Teflar looked disturbed " Really, Nanith? Is there safe passage into this tower?"

The feisty hobbit glanced around a bit before replying " If we watch our step, a thin catwalk will lead us across its center."

The team regarded the approach with heavy concern. " Just follow my lead." assured Ninnipin and encouraged the others to mimic his exact steps to the wooden door. Finding it unlocked and safe, Oktavianus slowly opened the portal.
Suddenly, a pattering was heard in the canyon! Moran shrieked calls of warning down to the fellowship; something was coming! What the mage saw next made his grasp on the quarterstaff became white-knuckle intense; a look of revulsion plastered his face. " Rats!" he spat with disgust " It had to be rats. Get inside quickly!"

The team gathered within the first towerroom without delay. The inner structure became dark enough to impede normal eyesight. Gailwind struck up a torch allowing all to see that the circular area was cobbled with cracked granite. Four goblins, all apparently slain in combat, sprawled against the far wall between two doors. Above, a hollow tower of loose masonry reached 30', but the intervening floors and stairs were gone, except for a couple of crumbled ledges.

Aramil studied the area intently " I feel nothing of magic in this place."

Vrai spoke up as he circled the southern portion of the room. " We have a third choice if we decide to take it." The archer casually indicated the normal wall " A door lies secret."

Nanith bounced over beside the bowman " I say we enter the secret door. Let me look for traps first." As the rogue carefully traced the rough wall contours with his fingers, the others moved to where the humanoids lay dead.

Roslyn shriveled her nose " These beasts are....chewed upon!"

Teflar bent over slightly kicking one over with the toe of his boot. He gave a twisted smile to the wizard " Rats."

Vrai looted the bodies of any valuables and found a selection of gold pieces which he promptly pocketed.

Nanith suddenly stuck his finger in the air. Clarification spread over his face as he found what he was after. " A ha! A trap indeed! This place is loaded." The rogue twitched his fingers around springing a tiny needle that darted out of a crevice. The torch revealed a dull point that Ninnipin quickly dispatched.
Oktavianus moved the male hobbit out of the way and started to push in the secret door.

Suddenly, shallow banging was heard outside the main tower door! After a brief pause to listen, Gailwind spoke up with quavering voice. " It seems the rats have sealed us in."

There was little time for Nanith to gloat over his trap-disarming skills.
" Let�s move then! I doubt the vermin would be able to find this secret entrance. Maybe we�ll be able to block the entrance from the other side, just to make sure." Nanith skipped about nervously while waiting his turn behind the others to enter the secret door.