the room. 

Since nothing has jumped out at them, Erven switches back to his shield and rapier.  He crouches down and moves slowly to the south and west, looking south into that corridor.  Any movement?  He is moving exceedingly slow, checking for traps as he moves.  

Perception : 11 

Passive perception : 15

Quote from WhiteByakko >>

"They know we are here." Sho says. "They've always known we are here. If they wanted to come to us, they would've done so a long time ago. What do you think they are waiting for? Maybe they can't leave. Like Rose and Thorn. Like Esme."

He gives Talion a look and lets him sneak towards the water chamber again. He goes around and checks all the alcoves in the reliquary room.

@Sho
You check through all the alcoves as closely as you dare.  You find the following:

• A dagger with a rat’s skull set into the pommel
• An 8-inch-diameter varnished orb made from a nothic’s eye
• An aspergillum carved from bone
• A folded cloak made from stitched ghoul skin
• A desiccated frog lashed to a stick
• A bag full of bat guano
• A hag’s severed finger
• A 6-inch-tall wooden figurine of a mummy, its arms crossed over its chest
• An iron pendant adorned with a devil’s face
• The shrunken, shriveled head of a halfling
• A small wooden coffer containing a dire wolf’s withered tongue

@Erven
The exit goes for about 10 feet then turns to your right.  It seems to go another 15 feet and changes direction again into a different room... As you and Lucky Bear stalk into the area, do you want to continue going? Or head back?

@all
The portcullis is down, blocking your entry into the "water chamber."  Access to the portcullis happens by a short ramp leading down to it.  At the bottom of this ramp is where the water begins.  It covers about 2 feet of the portcullis.

Erven continues to go southwest, encouraging Lucky Bear to come with him.  He examines the floor very carefully, looking for any pressure plates and also any mechanisms that could cause a sudden slide into the water area.  He moves exceedingly slowly looking for traps and examining for movement, straining with his dark vision to see any cultists or undead that could be here.  He takes the turn to the right and then turns to look down the long hallway with alcoves.  

You and Lucky pad stealthily and look around the corner. The hallway looks about 60 feet long and there are small rooms - cells, you’d guess - coming off the main hallway as far as you can see.  Bones litter the hallway....

Erven, roll a perception  check please....
Lucky Bear - 7

8 

Lucky Bear (adv.) - 20. 

Erven perception :  25 

Quote from Twombley >>

Erven perception :  7 

 While you don't hear, smell, or see much in the darkness, Lucky Bear sniffs the air and perks her ears up.  She growls low, head pointed forward.  She smells something out there, in the gloomy hallway and rooms...

Erven passive perception is 15.

Erven moves back to the area where Talion and Sho are, says “There is something to the southwest corridor, Lucky Bear can see or smell it but I cannot.  How should we proceed?  Do you want me to go down the hall?”

Quote from Twombley >>

Erven passive perception is 15.

Erven moves back to the area where Talion and Sho are, says “There is something to the southwest corridor, Lucky Bear can see or smell it but I cannot.  How should we proceed?  Do you want me to go down the hall?”

 yes, i am aware.  it's why i asked you to roll a perception check      :)

Talion looks at the dog, smiling. "Lucky Bear usually runs when there's danger. Show me, darkness doesn't bother me..."  He will follow Ervan back down to the southwest, checking out each nook and cranny as he proceeds behind the elf.

Perception: 23 (if Ervan counts as help, 8) [Passive 14]

(( lol...failing that, he might suggest some light! ))