(Thanks for marking the doors, I couldn’t tell where they were before)

Krusk takes one look at this new room and says, “Reminds me of when i was a kid and my father had to force me to clean my room. Guess they never learned hot to do it. Seeing as there isn’t much in this room, where do you guys want to go next? I would like to go to the west, but we should all agree on a direction.”

"West sounds fine to me," Chikra says.

 "If we ain't findin' what we're lookin' fer t' th' west, we bes trying another way." Vor says in a somewhat fatalistic tone. "I jes 'opes wes don' be checkin the whole blasted place and find thin's behinds door number last! Let me check th' area a wee bit."  He will check the western door for any signs of nasty surprises waiting for the unwary or just plain clumsy.

Investigation  6

He shrugs, "Don't appears t' be anythin'."

"Let's move on then."  Lia agrees, following the others.

You explore the doors and passage ways to the west.  The door on to the north of the hallway (8) opens up into a tunnel that ends abruptly, unfinished by man or beast. The passage ways on the south side of the hallway lead to a chasm (10) A large fissure here blocks easy access to the rest of the corridor. The fissure is only about ten feet wide, but the bottom cannot be seen easily. A torch dropped down will bounce out of sight and a slight glow will be visible from beneath, indicating that the drop is neither straight down nor a short fall. The corridor on the other side extends for perhaps 10 or 15 feet before ending in a massive cave-in.  Along the other corridor you find a small room (9) featuring an arched gallery around the central well access point. The arches allow buckets to drop from all four sides to speed up the process of washing clothes and soldiers’ bodies. Nearly a dozen buckets may be found here, each attached to a 50’ length of rope. The buckets are made of leather, and while they leak, they are still adequate to the task of bringing water up. Stone basins are cut into the walls all around the outside of this room, some large enough for  humanoid to sit in to bathe.  Continuing further along you come to (12) the kitchen and mess hall. Food was prepared and served here to the soldiers once stationed at this fortress. There are numerous cupboards and cabinets for storing less perishable food; more perishable items such as meat and fresh fruit and leafy vegetables were eaten as soon as possible. Food suitable for longer storage (root vegetables and grains) were kept in storage here. There is practically nothing left here; what wasn’t eaten by mice, rats, or insects, crumbled to dust long ago. Through a closed door further down the passage way is a room, (11) empty save for two things: A large, barred trap door covering a stairwell, and an uncompleted exit doorway of rubble and unhewn stone.

(Let me know where you would like to explore, or search.)

How sturdy does the rope look? Does it look like it'd be able to hold someone's weight if we needed to fashion a bridge, or is it old and dried out?

Lia would be interested in the barred door and the stairs beyond.

Vor, also, is intrigued by the barred stairway and will investigate the area.

14 Investigation 

Kursk is interested in the trap door that covers a stairwell, and would try to open it. If it gives resistance, he will ask, “Do you guys want me to rip it open? I can do it, but it may alert any enemies in there.”

The priest watches Chikra examine the rope with amusement.  Chikra tugs on the rope, then steps on it, playing tug-of-war with himself finds that the rope, although quite old, is still sturdy enough to bear the weight of a burly fighter.  

Lia, Vor, and Lia inspect the barred door.  It looks like it has been used more recently than the mess area.  It is quite securely locked with a pad lock and chain.  The hinges have been fatigued, and it may be possible, with combined strength, to pull it free.

Vor will try to pick the lock.

24 +8 (proficiency doubled using thieves tools

Lia will 'help' with the lock picking attempt. Should allow him to do a second roll and take the better of the two.

Chikra will report back on the state of the rope. "I think we have enough for now, but in case we need more."

"It would seem that the stairs down is the more traveled path," Quiller says with a brief smile. "I don't see our enemy climbing up and down ropes with any great ease.  That is why I would suggest going down this way."

Vor, with Lia's help, attempts to pick the lock using Thieves tools. (second attempt with help: 25)

The priest watches Vor pick the lock.  "Don't push so hard! You'll..." just as the pick is about to break off in the lock it springs open with a resounding clunk.  

The stairs decent and turn to the south.  The air here is stale and there is a faint smell of rats.  To 10 feet to the the east is a passageway that turns to the north. Fifteen feet to the south is a passageway that turns west.  Directly to the west is a passage way that extends 30 feet where it descends to what seems to be a body of water.  Halfway down the same passage to the west is a passage to the north.

"Well, I'd say let's go left to start."  Lia says, looking at the three tunnels they can pick from to start. She nods to the left, and will head in that direction unless someone has a better option.

“Left-hand wall’s as good as the right,” Vor shrugs. “I do hates water monst’rs ye ken, ‘n I ain’t much fer slpashin’ round inns stuff either. Lemme check tha’ north passage.” He says all this quietly, and will soft-step to the next corner (halfway towards the water), listen and, if he hears nothing, will take a peek around the corner.

Stealth.  19
Perception.  5

Chikra follows along, helping with any investigation checks.

“We can go left. Just keep an eye out for anything,” Krusk says as they start to head down that way.

Perception: 16 :(