Revealed

The stairs turn up and around to the right, and then open up to the alcove. There is evidence of wires and markings on the wall, as if someone was getting ready to set traps, but didn't have the time to prepare them properly.

Across from this staircase is another one going up. (See the pic I emailed you.)

Waiting for you is a small figure, maybe gnome-sized, but reptillian, with glittering eyes and needle sharp teeth, as well as a crossbow and a belt of tools.

And a necklace of fingers around its neck.

A kobold.

(Note, in third edition, kobolds have a -4 on Strength, a +2 on Dex, a -2 on Con, a +2 on Search, a +2 on Craft Trapmaking, a +2 on Profession miner, darkvision, and sorcerer as their favored class. The serial killer isn't too strong, if you recall his taking the booty from his victims in stages, is good with making traps, and is an incredible shot with the truestrike & crossbow combination. Sound familiar? Hee hee, and you mocked kobolds in the law library because you were thinking of the sniveling little first edition PC fodder.)

The kobold had a readied shot with the crossbow, and he also has a grapnel set into the floor, and a rope attached to a clip in his belt. He fires at Castille (rolled...an 8) which goes over the half-elf's shoulder and chips the wall. That was the kobold's standard action. For his move action he jumps backwards and the rope clip whirrs as he lands softly on his feet below.

(Castille took a double move to get past Kaspar and get up the stairs, so he does not have time to fire this round. Kaspar started up the stairs, but at a shout from Castille he can reverse direction and come down to attack.)