(IC 1) The End of the Beginning

[Rex]

Squish

Squish follows along, trying to be alert.

"Agreed, lets get moving."

[shaidar]

Elwyn

The elf simply nods and follows the others.

[Marullus]

Naugrim concurs. "It is a half day to reach it and mayhaps we can find the north entrance before the light fails us... we can't afford the inn prices, anyway."

[beniliusbob]

Newly provisioned and emboldened by the intelligence gleaned from Tusta, the party gathers their things and heads south into the wasteland, following the map in the direction of the Citadel.

The land south of Jackal Pass is broken and rocky, with thorny shrubs and brilliantly flowering cacti the only relief from the drab yellow sand and shattered brown stones. The sun beats down on the party as they march, sending rivulets of sweat into the most unfortunate crevices of their armour and clothing.

As the sun descends towards the far horizon and the shadows grow long, the party finds the gully marked on the map, and descends a mound of sandstone scree to its bottom. The coolness of the gully is a welcome relief after the long march. They follow the winding course of the dry riverbed for another handspan of the sun's procession before the gully widens to a canyon before them.

The ruins of the Citadel lay on the eastern side of the canyon, constructed upon a mound of earth that must once have been an island - but is now tilted and sinking into the land around it. The eastern half of the Citadel has been crushed by a fall of stone and sand from the embankment beside and above it, and the rest of the upper level is a tangle of fallen pillars, tumbled statuary, and the broken tiles of a roof that no longer exists.

A great pair of bronze doors is set directly into the rock beneath the uppermost ruins, presumably leading into a lower level. The doors appear slightly ajar.

[Rex]

Squish

Squish will approach the doors cautiously, checking them to see if he sees or hears anything through them. Then he will check for traps.

[Marullus]

"Hold on..." interjects Naugrim, "Those there are the southern gates where we are most likely to face ambush and find the treasures already looted. Let us follow Tusta's directions instead - go around the side to the collapsed wall and concealed stair."

[shaidar]

Elwyn nods

"Agreed, that would be the wise course of action. Hopefully forewarned is forearmed."

[OGRE MAGE]

Margush nods her agreement as well.

“This whole scene makes me wonder how many others like us have come through here before. How many lives have been forfeited inside this forsaken place, all for the promise of a few gems and gold coins.”

She searches the ground for any bones or signs of recent movement as they make their way towards the side stairs.

“Let’s locate this side entrance and find out for ourselves what the darkness will bring.”

[Marullus]

Naugrim hitches up his pack and stoicly Marches to the concealed entrance, turning to reply to Margush. "Every other who died just leaves a little more gold for us to find."

[Rex]

Squish

"Just checking to see what we have here, not going in."

[beniliusbob]

Squish cautiously approaches the doors and peers inside. The corridor beyond is grandiose, nearly twenty feet wide, with shadowy, ribbed vaults in the ceiling overhead. He is unable to see very far, as the corridor is quickly wrapped in shadows, but he does not discern any tripwires, trap doors, or other hazards at the entrance.

As the eastern side of the ruin is buried by stones and debris, the party decides to loop around the western side to reach the northern door Tusta spoke of. But as they come around the western side of the ruin, they stumble on a narrow doorway carved into the rock foundation. An ancient stone door has been shattered into a hundred pieces here. The dark mouth of a low-ceilinged corridor leers at them over the rubble. A hot wind blows out of the portal, sand dancing across the stone floor into the darkness beyond.

[shaidar]

Elwyn

"Ah ha! Perhaps the gods are smiling upon us. You did not say that Tusta mentioned a western door. Maybe this is newly damaged, and so the treasures below are undisturbed. That is our choice, embark into an unknown area, or follow in Tusta's footsteps with a hint of what to expect."

[Rex]

Squish

Squish will look inside (not go inside) and search the entrance area for traps, loose stones that might fall etc. he will also see if he can determine how long ago this was broken open.

Whispering, "Give me a minute to look it over."

[OGRE MAGE]

Margush gets excited at the new discovery.

“I agree. This new entry has the most promise, but we can always use the other as a backup.”

She peers into the darkness beyond the doorway, trying to detect movement to see if anything lurks there in the darkness.

[Marullus]

Naugrim joins Squish at the doorway, staying behind the goblin as his sharp eyes examine the stonework for runes or glyphs.

If it is Lore, he rolls with advantage.
[1d20]=12[1d20]=13