Allen will shrug then tie up the unconscious men and take all his gear. Leaving him in shirt and pants only.
The man comes to a few minutes later, and struggles with his bonds for a bit till he realizes the effort is futile, and slumps back, glaring at the party, but still not saying a word.
So tell me, who do you work for? Heinrick prods him gently with his spear.
The cultist motions down the stairs with his chin, and then shouts "Faxon!! Intruders!!
Well I guess that tears it Heinrick curses as he drives his spear through the throat of the bound cultist.
Allen spins around and takes up position next to the stairs. Waiting for someone to stick there head out.
The group watches as a small stone is flung out the door, and bounces off a wall, landing about 1/2 way up the stairs. A large area of darkness blossoms out from where it landed.
A small smile crosses Allen's face and ready an attack as he sees perfectly fine though the darkness.
Well i guess that might be an issue.
Heinrick steps back from the falling cultist and pulls the lantern off the back of his pack.
However if I can have a minute i might have an answer.
Heinrick's dancing lantern moves into the area of darkness and the area brightens slightly, but still only enough that it's hard to see through.
The sudden call of the captured thug for help was a rather aggravating occurance but she was saved acting when Heinrick executed him for his temerity. She looked at the spot where the darkness emanated and knew she couldn't do much just now so she prepared to dance and inspire their courage if the opposition coming from within was too much.
As the party waits, the darkness does not abate, and shortly you hear a rich, deep voice call out from the room at the bottom of the stairwell.
Let's be rational about this, shall we? Killing my two guards gets you nothing, they did exactly what they were supposed to, and let me know you are there. Other than that they were fools, and expendable. In fact, the voice continues with a wry sense of amusement you just saved me quite a bit in payroll. Thank you for that. Now the wise thing to do would be for you to leave. Anything of value down here has been destroyed after my late guards warned me you were there.
After this last the voice grows quiet, but you do see a small spot of light through the darkness, much like a lantern moving up the far wall of the stairwell out into the rubble strewn lower level.
Sounds like a cynical bastard that we will have to come back for later.
Heinrick whispers to the others, as he moves out of direct line of the stairs, with his lantern following him closely.
Allen gives every impression of wanting to charge down the stairs but waits for his companions.
Allen will point down the stairs
Arcane words.
Detect evil down the stairs.
"Yes, well observed", Ashnah acidly responds to Allen's words, not really understanding what he was referring to and interpreting his statement as one of simply stating the obvious. Not really one for charging head first into the fray, she hangs back behind everyone.
The light meanders a bit, moving around fallen rubble, before it starts to fade out of sight.
Allen starts down the stairs still focusing on the detect evil.
Allen continues down the stairs, concentrating on his ability to detect sources of evil, and knows there are two auras below, one moderately strong and one that is almost overwhelming. As he gets to the bottom of the stairs, he hears a low, soft voice with an odd, lilting quality to it, "The Minotaur Lord spits on you from the Abyss. May your life be cursed with unending mazes."
The rest of the group hangs back by the top of the stairs, out of the fog.
************Round 1****************
Ashnah, Faxon, Iolana, Allen, Heinrick
If he can see the caster he will charge and try to remove it's head.
If he can't see it. He will continue to focus on the detect evil and move towards the voice.
"I think we'd better follow him." With her whip in hand Iolana waited for the more dueable members of their band to go ahead of her and kept herself in front of Ashnah who was in the rear. She looked abck at the other woman and said, "Stay close, I'll do what I can to distract anyone coming for you."
Ashnah and Iolana follow Allen down the stairs, reaching the bottom in time to hear the big Tiefling charging into the room. The sound of clashing steel and a hiss of pain come back to your ears.
Allen charges through the darkness at the figure he can just make out and clears the darkness just in time to see that it is another Tiefling that he's attacking. His falchion slices a line along the Tiefling's arm. As Allen does this, he notices a slight smirk on Faxon's face, and eyes that blaze the cherry red of burning hot coals. Under that gaze, Allen feels his clothing and armor grow hot, and then his skin to the point of bursting into flame.
