As the group approaches the caves, it's suggested that Willem and his team take the first cave.

While this cave had Orcs in it before, apparently those that were here were the first ones to charge after the assault force as it retreated.

There are none in here now, but the bedrolls are still there. A dark shape at the back would seem to be the opening to a tunnel.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 15:07, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

Once they'd determined that the cave was empty of any threat, Krivath stood there at the entrance and examined the scene.

"I guess it's cave delving we go," he commented to the others.

"Considering that there are six cave entrances and that several of them connect, I'm guessing that there's probably a large cave complex here. We'll need to be careful, not just about the Orcs that may still be here, but about running into our own allies."

"Wait. What are those?"

He pointed to some marks on the walls near the entrance, up near the top.

"They don't look like Orc tribe markings to me. And they are also a lot older, possibly from when the Orcs were here before."

"Cave delving does not bother me. With my style of magic, getting closer to the enemy is better for me." Theirastra said as she would carefully move up closer to the marking to get a better look at them.

Willem held his sword ready as they pushed forward. "I am happy to explore deeper, but I cannot see in the dark like some of you. I will need light, else I am swinging blind."

I'm assuming that there is no light source deeper in the cave. I have a greatsword so will need to hands two wield it, so if someone else can provide light that would be great!
This message was last edited by the player at 11:48, Fri 15 Oct 2021.

"I need one hand to cast, and the other to wield my blade. Otherwise I limit my usefulness considerably should we meet enemies." She said as she looked towards Krivath. "That being said, I do have a torch I could light should you wish to carry it." She said, nodding towards Krivath.

"I can carry the torch if needs be," Krivath replied, "but I have an alternate solution. First, let's just see how it goes as we go farther into the cave tunnel."

He didn't need both hands to cast any of his invocations or spells, it was just easier. In truth, he didn't need to make any gestures at all, but the mundane physical acts were like pointing--it focused attention. Without them, it required a lot more concentration, and he hadn't yet mastered that discipline.

"I would appreciate it," he nodded at the Dragonborn. "I will happily lead, as long as I can see. I think any element of surprise is long gone, and my blade can bite deep if anything rushes us."

With Theirastra handing a torch to Krivath, he lights it and then holds it behind and to the side of Willem as the three of you enter the cave and proceed to the back.

The dark spot at the back is, indeed, a tunnel, and the torchlight shows that it goes in about 10 feet before it turns into a staircase rock formation.

You don't see anything threatening nor do you hear any noise.

Willem progressed on towards the staircase, his greatsword pointed forward like a spear ready to skewer anything that might be foolish enough to try to rush him. Carefully he continued and started down the stairs.

I assume the stairs go down...

Actually, the cascade stairs go up. The crystal minerals in the rock glisten in the torchlight as you climb upward. The stairs aren't steep, nor is each step that high, but the treads are rather deep. Long legs can take the steps one at a time, but otherwise each stair takes two steps.

You climb roughly 10 feet as the stairs veer a bit to the right before they end in a cavern that's maybe 50 feet across but has a 30 foot ceiling. There are assorted stalactites and stalagmites along the perimeter, as some impressive rock waterfalls.

There is an assortment of junk scattered across the floor... a few bedrolls, remnants of barrels and crates, bones, sticks, and some unidentifiable items.

Oddly, the cavern seems lit up somehow, with what appears to be diffuse sunlight. You can therefore see that there are three tunnels leading off of the cavern.

There are no Orcs in sight, nor do you hear any noise.

Willem entered the chamber cautiously, looking around to make sure they weren't going to get jumped by a mob of angry Orcs. Satisfied that there was no ambush forthcoming he stepped into the centre of the room, taking in the scene. He prodded at some of the detritus with his boot, what seemed to be broken and worthless junk but you never knew what may be hidden beneath. His eyes flicked to the three tunnels across the room, just in case.

He turned his head slightly to converse with his companions. In a quiet voice he said, "Well, which tunnel should we take?"

"I say middle." She said with a small shrug as she looked around the room. Kicking a few things over here and there to see if anything at all caught her interests or eye.

"I suppose one tunnel is as good as the next," Krivath offered.

"If any Orcs came this way, maybe we can discern tracks through this debris. It doesn't look like Orc stuff, so it would seem as if something else was using this cave."

As Willem and Theirastra prodded at the debris, it became clear from the dust and cobwebs on most of it that it hadn't been used in a very long time.

Neither of you find anything of particular interest, nor of value or pertaining to the current situation.

However, at Krivath's suggestion, you do realize that there is a sort of path where the debris has been kicked aside. It splits into three paths near the center of the cave, with each leading to one of the tunnels. It does appear that the middle tunnel has had the most traffic.

It's Theirastra that spots the source of the light--it's a deck prism embedded in the ceiling. At some point in the past, someone had managed to bore a hole outward to the surface, and the sunlight that comes down the shaft strikes the base of the prism and scatters the light outward from the facets that make the top of the prism. The device is used on ships to bring light below decks.

"Told you middle." She chirped happily, then finally she points up. "...look at that. Isn't that supposed to be on a ship?"

Willem looked around at the detritus strewn across the chamber, sensing nothing of value would be found. At Theirastra's observation he simply replied, "Don't know, I've never been on a ship. A rowboat once or twice fishing, but never a proper ship. I would like to one day."

Unless the others wish to dawdle here a while, Willem will take the lead and head down the middle tunnel.

She will take the spot behind Willem, following behind him.