Kriv looks around to see if there is enough loose dirt and earth to plug the hole. If there is he casts his cantrip Mold earth to move the dirt and piling it up in front of the rat nest opening.
Perception: 1d20+3=21
---Everyone---
Nightingale spots several loose rocks, though none of them are large enough to block the hole.
Kriv notices the same stones and rubble, but his perspective is a bit different. There are many that he can move with is magic. Then he does just that, a soft light flickers around his hands as bits of rock and rubble begin shifting and rolling to pile up in front of the rat hole. It takes him several long minutes to do this, but in the end the rat hole seems to be blocked. Granted no one doubts that the creatures couldn't just dig out the hole again, but hopefully it will at least take them long enough for the group to be clear of any potential ambushes.
Athos looks over at the now closed rat hole before turning a grin to Kriv. "That was an...oddly useful spell. Particularly when one is heading below ground where cave-ins happen."
Nightingale nodded in approval to Kriv, the wizard was thinking as she was.
"We should move now, before they can dig their way through again." she told the party, motioning for Arius to take the lead once more.
Arius nods his assent, raises his lantern in his left hand, with the whip coiled in his right, and begins to descend the next set of stairs, slowly and carefully.
Kriv smiles and nods and replies to Athos "Being able to bury bodies was very helpful in my homeland." The way he says it so calmly it is disconcerting. The dragon born moves to follow the others though.
---Everyone---
Everyone moves down the stairs to the next level. The footing is a little unsteady, but with careful steps everyone makes it to the next stone platform. There is a clear hole in the rocky wall once they arrive on the next landing. Large enough to enter fully standing but still at single file however. Additionally the stairs continue to wind downward toward the ruins. There are skittering sounds echoing from inside the opening, but nothing that catches the ear or eye further down the ancient stairwell.
![[Image: LrJ6KEV.jpg?1]](https://i.imgur.com/LrJ6KEV.jpg?1)
(DM - Just a reminder, If you don't specify marching order, or roll perception, or any other details, I'm going to assume things like, you just using passive perception or you are keeping to the initial marching order. That kind of thing. So just be mindful of these details if you want to be careful or make changes.)
Arius continues in the lead. He is acutely aware that he may not be the best person to sp[ot trouble, but he intends to be the one who, hopefully, will stand between danger and the ladies in the group.
As he reaches the bottom of the stairs, he raises the lantern higher and strains to see further into the darkness, trying to make out what lies at the limits of the light. He looks down at the broken cpobbles opf the floor, notr wanting to twist an ankle, before he slowly moves forward, making room at the botrtom of the stairs.
As the rest of the party joins him, he whispers.
"Well, which way first? Down the narrow passage, or descend deeper?"
Perception [1d20+1]=8+1=9 (at the bottom step)
Perception [1d20+1]=11+1=12 (floor tiles)
Perception [1d20+1]=6+1=7 (peering down the narrow passage)
Mivia will be following in the middle of the pack, hand glowing, ready to blast anything that appears to be threatening.
Perception: [1d20+3]=2+3=5; something is in my eye
Kriv shrugs, and says
"Probably better to explore the level we are on so as to avoid getting surrounded."
Perception: 1d20=6