Layali nods at Leifa assessment, and then conjurs a strong wind with her thaumatury cantrip to scatter the ashes to the wind!
"One level down?" the tiefling asks playfully.
"I'm ready to head down a level."
"Onward and downward."
Walking down to the outer stairs, you return to the third tier, where the stoneflame is (though it's now more flame than stone). Like the space above, this tier has four entrances, one facing each cardinal direction, with no doors or obstructions. As you saw before, the outer walls of this tier bear large engravings of stylized flame, and the floor inside is a 10ft-wide strip that encircles (well, "ensquares") a large hole in which the stoneflame levitates, with only a foot or so of space (more at the corners) between the flame and the edge of the hole.
Nathadriel moves closer to the pit, looking down into the hole. Is it very deep?
Nathadriel peeks into the hole in which the stoneflame hovers, and sees that it's actually open all the way through to the tier below. You can see a bit of stone floor, but it's hard to get a good view unless you're ready to really dip your head down there.
"What do you think? I reckon we could squeeze past here at the corners. Easier than walking through bars and stone."
...with only a foot or so of space (more at the corners) between the flame and the edge of the hole.
Layali seems not that concerned with the flames, "I could try and squeeze down there. Or we could go below and check it out further? I'm ok with either."
"I say we just go outside and head down another level."
"Lets try to see if we can get in from outside, checking at the other entrances first. We can always come back here if we need to.
You head down the outside stairs to the second tier. Circling the ziggurat, you find that the arrow slits go all the way around. The western and eastern entrances are pretty much identical to the southern entrance (the one you looked at first).
At the north side of the structure, however, the outer wall of this tier runs surprisingly close to the stony, ring-shaped range of hills and bluffs that surround this whole region. You can't even walk to that entrance; you would have to either do a bit of rocky climbing; or go up a tier, circle around to the northern side of the ziggurat, then drop down. Even then, however, the gap where one might be able to slip down to the northern entrance is blocked by a bunch of large stones that seem to have fallen down into that space.
It looks like these stones were placed here deliberately, as opposed to being the result of some minor rockslide.
"These stones were put here for a reason. Let's not go moving them until we figure out why. Let's try the southern entrance, then go from there."
"Wasn't the southern entrance blocked as well? Shall we try the lowest tier, and hope there is a stairway up to the second?"
Temporarily giving up on tier 2, you return to the southern entrance of the ground-level tier. More of the lights are active than you remember from before.
Entering the structure, you see the same T-intersection you saw before. Exploring it, you find that the western entrance is much the same. It seems like this pattern would have repeated all the way around (a square-shaped walkway around the perimeter, with exits at each cardinal direction), but in the northwest and southeast corners there are blank rock faces, as though the ziggurat is melded with the hillside.
Thus, only the southern and western entrances truly exist. The inner walls (forming what seems like it should have been a central structure around which the hallway would have circled) bear various stylized images of the sun and of more winged humanoids.
Two doorways into the central structure exist: one is near the blocked northwest corner. The opening is doorless, and a small pile of broken, flat slabs of stone sit piled to one side. The pieces look as though they had been carved to resemble wood. Inside, you see what looks like half a room, with a natural rock face running from corner to corner. Inside this room are what look to be barrels and crates of foodstuffs and general living supplies, all seemingly modern.
The other doorway, near the southeastern corner, is accompanied by a similar pile of broken stone slabs that are textured like wood. However, this doorway has apparently had a new door installed: quality wood, with fresh hinges bolted into the stone.
You can hear heavy breathing from inside the room.
You can hear the sound of handwriting from inside the room, as well.
Layali takes an interest in the foodstuffs and supplies. She then looks at the new door for signs of a lock.
Leifa will motion everyone to be quite, then will say quietly "there's someone on the other side of the door. I can hear something breathing."
Nathadriel nods in agreement with Leifa. "I hear it too. Should we...knock?"
Not sure what else to do, Nathadriel knocks on the door.
You hear the sound of something scraping across the stone floor, followed by footsteps, and then the door opens.
Standing in the doorway with his hand on the door and a rather surprised look on his face is another of the winged humanoids. The room behind him is about 20ft, square, and outfitted like an office, with a desk against the far wall. Next to the desk is a creature that seems to have just perked up from a nap: an orange, reptilian quadruped with wings and a tail.
His hand flies to the sword on his hip as he surveys the group, but he hesitates. His eyes flick back and forth between Gordon and Layali a couple of times, then he seems to squint at Leifa's and Nathadriel's ears. He cocks his head, points at the goup and says, "...Hoo-mun?"
Leifa will raise her hands up non threateningly, "Hello. We're investigators, looking into a incident we think is connected to this area. We mean no harm, unless threatened, and don't plan on stealing. Could we talk peacefully together?"
The bird-man blinks, looking very much like he didn't catch most of that. He mumbles, half to himself, "'Tok'...? Talk!" He then nods and says "Yes, talk. Us talk." He gestures at your group. "Who you?"
Then, almost as an afterthought, he asks, "Meet other?" He flutters his wings and points to them, then gestures toward the outdoors. "Meet other me?" he asks.
Leifa will indicate herself and then one by one introduce the group, "Me, Leifa. Gordon. Layali. Nathadriel. Meet others...yes. they attacked us."
The creature nods along at each introduction. When he hears "others" and "attacked", he tenses, and scans the group. "Where others?" he asks with a grave seriousness.
Nathadriel looks nervously at his companions shifting guiltily on the spot, but remains quiet.
Gordon avoids eye contact, then gives Layali a nudge and whistles an innocent tune.
Layali takes a deep breath and tries her best in what is clearly going to be a tough situation. "The others we met, they were not as immediately disposed to having a conversation, as you seem to be. Quite friendly really, and personable. These others attacked us without provication and we were forced to defend ourselves you see. Had they been of a more friendly sort, like you for example, then I am certain we could have come to a much more mutually beneficial outcome."
"We defended ourselves, but had no wish of fatally harming them. It ended most unfortunately. We are very sorry for you lost, their lost, and our actions."
"We didn't do nothin'!"
"We didn't want to fight them - we came looking for answers."
The bird-man doesn't seem to catch every word spoken (especially in Layali's high-brow speech), but his face darkens as he grasps the key point, and he draws his sword and shouts angrily, "Tellik, KITK!", to which the reptile in the room seems to respond by looking a lot less friendly.
"Boring conversation anyway."
"Oh, bother"
Leifa will shut the door in the birdman's face and will brace the door closed with her staff. "We are sorry. We can come back later, when your ready to talk, peacefully." Then she'll proceed to walk away.
There's an awkward, stunned silence from the other side of the door, followed after a moment by a sound of the pet pawing at the door, and the birdman trying to open it.
"Agreed. We'll keep looking around, and maybe come back tomorrow or something."
Gordon follows Leifa toward the door.
Layali digs in her pack for something to help secure the door...
Nathadriel hurries to help, bracing the door as the others jam it or grabbing the rope Layali hands him and pulling tight.
"Shall we try talking to him while he's blocked in, or do we want to go and see if we can find away into the 2nd tier."
"If we cannot talk him down, we'll likely have to kill him. I see no reason to kill this confused creature."
"I'm up for seeing if we can get into tier two. Should we try to squeeze down between the flame and the outer edge of the 3rd floor?"
Your conversation is interrupted by a loud crash as the door breaks into large pieces, and the birdman and his pet pop into view, the birdman with his sword drawn and the lizard flying over him, both of them looking angrily at the group of you.
Nathadriel gives it one last try, holding up his empty hands in a gesture of peace.
"We're sorry. It was a mistake. They attacked us."