Oh, Viola can spont it--she'd just rather not have to do anything involving a stress die roll. If Tasia wants to, she can go right ahead. 
Remember you're in a Faerie aura, so only +2, and extra botch dice.
Scott
Forgive me, but what's Sight of the Sigil?
Scott
((Well, the reduction of the cord changes the ease a bit, but it's still doable. The botch dice will be reduced noticeably by cords. But, yes, I forgot that it was in a Faerie aura. I have to go back and reread.))
((HoH:TL (Guernicas section) p.75
The Discerning Eye (my level 40 Imaginem spell) is on p.72))
OK, neither of those turns up anything.
Scott
Viola shrugs, and, double-checking to make sure she's carrying all her vis on her person, steps toward the regio entrance accompanied only by her familiar and a shield grog [the faerie friend?]. Might as well do it now, right?
Scott
Aetos, who had been inattentive (talking to his birds), asks:
"So there is a regio behind the doors, right? Is the regio the cave or are they two different things?"
((Tasia doesn't have The Discerning Eye up because she doesn't want to lose concentration on Sight of the Sigil, which now will have taken her a long time to cast. Also, note that she is investigating the existing labs with Portia, not the Faerie aura.))
OK, then she got ahead of us. I need to know, before we proceed to the caves, exactly who's going (grogs as well as magi) and what your "plan of attack" is.
Scott
Aetos says he is staying outside for now, using his birds to prevent any further traps. He asks the others to send back a grog if they need him or if the caves are huge.
ooc: I'd prefer securing our backs - but not at the price of missing the next half year of posting.
I think I'm confused about where everyone is going. I thought this was happening: the grog shows us the cave entrance and the traps there, then while Portia and Tasia enter the cave the other magi were going to be exploring the village (starting with the former temple) and removing the traps. The Faerie aura/regio were found at the temple. So I don't think I'm ahead. I think I'm parallel in time at a different place. This seems to confirm it, or at least that someone else thinks the same as I.
Or did you mean you're giving me information in advance? I was trying to let you know about my preparations. Anyway, I hope it's all clear now.
Before casting the spell Tasia tells Portia, "You are welcome to set up whatever group of grogs you deem appropriate for our exploration and whatever approach you would like. I will keep an eye out for the tell-tale signs of magic." She will have the spell up before entering the caves at all, having spent the lunch break casting it. Tasia will follow Portia's lead since Portia probably will have selected a grog or two. Tasia will maintain Sight of the Sigil as she and Portia explore the caves and the lab, though she may need to drop it if something happens.
[OOC note: the cave entrance is in a different building from the temple where the doors to the regio is being discussed.]
Gregorius replies to Aetos:
"It doesn't look as though the doors lead to the cave network - although the doors are the entrance to a faerie regio, so there could be pretty much anything through them."
To Viola he says:
"I'd suggest we finish exploring the village first - we've no idea how long exploring the regio will take, and I'd like to know where we stand for roofs over our heads before it gets dark. Maybe try that tower next?"
He then repeats his question to Theodoric:
"Do you know of any cases of creatures, especially faeries, appearing in here?"
Viola shakes her head distractedly, replying, "No...this...this...my....Now."
Scott
Gregorius looks slightly puzzled (and less than enthusiastic about stepping into the faerie regio). "Why is it so urgent? Is there some reason it cannot wait?"
He's also still looking at Theodorus for an answer to his earlier question.
Theodoric shrugs, "I'm not entirely sure--I know there was some trouble with ghosts and such, but it's hard for a grog like me to tell the difference between them and faeries."
Scott
[Actually, re-reading the original description, I'm not sure if the stone tower is where Gregorius found Theodoric earlier. If it's not, he'll head there; if it is, he'll start on the other repaired buildings.]
Gregorius found Theodoric in one of the buildings around the central fountain. The tower is off by itself in a corner--it probably doesn't have much defensive use these days.
Scott
[In that case...]
Gregorius heads over to investigate the tower. He asks Theodoric what it was used for in the former covenant - was it used by one of the magi?
Theodoric replies, "Not much, really. We usually put a guard or two in there, since it's a good spot for observation, but it's hard to defend, and so it wasn't very useful for a lab or even storage. Back when the city was here, it was part of the defenses, but the rest of the fortifications are long gone."
Scott
Once he gets to the tower, Gregorius spends a few minutes assessing the quality of the ancient stone work, and the defensive opportunities and problems offered by the tower. [If it's relevant, Profession soldier 1 + int 1 + 10 = 12 (invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2809568/) assuming simple roll; else no botch.]
Then he climbs the tower, to take in the view.
The tower is well-built (one reason it's the only thing still standing from the original city), and two stories high. From the second floor Gregorius gets a decent view of the entire clearing--up here, he can really see how the ground slopes gradually towards the river.
Scott