[ycleption]

IC:

*after sitting for a bit meditating calmly, Drexia looks up and addresses the group*

Alright. So we have some decisions to make.
I think it is apparent that coming this direction, and searching this cave was a mistake, but we need to put that behind us and focus on what lies ahead. I think we should proceed to the south, as we had originally planned.
From the beginning, this was intended as a stealth mission. We seem to have forgotten that. Now that we have been discovered by a patrol, and used the Al'Noth quite a bit, are we going to continue to try and make our way through this land by force should we encounter opposition, or are we going to try and return to our original plan, and use the darkness here to our advantage?
Personally, I think the former is a mistake, but I will let those with more experience advise the group. I have faith in this group's abilities to follow either path, but I want to make sure we make wise decisions, and do not squander this opportunity to discover what lies at the heart of the the swirling darkness. **looks around her* If the patrol that found us has alerted others, those with eyes accustomed to this darkness, perhaps we don't have a chance to avoid more fighting even if we do hide... but I at least think we should try.
Those of you with magical knowledge... do you have any sense about how to gather information about the swirling cloud once we get to the center? Any rituals that you can perform to divine information?
*looks around to the group for response*