The Black Maze

From the back of the group, Zillah uses mage hand to unlatch the door and then Push it open

Shadow

The coins are simply that, just gold coins strewn on the ground leading to or away from the door you're not sure. If you count them, there's about 20 on the ground but randomly not in a line or anything. They were dropped it looks like. Roll history check to see if you recognise their origin point.

Zillah

The door opens and a strange odor fills the corridor. A mix of decay and death. It's frankly the worst smell you've EVER smelt in you lives! Now the air in the corridor is foul and with no other doors in sight what do you do? Move on hoping for another door or go through this one?

{Gnite guys, playing d&d IRL tomorrow so my presence on here will be spotty but I'll try to check in periodically.}

Zillah quickly closes the door, and uses prestidigitation to make the air around them smell like roses.

"I am guessing that we are not using that door"

• History  9

The smell is pungent at first, Wait, what's that smell? I think, the new smell surprising me even more than the first.

I crouch down, pick up and pocket a coin, then look ahead, trying to perceive the location of those footsteps.

Perception 24

I pick up the coins and give 3 to each of my companions.

"Maybe we should give that room a second look, if you're able to mask the smell."

"I'll follow your lead"

I cough and gag a bit before regaining composure. "Wait, perhaps we should determine the source of that... horrible smell first. It could inform us about what dangers we face. It could also... *ahem* give us a clue as to what became of Gauldring's companion."

Do I or my familiar recognize the smell as being natural or unnatural decay?

Perception for Corax: 8 (I expect an animal, especially a Raven, might recognize the smell if its natural)
Perception for me 10
Medicine for me 19 (just in case its more relevant)

(I'm also assuming I can recognize Zillah's spell casting, if not, Arcana: 10)

Shadow

You can not discern the origin of the coins.

Professor

It isn't magical it's the smell of death.

Xenruth

The footfalls are from the group {you failed your check}

"If there's something dead in there, we can talk to it. I'm not afraid of dead things. Lets check it out!"

"You must stay cautious" Xenruth says "It may not be dead." He then realizes that was almost his first word since they'd entered the maze. He was becoming a bit more used to being in a group.

{dead-dead or just dead, haha}

Who's going in the room, who's moving on?

I am going in the room.   

I'll follow.

I do too.

I quickly dig through my belongings for a handkerchief or something to cover my nose, and eventually settle on Zillah's solution and use prestidigitation like an air freshener.

Oh and then I follow into the room, of course.

I'll go in towards the back of the group.

I cast divine sense again, this time looking for a source of good other than my companions. if it's from the direction of the Stank room i'll follow the group, if not I say "I can sense a 'good' presence further down the hall, it's more then Likely Alkeor"

Zillah, Professor, Kohl, Xenruth, and Shadow

Upon entering it is apparent the room is a dungeon! There are skeletal remains hanging by manacles attached to the stone wall on the far end of room. Three bodies in total of average sized humanoids are on display, flesh rotted away. On entire side of the chained bodies are two doors, the only other exits from the room that are now visible. The room is lit by torches so no need to create a light source. The room is long but narrow. There are cells, six cells in total, with three cells per wall along a single narrow passage between them in the center of the room. This passage leads to the two doors on the other side of the room. The floor is strewn with straw that is spattered in blood and other decaying matter. As your approach the cells you realize there are even more remains inside the first two cells. They are not skeletal however, not yet. What looks to be a tiefling is propped up against the bars in the cell on the left and the pointed ears of a full elf can be discerned form the body in the right cell. These two bodies have an arm stretched out towards one another in the center passage as if they were trying to reach one another before they died either together or one after the other it's unclear.

Gauldring

You can sense there is no longer a living presence in the room besides your companions but your sense is limited to 60ft, it doesn't mean he's not here or that he's dead even if just means he's not near by.