Lysaer cuts down the already wounded dust digger.
The last dust digger scoots closer to Deaglan lashes out at at him.
It's clang harmlessly off his armor, though.
After being softened up by the rest of the party, the last dust digger is dispatched by Lysaer.
With that dealt with, you can use your stored spells in peace. The Bleak Portal portal opens to reveal a smooth tunnel that drops straight down 10 ft before leveling out with a sharp turn.
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Wiping the gore from their blade on a cloth from their pack, Lysaer looks around to ensure they are not going to be ambushed once again. A few heartbeats later and feeling secure the Hellknight steps forwards as the incantations are chanted and spells cast, revealing the path to the group of Pathfinders.
"So, deep into darkness it is. I am happy to venture first, but first the climb." he states before moving to the edge and using his Wayfinder to give the gift of light to peer down the hole.
Before pressing on, Lysaer first takes the scarf around his neck and focuses for a time, a wound opening up beneath his gauntlet to feed the Shawl. Then, the Hellknight whispers something to the Medallion around his neck, increasing his vigour, before healing his wounds suffered.
With Deaglan's rope in place, you easily climb down into the tunnel. The short steps of this narrow sandstone tunnel lead steeply downward. The mosaics covering the walls and ceiling depict the history of Jistka: the construction of grand cities beneath cloudless skies, armies of golems and genies marching to war, the slaughter of enemies, and the crowning of regal kings.
At the foot of the stairs, the passage opens into a circular room, its walls and ceiling enameled a midnight blue. A narrow hole lies in the center of the white-tiled floor, ringed by shining brass. A fountain lies across from the stairway. Water spills from it, runs across the floor, and disappears down the hole.
A piece of rope rises up the western wall of the chamber to a height of 10 feet, where it abruptly ends. The rope is not fastened to anything but does not move from its location.
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After everyone has descended Deaglan shakes his rope so that the grappling hook releases "don't want anyone following us"
The dwarf stops at the entrance to the circular room and points to the wall. "Look here, a hidden door recently slid into this recess in the wall. I can not see any means to close it."
The dwarf then turns towards the rope "That reminds me of that charlatan I once saw in Katheer. Used a simple spell to get people to pay him for his trick. What is more is that he used the same spell to break into peoples houses. With the oppressive heat there nobody cares to close the doors to balconies."
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Zinkyudo gives Lysaer a look, then casts an appraising glance at the rope. With a shrug, he shoulders his bow and moves to the bottom of the rope, giving it a couple of firm tugs. Satisfied that it's not going to drop him to the ground and do harm to his pride, he reaches high and begins to pull himself hand over hand up the rope with surprising ease.
Zinkyudo climbs up the eerily suspended rope and seemingly disappears.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" asks one of the men. His tone is not exactly friendly, but none of them have drawn their swords.
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"Good day to you too," Zinkyudo says. "My apologies for intruding on your cozy little abode here, but the rope hanging in the air was so intriguing. I am Zinkyudo, servant of Abadar and representative of the Pathfinder Society. I and my colleagues, who are waiting below to see what I've found here, have come in search of something. And you all, what led you to be camping in this little space, in such a hard to reach place?"
"What's it to you, coin counter? We were told not to trust any Pathfinders that might show up."
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Zinkyudo's face takes on a tolerant look, remarking, "The best of us have too many coins to count, friend, yet know that everything has its price." After a thoughtful pause, he continues, "And who was it that told you not to trust any Pathfinders? And, at the risk of seem rude, you still haven't told me who you are and what brings you here, when I've done you that courtesy."
He perks up and ear and says, "Excuse me a moment," then sticks his head out the entrance to call down to his fellow Pathfinders.
Zinkyudo's head pops back into reality and he calls down from the top of the rope, "Just fine, Deaglan. Found three travelers in a little camp, with a stack of supplies. Just getting to know them a bit."
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Eyebrow raised at the bizarre show before them, Lysaer steps towards the rope and loosens his great sword within it's scabbard, preparing to draw it if the situation becomes needed. "Well, it would seem your odd suggestion has come to bear fruit. Just ensure Rogar doesn't ruin the peace talks?" The Hellknight speaks sarcastically, waiting on the next phase.
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Rolling his Eyes behind his dark helm, the Hellknight looks at the rope dubiously before cautiously climbing it, his head poking through the air and into the extra-dimensional space above them. Puling himself up and to his feet, the Hellknight examines the group from behind his visor warily, eyeing their loosed blades.
"Greetings, My name is Lysaer Nymmis, Knight of the Godclaw." he says evenly, letting none of his scorn show with practice. "I would think my allies have informed you we are simply here to investigate this place and we have no cause to be at odds. You must be capable to get past the guardians and the riddles, you have my respect."
With a pair of fellow warriors taking the word, the three mercenaries loosen up.
"We were hired by Pathfinders, an old Osiriani man to be precise. He told us to be on guard for 'fake' agents..."
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Listening to the Bandits, Lysaer is none the wiser, when Zinkyudo speaks up he shrugs, trusting the Scarab Sage member to know whom they refer too. "If the Sapphire Sage sent you then well met, I have worked with him on occasion. Yes please, what intelligence do we have on 'false' agents? We were told nothing on our briefing of the subject I am afraid."
The mercenaries shrug noncommittally.
"All we know, is that the old man cast a series of spells on four of our allies, then the five of them jumped down through the hole where the water flows down. He told us to wait in the rope trick until he returned, and that if he wasn’t back before the spell expired, he would not be returning and we should head back to Manaket without him."
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The hellknight chants in Infernal for a moment before responding. he also reads the man's body language for signs of falsehood between them.
Assuming he mercenaries tell the truth, Lysaer nods. "Hmm, you wouldn't know what preparations they made? It seems we must follow. Either way our thanks." he the. Turns and leaves back down the rope, informing Deaglan and Xarkyn of what they had missed.
Lysaer senses no falsehoods.
"We're not mages, but we could recognize the Feather Fall spell he used to get himself and the others down safely."
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Rolling his behind his helm at the part explanation, Lysaer turns to the druid and speaks. "Indeed, the Sapphire Sage seems to have gone ahead. He cast Feather fall before leaping down there. These guards are set for 'false Pathfinders'."
Looking around the room, Lysaer then stands over the drop and peers over the edge, intrigued at Amenopheus's leap.