Area C - The Atrium

As you enter the fortress for the first time, it becomes overwhelming just how immense the place truly is. Just past the drawbridge lies a stately atrium hewn from stone and marble; this entrance must have been breathtaking in its prime, but the years have not been kind to it. Its stone archways have begun crumbling into ruin, while tattered banners and curtains dangle from them and lie in dusty heaps on the floor. The stone furniture scattered around the room has been worn down by wind and rain, while the wooden pillars and accents have long since rotted away.

This room is surprisingly well illuminated thanks to its impressive sky light, so it's easy to tell that there are no threats in the area. A few of the hallways that should lead out of this room have caved in, but there are two that seem fairly intact. The first hallway leads straight ahead, and opens up onto the courtyard you noticed before crossing the bridge; the second curves to your left and leads into a library. Going outside would be the more direct path to the tower... but the aisles of the library might also give you a better opportunity to take cover.