The door isn't locked, and slides open smoothly.  It reveals a stone passage, sloping gently downwards.  A single torch dimly lights the corridor, and it seems as if it was relatively recently placed there.  The stonework, however, appears ancient.

"It's open, and no traps, right here anyway," Jairus calls out.  "Somebody want to make that glowey-globe do it's thing?  I don't remember who has the durn thing.  Or toss out some magic-light.  Cuz if we go in there, it's gonna be dark."  

"And a lit torch."  Rubin comments, nodding to the item in question.  "So these tunnels see very frequent use."  He follows the others into the area past the door as they continue onward, but would not be the first through. 

Jairus takes the lead in order to continue to scout for traps, ambushes and secret doors, and leaves it to the others to decide where they fall in the marching order. 

Quote from Izraal1 >>

"I mean, we are goin' down to help out those guys, right, Kethra?  That's why you got us that ladder an'all?"

"Yup!"

Giving a polite bow to say thank you for the ladder, the cloaked girl loosens the ropes used in the operation. Letting Rubin and Mr. Tyde's ropes fall into the cavern below for them to collect, she pulls her own rope through the top of the post, smiling as she stuffs Jairus' expert handiwork in her bag.

Taking the ladder to join the rest of the party, Kethra will take it down and lean it horizontally against the wall under some tree roots, away from sight above but ready to be picked up in a hurry.

Quote from Ursus_the_Grim >>

"I don't think there's anything of use in there, and it belongs to somebody still.  I'd rather leave it be."

The cloaked girl leading up the back of the party returns the piece of wood she was going to prop the stone door open with and smiles. When Symon isn't looking, she'll collect the cloaks and waterskin by the entrance.

The cloaks are plain, and the waterskin is half full.

Sixty feet beyond the stone door, the tunnel levels out. Two stone reliefs of stern dwarves in chain mail and carrying battleaxes face each other across the tunnel. The carvings stand out from the passage walls, and they have gaps around them, so they could be doors. The passage continues past them, and you can just barely make out another closed door at the end of it.

“Not one darn clue,” Jairus says to Tyde. “Could be some mole people, or just a bunch’a dwarves or gnomes or some diggin’ inclined folk. Or could be a weird cult, like them elemental types.”

Now that the children are not an issue, Jairus greets the newcomer to the group, Symon. “Sorry you kind’a got caught up in all this, but real good of you to step up when everyone else in town, even them kids’ parents, were just gawkin’ with their jaws on the floor.”

"No problem.  Jairus, right?" he extends a hand, coal grey and warm to the touch.  "I've seen too many innocents slaughtered to let children stay in danger."

Seeing everyone else move on, he gestures into the tunnels.

"Well, lets make sure there's no fell menace lurking beneath this town."

Jairus shakes the new ally’s hand, and briefly answers, “Thats right, sir. I mostly handle scoutin’, looking for traps and secret doors and ambushes and whatnot. I also know my way around huntin’ and trackin’, spent a lot of my upbringing in the great outdoors. Guess we’re heading to the opposite. The great indoors... underground.”

He resumes scouting, moving ahead cautiously, ever alert for the unexpected, pacing to keep his allies close behind. 

Once his rope was let down Rubin would grab it prior to heading into the tunnel with the others.  He would be second in line, his own knowledge of tunnels most likely superior to anyone else's in the group, but his newness to the group not yet giving him the ability to take over scouting in his favored terrain.

Rubin would pause as they reach the dwarf statues, looking them over carefully.

Perception: 14

He would also study the floor to look for any tracks or signs of people using the tunnel...

Survival: 24

Quote from LordShadowthorn >>

The cloaks are plain, and the waterskin is half full.

Sixty feet beyond the stone door, the tunnel levels out. Two stone reliefs of stern dwarves in chain mail and carrying battleaxes face each other across the tunnel. The carvings stand out from the passage walls, and they have gaps around them, so they could be doors. The passage continues past them, and you can just barely make out another closed door at the end of it.

 Jairus searches for any way to open or access the possible doors in the passage walls.

Perception:  18

Investigation:  22

"I noticed those gaps, I'm lookin' now, Tyde," Jairus says as he investigates.  "Let's see what turns up."  

As Jairus runs his hands along one of the statues, it grates forward slightly.  The statues seem to serve as doors, and you find a hidden hinge when you examine them more closely.

"Well lookee here," Jairus says, as he tries to use the hinge he located to open one of the statue-doors, careful to continue checking for traps or ambushes while doing so.  "Think I got it figured out."  

Upon hearing Jairus move the statue, the cloaked girl in the back moves up to help him move it. It may be just the cave lighting, but it looks like her cloak has also changed in color and texture.

Kethra will try to move the statue whichever way Jairus asks her to. Athletics check: 13

Quote from konpk >>

Upon hearing Jairus move the statue, the cloaked girl in the back moves up to help him move it. It may be just the cave lighting, but it looks like her cloak has also changed in color and texture.

Kethra will try to move the statue whichever way Jairus asks her to. Athletics check: 13

 Jairus provides what guidance he can based on how how discerned the hinges to work.  "I think it turns this way, yeah, like that."  

Rubin is ready to back up his companions as they open the statue door.   He has his hand crossbow ready and aimed at the opening, just in case something is behind it.

(To be clear, there are two statue doors—one to the south, and one to the north.  Which are you opening?)

Quote from LordShadowthorn >>

(To be clear, there are two statue doors—one to the south, and one to the north.  Which are you opening?)

 Jairus would start with whichever was closest to the door they entered from. 

Kethra pushes at the south door, and it slides open smoothly.  Behind is a long stone passage, which ends in a pit covered by a stone bench with a hole in it.