Chapter 2.1b: Search Party (Hochoch)

What I understand the group has said is that you are taking a short rest.

Here's how it works:
- when a PC takes a short rest, you can roll hit dice for healing, IF you use a healer's kit application. So, just as with the regular 5e rules, when you take a short rest, you first declare how many hit dice you are going to roll, then you roll them. That's how many hit points you regain.
Now, everyone in this group is a first-level character, so each of these PCs only has one hit die. But later, when your PCs have gained levels, you will be able to choose how many hit dice you are going to roll, and then you roll them all at once. Each PC only needs one application of a healer's kit when they roll hit dice to heal, no matter how many dice they roll.

- When a PC takes a long rest, in addition to all the abilities/spell slots/etc that refresh with a long rest, they regain up to half their total hit dice just like normal. After they've regained one or more hit dice, they can then decide to take a short rest to spend hit dice to regain HP...which also requires an application of a healer's kit. You regain the hit di(c)e first, THEN you spend the hit di(c)e.
Again, all the PCs in this part of the group are all L1 characters, so when they take a long rest, they regain 1 hit die if they'd used it. But at level 2, they would still regain 1 hit die with a long rest, even if they'd used both hit dice, because you get up to half of your hit dice back when you take a long rest. We round up, so at levels 3 and 4, they would regain 2 hit dice with a long rest, if they'd used at least 2.

I hope that makes sense.

That's right. You eat when you rest, whether it's short or long. Most of a short rest is preparing and enjoying a refreshing meal! But if you chain together multiple rests in one longer period - a long rest and a short rest immediately afterward (for a total of 9 hours), for instance - I count it as one rest period, and it's just one ration per PC, not two.

Roll 1 HD, used 1 healing kit charge.

Rolling one hit die, using one charge of healer's kit.

Honestly, we might as well take a full rest. We were camping and had just started combat. Combat is only about 10 seconds a round. If anything, there is probably still enough time for us to get a full rest and wake up at a decent time in the morning. If we get atleast spend 6 hours sleeping and then just spend the next couple hours getting prepared, that's still 8 hours for a long rest. Rosemary will throw in breakfast XD

You got the healing from a short rest, then get the benefits of a long rest.

I'm working a half day tomorrow and I have a lot of driving so I won't be active the latter half of the day.

Yes, everyone has time to take an action of some kind before whatever it is responds to Arya's call.

Karsh got 3 for initiative. Note that, if your initiative is 3 or higher, your PC will act before Karsh. So if your initiative is 3 or higher, you can post your character's round one turn, too.