"Of course you can trust me and my men, Morlock," says Hrolf. "Especially with knowledge that might save us from danger."

The smoke odor reminds Morlan of a frequently used fire pit the day after a rain. He suspects it's just the stink of the burned-out city rather than something specific.

The West Gate is of some interest to any of you with an eye for architecture. Where most city gates that you've seen have been a portcullis-sealed opening in an arched gatehouse, this ancient structure is made up of two unconnected towers. The portcullis that they would've once raised into the space between them by use of a complex (and now missing) pulley system is now laid out on the ground before you and can be easily walked over. In fact, the right tower has collapsed down to a single story, though the left remains four floors tall.

Magical glyphs the size of your head have been stamped into the stone towers in columns of three, though Morlan can clearly see the work of earlier thieves in defacing the protective runes to allow access.

Peering through the open gate, you see little more than rubble extending off into the fog.

Is the portcullis blocking entrance for the wagons? If so we'll need to rig up some ropes and haul it out of the way.

Morlock looks up at the four storey tower. He thinks back at Yodel "That elevated enough, do you think?"

To those around him he says aloud:

"Okay, unless you have a better option planned, I suggest we take advantage of this tower for an initial base camp, at least until we can get a better look around. It should offer some protection and also give us a good vantage point to overlook our quadrant."

He dismounts and ties his horse to the back of the carriage, then returns to the gate with Hrolf and Joe. Drawing his sword he leads the way between the towers and into the city, all his senses alert for danger, from creature or trap.

Joe examines the area picking out possible trouble spots and evaluating Morlock's plan to use the tower as a base. Of course he plans on setting up a few camoflaged refuges within the city as a precaution, but the tall tower could be ideal... if it is not currently inhabited.

Mell's question puts Joshua somewhat ill at ease. He'd forgotten to consider the source Mell taps for his powers. Even filtered through the map it makes him uncomfortable to think about.

Perhaps Mell is right, he thinks, best not to risk tainting the map.

At least a tower would make a familiar living environment, even without a banner to keep out intruders. And a good place to launch from as a bat.

"If we're going to use the tower, we better check it to make sure it's stable enough to take our weight. I can do that sort of thing in tunnels, but I'm clueless about towers. Morlan, before we go in, do you want to ask Hrolf if he has anyone who can check stability?"

Dunn will be sticking with the others, wherever they go. Apparently, we're heading right in before setting up camp, and that's okay with Dunn. He's curious, and not particularly responsible, so he's happy to put setting up camp out of mind until later. He will encourage Emfrid and Box to join him.

Morlock shoots Dwayne a filthy look for dropping out of cover and using his real name, but says nothing, hoping that Hrolf didn't notice.

If nothing untoward happens upon entering the gateway, Morlock will head for the tower and investigate it, checking for traps, unsafe structure, and of course hostile inhabitants.

He'll signal to the others to bring the rest of the caravan inside the gate, but not to spread out any further. We should secure this place before wandering off anywhere else.

I meant to enter the city by passing through the gateway between the towers, not to go further into the city. I can see how it might have seemed that was what I meant.

Dunn turns red, embarassed at having used Morlan's real name. "Eh, what do you want us to do next, Morlock?"

The portcullis is flat against the ground and much of it is covered by the rubble from the fallen tower. It's bumpy rolling for a wagon, but not impassable.

Hrolf nods to the suggested camp, and to Dunn's request for someone who knows something about structural stability.

"Balik!" he calls over his shoulder. One of his men answers by drawing closer.

"You know about this stuff, yeah?" Hrolf asks.

"How you figure?" comes the response.

"You were in the sapping team at Scardale." Hrolf clarifies.

Balik snorts dismissively, but draws his horse to trot around back of the structure until it's startled by a bolt of lightning from the top of the tower which crashes into the ground nearby. Chunks of loose rubble and a spray of charred gravel shower over the man as he's thrown, then dragged a few dozen feet with one boot caught in the stirrup.

"Move on!" comes a harsh voice from within the tower's topmost room. A man's hand is extended timidly from within, clutching a gnarled rod of white oak, still smoking from its discharged spell.

"This is my claim! You lot move along!"

"Why not team up with us?" Joe calls out, "we can help each other."

"That was a warning!" comes the answer. "I don't have to miss!"

Hrolf and his men are quick to draw steel. Balik looses himself from the stirrup, but stays down clutching an arm.