Appearing out of thin air, invisible Daewen appears at the mysterious tombstone, crouching down to inspect it much closer (for traps, etc.) (Perception: 12).

Standing back up to her full 4'7" kid height (no laughing...), she sniffs the air, trying to see what Kasha is referring to.  Smells like dead corpses?  That's a familiar and comforting smell.

Feeling rested yet disoriented following their rest (due to the eclipse), Doc rose and gathered his things before continuing on ahead with the group.  At Raza's mention, the group ventured towards the odd tombstone with a hinge attached to it.  As he looked closely at headstone, he conjured a spectral golden hand and carefully tapped and prodded at tombstone with it to see what would happen (staying like 20ish feet away)

• Doc Perception (on the tombstone): 21   

The tombstone is hinged to a simple mechanism that makes it lean forward, or back straight. You and Raza are sure you've found some sort of trap door in the grave.

Nephvir walks along, rested now and lost in thought.  As they near the chapel and graveyard, he becomes more on guard, something... seems off.  He crouches down and moves away from the grave with the trap door, and makes a small circle, looking for anyone following them or observing them.  

Perception :  19

After inspecting the  tombstone Raza looks from it to Doc.  "Are we going in?"  She asks, wondering if what Kasha is smelling is coming from where ever this door leads.

"I think we should double check the Chapel first and make sure it's all clear.  But yes I suspect our hunt will eventually continue down below."   

Walking towards the Chapel, Doc would carefully open the doors and see what was inside.

• Perception: 18  

Kasha sniffed the air, and for a moment, she was serious, which was unlike her. "It's something in the air. Like, foul. Strange. Death hangs in the air. people have died here." Kasha sniffs by the tombstone. "People have passed through here - this very spot. This is a trap door." she points to the tombstone and the false grave.

The chapel is completely deserted. It's like it's a front of some sort. The building itself consists of a main hall for services, a chancel to the rear of the church with a staircase leading underneath to quarters for a four people, and a small well that is full of cool, clean water.

Daewen gives hand signals to affirm that the smell doesn’t bother her in the slightest, and she’s ready to jump down into the trap door under the tombstone. 

Raza agrees with Daewen, the smell of death is something that she is used to and is also ready to proceed.

From the distance, you can see from even here that the Castle up on the low hill is heavily fortified. It would be suicide (and believe me, it is) to attempt to storm it outside in any way.

Arora, pretending that she actually saw the trap door all along, suggests "Let's start by investigating through this trap door, it might be a back entrance to the castle."  She proceeds to open the trap door and look in... if all looks 'safe' then she will proceed to enter.

ooc: so it's through the mines or Moria that we shall go....AAAAHHHHHH!!!!

If the tombstone is pulled forward, the grave it's attached to slides open, revealing a passageway that is well worn that looks like, from what you can tell, heading to the castle like a secret passageway.

Nephvir, circling the perimeter picks up nothing.  He arrives back at the tombstone.  "Drow are crafty buggers.  Let me check this out, I can open it from a distance with my hand, if you want, from a distance."  He turns around and looks at everyone.  "Everybody ok with that?  Doc?"

Neph checks the tombstone for traps :  11 

It is untrapped and judging by the wear, used quite frequently.

Daewen shoves the tombstone over, opening the trapdoor to the tunnel below, and quickly drops down into the tunnel.  She'll invisibly and quietly (Stealth: 11) sneak on ahead, scoping out the path forward towards the castle.

Arora follows Daewen down into the tunnel and will also sneak into the shadows slinking along the tunnel pathway. “Let’s go guys.”

Stealth: 15 

between Daewen and Arora they will start scoping and leading down the tunnel pathway. 

Neph shrugs his shoulders, looking at Doc.  He puts his hood up, drops down into the hole and goes after 3rd, in stealth mode.  

Stealth :  19

Mock makes an excited little noise at the hidden passage under the tombstone, her tail flicking back and forth rapidly. As excited as she is to follow the others, she waits patiently for all the others to go first. "I can close it up behind us," she tells the others. "So maybe they won't think we're followin' 'em still?"

"Good idea, sweet cheeks!" Kasha squeaks, and hangs from your back with her arms around your neck.

The tunnel is ten feet wide and tall, unlit, and unadorned. It slopes gently upwards from here and leads to the Castle. After about a quarter mile, it connects to a secret tunnel called AREA 28. See the map in discord. 

A door opens into a very long hallway from AREA 28.

Quote from PostieNote >>

"Nice magic, bud."

 Zhisshikassa decided warming himself up was more important than keeping his dignity intact - as such, much like a lizard sunbathing on a rock, Zhi flopped down near the fire. He lifted an eyelid towards Mock at being addressed - a moment of irritation flared in his eyes before he recognized he was being complimented. That was good. "Correct. It was. I suppose your actions warrant thanks - I am unsure which state I would be in if you went to cut logs. Speaking of," he snarls, throwing a venomous look towards Doc. Where was he when the party split up? Yet again? "I will withhold my comments. Anyways - the Barghest reminded me; next time your axe finds issues cutting through the flesh of enemies, I will have a spell - magic weapon - which will aid you."

Portent Roll 1: 3
Portent Roll 2: 3

In the present sense, Zhi threw one glance towards the Castle before deeming any attempt on breaching it directly would be foolish. And Zhi wasn't a fool. He throws up a Detect Magic and hisses softly to Iskri, waiting for other suggestions before risking his familiar on any traps in the clearly suspicious hallway. 

Anyone scouting for traps can take a guidance so Zhi can take credit for your successes.