Theodore looks at Marbees curiously as the gnome explained that they were all in a ruin referred to as The Sunken City. A second glance around the area and a whiff of the stale air seemed to be to real. Perhaps this was real and he truly was dead. Or at least he was in the world he knew. "Well my good man if this as you say than perhaps this is a discovery of a lifetime. However I think those of us who have just woken up here may prefer to learn more air this world and place in a less dreary place. Perhaps we can go to the surface?" The elven man suggests openly to the group.

"Yeah, let's go up and see if someone's expecting us," Niki grumbled, pulling herself up. She swayed for a moment, then one side of her mouth quirked. "Now who's able to reach the top shelf, huh?"

She glances around, offering a hand to help some of the others up.

"Is it a warm, sunny day outside?" Niki asks. With their luck, it was probably a blizzard. "I've seen to have gone past pale to gray."

The surface, well maybe the surface would have answers or the so-called archeologist had a bunch of swarthy workmen up there waiting to ambush them or something cause he was doubtful a runt of a man like Marbess hadn't come alone else he was crazy and/or stupid.

"Getting out of this dusty cave sounds like a fine idea, " involuntarily reaching for his side, where he usually had a hip flask Alex's fingers met something different in the folds between his robes.

A book, leather-bound and finely made from what looked like papyrus in a satchel that hung almost too loosely on his shoulders. How had he missed that? Was this his? No, as he leafed through the first page he knew immediately it was not his. It was a journal, but it only had writing on its first page.

The name of the one who penned it Khaziel, wasn't that a biblical name? He hadn't recalled writing in a journal this fine before? He shook his head and closed the journal. Rooting around, he found what looked like inks and quills along with a few rolls of yellowed paper and tools that looked like measuring implements.

Marbess nodded and agreed, "Y-Yes. Of course. It would be a great idea to get you out of here!" He seems to look a little hesitant as he adds, "It's just...it was a bit of a trek to get here and..."

"Hey! Old Timer! Who are ya talking to?"

Another figure walks in. This figure is a half orc and his attire seems more reminiscent of a pirate or a bandit. He wears a red bandana around his forehead, while the rest of his attire seems to be just black or generally dark colors. He looks to all of you and he asks Marbess,

"...Who're they? They giving ya problems, Old Timer?" He draws out a scimitar as though ready for a fight.

Marbess quickly answers, "No! Nonononono! They're not causing problems! I found them here. They're harmless!"

".......Looks like I'll need to call Lyd...."

"Eep!" Marbess let out that small scared squeak at the mention of Lyd.

Pulled from his thoughts by the arrival of the half-orc, the former old man realised quickly that not everyone was going to be so welcoming as Marbess. But that would be no bother. With a few quick observations and a little half-remembered experience, he knew how best to get by this bouncer. "Excuse me. Pardon me. Sorry. Coming through. On your left." He said as he made his way between the others before coming to a stop ten feet away from the half-orc, greeting him with a friendly smile. "That's a fine blade you have there." The former old man complimented the half-orc's scimitar "I can tell you put a lot of effort into maintenance. And I'm sure that dedication has earned you a faithful companion in your travels." The man drew five feet nearer to the half-orc as he continued speaking. "And I must also say that those are some stylish clothes you are wearing. I certainly wouldn't have minded waking up in an outfit like yours."

The half-orc looks to Bartholomew confused as he made his way closer to him. He was surprised to hear the praise at first, but he grins and laughs a bit, "Hah! Finally! You got a good eye, there!"

He noticeably becomes less hostile and he sheathes his scimitar. He then asked, "What are you lot doing in these ruins? People weren't supposed to be able to enter here, right ol' timer?"

Marbess nods but he remains silent.

"Hah! Finally! You got a good eye, there!" The half-orc exclaims.

"I'm glad you think so." The former old man replied, what few motes of nervousness he'd felt about approaching the half-orc vanishing as the scimitar was sheathed.

"What are you lot doing in these ruins?" The half-orc then asked. "People weren't supposed to be able to enter here, right ol' timer?"

"We were just as confused as you are about that." The man answered. "Though before you arrived, Marbess here figured out that us being here was the result of a Reincarnation spell... Speaking of Marbess, I noticed that he reacted with fear when you mentioned who you'd need to call. Should we be concerned about meeting Lyd?"

Theodore let out a small sigh of relief as the man that had just arrived put his weapon away. The last thing that he wanted was to die yet again. "As he has stated we are all unsure how or why we ended up here. Though Marbees seems to have a theory. I don't suppose we might be able to keep this to ourselves until we can figure out what exactly happened?" Theodore hoped the man would catch what he was insinuating. This was a new land with people he didn't know and could only assume that many were not going to be as pleasant to meet. At least not here in these ruins.

Khaziel, if that was his name. Was busy furtively leafing through page after page if the empty journal, swearing and cursing under his breath. He must be some kind of scholarly man of sorts, he had things like ink and other writing tools. Though he did not recognize them they felt familiar in his hands. Too busy to notice that the work men outside were asking questions about the where and why of these random strangers walking out a cave.