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You all do an excellent job of searching the archive and cataloguing its contents yet, engrossed by your work you can't notice much else. That's probably the reason why you don't perceive the horror creature who sneaks upon you!
Standing between the shelfs is an amalgamation of human and demon flesh, that looks like a patchwork of cream, red, and purple skin with asymmetrical horns and mismatched legs.
The nightmare apparition does not show signs of being willing to attack you though and before you can react it speaks in a kind gentle if fimr voice:"You are pathfinders. And loyal ones I hope. Well met! I am Venture Captain Valais Durant AND YOU'LL LISTEN TO ME!". The last words the creature speaks are deep booming and confident, a sharp contrast with its previous tone.
"Several months ago... well I assume they were months and not years... but I digress. I was asked by members of the decemvirate to travel to Mendev from Numeria as part of a team sent to review Thurl’s work. Unfortunately, after breaking into the basement and discovering the venture-captain’s hidden laboratory, several of Thurl’s eidolon servitors captured me BECAUSE I WAS WEAK THEN!. My resourcefulness impressed the dwarf. That was rather unfortunate as he set to vivisecting me, grafting pieces of demon flesh into my body.
He claimed he wanted an eidolon that could exercise greater autonomy yet still follow his commands. I ssssshould have killed him when I had the the chanceeee" the voice changes again, this time assuming a soft and hissing tone, dripping unrepressed malevolence.
"It took me some time to regain my sense of self, yet I managed. As Thurl’s departed from here, I crept out of his lab, and into the shattered maze beyond, and finally to this archive. I've been hiding here for weeks yet I dare not reach the surface, for I fear my ghastly appearance would lead to the good inhabitants of Nerosyan cutting me down. In the meantime I claimed this place as my lodge. I'm a venture captain now! AND ALL SHALL OBEY MY COMMANDS!"
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"Eeeek!"
Sheela drops the papers she was holding as... something announces herself.
"Right. Yes. Um... Venture-Captain. Good to see you! We're here to investigate the lower levels of the lodge, did you know that? We were told to help any Pathfinders out, and that means you!"
Sheela decides to feign obedience.
"So captain... what would you suggest we look for first?"
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Idril remains calm and attempts to follow up on Sheela's attempt to placate the startling monstrosity. Idril mostly does a good job of hiding his disgust at having fiendish demon forced onto a human. His eyes betray that spark of pity, disgust and rage.
"Yes Captain, what would you have of us? Speaking of Thurl, I would love to speak to him regarding his research. Would you happen to know where I could find him?"
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I believe your story, however there is no need to demand we do something. You are a pathfinder, and as pathfinders ourselves, we will do everything we can to help you. You know this place well yes? Do you have a map of this place, or is there anything you can tell us about what we might come across on our way through this place? I am sorry for what you have suffered and I will be sure to put a stop to this traitor!
Vrothum gives a nod towards the others seeing if any of them give him a look like he may be lying.
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"Well dear I'm glad you believe me and even more that you asked... IT TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH!!!" Valais answers Sheela
Then the strange creature turns towards Idril, seemingly forgetting about the suggestion she was about to impart:"“Thurl is working with demons, and is trying to harness their powers in strange ways below. How exactly, I was not able to figure out, but it was clear that he had no moral boundaries in his research. Thurl is gone but I don't know where unfortunately. He's a traitor and needs to answer for his betrayal... Yesssss we'd looooveeeee to meeeet Thurl again and eat his still beating heart wholeeeee!" the other voice concludes.
Vrothum brings Valais back to her previous line of thought:"Ah yes. Where next... Beyond this door is a large area that Thurl used as some kind of dumping ground. A small shrine conceals a secret passage to a second level below, but that shouldn’t be a problem to get past with me around. YOU WILL LEARN TO FEAR THE POWER CONTAINED BELOW! Sadly, I don’t know much of what was happening in the lower levels, as I escaped just after I woke up. I’ve waited here since, expecting the Decemvirate to send me some fresh minions" as she speaks Valais points at the wall opposite to the door you used to get entrance into the hidden archive. As you inspect it you notice another such door, cleverly disguised to look like part of tha wall.
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Idril looks away from the patchwork venture-captian as he speaks. "Trust me good captain, that man will pay for what he has done to you, and for whatever mad schemes he deems so necessary to consort with fiends. Yes, let us find this man I have heard so many things about."
The half-elven magus readies himself to move into the next room.
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"I'm not sure that's the right attitude my young friend..." Valais admonishes Rogar but then she adds "MERCY IS FOR THE WEAK!" before continuing:"I was teached everyone deserves a chance at redempion, yet Thurl has betrayed us and Mendev in so many ways I find myslef hard-pressed to forgive him. Anyway that's a problem for another day. Before dealing with Thurl, one way or the other, we've got to make sure to learn what we can about his schemes and plots. Are you ready to go and stab everything we encounter to death?"
