"Oh. Well, that's good," Jessamy says. "Are you sure? I really thought he was dead."
She looks around the area for any sign of the elf (like piles of purple dust) or anything else of interest.
I recognized the spell. There's no disintegration quality to it, although it can turn you to stone. I don't see a creepy elf statue here so, if he's gone it's the teleport or something part." Ensu says cheerfully.
Krojun ceases his chanting, then looks with disgust on the corpse of the metal man. "What curse afflicted this soul? Is there one whose dark magics can turn a man to metal?"
Siolad eventually manages to plod his way back to the party.
"...well, that was unpleasant."
"Siolad! You're alive!" Jessamy says, rushing to hug the elf. "Ensu said you were, but I wasn't sure he was right!"
Pirknok holds out a hand to forestall Jess' hasty rush, but his reaction isn't fast enough to prevent her from hugging the possibly-undead-or-not-even-real Siolad. He watches for a moment, gripping his sword, before he relaxes a bit and nods in agreement with the impulsive young woman's words.
The elf winces momentarily as Jess squeezes him. "It could've been worse, I suppose. That prismatic blast could've sent me to the Abyss."
"Everyone okay?" Ensu says as he looks everyone over.
"I think so," Jessamy says.
Amidst the strange mix of metal flesh and gore the party finds a spell component pouch with a fortune in diamond dust and the sleek mithril staff wielded by Ordikon.
Also scattered across the various work surfaces are books containing Ordikon's research. The knowledge contained within could be valuable but it would take hours to parse through it all.
Siolad tries his damnedest to not drool at the sight of all the ancient magical knowledge.
Krojun looks distatefully over the books, but notices Siolad's obvious interest. "Do you think things taken from this place will survive? Or will time catch up with them?"
Once everyone's ready, Jessamy tries to figure out where to go next.
Moving east Jessamy confirms that the door is not trapped.
Opening the doors, the party finds a wide hall floored in polished wooden planks, its walls covered in colorful jade tiles. The ceiling is made of lustrous stone that reflects the light of three decorative lanterns that brightly illuminate ten gleaming golden statues of men and women in various poses of combat readiness that stand along the walls.
A towering, corpulent beast, with the hideous head of a boar and arms ending in fatty, four-fingered hands greets the party when you enter. It tries to move closer but is visibly restrained by a glowing magical circle etched on the floor.
"Mortals! Free me from these confines and I swear I will make it worth your time."
Siolad halts in his tracks and stares at the magically-confined beast, trying to determine what manner of creature it is.
Krojun lets out a shout of alarm. "What fashion of fiend is this?!?"
Siolad recognizes the creature as a nalfeshnee demon, known for being commanders and overseers of the Abyssal hordes.
"That, Krojun, is a nalfeshnee demon. A commander and overseer of entire legions of Abyss-born terrors." The elf glares at the demon.
"Great ancestors! A demon? I would think that releasing it would be a very bad idea Siolad."
Pirknok shudders, edging slightly closer to the Thunder-caller as if by reflex and nodding his agreement with Krojun's words.
"Well, if we have any blessed weapons, they'd pierce their hides more easily." The elf turns away from the demon. "Let's go. More and like it'll try to slaughter us all if we do free it."
The demon is visibly dismayed by Krojun's condemnation and Siolad's glare. Poorly, it tries to makes itself as small and nonthreatening as possible.
"No! You must free me! I can tell you much about this place. I can tell you have to use the great treasure beyond me", it pleads.
Ensu studies the demon
Krojun frowns as the thing gets smaller. "My grandfather used to say that lies are a demon's breath."
Ensu can tell that the demon is certainly acting pitiful but it's difficult to tell if it's sincere or putting on an act. As far as he can tell its shown no signs of treachery.
"Who put you here? Why are you here? Answer our questions truthfully or be left to rot." Ensu says.
"I was bound here as a guardian by this place's master's former mentor - Izomandakus. I was to guard the chamber beyond - a font of great power he called the 'Pool of Elemental Arcana'. The wording of the binding is such that I am trapped until I could 'make Izomandakus laugh, cry, shriek, and cheer' but Izomandakus has been dead for thousands of years and so I remain trapped. Izomandakus's student has the power to break the binding but he chooses not to - I believe my torment amuses him."
"And what is the student's name?" Ensu asks.
"He calls himself Ordikon the Mithril Mage."
"Um, well..I've got some bad news for you then. See, we just killed him. Bad news for you, I suppose but good news for us." Ensu says with a smirk.
The enormous demon remains hopeful. "If you killed him you must be powerful. You can free me!"
"What will you do if we did free you?" Krojun asks in a suspicious tone.
"Look for a way to escape this place and return to the Abyss of course. I've been trapped in this pocket plane for too long and I have several ventures there that will be waiting for my return."
"You are a demon and well, we can't really trust you. Yes, yes, you are telling the truth and all, but still you are a demon. We are relatively good people and you are opposed to us, especially since we are powerful enough to kill your jailer. How can we trust you to do what you will say you will do and not bother us?" Ensu asks.
Ensu detects no signs of falsehood from the bound demon.
"I have nothing to offer but my word", it begs. "But I've given you information freely. If you free me, I swear to tell you everything I know about the Pool of Elemental Arcana and leave you in peace."
"Do you trust it, Ensu?"
"As much as I trust any demon, which is not far. But, it seems to be telling a truth. Plus if it double-crosses up we aren't gonna be surprised." Ensu says to Krojun.
"Okay how to do we let you out?" Ensu asks the demon.
"Since honoring the terms of the binding are impossible, anything powerful enough to dispel them should work."
"Well I seem to have used all my dispels up today. Guess that means you get to stay." Enus says cheerfully.
Pirknok looks up from where he stands studying his blade. The eyes he turns on the demon seem to say that he'd like to use the ebon sword to end its existence, but he tears his gaze away and looks between Ensu and Krojun. "If you say we should free it," he grunts, "I'll see what this blade will do."