As you begin to make your way down the hallway, Tekumbray notices a pressure plate in the floor just beyond the statues. Taking care that no one steps on the plate, the party continues down the hallway that ends in another, growing more and more familiar, bronze door.
A cursory search of the door and the surrounding area does not reveal anything untoward or dangerous about the door, but it does seem to be locked.
Tek peers at the lock for several seconds and then pulls out a little pouch packed tight with various lengths of metal, thin wires, wire cutters, and files. Pulling a pair of wider picks out of the menagerie, he sets to work on unlocking the mysteries behind the locked bronze door.
While Tek does not see any traps on the door, after a long struggle where he thought he had for a moment, he fails to crack the lock on the door.
"Maybe there are more buttons?" Myev muses, looking carefully at the door and its surroundings for some inkling of how this door opens.
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Myev searches the door and doorway again carefully, but finds nothing more than a door with an obviously sturdy lock.
"Well, it doesn't look like we're getting in this way." Silas murmurs, shaking his head as he stares at the big, bronze door. "Perhaps the priest and worshippers will have the key?" Silas offers as a bit of hope, smiling at the others. "We convince them to help us and they hand it over. Easy."
"Couldn't hurt to try, at least..." Myev says, trailing off. She does, however, chuckle at Utsuri's comment, nodding at them in agreement.
Going back from whence they came, the party returns to the statue. Turning the wand left again the statue slides back revealing the bronze door seen before.
As you approach the door, the sounds of beings beyond is louder this time, perhaps they are deeper into their religious revelry.
Unable to solve the mysteries of the lock, Tek puts his tools away and with a shrug follows the others back to the other door. For just a brief moment he eyes the panel of buttons, knowing that one or a combination probably unlock the door. But not the consequences of being wrong are much to numerous and potentially lethal to imagine, so he walks quietly along with the others.
Seeing no other choice. He waits until all are ready and presentable and then simply opens the door.
"Maybe we should just knock?" Myev asks, holding up a large, green fist in anticipation of the order to knock. "But also, what if they're summoning a demon or something? It sounds unsettling in there. It might be a good idea to interrupt." Myev narrows her eyes at the door, entirely caught up in her imagined scenario.
"That is a valid point. Prayer and rituals can often sound much the ame, especially in an unfamiliar language, no?" Baheera ask, looking to Silas.
Tek opens the door to the chamber.
As the door opens the chanting and preaching stop as all 13 inhabitants, all dressed in multi-colored robes and silver masks, of the room turn to look at you. The assumed leader of the group dispassionately looks at you from behind a more ornate version of the child-like silver mask and reaches for a wand.
Myev, standing behind Tek, waves at the leader with what she hopes is a friendly expression on her tusked face. "Uhh...hello! I'm sorry we interrupted."
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"If it is something nefarious, than it is our duty to stop it." Silas says softly, agreeing with the warlock. His voice grew only slightly grim at that as he tightened his hand around the holy symbol of Lathander.
"However..." The half-elf says, his peppy self re-emerging once more. "...let us hope we shall be fortunate that it will not be needed."
The door opens and reveals a large group of masked individuals, wearing a multitude of brightly colored robes and concealing their faces with masks. The cleric smiles, stepping beside Myev as he lifted his hand.
"May the sun greet you all warmly. As my friend said, we are sorry we interrupted your...ritual? We are looking for...the...the...umm...oh! We are looking for the magi and the warrior maidens. We seek to free Cynidicea from the clutches of Zargon!" The cleric says, his eyes scanning the room for anything that seemed like it may be an altar of the tentacled abomination.
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Tek stares at the people in the mask saying nothing because of a certain tingle in between his shoulder blades. Glancing backward, he sees Myev right behind him. Waving.
Recalling recent events involving mauls and fire throwers and thundering eldritch blasts, Tek pinpoints his three feminine companions and scooches a few paces off to the side. His back to the wall, eyes focused both to front on the new batch of creepy masked underdwellers. And also to the side where the others stand, just so he has a bit more time to duck should the need arise.
The silver masked folk seem to eye you warily, although not outright aggressively, as the lead lowers his wand.
The leader asks you a question in a language none of you understand, but one that you recognize from your initial encounter with the Brotherhood.
Cocking his head, the leader begins casting a spell.
After completing his spell, he asks in perfect modern day common tongue, "Who are you, and why are you here?"
"Gold?" the assumed leader asks. "You are in league with the Brotherhood? The defeat of Zargon is the dream, but how do we know this isn't some sort of trick? The Brotherhood always believes they are in charge for some reason or another."
Tek nods along with the monk's words until the mirrored creature runs a blade across their hands. Quickly sticking his own hands in his pockets he steps over and nods approvingly at Utsuri.
"Our honorable companions brave words and bold actions surely act on all of our behalf." The gnome says pulling a kerchief from his pocket and offering it to Utsuri. "For we are not here by command or compulsion to the Brotherhood. We are here of our own free will to offer aide in the defeat of such evil. As proof we will say the gates to the outside world are no longer buried shut. Indeed, the sands of the desert have shifted and any may come and go as they please. We have elected to stay and do what we may to aide all of those who would see Zargon defeated forever."
Myev stays quiet in the background, letting the others do the talking. It is not her strong suit.
"We are in league with the Brotherhood but we are not commanded by it." Silas offers, stepping forward beside the metal monk. "We have been brought her by sheer providence; a storm blew us astray and uncovered your hidden home. They told us of a great evil gathering strength here in the dark, hidden away..."
