At the bottom of the pit there is a bundle of cloth, along with several spikes that might hurt badly if you were to fall upon them.
Both Robyyn and Miklos notice what looks like a wood board down the hall beyond the pit. Other than that, there is little to see.
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Robyyn picks up the cloak, and turns it over in his hands as he examines it. He mutters small words of power to himself as he passes his hand over the cloak.
Casting Detect Magic
1st Round: Presence or absence of magical auras.
2nd Round: Number of different magical auras and the power of the most potent aura.
3rd Round: The strength and location of each aura. If the items or creatures bearing the auras are in line of sight, you can make Knowledge (arcana) skill checks to determine the school of magic involved in each. (Make one check per aura: DC 15 + spell level, or 15 + 1/2 caster level for a nonspell effect.) If the aura emanates from a magic item, you can attempt to identify its properties (see Spellcraft).
When he is done examining the cloak, he calls to Miklos. "Miklos, if you could throw down one end of that rope, I can climb out. Perhaps we can set up that board so the others can cross."
The long climb takes a bit, but Robyyn manages to get up on the other side, giving him access to the board and he can see that it is easily big enough to slide across the hole and easily walk across.
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Robyyn shakes the cloak out to its full length, holding it out at arm's length to get a good look and let the others see it. "This cloak has magic; it will help anyone to resist many magic and mundane effects; spells, poisons, or even traps, among other things. Unless and until we find its owner, one of us should wear it to gain its benefit for now."
He then continues with the rest of the party down the tunnel.
The tunnels continue on, leading deeper beneath the Kortos Mounts until they eventually open into a large cavern. What must have once been beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls.
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Robyyn begins examining the relief carvings with the others. "These must have been so beautiful before they eroded away. You know, much of this damage is due to the wind. People enjoy a soft breeze in the afternoon, but forget how powerful it can be under certain circumstances."
"Interesting! These all seem to be different aspects of Aroden. It looks like they celebrate the founding of Absalom, and bringing safety to the region. Fascinating. This place must once have been a temple, long, long ago." He pulls out a pen and some parchment, and begins taking notes about what he's able to uncover.
With all the carvings figured out, and presumably with notes and rubbings taken, the group can carry on into the cave a bit deeper.
The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.
Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawed off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.
Kneeling in the water, seemingly oblivious to the approach, is a lone man.
The man continues to sit in silence. Making no real moves that he has seen or heard the group.
Lucky for Miklos, the man doesn't seem to notice his arrival, though his back is turned.
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Robyyn follows Miklos, slapping him across the shoulder in friendship. "I'm glad he didn't hear you; you'd have startled him out of his britches like that." He looks back to the group, and looks for Schaka, making sure that the deaf oracle is returning his gaze before continuing.
"Let's have Schaka have a go; I think he's more practiced with these things." He waves the oracle up, motioning for the others to follow.
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Seeing that he's being waved forward and being informed of the situation, Schaka smiles and walks forth, having Saheilu remain behind while he goes to meet the gillman.
He eases himself into the same pool as the gillman, sending forth ripples to try to gain is attention without startling the poor thing. If he finally turns around, Schaka will smile broadly and say, Greetings! We're here to explore this cave and learn more about it, anything you'd be willing to say for those wh0o cannot hear it? At the mention of hearing, he'll make a show of pulling back his hair and revealing that he in fact has no ears to hear with.
The rock, combined with the ripples in the water has the man turn around. He stares at the odd person who had just entered the water as he talks and then slowly nods. "Good day. Please...be careful in these pure waters. There is very little pure water left from the days before the fall."
Watching Robyyn's mouth moving, the gillman nods. "Well that is up to you. It is not my cloak, but it is someone of my clan. Some of us do not return from the pilgrimage. It is assumed that one must be careful and make sure they can't be snuck up upon...so we hide the bridge after we enter. Ensuring that only very creative or intelligent challenges can reach us. Though, you just seem to be intelligent...not an actual challenge to me...only...adventurers?"
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Realizing that he’s been understood—if not heard, precisely—Robyyn addresses the gillman directly. ”Indeed; we are Pathfinders. One of our number had noticed activity at this cave during the full moon, so we were tasked with this expedition to learn what we could. It looks like this place was once sacred to Aroden; is that who you worship here?”
Taking a moment looking at the man then he gives a slight tilt of his head. "Of a sort. I am here to take in the waters in their purity. This waters existed before the fall and have not been tainted. Only our oracles and others who treat them with respect are really welcomed here. Ideally. As long as you are reverent, I see no issue with you being here."
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Schaka suddenly looks embarassed about splashing arounf in this gillman's sacred water, and smiles apologetically. I've never been one for reverence, but I'll do my best to respect your sacred site. he then begins looking around, both at the edges of the pool and at the model city in the center, doing his best to keep his word despite not knowing how that looks like for this gillman.
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"Thank you for your understanding of our exploration here. We will not stay overlong, and we will certainly respect the purity of your source, here." He looks to his companions, and continues.
”I’m not certain I can speak for the rest, but I will certainly urge in my report that the Society consider these caves to be sacred to the gillmen, and off-limits for further exploration, after we’re done.”
Smiling to the group and nodding, "There is already dirt in the water. We are in a cave. Do not fear stepping in it, only do not add water to it. That is how the water will remain pure." With that, the man kneels back into the water, putting it to near the top of his chest, and leaves them to the diorama.