The Sunless Citadel - (Chapter One)

[DM Spiral]

---Everyone---

The night was spent with a good stew and a few mugs of ale. The Inn's beds were actually quite comfortable and the next morning everyone set out toward the Citadel. The overgrown Old Road winds through rocky downs, near stands of old-growth oak and abandoned farms. It's roughly seven miles from Oakhurst to the Citadel, so the walk wasn't too bad and turned out to be rather pleasant this early in the morning. 

They continued to follow the Old Road as it passed to the east of a large narrow ravine. Soon they arrived at the road's closest approach to the cleft.  At first glance, Several broken pillars jut from the earth where the ravine widened. Two of the pillars stood straight, but most leaned atop slopping earth.  Most of the pillars were broken, and several had apparently fallen into the depths. A few single pillars could be seen on the opposite side of the ravine. 

After a little closer inspection, it was easy enough to spot a sturdy, knotted rope tied to one of the leaning pillars on their side of the ravine.