1. The Gates of Hell

Swan looks at the stone plaque and reads it. "Yeah. Right." is all she has to say. Obviously, she can read. Letters are big enough.

She goes forward and puts her weight on the door (Using #2) as she is sure that is most likely stuck.

Ah - we cross-posted ... let me answer your questions ...
See above.
It's similar to the ruins in the eastern half of the canyon ... little more than the remains of stone walls and rotted timbers. Thick growths of weeds are taking over the floor, and piles of fallen leaves from the nearby trees congregate in corners.
The path is clear.

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Day 1, 1:30 pm
Druin, Dwarf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Orelia, Cleric 1: 3/3
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 6/6
Tess, Thief 1: 3/3

"Hrmm," Druin shrugs. "Was hoping we'd find a side entrance rather than having to stroll through the front door. But this is clearly the place."

He fidgets a bit with his armor and the strap of his shield making sure everything's secure and heads in once all the group is assembled.

"A poem for the damned. I wonder if anyone ever escaped?"

Ricard readies behind Swan with his spear...

"Well, they say that some got out when they closed the prison." Gabbro points to the switchback path up the canyon wall to the cave entrances on their left. "But some clearly stayed. Their descendants may still be here, judging by how that path looks to be in good condition and not overgrown." Gabbro waits for Swan to finish opening the door while he keeps a wary eye on the cave mouths. "I wonder how they get their food..." Without taking his eyes off of the cave mouths for too long, he flicks his gaze around the canyon to see if there's a herd of goats grazing nearby.

Before we enter the dungeon will we be using the lantern, or the glowing antennafrom the beetlefor our light source? Tess asks the party.

"I have torches if you wanna save your lantern..."

Just keep that lantern going. If you need more oil, I have plenty.

There is no door - it's an open archway. Peering into the gloom you see a 20' wide corridor extending west for 30' before opening into a larger space. From the outside, you can't see any more detail than this.
You can't see any animals nearby, but there are signs of their passage, particularly to and from the pool. It's easy to spot various hoof and paw prints in the ground. Some of the paw prints are quite large.

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Day 1, 1:30 pm
Druin, Dwarf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Orelia, Cleric 1: 3/3
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 6/6
Tess, Thief 1: 3/3

"Hellions, what sorts of animal do you think live in these caves?" Gabbro inches toward the archway. "There's some pretty big tracks out here. Wolves, perhaps? Bears? What else lives in caves and leaves big prints like that? Any big cats that live in caves?" He muses for a bit more. "Seems to me that, no matter what kind of animal it is, there's unlikely to be much profit in hunting them down. No treasure, and maybe only pelts...not worth the risk, I think." Gabbro looks to see whether any tracks are leading in or out of the archway before we scuff them all by heading in.

Probably not inside.. those tracks probably are from the outside. The place isn't secured. It is a bit dark and gloomy here. With no threats, Swan continues further to see more.

Gabbro crouches to examine the ground outside the archway. The entrance is worn and clearly in regular use. There are two types of footprint discernible within the mud - those made by boots (of average human size) and smaller humanoid barefoot prints with claws.

Swan advances into the darkness beyond the archway but, without the aid of light, she cannot see any further. She'll need to take the lantern, or other light-bearers will have to accompany her.

---
Day 1, 1:30 pm
Druin, Dwarf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Orelia, Cleric 1: 3/3
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 6/6
Tess, Thief 1: 3/3

Gabbro softly points out the tracks: "Goblins? Kobolds?" Then he gets up and dusts off his hands. "Either way, they can see in the dark."

"What do you think, Druin?" the elf murmurs to the dwarf. "Should we scout ahead in the dark and maybe see them without announcing our presence, or do we proceed as a group with the lantern - safety in numbers - but lose any chance of surprise?"

Swan calls back, "You know I can't see in the dark. Really need to keep up."

"I have a feeling if there's someone waiting to pick off hopeful treasure hunters like ourselves as we enter, we'll be spotted light or no light--given the frequency of these tracks from goblins and the like." Druin responds. "So, I think we forego the scouts and keep together in a pack that's big enough to fight off whatever hits us, as there's also a good chance that'll threaten them off before the fight even starts."

She muses and says, "I have always thought of scouts as cannon fodder."

"Scouts are an important part of a regiment, in the field at least. Down here? Hard to say, but I do think we should stay together... All of us."

Ricard calls that last bit after Swan who this far had a habit of rushing ahead into unknown situations that, considering the circumstances, could prove deadly

Aye. Staying together would be wise. No reason to spit up and make it easier for the denizens to pick us off. Lets ventureforth Hellions! Our fortune awaits!

Gabbro nods at Druin, and then at everyone else joining in on their whispered conversation. "Good. Let's catch up to Swan, then, before she realizes that she's acting as the scout at the moment."

Then, a bit louder as he heads into the passage after the big fighter, Gabbro adds: "Who's got the light this time?"

Tess relights the lantern.

I’ve got it. Let’s see what awaits us.