If the boy allows, Lazarus inspects him for any obvious wounds... and weaves a bit of magic around him in the process.
Both Anastasius and Lazarus weave their magic and can feel their spells latch onto the boy.
Alright, everybody back, let the boy breathe! Saulric helps him up if he'll allow. You alright boy?
“Yes. I mean no.” The boy is shaking, obviously terrified, but is trying to fight off his fear. “It doesn’t matter if we don’t escape this place before that monster comes back.”
We're quite powerful. We've destroyed every monster we've come across in here so far. Tell us your story boy. I reach over to help him up.
Casius noted Anastasius' spell to ensnare the mind. I'll have to work out a signal with him when he prepares to do that. My ability to weaken mental defenses could help ensure such spells stick. He focused on the boy, insinuating his way into the boy's subconscious.
"Is there a monster in particular you're speaking of? Can you tell us your name?"
Anastasius grins as he feels his spell taking hold on the boy.
"We fought the metal guardians to come here. You are safe for now." he says, showing the metallic skins of the animated serpents.
“There are worse things than metal monsters in this place! Life draining darkness and drowned men.”
Casius looks at the others. "Life draining darkness? Drowned men? Sounds quite scary. Tell me, did you come here alone?"
"You seem rightly moved and shocked. Please take a seat... The monsters can't reach us, I've used Mitra's magic to protect us in this place." says Anastasius, as he points at the chair in the middle of the room.
Lazarus listens, weighing the boys words.
The boy sits, his hands on his knees he tried to calm himself with deep breaths. “My name is Timeon Balentyne, squire of Sir Balin. We were traveling the countryside we had stopped to rest and were beset by servants of evil. I had fallen quickly, and by the time I had regained my senses, me and Sir Balin were being brought through this house. When I regained consciousness I realized that we were the prisoners of our attackers. I pretended to be unconscious, knowing that I would not be able to fell such villains myself. But an evil bald man, their master, clearly, realize that I was awake and attacked me. I managed to escape and I’ve been hiding here ever since.”
And you said you saw monsters here. Can you describe them beyond what you have already done? Anything specific could help us in our mission.
"That's a wonderful feat, having managed to escape this person, Timeon." says Anastasius, putting a knee on the ground before the squire. He puts a hand on the young man's knee.
Anastasius suddenly remembers who Sir Balin is.
"But tell me, dear Timeon, did your master also fall to the enemy's hands? Such a powerful witch hunter must have a backup plan in such a situation!"
“I have no idea what has become of Sir Balin. I hope he escaped this terrible mad house!” There is no sense of deceit or trickery in Timeon’s voice, only desperate hope that the knight has left this place. However, your conversation seems to be calming down his obvious fears, giving him some clarity on what Lazarus said. “What is your mission here, what force of Mitra led you all to this nest of evil?”
We are... you could say explorers, hunting for dangerous places and things that could threaten others. We're trying to find out exactly what this place is and what it holds so the appropriate steps can be taken. Anything you tell us, specifically, about this place, its rooms, its halls, anything, will help us greatly.
It wasn't technically a lie, but it sure does dance around the line, just as the Infernals liked.
"There are many dangers out in the world, Timeon, as you have seen in your short time here. Someone must deal with these dangers. Sometimes those who deal with them are Knights, and sometimes they are ordinary people who rise up to do what's necessary. This is clearly one such place where danger lurks. The more information you give us, the better we can exterminate that danger."
With a nod, Timeon begins recounting what information he can. The information he learned from what exploration he dared make on his own or overheard from the master of this place, (who is likely Cardinal Thorn).
• The two nearby rooms have the vicious metal cobras that you’ve already defeated and the life draining darkness. The life draining darkness doesn’t leave the room and takes a few seconds to begin feeding on your essence.
• Pass that room there is a room with a flight of stairs that he has been too afraid to ascend. There is also a secret door across from the stairs that he has been through, which leads to an L-shaped Passage.
• A shrieker screams when there is light or movement nearby. A shrieker is a type of mushroom that, as its name implies, shrinks. Four drowned men rise when the shrieker cries.
