Shroud advice

[Bonulino]

After leading a Shroud run for the first time, I realized that there are a couple of subtleties that I still don't understand. It appears that when the party enters Phase 3, somtimes one or more of the puzzle rooms end up with no one in them. I am assuming that they must be opened and solved to complete the Phase. Can the unoccupied rooms be opened up from the outside by anybody just by using the lever on the outside? Or are the levers locked, requiring someone with unlock skills to open them?

[cupajoe]

They are indeed locked. They can be opened by a class with ranks in Open Locks or the Knock spell. They automatically re-lock so this must be done each time you want to enter.

[Duke-H-]

After leading a Shroud run for the first time, I realized that there are a couple of subtleties that I still don't understand. It appears that when the party enters Phase 3, somtimes one or more of the puzzle rooms end up with no one in them. I am assuming that they must be opened and solved to complete the Phase. Can the unoccupied rooms be opened up from the outside by anybody just by using the lever on the outside? Or are the levers locked, requiring someone with unlock skills to open them?

You need to unlock levers before you are able to pull them.

This can be done via Knock or a small investment in Open Locks. I don't remember the exact DC but i have unlocked it on characters with 4 base + items.

You may need to time the unlock attempt so that you don't get hit by passing blades.
Also there is a timer during which you can open the door, after which the lever locks again.