Bending down carefully Iolana picked up the darkness infused rock and did the only thing she could think of to do, popped it into her belt pouch and then closed it up.
Allen return the smirk with gritted teeth.
Heinrick follows allen through the darkness.
As soon as he can see what is going on, he taps Allan on the shoulder
Assistance is here
Iolana picks up the small stone, and after a moment or two of frantic contemplation, shoves the stone into her pouch, closing it up. As she does, the darkness abates, and everyone can see. Ashnah, with her vision no longer impaired, spots the Tiefling Witch, and snaps off a spell. 3 darts of arcane energy streak off of her hand, striking Faxon, who lets out a grunt of pain. Scorched flesh clearly visible around the wounds the magic missles created. Faxon steps back from Allen, chuckles through teeth now stained with blood, Lord of the Maze, take this fool's sight. He denies the heritage in his blood!
Allen feels Heinrick's touch and a surge of strength flows through the touch.
***********Round 1 recap***********
Faxon 23 pts damage
Heinrick 19/19
Iolana 21/21
Allen 37/37 +1 To hit, and +1 to saves vs fear effects
Ashnah 17/17
**************Round 2**************
Init: Faxon, Iolana, Ashnah (adjusted), Allen, Heinrick
Allen glares definitely at the witch. His sword will begin to glow with a holy radiance as he brings it down on her.
Faxon's attempt to blind Allen meets with no success, and Allen steps in and slashes his Falchion in an upward arc, slicing the tiefling open from stomach to chest. The tiefling witch drops bonelessly to his knees and then slumps forward with a loud, wet smacking sound.
************Victory!***********
Allen removes the witch's head. You never know. Then looks around remembering there where two evil presences earlier.
Detect evil
Now that the darkness and fog clear, the group is able to get a better look at the room. The bottom of the circular tower is split into two semi circles by a wall, that contains a set of wood and metal double doors. The room itself is bare of anything save a few mostly empty bookshelves and a single desk and chair in one corner.
Allen wave to the others then hold up one finger and point to the door.
The evil coming from the other room is a stronger evil, and one that seems to permeate the room itself.
Will you check for traps?
Heinrick seeing Allen point at the door, prepares for combat.
With the fighting over Iolana made her way down the rest of the stairs to check on Allen. She looked at the quiet paladin and asked, "Do you need any healing before we continue on?"
Allen will shake his head no. But will give her a small smile.
Ashnah steps into the corridor, and casts Detect Magic to check for any magical aura.
Allen will move to the door.
Ashnah relaxes and opens her gaze to the mystical auras surrounding the area, and finds that they concentrate on some bolts in Faxon's quiver, his bracers, and his cloak. While investigating she also finds keyring with two keys on it.
Allen moves to the door but hears nothing beyond it.
Heinrick moves up slightly behind Allen, but over to the side.
Unless someone wants to check the door for traps Allen will try to open the door.
Allen trys the handle to see if the door is locked. If it is maybe we try the keys if that is no good he will brake it down. If it's unlock he will kick it all the way open and deal with what's inside.
The lock opens smoothly with the key provided by Ashnah, when the door is opened it reveals another semicircular room outfitted with several demonic decorations. Green glass lanterns hanging on the wall give the room an eerie, otherworldly glow. A brazen minotaur head hangs from one wall above an altar covered with wavy-bladed knives and curved bulls' horns, while star shaped symbols in red decorate other walls. A large wooden chest sits near the west wall.
Allen will focus on his detect evil.
Heinrick struggles to try to remember if what is he seeing in the room is of any import to any of the dark gods.
The brazen head on the wall seems to be the focal point for the evil emanating from the room. Heinrick easily identifies the symbol for what it is, an idol dedicated to the demon lord Baphomet. Just being in the area makes both Heinrick and Allen's skin crawl, while Ashnah and Iolana feel uncomfortable, as if there's an unseen weight on their shoulders.