That gate had some large gaps that some of them might have been able to fit through, or climb over. Oh well.
Could they tie the rope around themselves instead of holding the rope in their hands? Maybe the illusion made them think the rope disappeared and they let go of it. But if the rope was tied around them, they'd still be together.
After they meet up, can they try using writing to communicate, if voices are blocked by the illusion? Or does the illusion also interfere with written language.
This is just my assumptions based on a educated guess and It does depends on how well the spell was designed.
But it is likely it both can and do from what we know.
Both of your suggestions are simple tests anybody could try in a pair, and considering it has yet to be beaten i think its likely.
If the illusion can manipulate both
Touch
( considering they all lost the rope and you would not drop it if you could still feel it in your hands , unless you blank out ? )
How they perceive
spoken words
( unable to verbally understand each other even close by )
As well as
sight
( the party looks like monsters to each other )
it most likely could manipulate how you perceive written words too, even if it was in Braille.