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Valais words assume a puzzled tone:"My state? Thanks to Thurl now I look horrible, agreed, and most Mendevians would kill me on sight, which is a pretty big hinderance I suppose. Fortunately my mind is as sharp as ever and besides the horrible look my body is functional as well... aaaaandddd I can kill a mortal fasteeeer than the blink of an eyeeeee"
After you agree to have Valais accompany you into the depths of Thurl's Lodge you enter tyhe newly found secret door and after a short walk reach a gigantic nnew chamber that stretches ahead and to either side as far as the eye can see. Wall segments stretch from floor to ceiling, as much resembling overgrown stalactites as architectural features, and chunks of shattered masonry and other rubble litter the otherwise even floor. Long since expired torches rest in sconces affixed intermittently to the walls.
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None of you can notice anything out of the ordinary inside this gloomy place. As you move among rubble and shattered walls you notice how Valais seems to have difficulty convincing herself to cross over the lines of rubble. She instead walks along the relatively clear corridors. As you ask her the reason for this odd behaviour she just shruggs:"Doing differently somehow feels wrong I guess? It's not like there's a diference in doing othrwise anyway. Yet... don't you feel watched? I think I do and I don't think it's you doing it... YES, KNOW YOUR PLACE AND COWER BEFORE YOUR BETTERS, MORTALS!!!"
Instead of searching the room carefully you rush forward. Near the center of the maze stands a raised altar made of ivoryinlaid wood, its virtually pristine condition a sharp contrast to the shattered walls around it. At the center of the altar rests a statue of two figures locked in combat: a brass bull and an iron dwarf that gripes the animal by a horn from over its shoulder while holding a warhammer aloft. Delicately incised words encircle the statue’s base, reading, “In my name is the strength of my history, my tradition, and my people. Speak your name into my ear, and I shall judge your worth.”
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Sheela hops and skips along with Valais. "Reminds me of one my childhood games: The Floor is Lava. And then the advanced form: The Dark Tiles Send you to the Abyss!" Sheela giggles as she makes a game of Valais's patrols.
She also casts Detect Magic upon the statue.
"Well, that's fancy... who put it here? It's either the newest fashion trend or it's indestructible."
Sheela takes a look at the statue.
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Sheela knows the bull represented here is not really a mundane creature but rather a gorgon, a magical beast capable of turning its opponents to stone with its breath. The statue depicts a battle between the gorgon and a dwarf and it seems like the dwarf is winning it.
On the bull's forehead Valentynne spots the faint shimmer of an inverted pentagram and at first he recognizes it as the unholy symbol of Asmodeus. Yet something doesn't seem right and after but a moment Valentynne realizes that the symbol is more likely to be a sign of Baphomet, the demon lord of beasts, labyrinths, and minotaurs.
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"Really?" Sheela seems surprised by Azrael's description. "I thought the bull- oh, it's a Gorgon by the way- was about to. That's weird."
"Gorgons can turn people to stone with its breath, by the way. This statue is covered in divination and transmutation auras. Maybe it's some kind of magical lock? I've got a stupid idea, one moment!"
Sheela bounds up to the statue, glares at it, leans up to its ear and whispers: "My name is Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca."
"the Third."
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As Sheela pronounces the obviously false name the statue shifts and reveals an hidden passage below itself. At the same time the bull emits a cloud of green smoke which engulfs the lot of you!
"Move out of the cloud, quick! Ssstabbb you! We need to identify the poison and see if we have an antidote for it! FOOLS!" Valais exclaims as she runs away from the statue.
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"And here we go."
Sheela feels a burst of Inspiration as the gas enters her lungs.
But it's no good!
"What, you didn't like the name?" Sheela stumbles out of the cloud. "Like I'm going to tell some creepy statue my actual name!"
"Well, I'll just use that scroll on myself, then." Sheela pulls out a scroll and reads from it.
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You manage to avoid the poison effects more or less unschated, although Sheela does feel a bit weaker. Even so you climb down the newly opened passage and venture into the dark using a cage-like spiral staircase of rusting wrought iron...
... and emerge into a dimly lit hall. Dim but vibrant green light pulses from two large glass vats that stand from floor to ceiling in the far corners. Powdery rust coats much of the floor, though several lines of footprints crisscross the room. Metal doors lead to the east and west. As Valais enters the room she seems disoriented and dumbfounded.
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As Vrothum tries to reassure Valais about their commitment to her cause she shakes out of her reverie and speaks:"This place is where Thurl suuuuuck the marrow out of hissss bonesss!" would finish his experiments. He visitem me here many times to take measurements and write on the wall. The creatures into the vats are his... unfinished work I think... LOWLY MINIONS!"
Following Sheela's suggestion you move towards the door on the western side of the room. It opens without giving any troubles and reveals what amounts to a madman’s abattoir. Near the center of the room stands a polished metal table with manacles bolted to each of its corners and a bloodstained hacksaw embedded in its side. A wooden workshop bench rests against the east wall, covered with tools of varying sizes, a spool of barbed wire, a stack of large metal staples, and a stack of notes, and even more grisly tools hang from hooks on the wall like pots and pans in a wellstocked kitchen. Reddish-brown splotches cover the floor. On the table, a partially clothed male elf with a distended belly is sprawled on his back as he quietly moans in agony, his arms bound by the table’s manacles.