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Hex the halflingcalls to the others as he notices the step.

"Errrr guys, I think I found something. There is a loose panel here under the stair, yes yes yes. Kragg, can you tell if it's trapped at all my good dwarf, hmmmm indeedy?" he says scurrying back out of the cramped space.

Kragg walks over and as usual cracks his knuckles and prepares to check for traps on the newly discovered secret door/panel. "I'll give it a try again. No promises the gods are against me lately."

Kragg moves under the stairs to check Hex's discovery for traps. He finds nothing nefarious, and determines that the strange panel is actually a trapdoor built into the floor.

He lifts the panel up to find a set of rusty rungs attached to the wall descending into darkness. A deep, earthy smell accompanies the cool air that wafts up from below.

Aric stops gathering pebbles as the trap door is opened. The barbarian puts the tiny stones in a pouch and moves over for a better look.

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

Osprey moves to the trapdoor to see as well, looking for anything in the darkness below as well as examining the sturdiness of the inset rungs.

P.T. Codswallop, halfling impresario:

Phineas had never been one for book learning. He stifled a yawn until the trap door suddenly opened. Then his mouth moved like it tasted something it liked.

"Ah! Well done! Now we're getting somewhere! Perhaps this tunnel leads to the temple!" he whispered as he fell into marching formation.

Trusty Yon, Human Cleric

After throwing the skeleton's rags down to Osprey as requested, Yon climbs down and comes over to peer down the hole. "Judging by the debris you wiped off of it, is it safe to assume this aperture hasn't been used in a while? Although I suppose two people working together could disguise it. Or one coming out from below could then place debris around the... I suppose I'm not much of a detective. Should we go down? I do have a light spell at my disposal, but had been saving it for an emergency. Dare we throw a torch down?"

Kragg "Hmm I'm not so sure I trust this but what do you all think? Maybe anchor someone small with a rope and go down and check it out or search down there some other time and focus on clearing the other buildings?"

The party gathers around the trap door opening, peering into its depths, but the bottom of the shaft cannot be seen. Only the faint echo of dripping water is heard from below.

Osprey checks the rungs and finds most of them still look to be securely fastened; however, some are missing, and a few of the more rusty ones have begun to pull away from the wall. The elf concludes that the smaller folk (Phineas, Kragg, and Hex) might require assistance moving down from rung to rung if the group decides to descend.

Hex scratches his smooth chin and pulls at his long topknot of hair.

"Perhaps you are right my good dwarf. A rope tied to one of us and lowered down the shaft with a lit torch, to be quickly retrieved if there is something nefarious lurking within yes yes yes?"

Wil stands watch as the group considers investigating this tunnel. It could indeed be a secret way to exit the tunnel as designed. Perhaps it may be a quiet way in for the group.

Kragg "Yes, Hex torch, lantern or magical light and rigged so we can have a couple of us pulling back up fast in case of danger. Simple system to know tug the rope twice for trouble once for more slack. Three tugs and we'll haul as fast as we can."

P.T. Codswallop, halfling impresario:

"Sounds perfect!" Phineas said to Kragg as he quickly began to tie a silk rope around the dwarf's waist.
"This length of wondrous cord is the very same that was used by renowned escapologists and artful prestidigitators, the latter cunningly employing it to tie up beautiful young ladies selected from the audience to star in startling, death-defying and unfathomable acts of stage magic that stunned and amazed audiences the world over!"

Once the knots were deftly tied, Phineas stepped back and said to the strapping roustabouts in the party, "He's ready when you are, gentlemen! Lower away!"

Aric takes grasp of the rope, half-expecting to be lifting the whole lot of little people.

"Your wondrous cord reminds me of rope I used to hang a thief who tried to cheat me," says Aric to P.T.

Osprey snickers at nothing in particular.

Kragg takes out one of his torches and lights it then proceeds to the shaft and allows himself to be lowered down.

With the aid of Phineas' wondrous, silken rope and the ox-like brawn of Aric, Kragg decides to descend into the secret passage. The dwarf’s torch casts eerie shadows upon the walls as he is slowly lowered into the darkened shaft…

Greywolf, please see PM.

Kragg tugs on the rope one time indicating he'd like more rope slack.

Yon will take his place at the rope to help as he's able, though he suspects his aid will be minimal. He wouldn't want to be the one down there if trouble arises and wants to be able to assist however he can to get the dwarf out in a hurry.

Hex will stand guard up top daggers ready for throwing should anything dangerous and aggressive appear whilst the others are engaged.