Outside as Devin Harper prepared for his adventure the sky was grey and full of rain. When Devin began his expedition thunder and lightning struck, was this an omen from Auril?

The road travelled over the bridge and led west into the foothills of a mountain chain. The road although neglected showed signs of regular traffic. Nearer the river the road skirted a dank marsh from which the foothills rose. Once past the marsh the road threaded through a wooded forest which sheltered Devin from the rain. After several uneventful miles the road terminated at the mouth of a narrow box canyon that bisected a high cliff wall. Steep cliffs and tall mountains beyond the defile loomed overhead. By this time the rain had stopped but the sky remained overcast and cloudy.

At the mouth of the canyon stood an old curtain wall that has crumbled in places, leaving large gaps. The gatehouse doors lay rotting on the ground before it and spaces between the rusty portcullis allowed easy access

Devin held his shield overhead to ward off the rain.  He wasn't sure what the omen's were.  Was Auril demonstrating her strength or her displeasure?

He'd find out soon enough.

There was no one else around, the passage through the Gatehouse was dark and in shadows. The gaps in the curtain wall on either side of the Gatehouse led through into the canyon.