[The note is written in a elegant and flowing hand. It has been left, along with an old letter, with Spencer at the Rock Bottom Tavern. It is in a sealed packet, with the words "Sir Leon Belmont" written on it.]

Sir Leon,

As I told you here is the letter of my correspondence with Herald Jafar. It may give you some insight into what we will be facing.

In service to the True Deity, Justin Ellard Servant of Torm

Justin Ellard, Servant of Torm,

Of the stairwell in question, I do not have records of it ever being functional. To be fair, many of our records were lost or destroyed in the Ubel Rebellion thirty years ago. I do have one account from roughly twenty years ago, written by a member of the Spellguard for deliberations by the Council which later were entered into the public record. It indicates that the stairwell is largely collapsed, with only the uppermost section remaining. According to the account, below it stretches a shaft downward so deep that he could not see the bottom. Lowering himself on an animatron constructed specifically for that purpose, he recorded "strange and horrific noises ... that chilled the blood and caused the very soul to cringe; ... unstable shafts and crevices, deposits of soot and ash and what could only be powdered bone ... smoke and wretched stenches of all varieties ... and a pervasive doom throughout." From these same deliberations, records indicate that several Seekers had disappeared while attempting to determine what lay at the bottom. The Council decided that attempts should not be made at reconstructing the stairwell, and that the city should focus its attentions elsewhere and (as Councilor Shurth remarked) "not awaken further dangers."

As for claim, usable territory within old Dunwarren is legally considered to be claimed by the Council until such time as they bestow it upon a specific individual or group. Of course, if you can eliminate the dangerous creatures that no doubt infest the area and establish a secure presence, you will be in a strong position for the Council to grant you ownership of the territory. Given the sinister tone of the above account, though, I would suggest pursuing a similar venture in the ruins to the east, which are considerably more habitable (though still overrun by vermin and other unpleasant creatures).

Regardless, once you have secured a presence, your next course of action should be to write a proposal to the Council asking them to consider granting you and your organization ownership of the territory in question. At this point, details such as the strength of the Watch presence required, the amount of gold required to purchase the territory and to be paid in land taxes, and other such particulars will be worked out.

- Herald Jafar Office of the Herald