The day passes as you continue west on your journey to ruins. You do not see anything in the woods besides normal woodland creatures. It is getting late when you come upon a clearing in the woods. The clearing is about a half mile in diameter and at the center is two towers set against each other but fallen in disrepair. There is a wall surrounding the towers so you can not see the lower floors. You do not see a gate to get inside from where you now stand.
Again, unwilling to entrust the animals to the task, Durgan begins to ride at a gallop around the other side of the wall.
Sessativa asks Zork, "Do you think we should camp out here before entering? There may be creatures who hate the light residing inside. If it were early day, at least we would have the assurance that the sun is up out here and we can retreat to a safe spot."
On the far side (West) is a gate into the keep. The gate is in disrepair and partly open hanging from a broken hinge. It is open just enough to allow a person to get through but not a horse. You can see that inside the courtyard is over grown with weeds, grasses and some small trees. You can not see very much into the courtyard as the sun is getting lower in the west and the shade from the surrounding trees takes up the light.
In Character: Zork checks to see how his dogs are behaving - are they seeing or smelling someone he wonders?
Out of Character: They should be able to pick up a scent from a mile away. Also given that Zork is on horseback and could stand on his horse would he then see anything? If not, he will move up a little closer and then try again but first waits for any hints from his dogs.
Zork proceeds forward still cautious and with the remaining of his dogs flanking him. He will stop with his horse about 300' away from the entrance so he can see what is in the courtyard.
Durgan comes back around and leads them to the gate. Sessativa says that she will move forward quietly to have a closer look. Both their horses are tied up and she goes right up to the gate, pushing on it, and waving the others over if it looks clear.