"Be aware." Pardot says looking around as he follows. "I fear that this may not be quite as you expect it. And that voice... There could be someone here trying to stop us."

"The first time, when I came to the fires, I just knew in my gut that they were harmless. I crossed them without issue or hesitation."

She looks to Pardot. "I'll keep an eye out for differences, from what I remember."

Perception: 9... 

(That chuckle... Man in black? Eldritch Daventry certainly heard that plenty in her brain...)

It did sound like him... and he has been known to give a bit of chuckle from time to time... it would be a reasonable guess.... but maybe Captain Jois was just looking through a crack in the door and thought all looked kinda funny as you fell asleep... 

"No, I'm quite certain the Man in Black is watching us, watching us even now, an unfathomable entity that uses us as playthings for his perverted pleasure and mad ends, and yet I believe the only way now is forward." Ludolf says trying to keep it together, but a hint of despair can be sensed.

Daventry continues down the 70 steps, leading the way. 

"Seems like he's always off in a shadow somewhere... So we will just need to bring the light to him." 

Unless anyone objects you all head down the stairs after Daventry. The stairs are a perfectly smooth, polished stone and the air shifts from a humid summer night to a cool almost cold dry air like that you would expect far underground. The darkness is everywhere and it is difficult, even with dark vision, to see far in front of your face. 

You continue down at careful but brisk pace. As Daventry predicted there are exactly 70 steps and as you near the bottom of the steps you feel a gentle heat and slight orange glow both of which intensify as you reach the bottom of he steps and step into a circular chamber. The walls have been worked and smoothed, with painted bas-relief sculptures carved into the walls. These sculptures are of the Gods, you see Sune, Lethander, Oghma, Kelemvor. They are all there carved into the walls but there are more many many many more maybe hundreds or even thousands of face and depictions of some human some ghastly creations worked into the stone and walls as high your eyes can see in the light of the flame. 

Speaking of flame before stands a giant curtain of flame again it stretches infinitely above you and 20 feet wide as it is pressed against the far wall. Awe strikes you as you take in the stone chamber and wall of flame you almost miss two rather critical details. 

1. You have no possessions. No weapons, no armors, no components, no nothing. Just whatever small clothes you wear. Thankfully, you are not naked (we have had enough of that this campaign)

2. There are two figures identical in appearance standing on either side of the flame wall. As the four of you enter the chamber their heads lift slowly. The figures are 12 feet tall wearing grey and purple robes with odd "hats" covering their faces. What skin you can see is withered and green. They speak in unison in a strange and deep voice that echoes inside of you as much as around you, "Though countless individuals have made the journey down the Steps of Light Slumber; only once before has a group of souls descended to stand before us." The figures then turn to each of you, "What brings you to the Chamber of Flame. State your cause before we pass judgement on your souls."

 "Ah. Hmm. That's different." Daventry says, looking at the reliefs of the gods. "Guess this part was a little... Hazy, in my mind's eye."

Then as the tall creatures speak in their weird unison, she hesitates a moment, before stepping forward. She tries to mask her accent, as if she were a noble of Cormyr or some other 'proper' lady in a story versus the rough and tumble woman from the northern swamps.

"I am Daventry, sworn to Nodens, Lord of the Dreamlands and the Great Abyss, as his Paragon. We were all bid to come here by the creature Dandelion, and seek audience with Kadath and Nodens." 

A rather disturbing sigh is heard from the figures, "Nodens, Lord of the Dreamlands? There are others who would dispute your claim Paragon." The voice is thick with disdain "You know nothing of what you seek Daventry Wormwood, former holder of the Book of the Dead. You seek the Lost City, You seek Unknown Kadath but speak of it as if it were a soul. Tell us Dreamer how will find what only 4 have found before you? How will you not go mad in your quest like all but one before you? We have stood guard since dawn of time, you are not special."

Daventry looks taken back by the rebuke a moment, but whispers out the side of her mouth to her friends. "Thirty seconds and three new facts, that's a win I guess!"

Focusing herself, she takes another step forward. "Special? Perhaps not. But you said it yourself. We dream, we seek. If we knew the path by heart, saw every potential step and misstep in advance, we would not need to do either! And if it's been done once, it's possible to do again! "

She looks to her companions to see if they wish to chime in.

Triäsa steps alongside Daventry to speak. "I agree that we are not special.  We seek Kadath to try to understand how to stand against a grave threat to our world.  The stars have disappeared. We have witnessed a horror of the far realms try to invade our world."  She doesn't mention the name, nor even think of the image of that thing. "We face enemies we cannot hope to contend against and do not truly understand.  Yet, we travel here to try to gain the knowledge.  Alone, we certainly may not accomplish anything.  Yet, we strive to find understanding.  We travel together so that we might help one another.  As you put it, we hope to find what few have found before and to not go mad as well." 

(Persuasion, if that helps to try to convince these figures: 20)

The figures regard Triäsa carefully and there is a long, uncomfortable silence before the the voices return in unison, "Noble are your words daughter of Ysildea. We are not blind to the plight of Toril. Follow this course if you feel you must but your actions shall cost you your mind... or your soul... Perhaps both if you should be so fortunate." They gather themselves and float just slightly toward the group. "Since the dawn of creation we have stood here watching the Waking Worlds and the Lands of Dreams. Innumerable Dreamers have come with similar words and conviction. The Fire will judge your worthiness, we will not stop you from entering it but be warned; we protect not the Dreamland from the Waking World for a boot needs no protection from the ant."

Turning back to Daventry, "Yes, perhaps this will be the second time but even Carter had help... and he knew how to Dream."

"Well then, it sounds like we just proceed through the fire," Triäsa says to the other three.  "Shall we proceed?" She hesitates just a moment to make sure the others are ready to follow, then turns to walk through. 

Lufolf nods grimly and follows along, burdened by a sense of walking to his own inevitable doom.

Pardot also follows along, staying more quiet than usually, somewhat nervous or afraid, but also a bit skeptical of the whole situation.

Daventry nods as her friends join her, and steps through the fire as she's done many times before. 

Sensing your intentions the two figures float back to their post on either side of the Curtain of Fire. They say nothing more and make no further movement. 

Led by Daventry you move toward the wall of fire. Unsurprisingly the heat is overwhelming and literally suffocating as the flames choke the oxygen from the surrounding air. Daventry, a novice Dreamer, but Dreamer none the less, is able to move forward through the flames without hesitation. 

The rest of you will need to make either a Wisdom Save or Con Save DC 15 to proceed through the Wall of Fire. If you fail you will need to roll sanity.

Ludolf Wis save: 7

(Triäsa CON Save: 4, Sanity: 9)

(Figure with those choices for Save it is a likely fail, so just rolled Sanity too. And that's likely a fail too, especialy since when she needed to fail to recover she miraculously passed!)

(If you follow closely to Daventry, you get a +2 to saves from her Aura of Protection!)

((Pardot save: 21))

Reluctantly, Pardot follows the others through the flames.