Deeper Underdark

Sounds good let's do this.

You all decide to speed-run through all of the settings, just to make sure of what Yoci can detect. Since you have now completely confirmed this will run in a full, repeatable cycle, you are worried about not being able to get back to something.

Brewner runs the panel. Oliver runs the rod back and forth between Doors #12 (one circle), #8 (three circles), and #9 (five circles). The others spread out to watch for any unexpected activity. No one opens any doors this cycle through, as it is purely being used for Yoci, standing in the middle of the cavern, to detect any paths.

After cycling through completely, they intentionally end on the setting with two circles (where Stee came through originally). They find the following, some of which are repeats confirming what was found before:
- The strongest indication was through Doors #7 with one circle. This is the same one where there is banging on Doors #12. All of the others are noticeable weaker than this one.
- The next strongest is Doors #8 with three circles. This is the path back to the lake. However, you distinctly do not hear banging on Doors #8. So either they are not watching, or they are no longer there.
- The next strongest is Doors #9 with five circles. This is the door to where Yoci was held prisoner.
- Two other doors show the weakest indication, which are Doors #6 with four circles and Doors #3 with six circles.
She doesn't feel any pulls from the other doors, so those likely won't lead her back.

Since you end on the cycle with two circles, Stee absently checks Doors #8 and sees only a smooth stone wall behind them. Apparently Sephek kept his word and broke the doors, thereby disabling those doors for this cycle.

Well, if it’s all the same, I say we take the route with the strongest detection. Can we hold off the foolish ones behind door 12 while we leave door 7? Can we break door 12 permanently?

"I can see your blood yearning for some action, can't say i disagree" Brewner says to Grinfletch with a smile "But the most prudent choice would be the 3 cycle, we can take Yoci home and still do some exploration near our base. There is another path near the lake besides the door where we entered." Brenner adds thoughtfully. He then shrugs, waiting for the opinions of his companions

Stee looks at he group.Well we should probably deactivate all these door first then take Yoci home.

Looking to the two humans Grin shrugs and agrees with them. Cycle 3 is fine and yes let’s open and close doors and then maybe try to keep the door we exit from propped open if we want to return to it and get back to the lake?

"Agreed. The door in cycle 3 might take longer for us to get there, but it's the safest bet, and still gives off a strong enough signam. Besides, if we went through another cycle, we would definitely need to lock the door behind. Imagine we got out in door #7 of cycle 1, and the ones banging in door #12 of that same cycle came in and chased after us."

Oliver paused and looked around at his companions, trying to read the room.

"...or would you rather lock the door behind?"

Looks at all I don't like the thought of leaving the back door open. We are going to a strange place. I would rather be able to focus on whats in front and not have to constantly worry about behind.

The group decides to get started on their quest to bring Yoci home, and decide to start the journey by returning to the cavern by the lake. Since that is just one more activation, they decide to rest first in order to start the journey fresh. With no day/night cycle, they simply take their time to fully rest and recuperate. They share their rations with Yoci and prepare.Fully recharged and ready to go, the group prepares. Oliver bars Doors #8 and Brewner activates the third cycle again. They carefully open and close each of the doors. They find caverns behind Doors #1, 3, 6, 9, and 10. Doors #2, 4, 7, and 12 lead to blank stone walls. The different caverns are all large enough that you can't see the backs easily, but they do all appear to have different sizes. Two of them are completely silent (#1 and #9). One of them (#3) has dripping sounds, but nothing else. In the last two (#6 and #10), you hear what sounds like movement, but nothing close to the doors. Yet, anyway. During this entire time, there is no activity heard at Doors #8.

With everything prepared, the group is ready to move through Doors #8. Oliver removes the rod and the doors are opened and the group proceeds through.