(Will update in 30)

Alynoa begins to check out the area around the dead end. Finding  it odd that there would be a hallway leading to nothing.... She began touching the walls, looking for levers and such in the otherwise entirely empty hallway. Just as she was about to give up, her hand slipped over a loose stone, that was so small it would be overlooked as a switch, and suddenly, a loud, grating of stone on stone, opened up to reveal another room.

The room appears to be a large cellar, with a rectangular cistern against the wall just to the left, filled with cold, fresh water, clearer than any water you've ever seen before. This room gives away nothing of what would seem to be a redbrand hideaway, and instead simply looked like a storage area... The barrels contain salted pork and beef, flour, sugar, apples, and ale.

A rope seems to be leading into the cistern hanging from a pulley system.  On the far side, there is a large set uf stairs, leading upwards, to a crumbling pair of stone doors. Aside from this, the room appears empty.

She looks to Lark, "Well then, maybe this is another way out?" She takes a few steps into the room to inspect the barrels.

Lark will remove the waterskin from his bag and fill it from the cistern, "Hmm...could be, though not what we are looking for?"

He begins inspecting the pulley system. Curiosity gets the better of him and he pulls the rope gently at first. If nothing immediately happens he will tug more insistently. 

(How long has it been since i've cast disguise self?)

(you have plenty of time)

Alynoa looks to Lark, "You might want to be careful, we don't know what will happen if we open whatever that leads to."

Unless nothing comes of Lark's investigation of the pool, and in such an instance, Salazar would dip his head in the fountain for a look around, the scholar is content to passively explore the area. Until he recalls Lark's visitor and has an epiphany to pull out the magic eight ball of wondrous knowledge. "Based on Lark's account, do you have any idea on what type of creature he might've had contact with earlier? Anything to help us assess whether... whether it might be something to eliminate in the future." He requests of the orb, brows furrowed in consternation. 

Alynoa looks at the ball confused.

Lark will sheepishly let go of the rope at Alynoa's reprimand. 

"If it helps," Lark addresses Salazar, "the creature had a strange lilting voice, and it scurried away. It leads me to believe that it ran on four legs, most likely not a local creature." Lark shivers as the memory of that thing touching his mind and how he almost blew their cover comes crashing back into focus.  

Lark will head for the crumbling stone door. Frowning, he stares at it, trying to determine if it is safe and worth using. 10

Alynoa will follow him up, and assist him.

(posting in a few hours)

As lark messes with the pulleys, the bucket that had been submerged beneath the water rose up, within easy reach for most humanoids, though lark, due to his lack of size, would have to climb atop the edge of the cistern to grab it. (13) And Salazar simply dips his face into the water, looking around, but seeing nothing in the water aside from the stone damming it there, Zalazars face comes up extremely chilled - before remembering his sphere. (22)

The sphere humms to life, and despite not having seen the creature, Salazar explains as best he can, fumbling around the words, about what had happened. However, the Sphere seemed to be an expert in this area - Hmm... That could be one of many creatures, but based on your description of it's interaction, I believe with 78% accuracy, that you encountered a being known as a Nothic. They walk on four, clawed legs, and much like a Beholder, possess a single, large eye where their faces should be. They can speak telepathically, and are known for trying to probe the minds of creatures for secrets to exploit. They crave flesh, especially those of humans, but are known to make pacts with others, in return for a steady stream of food. In this situation, I assume they have been feeding the townspeople who get too uppity to satiate the beast, as otherwise it would be attacking the redbrands themselves for sustainence. My assumption is if the redbrands cease to exist and thus, cease to sustain it, it will either abandon the area, or begin preying on the town itself in time.

If gods existed, why would such a creature exist? This is simply further proof, that they do not.

(somehow I didnt see larks updated post)

THe door is gone, except the frame itself.. so its essentially a cave mouth.

Flummoxed, Lark will sit on the stairs near the broken doors and watch the interaction between the orb and Salazar. (I imagine these conversations between them take place telepathically?) "Should we press on here or try the other route?" 

Should Salazar mention the Nothic, Lark will respond, "Nothic to worry about so YOU say, it didn't have its slimy mental fingers in your head. I usually resist my goblin urges but I would like to visit great pains upon that creature. Uncouth. Entering peoples brains without asking."

(The irony of Lark's message spell is not lost on me XD)

(just to be clear, the door IS passable.. the door is simply missing. and the stone around it looks worn)

(I got that, Lark is just confused and is thinking this isn't the way to the cells)

"Here let me," Alynoa says, taking a look at the door herself.

Investigation: 11

Alynoa see's the same thing, just in more detail.

(need actions to act on)

Also are you done checkign out things in this room? i have given you a hint... here's another. it involves lark.

Lark will stay his course, before the spell runs its course. Lark carefully steps through the crumbled doors. Moving into the next room.