William nods and then says "Makes sense. Does anyone know if this is the door to our destination or is this an Ironfang hideout? I would say literally knock on the door with your pommel but alarm would work as well if this is our destination."
”The legless one - like a snake? Could be the naga and the trox we fought earlier, maybe. Whatever the case, how about I put some light on the floor in front of the door so William and I can back up to firing distance and he can still see, just in case.”
"Let's just open the door. If it sets off an alarm, and the dwarves of Kraggodan come to investigate, I have faith in my powers of persuasion. Let's all be in sight with no weapons drawn - these may be allies we need."
"As you wish." Aerel will step to the back of the group and watch down the path, lest something sneak up on the party.
It requires all of Aerel's skill at lockpicking to disable the dual locking mechanism , but after several minutes of work the door opens.
An audible ring sounds through the revealed chamber, which is large and filled with mining equipment and lined with stout pipes transferring heat and steam from the lava lake below.
Two dwarven warriors appear suddenly, outlined in a bluish glow and clad in armor while wielding heavy shields and massive battleaxes. They begin talking amongst themselves, though they look ready for a fight.
"An orc! And elves, humans--! What do you think, Draggo? Molthuni spies perhaps?"
"Could be, but lo! Is that a dwarf?"
They seem to notice Haela and call out to her, still speaking Dwarven.
"You there! Daughter of stone! Why have you come with this group of invaders?!?"
Haela looks uncomfortable and turns to Benedict.
Benedict looks as if he is straining, then uses his Alter Self SLA to take the form of a dwarf. He then spins a tale, starting with fact but willing to veer into fiction if needed.
Please tell us your tale, Draggo. Were you conjured by magic? What is your task?"
As the doors open and the alarm sounds, Aerel stands from where he'd been kneeling while he worked on the locks. He calmly replaces his new lockpicks in their wallet and tucks it into his belt pouch before settling his pack back on his shoulders.
He looks back and forth between the dwarves and Benedict, careful not to make any hostile moves.
The two dwarves exchange a dubious look with each other as Benedict warps his shape into that of a dwarf.
"Calhun and I have returned to the mortal plane to continue our fight. We died in glorious combat defending Kraggodan, and now we make sure its lowest depths do not go unguarded. And that includes guarding it from shapechangers."
They look disappointed that there will be no fighting, but they still bar passage.
"That's a strange tale," Calhun says after thinking it over and discussing it off to the side with Draggo. "Very well, we'll let you and the dwarven cutie pass, but the others who don't even recall the Dwarven language will not pass without leave from Kraggodan's elders."
Benedict looks disappointed.
He turns away from the warriors, walks back to his allies (at least 15' away from the enemy if possible), and forms into a line with Grum, Haela, and Amkarang while drawing his axe and saluting his opponents. His posture and demeanor clearly illustrate that he is not attacking before making a formal challenge.
He says,
William's jaw drops when he hears Benedict say we are going to have to fight them. He shakes his head and says "If these are the allies we seek then we shouldn't start things out by fighting them. What did they say?"
"These ones here are not the allies we seek, and they will not let you through. We can try to leave them alive."