Barok has followed Hatch and Throm up the stairs and watches quietly and curiously as Hatch hatchets the door and Throm readies his crossbow. The axes continue to rip chunks from the wooden door, but it is still more or less intact as the handle turns and the door opens. A creature stands in the doorway, in size and appearance like a dwarf with a short black beard, but with red skin and red leathery wings. Greetings! it says in a gruff voice. I wasn't expecting you so soon...

Before it has a chance to speak further, Throm can use a reaction to make an attack if he wishes...

Throm holds his action as this creature doesn’t appear to be hostile.

Lia stands behind Applecross (clearly visible thanks to it's short stature) and gives everybody a reassuring glance. "Well, they're here now either way and-" she pauses, as she notices the dwarf with them. "Oh! Hello! You must be... Aurinax did you say, Applecross?"

Hatch is surprised to see the half-fiend greet them like that, but relieved to see Lia alive and seemingly well.

Lok, having caught up with everyone, looks incredulously at the dwarf in the room 

The barbarian shoots Lia a questioning glance, before returning his attention to the strange dwarf. 

"greetings..." Lok grunts, trying to make sense of the scene in front of him. 

"You have our friend," the paladin stated, obviously wanting an answer why he shouldn't start swinging his axes at this fiend.

Yes, I do - or should I say, I did, replies Applecross to Hatch in his gravelly voice. She's been such excellent company, but you can have her back now if you wish. And may I say what a pleasure it is to meet you in person, Hatch. I'm a big fan.

The elderly dwarf seems startled by the greeting by Lia, but gives a brief bow.

"I cannot imagine any action of mine pleasing you enough that you'd be a fan, but if you would please step aside so I may enter and check on Lia?" Hatch said, lowering his axes to be less threatening but still keeping a firm grip on them.

Despite being a tiefling and thus of fiendish ancestry, Hatch had never actually encountered a fiend before, and so was quite wary. But still, this could be a chance to get some answers...

"Lia called you Applecross yes? Once I've checked that she's really okay, would you be interested in sticking around for, shall we say, a conversation?" Hatch asked.

While Hatch is talking to Applecross, Lok will try to look, past Lia, at the rest of the room. 

(Can we see into the room at all, or just Lia and Applecross?)

Lia slides out from behind Applecross,  so that's she's standing outside the door with the others. She turns to the dwarf again, giving a small bow in response. "If you haven't gathered, the name's Lia. Lia Dewtail. Now, I must say, I swear I've heard that name before somewhere..."

"You okay?" Hatch asks Lia. "What happened? I heard you passed out, I'm guessing this Applecross was behind it?"

(Can he see Bentley?)

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Applecross actually drugged me, hence why I passed out- which, yes, probably wasn't the best of methods- but after that all we did was talk." She looks at Applecross. "You said you were sent to slow us down?"

Lia: make a History check.

Oh yes, seeing the Count drink your blood was quite the highlight so far, rumbles Applecross, licking his lips. A conversation with you would be most welcome. I would like to hear every detail of what that was like. But for now, your friend is fine. Please enter and see for yourself. Applecross stands aside, allowing Hatch and Lok to not only see Lia more clearly but also Bentley the halfling standing in the room. His face brightens when he sees them and he gives a friendly wave. The room is otherwise unremarkable.

Barok brushes Lia's comment aside with a small laugh, saying: Oh, I've been known by different names. That's not really important. I'm glad to see you are unharmed.

As Hatch and Lok check on Lia and Bentley, Applecross returns to sitting on the edge of the bed. Replying to Lia he says: Yes, that's right! Well, actually no. She didn't send me exactly. But I always know just what she wants, and I just do it without her even asking. I'm her favorite, you see. She says I'm the MOST in- incontinent? no that's not it ... in- incompetent? yes, the MOST incompetent of ALL her servants. She's always giving me important jobs that take me far away for a long time.

History: 25 (That means I only got a six! She better re-visit the library soon)

Lia looks at Applecross, trying to keep her expression blank. "That's very... nice of her."

Quote from NightPhoenix828 >>

History: 12 (That means I only got a six! She better re-visit the library soon)

 Yes, Lia has heard that name before, but can't remember where. It does ring a bell as a historical name though.

Lok stood at the doorway, perplexed. 

No one was hurt, and nothing made sense. 

The barbarian turned to Barok "Known by different names?" Lok asked. 

Barok seems a little annoyed at Lok's persistence with the issue, and he retorts with a dismissive wave of his hand: What of it? I'm an old dwarf, I've been around for a few hundred years. Don't you think I might have been called a few things in that time?

The usually talkative Applecross stops short in his latest babble to stare in shock at Barok's outburst. Stammering, he says after a moment: Er... like I was telling Lia here, this dwarf, Barok, is one of the most honest humanoids you will ever meet. Right, Lia?

Before the conversation could get too far ahead, and before hopefully any dangerous lies could be told, Hatch decided it would be prudent to now cast Zone of Truth.

Spell description - 

You create a magical zone that guards against deception in a 15-foot-radius sphere centered on a point of your choice within range. Until the spell ends, a creature that enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there must make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, a creature can't speak a deliberate lie while in the radius. You know whether each creature succeeds or fails on its saving throw.

An affected creature is aware of the spell and can thus avoid answering questions to which it would normally respond with a lie. Such a creature can be evasive in its answers as long as it remains within the boundaries of the truth.

Charisma: 3 (Lia is useless at saving rolls)

"I do believe you said that, yes," Lia says, but turns back to Barok. "Well, is there anything you'd prefer we call you?"

(What's your spell save DC, Hatch?)  CHA saves: Barok: 20  Applecross: 16