"Um, I'd rather have you by my side Bankur in case we run into cool people like the last time. Also, I'm outta big magic. I'm trying to keep my lower level songs for healing." 

Bankur nods at Salty Joe's suggestion and with a grin says. "Fair enough. I had forgotten that conversation we had before agreeing on that strategy. You and I shall approach the front door while Penumbra and Rand guard the back then?"

(Waiting for you to describe your actual actions =)

Salty Joe will try to get a good look at the statue. Perception 9. When the party is ready he will knock on the door. 

Penumbra quickly inspects the statue. "Come on Rand, lets go find some cover around back." She says before slinking around to the northern side of the structure.

Perception: 13

History: 14

"How will we know when it is time to enter or if they need help? This building looks bigger than the other one. I don't object to the plan, just need to know when to do what." 

Penumbra stops and thinks for a second. "Good point. What kind of signal should we expect, Salty? I mean if the back door explodes I think we will get it, but a more discreet signal might be useful. I could stay up front with you Salty and then use my cantrip to send a message to Rand and Bankur. But that leaves our muscle outside,  if things go south in there to quickly that could get messy. If you guys want I could fly up there and take a peek in through the trap door, just to get an idea of what we are dealing with in there."

"Yeah.. do that first to see what we are working with. Otherwise I think us staying together might be best idea." 

Penumbra flies to the top of the structure while the rest of the party gathers to one side of the door in the square. Landing lightly on the roof, she opens the trap door and looks down into what was once a kitchen and pantry, now containing piles of well-rotted sacks and barrels that once held salted meat. All the foodstuffs have long since been devoured by vermin. A ladder leads up to where she stands. She can see that the room turns to the east, but there appear to be walls, indicating there are separate rooms to the north and south. (Map updated.)

 Penumbra pauses a moment with the trap door open to listen closely to any sound coming from inside, then returns to the group.

9

"From the look of the kitchen I'd say there's nothing in there but rats, all the food is well spoiled."

(She also informs them of any noises she may have heard.)

"I think we should stick together. We could climb up and go through the trap door. Seems to be an entrance some might not expect. Penumbra could fly my rope up there and secure it to give us easy access up, and and a fast repel down, if need be."

Penumbra hears nothing. After checking with the party, she is able to secure the rope to the crenellations on the roof, and the group has a good way to get to the top. (DC8 Athletics check to get to the top. If you fail by 5 or more, you fall and take 4 points of damage. Once everyone is on the roof, you can continue down the ladder.) 

The ladder appears sturdy enough, and the group wisely decides to only send one person down at a time to avoid putting too much weight on it at once... Once down in the kitchen area, you confirm that there is nothing of value left in this room. Moving on in the dim light you see there are closed doors to the north and south of the passage. 

Athletics 13 (we all have weaknesses)

Struggling to the rooftop, barely keeping his breath, Salty composes himself and makes his way down the ladder. He pulls out his hand crossbow and gestures for Penumbra to check the hallway and the doors at the end of it for traps.

(Athletics check: 14)

Helping the struggling Salty Joe up the rope on his way, Bankur deftly climbs the rope once the last of the group has gone up, leaving a trail of slight wetness behind him on the rope. He then makes his way slowly and carefully down the ladder into the room with his friends. Whispering as quietly as he can Bankur says "I like not the feeling of this. Rand, is that door next to you unlocked in case we need to make a hasty exit?" 

(Doing a general check for traps in the area around me. Perception: 22)

Rand climbs the rope (Athletics: 7) and gathers with his companions, he prepares his crossbow. "Good question, Bankur"

If Bankur gives the all clear, Rand will gently check the door to see if it is locked and listen (perception: 10)

Penumbra checks the doors very carefully, inspecting them for traps and listening at each to ser if she hears any movement beyond them.

12

The place is deathly quiet. There are no traps on any of the doors, in the hallway, or in the kitchen area. Rand figures out that he is standing next to the door leading outside. Although it is capable of being barred from the inside, it is not currently blocked. 

"Alright lets move forward and open some doors. Penumbra do you have mage hand?" 

"I do indeed." Penumbra says as she casts her mage hand. "I can even make it invisible." The spectral hand vanishes and a moment later Salty feels a tap on his shoulder as if someone behind him was trying to get his attention. Penumbra grins mischievously. "What did you have in mind?"

"I think I know what he's thinking... I'm not sure why we haven't been doing that all along... we can all prepare our ranged weapons and have your mage hand open the door. Good thinking, Salty!"