"Evil may not be allowed to fester. Your political and ideological differences are meaningless if the greater evil wins. Put them aside, unite yourselves in strength and purpose, and we shall be the burning light to cleanse Zargon's foul essence. Join us and by Lathander's light, I will do my very best for you and your people." Silas exclaims, a kind yet zealous light being born into his eyes. Was this the reason Lathander chose him? Was this to be his great crusade? An excitement was beginning to brew in him with every word.
Baheera remains silent as the group's diplomats explain the situation to the cultists.
The leader quietly regards you, thinking over the situation before responding.
"What you say has merit. But what assurances do we have that the Brotherhood will not simply try to dominate and "lead" as they always do?"
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"We are not speakers of agents of the Brotherhood. While we cannot speak on their behalf, we can assure you that we have know desire to replace one form of evil domination with another." Tekumbray says pushing away from the wall. "Based on what we have learned so far, the only way to truly defeat this Zargon, is for all of Cynidicea to work together showing a united front. To act otherwise is to invite failure and destruction."
"We have proposed to act as independent agents, but on Cynidicea's behalf. In exchange for our blood, sweat, and putting an end to Zargon's evil reign, we receive a portion of all treasures recovered as well as enough food and supplies to see us safely across the desert."
The gnome ends his statement with a broad smile and extended hands that practically drip with 'you can trust us' vibes. Unfortunately, he can't be one hundred percent certain if such symbols and gestures are interpreted the same among these denizens of Cydinicea as they are among the gnomes of clan Cobblepot and the Gulthmere Forest.
Silas nodded in agreement with Tek's offer to those assembled, offering the friendliest smile he could from under chainmail and dressed in holy vestments. This was his first test from Lathander, to scourge a terrible evil from beneath the sands and bring light to those long since hidden from it. What a truly wonderful gift.
Meebo listened to the conversation, unable to see a thing past everyone else's legs. It sounded like it was going well, so she did the best thing she could to help, and kept her hands far away from all of her gadgets.
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The assumed leader of the silver-masked folk before you regards Utsuri curiously, as the monk's blood drips on the the chapel floor.
"I am not sure what that was meant to accomplish, but given the words associated with it..." he says, glancing toward Tekumbray and Silas, "...I believe that you mean us no harm at worst, and may truly be here to help us."
"With all of you acting as intermediaries on behalf of the the Brotherhood and the Magi. I think we may finally have something to work with, should you be successful in recruiting the Warrior Maidens into this same effort."
Tek breaks into a wide smile at the Magi's words and claps his hands together. "A most excellent and wise decision." He says with a bow of his head.
"Before we speak of the Maidens, it is only proper to introduce ourselves."
He places a hand over his heart and tips his head to the masked Magi leader. "I am Tekumbray Cobblepot, a simple hailing from Gulthmere Forest. This is good Silas, holy priest of Lathandar the Bright. Shining Utsuri, whose leagues of travels have brought them here to Cynidicea to test their blades and strength against Zargon's evil. Meebo Biddybink, her name will one day be known throughout the realms, her fire starter a common necessity in every household. Myev of the Mighty Maul. Against her strong heart and crushing strength, Zargon will not stand a chance. And finally, fare Baheera of the Thundering Lamp. Power mysterious and potent flows through her like sands upon the desert."
He turns back to the Magi. "And how are you known among your brothers and sisters of Cynidicea?"
"I am Auriga Sirkinos, the Chief Magi of Usamigaras" the leader of the group says. "A pleasure to meet you all."
To Utsuri's question, Auriga cocks his head seemingly confused. "The Magi always have, just as the Brotherhood wears gold, and the Warrior Maidens wear Bronze."
"We thank you for your understanding, Chief Magi." Silas says, bowing his head lightly. "You must excuse our ignorance. We come from the surface; a great storm revealed an entrance to your temple and we have moved deeper since."
"Do you know where the Warrior Maidens reside? If we can unite all three of you, our chances against Zargon grow. We will not let him take this holy place." There was a strong, resolute determination in the half-elf's voice was he spoke.
Myev of the Might Maul...who cannot hit a single thing, Myev thinks, wryly, staring at Tek during his speech with admiration. She shifts uncomfortably behind the main speakers, glancing around at Meebo and Baheera to try to gauge their feelings.
Auriga Sirkinos points eastward. "That direction, beyond the spinning passage." he says in response to Silas's latest question.
Baheera listens to Tek's introductions with a smile, nodding her head as he names her. Apparently the Magi listened to reason at least. Sharing a glance with Myev and Meebo, she gives the tiniest shrug.
They would see where this led and trust those skilled with words to lead the way.
"The buttons in the corridor each correspond to a different position for the hallway to be in, each exiting into a different area." The magi says. "Pressing a button is all that it requires."
Examining the tapestries, Utsuri is able to determine that they are of the night sky and a number of constellations, albeit not exactly the same as you've seen in the night sky recently.
"Well, it sounds like we have a purpose. Pressing the buttons is safe...ish? Let's try to make contact with the Warrior Maidens. One step closer to resolving whatever is going on here and figuring out a way to make it out of this place, yeah?" Myev says cheerfully, her wide grin stretching over her protruding tusks. She hefts her maul over her shoulder and gives a small, polite bow to the Chief Magi.
"Shall we move on?" Myev asks the group, leading the way with Silas out of the room and toward the passage with buttons and spinning and the like.
"Sounds like a plan." Baheera replies, falling in a bit behind Myev and Silas.
Tek nods at the Magi leader and then at Myev's suggestion. "We will return as soon as we have secured the cooperation of the maidens." He says and then follows the others back to the spinning hall.
You return to the area now known as the spinning hall and all of its buttons. You know that something likely related to the Warrior Maidens lies beyond the statues beyond the end of the spinning hallway, and that there is a pressure plate that does something, not that you've figured out what.
Beyond the statues, again lies the bronze door that is rather securely locked.