Four of the windows let you peer into hallways, two look into rooms (one apparently an office and the other clearly a guard room), the last window looks firmly shuttered.
Is it possible to enter through any of the windows?
Thus far you have only tried to look through them. They all appear to be openable from the inside, with the appropriate hardware and latches and such.
Try to force the window that opens into the office. Assuming it is empty since no occupants were mentioned.
The window yields easily to your force.
Quick search of the room, try to make the window look normal if possible.
Does Ang know where the stone was on this level, if so head towards it, if not, try to sense again.
As you enter the room the presence of your stone descends over you like a storm; you are close! Your mouth waters and you feel like you are going to vomit (gain sickened condition; no save). There is nothing of interest to you in the room and you feel pulled through a nearby door, down a hallway and towards another door further down that is well crafted and stout-looking. Energy radiates through the door washing over you, communing with the stone you carry.
Open the door.
A blast of magical acid explodes from the door as what appeared to have been a door comes to life growing long, glistening tentacles and a number of sharp teeth.
DC 21 REF save for 1/2
-62
-33
You miss twice, the tentacles bothering your swings, as the creature reaches for you again.
-45
Remove sickness
-10
What manner of foul creature is this?
Does Ang know what this is? Is it something associated with the hell knights or is it out of place here?
The blast of acid you think was some type of magical trap or ward. The tentacled creature is something known as a mimic-a carnivore that can look like inanimate objects before attacking with physical and acidic damage. They are usually found underground or in dungeons. Given where it is, it must be protecting SOMETHING.
Your hammer connects twice wounding the mimic.
-41
-6
You manage to miss twice as the mimic detaches from the actual door and adds a bit to its litany of attacks.
-28
You connect once, doing more damage, as the mimic comes on relentlessly.
-60
-25
The mimic finally surrenders to the tender ministrations of your hammer as its rubbery corpse slides to the floor revealing an actual door covered in sticky ooze.
Check out the room beyond the door/mimic.
Detect evil.
You try the door and it is securely locked.
Hulk smash. Hit the door with the hammer near the handle/lock.
The door shatters inwards from your mighty blow.
Beyond the door you see a well appointed bedroom with art depicting various scenes of bustling cities and merchants, clearly representing the faith of Abadar. Several small and well-crafted sculptures of various fierce creatures line a curio shelf on the far side of the room. A middle aged man stands by a large bed. He is dressed in full plate with a shield and a what looks like a longsword is in a scabbard at his side. The stone you carry pulses some type of energy and a resonant pulse returns from the armored man.
The armored man gives a low raspy chuckle before addressing you-Well the world has a funny way of working things out. I had you brought here at great expense and trouble just to talk with you. You left without giving me a hearing, avoided or killed those that I sent to bring you back, and now have returned of your own volition. I suppose I owe Desna a sacrifice tomorrow to honor the occasion.
Have you come to kill me young Anglachel or is there some other desire that drives you? The hatred in your heart is quite clear but your mind is hidden from me. Speak freely, there will be no guards arriving at any point to throw you in the dungeons.
"I waited a day to speak with you but in good conscience I could not delay any longer and departed in search of the stone. I have only come back for the stone, surrender it and I will be on my way, with it I hope to end the plague in Gillamoor."
The man chuckles, more darkly this time, and smiles-The stone. Of course that's what you are here for. I can feel the one you hold singing out to it. Given your impatience, I'm surprised it took this long for you to ask for it, I was almost beginning to worry about you.
Why are you so greedy? You already have one, with it you could become a great warlord and hold sway over many lands. I am more than happy to let you; my designs are much more pedestrian I assure you. Take the one you have an go in peace, I will be sure to pull my dogs from your trail.
“And what of the third stone? Do you lay claim to it? Do you know it’s location or who possesses it?”
You overreach youngling and display your ignorance. There are two other stones that the survivors brought out of those treacherous depths. Both now quite beyond your ability I deem. However, I would be willing to help you overcome those that now hold them and we could both share the spoils; each of us with another stone to hold.
The power behind these stones has been asleep for over five millennia now, and the world's run fairly well without it. I don't imagine there's all that much point in disturbing it just yet.
“I wouldn’t be so sure that the power behind the stones is still asleep. And what of the plague in Gilamoor? Do you care nothing about it?”
I have it on good authority that the plague at Gilamoor is almost over; in no small part due to your efforts in clearing out much of the 'contagion'. My plans for Isger would certainly include remediating any outstanding issues there. If we are to have order, it will not be appropriate to have monsters running about despoiling the populace and countryside.
I don't think any of this is what you really want to know though is it Ang?
“Well then tell me, what is it that I really want to know?”
You should be asking yourself-'Is this really the night that I want to die?". Once you know the answer to that question what comes next is much easier.
"This is my question: If do what you suggest can I live with myself tomorrow? The answer is no."
Attack.
The man absorbs your first blow and foils your second with his shield-I suppose your fate then is to die in either case.. His longsword whistles out at you, an acidic inky green hazy trailing in its path.
-13
"A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."
-25
Is the last 1d6 acid damage? Guessing it is. Applying acid resistance 5.
-68
-32
It is indeed acid damage.
-23
The man simply grunts at your last comment as your hammer connects, and focuses on killing you.
Aaargghhh! Why did I forget to activate smite evil during first round!
-57
-27
Activate smite evil.
Assuming that would take my attack action since already used swift action for LOH.
You activate smite evil, but you don't feel the divine aura wash over you that you usually do.
-23
Assuming that mean smite is not working so his first attack hits.
-50
-23
-37
The man continues to shrug off big chunks of damage.
-14 retcon damage due to acid resist
-37
-4
The man's hellkight armor and shield work prove superior to your hammer.
-37
-24
Things start to look a little bleak as you miss badly twice.
-37
-47
-14
Bleak indeed.
Just means you are due for some 20s to end it. ;-D
-37
-32
You called it.
Your hammer flies in, bashing through the man's stout defense.
-96
-73
-40
The man is badly battered but simply grunts and fights on.
-110
-62