There were no runes, no symbols, nothing magical in the slightest. Only a small metal latch near the floor. With closer inspection it could be seen that the stairs were not attached to the first floor anymore and instead held to it with the latch.  Undoing the latch would allow the stairs to lift away most likely giving access to the basement. Given a little more time and new drywall could have been put up to cover the bricks. Clearly whoever lived here was trying to create a hidden safe room or workshop. With the current shoddy it work the occupant either wasn’t especially talented or was very short on time. The latch was horribly cold to even draw close to. While the area was already cold just placing a hand by the lock stung like an icicle stabbing through the palm.[@Polyphemus]