Setomi looks back to where the creature had escaped, then shakes her head and turns to talk to Raziel. "It is just over here," she says and leads the group to where the hidden door is located.
At first glance, the thick hewn brick looks no different from any other section of the wall. As Setomi traces her hand across the lichen-filled gap, thinner than the tip of her finger, you all become aware of the door shape that lies carefully hidden in the stone. Your companion must have sharp eyes indeed to spot so subtle a line.
As you study the surface, you notice that one of the smaller bricks seems to be recessed slightly. Touching it, you discover it to be loose. Perhaps it is possible to push it in?
Almar shakes his head:"I wasn't much help I fear... sorry pals, let's hope those creatures are too stupid to alert the rest of this stronghold against us"
Setomi presses the loose brick.
The brick slides in with a scraping sound, and the section of wall sinks back several feet. It appears that you can move around it on either side, though the passage beyond is pitch black. A musty smell greets your nostrils.
Raziel casts Light, and steps forward to illuminate the passage.
Sorin will Detect Evil down the passageway.
Sorin does not detect the presence of evil, but a foreboding sense of menace hangs in the air nevertheless.
The light from Raziel's spell reveals a short hallway, not twenty paces in length. The ceiling is higher here than you might expect, rising beyond ten feet. There are doors in the damp brick walls, to the right and to the left. At the far end of the corridor is a third.
Setomi moves into the short hallway and goes to listen at the 3 doors.
Setomi moves to each door in turn, listening carefully.
Through the door to the left, you hear not a sound, but a putrid smell seems to permeate the thick, aged oak. Something foul lies within.
The scent that drifts up from the crack at the bottom of the right door is hardly better. Perhaps the strong odors are beginning to distract you, as you cannot seems to find your concentration as you listen. At one moment, you think you hear a faint scraping, but at another, it seems entirely silent.
Moving to the door at the end of the hall is akin to stepping outdoors on a fall morning and breathing deeply, though even here, the air is stale. That there is heavy activity on the other side of the door is unmistakable - you hear the jumping and stomping of heavy feet, and voices. Through the door, you cannot make out what they are saying, but you think they are speaking Tien.
Setomi returns to the group and tells them what she has learned. "The door at the end of the hall seems to have someone in it, for sure. And they speak Tien, I think. The other two smell very bad...not sure of what, but something foul and dark!"
Suddenly, the stone behind you slides shut. It seems the secret entrance has sealed itself.
Setomi jumps slightly as the door resets itself. She quickly looks back to the other doors in this short hallway, hoping nothing heard the stone door close.
Sorin starts as the slab closes behind him. Bringing his glaive up into a ready position his begins looking around using Detect Evil; especially around the other doors. He's convinced that something sinister lies in wait.
"Something vile is on the other side of the door at the end. I'm not sure what it is but this is as strong an evil as I've ever felt; except for the...thing Almar hunts."
"Which way should we go? Do we confront the evil now, or search the other routes and come back to it?
Setomi has her swords out, ready to go as soon as a direction is choosen.
"Best to confront the evil while we are at our strongest," Raziel comments. "Sorin, I have a spell that will increase your strength for a brief time, if you want. We can cast it before we enter the fight."
"Seems like a good plan." Sorin will ready himself just in case whatever's on the other side of the door already knows we're here. After Raziel casts the spell, Sorin will open the door (if no one else wants to).
If you want I can throw open the door so you can be ready for what lies beyond. It may also surprise the creatures, and maybe I will be able to enter unobserved, to strike them from concealment. What do you think?"
The door swings open, and dancing torchlight seems to come from every corner. Rotting, faded banners hang from the walls of this long hall, depicting a stylized castle sitting on a seaside cliff. Thick stone pillars support the ceiling, while at the far end of the hall sits an old wooden throne, its back carved to resemble the towers of a castle wrapped in the coils of a serpentine dragon.
In the middle of the room are four muscular bird creatures, like the ones you encountered earlier. They seem to be involved in some kind of ritualistic movement when you enter, but they quickly become aware of you, and stop what they are doing. The largest one screeches loudly in your direction. As the sound dies down, another voice rises from behind the monsters.
Setomi opens the door as quietly as possible, allowing the other to stream into the room. She is surprised to hear the odd man in the back speaking Tien, and even more surprised by his weapon of choice.
Keeping to the shadows, Setomi attempts to work her way around the room to get to this red-skinned fiend.
Perception -
The voice rises again, louder.
Raziel casts Bull Strength on Sorin, as he requested.
Then he makes sure that his scimitar is ready, and steps close behind Sorin.
Confused by the creatures strange reactions, Sorin does nothing at first. When they move to attack, though, he steps forward.
Sorin's strike cuts deeply into the nearest monster. It collapses to the stone floor and begins to spasm. The red-faced Tian man giggles wildly and steps to the side. He murmurs something, and the fallen creature speaks:
"Down, down, down. Down from the clouds to the cold, hard ground. No wings, not a wing, not a hope to be found."
Setomi keeps her eyes open as she sneaks towards the red man.
She attempts to move past the winged creature to reach him.
Kikonu -
Corby 4 -
She will attack the Corbie. If possible she will use one of her 2 remaining Ki points to make a second attack on it as well.
As he battles, Sorin says, "The dead creature does not speak; some trickery is at work."
With two rapid slashes, Setomi disembowels the bird-creature. The red-faced man cackles as blood splatters on the castle floor.
"This is not how it goes, apes!" he shrieks as a sadistic smile twists his features. "Sit down, and hold your applause!"
Raziel steps forward to the next foe, and attacks.
Raziel sweeps across the chest of the nearest monster with a broad cut. The beast staggers, badly wounded, but does not fall.
Almar's blade pierces the creature's chest, and it lets out a hideous shriek and falls to the floor.
The only remaining bird-creature cries out in fury, and takes a step forward, bringing its powerful limbs down on Raziel.
One of the swings connects, and the monster's sharp claws tear into Raziel's shoulder.
Supsicious about the nature of this fight, Sorin moves to and will (at will) Detect Evil on Kikonu. If obviously evil, Sorin will attack Kikonu, otherwise he'll attack the last Corby from the same spot.
The others seem to have the remaining birdman well in hand and the other creature is clearly a spellcaster with malevolent intent. Sorin will direct the attack at Kikonu and forego the Detect Evil.
Sorin's strike connects with the red-faced man. He howls in fury.
"“That’s not in the play! You’re ruining it all, you hideous apes!”
Setomi moves forward and strikes at the red-skinned man.
Raziel fails to save, and steps backward.