An Act of Hubris or Guile

Aisha looks around not seeing anything to tie off to, "I think it's pound something in or nothing. We'll also need to tie more than one rope together. I can see to the edge of my ability to in the dark. I think this individual we're pursuing must have a way out, maybe we go all in and use whatever they have to get out."

“I can hold the rope while you two drop down to check,” Duncan says looking into the blackness of the hole. “Should we test how deep it is first?” as he picks up a pebble ready to drop it down.

Duncan drops the pebble and it takes a bit of time before he hears the pebble hitting the ground. He surmises that it would definitely take more than 1 rope to reach the bottom.

What do you do?

Feather Fall will let the party safely fall down the hole. The other option is to pound in a piton or something similar and combine several ropes to reach the bottom.

Aisha watches as the pebble falls into the hole hearing it hit the bottom, "Ok hear me out, this guy is expecting a bunch of clanky armor to show up so hammering something as an anchor shouldn't alert him, that is if you have anything because I don't. We could tie some ropes together lower them down until we hear it hit the bottom and then anchor them in. Climbing down could be risky so we can just jump and I'll feather fall us, that way we get in with no problems and have a way out."

(I would allow hammering a dagger into the stone as a makeshift piton)

Tying the ropes together, Duncan pulls a dagger from his boot and slams it into the ground with his shield, attaching the rope to it and dropping the loose end down. He then looks to the others and says, "Shall I lead?" ready to hop down first.

Duncan repels down the pitch black shaft. It seems like an eternity, but his armored boots finally reaches solid ground. It is so dark that you cannot even see your hands or feet.

What do you do?

Aisha watches Duncan repel down, "Huh, I guess you don't need magic for everything." She shifts to the edge making sure the skirt of her robes aren't in the way and follows Duncan down. Once down by Duncan she tries to look around and see if she can pick up any more that Duncan can with her darkvision.

Kasbis follows the others, repelling down after he has seen that it is safe, then takes the lead again, looking into the gloom.  

Quote from Weathervision >>

Duncan repels down the pitch black shaft. It seems like an eternity, but his armored boots finally reaches solid ground. It is so dark that you cannot even see your hands or feet.

What do you do?

 Immediately light a torch ;)

With the flare of the torch light you see a grisly scene of piles of skeletons and bits of rusted armor from a bygone age.

The light reveals an ornate door with wilted tree carvings. Floating in the air are 3 keys.

1. Gold key - with the symbol of the sun carved onto it
2. Silver key - With the symbol of water carved onto it
3. Bronze key - with the symbol of soils carved onto it

Hint all 3 keys are needed, but must be used in the correct order.

Aisha examines the door, "So do you think we need to pick the keys based on what it takes to grow a tree or heal a tree? If we're trying to grow it the seed starts in the soil and is then given water until it reaches for the sun."

Kasbis examines the door further, looking at the motifs, examining the lock, ignoring the keys for a moment.  He also examines the ground for any sign of recent footsteps.  Lastly, he examines the remains to see if any appear recent.  “This door must hold the key to it.  Get it?  The door holds the key?”  Kas grins to himself at his joke.

Investigation : 14 

The door has 3 locks in a vertical line. There are signs someone came through here as several bones were snapped near the door.

When deciding the key order, make sure to mention which lock you put the key into

Lock 1

Lock 2

Lock 3

“If we’re looking for a tree as you think, then soil, water, sun from the bottom?” Duncan says to the team as he walks around the pile of bones.

“The trees are wilted, does that make any difference?”  Kasbis looks further at the carved door to see if any dirt or water is depicted.

No they are not depicted