Saulric maneuvers the boy to a wall and sits down next to him. That bald man is not so evil as you may think. He is called Cardinal Thorn, and he shelters us.
Casius looks at Saulric, puzzled, wondering why he was undermining the deception they'd put together, then it clicked for him and he saw what the man was attempting. Whether it worked or not would be interesting to see.
Leaving Saulric to it, he motions Anastasius over to him, out of earshot, and quietly says to him, "If we are going to be working together, it would behoove us to work out a code word to use when you attempt to use magic ensnare the minds of those who oppose us. I have a...unique...gift that allows me to weaken the mental defenses of those I focus my attention on. It would enhance the effectiveness of your own magic, and make them more receptive."
Anastasius looks at Saulric, startled. Before he can gather his thoughts, the man follows Casius and listens quietly. He looks surprised, yet proud.
"You mean you noticed... I don't..."
Exhaling and looking in the void behind Casius, Anastasius resumes:
"Fine. The keyword will be 'bargain'. Do we have an agreement?"
"We do. Now, let us see if Saulric's attempts to lay the seeds of corruption take root in young Timeon's mind."
“What!” Timeon shouts, taken aback. “He’s the one who brought Sir Balin and I here! He’s searched for me relentlessly!”
Oh, really? Kira asks looking up, "Are you sure he wasn't trying to protect you? You said yourself this place is dangerous. He may have been worried that you'd get yourself hurt." She turns away, looking at the door, lips pursed. "I don't know, why he would want to hurt you, but I'll tell you he helped protect me from persecution. I can't believe someone who'd helped me was as bad as that."
I nod. It's true. We owe him our lives. He saved me from the unjust confines of a jail cell. I was sentenced to death because the father of the woman I loved couldn't accept that I was a mere guardsman.
A queer look crosses Timeon’s face as his gaze crosses over all in the room.
Lazarus nods. It's true. Every word. Most people, lad, are more than they appear at first glance.
You question us Timeon. That's okay. Ask them.
Timeon’s face doesn’t change as his eyes turn to the floor. it’s difficult to read what thoughts must be going through his head, but in his eyes, the doubt is easy to see. “We can talk later, right now we need to get out of here. This place is dangerous.”
Very well. Come with us. You can see who we really are for yourself. Saulric says as he gets up and offers his hand to Timeon. What weapon can you use best, I shall not leave you unarmed.
Anastasius begins to shake his head, annoyed.
"Yes, as says the boy. How much time will we linger here? You armored folks should lead the way." he says, nodding at Saulric.
“I am trained in many weapons, though I specialize in longswords, I don’t think I would be much help, I am only a squire.”
Never underestimate the power of the small, boy. Lazarus says. If you stay here you'll starve or die of thirst anyway, so let's go.
Casius considers the boy, wondering at his overall usefulness. It would be interesting to see what he could do. Aloud, he said, "Come along now, Timeon. Saulric, do you have a weapon that would suit him?"
Saulric looks at him before drawing his longsword. Here, I don't expect you to fight for us, this is just so you can protect yourself. If possible let us do the fighting. With the loss of his main weapon Saulric straps his shield to his back and pulls his greatsword from it's resting place.
Timeon stands a little straighter when he takes the blade, and holds it with some amount of obvious training, a squire indeed.
Taking the other door in the previous room leads to a passage that leads to another door with an inscription: “Know your enemy. Shatter all that blinds you and then burn thy adversary to ashes.”
Hmm. Fire maybe? Saulric says as he reads the inscription.
It would be in keeping with the theme. Lazarus says dryly.
"Well, we won't know until we open the doors."
Casius investigates the doors in preparation for opening them, looking for traps or the like.
"Fire, huh?" says Anastasius, taking his favorite book in his left hand.
"I can't do such a tour de passe-passe. Do you have a torch?" he asks to the group.
I do. Saulric says digging into his backpack and pulling out a torce and some fling and steel. He lights the torch then hands it off to whoever will take it and picks his blade back up.
The door does not appear to be trapped.
"Okay, is everyone ready?"
Once everyone says they are ready, Casius will open the door, then take a step back.
Anastasius nods silently, masking his eagerness behind a stern look upon his face.