Quinn steps into the open, a step or two beside Kimberly. He crouches low and scans the scene as his eyes adjust to the light. He hears Kimberly ask Bryony for details of the attack and he waits for a direction. He looks for any areas the may provide cover and aims his crossbow at it, waiting, hoping to catch a glint of light on that dammed wizard's staff.

Perception check: 13

Bryony walks slowly behind the others. She points to the bushes where the ambush had taken place. Syzygy and the wizard are no longer there. "He must've led Syzygy further into the ruins," she says.

A warm breeze blows through the overgrown ruins, as insects buzz loudly from the sunny treetops. You see nothing and no one from your location here at the top of the cellar stairs.

Quinn continues scanning but he see's nothing. He listens to Bryony and focuses in on the bushes. 

"How did he attack?"

Quinn scans the area around the bushes. 

DM: Do the ruins near the brush appear to funnel traffic into a single spot? And is there any higher ground that one can gain access to in order to gain a better view? 

Perception check: 7 (just in case)

The manor was originally built upon a broad hilltop. But it is plateau-like in terms of elevation change – you essentially are on the high ground, but the view is lousy. You can see a few hints of distant landscapes through a couple of narrow gaps in the scrub, but otherwise it's hard to see far. There is evidence of foot traffic in both directions along the edges of the original exterior walls, as well as a few tracks directly through the generous gaps into what was once the interior. But there are a thousand directions one could go from here. There are a lot of half-fallen walls and piles of masonry within the ruins, and a few scrubby bushes have even managed to take root well inside the ancient interior. There is no second floor anymore, and only scraps of a roof left. (The interior of the building is Difficult Terrain.)

"I was walking back to Syzygy when I just froze up. He came out of those bushes, and then his little demon started attacking me, slamming my head into the ground. I was able to break free somehow, and that's when I ran to get you," says Bryony now.

"Let me see if I can remember the direction he came from..."

(Can Bryony do an Intelligence check or something similar to pinpoint where Glasstaff may have gone?)

Kimberley wracks her brain, trying to remember anything that might help. The little demon had badly smashed her head while she was paralyzed, and then, freed of its arcane grip, she had rolled away and ran blindly for the stairs. She doesn't remember them going anywhere after that.

 "Quinn! Byrony! Kimberley! This way!" You hear a strange voice boom out from deep in the interior of the ruins. The tone of voice is invitational, not urgent. It is not Syzygy's.

" So thats a trap."

Kimberley immediately looked everywhere but the direction the voice came from.

Investigation- 12 or perception 4

Jurgen will also try to identify the person calling to us. 

Investigation: 18

Bryony's eyes go wide. "That's gotta be the wizard," she says quietly. "Oh no, I hate this..."

As the party draws closer to Glasstaff and Syzygy, Bryony will hide among the ruins to watch the confrontation and possibly take a potshot at the wizard if it becomes necessary.

Hide - Stealth - 21

Quinn scans the ground for a decent sized stone. He'll throw it into the ruins to cause a distraction. Once the stone hits the ground, Quinn scrambles closer to the brush, but he'll stay crouched low behind one of the crumbling walls. He switches to his  battle axe and sits still. He closes his eyes, slows his breathing like his elders taught him and focuses listening for any signs of movement.

Perception check: 7 

Aros closes his eyes and focuses on the voice. He tries to focus on the direction of the voice.

Perception: 26 (Nat 20)

Kimberley scans her surroundings but detects no activity elsewhere on this peaceful hillside.

Jurgen tries to remember if he has heard this voice before - but it is unfamiliar to his ears. It sounds like a human man's voice.

Bryony hides. She vanishes quite effectively into the rubble.

Quinn lobs a stone into the ruins. It clatters on the rocks somewhere within. Nothing seems to immediately react to it.

Aros senses that the voice is some 60-70 feet from them, inside the center of the ruins. At least half of that is Difficult Terrain. It should be easy enough to get eyes on the source by moving a bit closer through the gaping hole in front of them and circling around the far kitchen wall, he predicts.

"We have a proposition for your consideration," booms the voice.

" A trade?", Kimberley said bristling at her own failure....

(Was Kimberley's comment directed quietly to her companions or shouted for this unknown voice to hear?)

Aros motions for the group to stay in place. He grips his walking stick and whispers under his breath, casting Guidance. He slowly creeps around positioning himself to see the voice.

Stealth: 15+2=17

( Sorry. Loudly. Let others do the sneaking while she chats.)

In hopes of revealing their position with another reply, Quinn calls out to the wizard.

"What's your offer?"

"Employment!" the voice calls back. "Riches! Magic! I require your professional services."

Aros creeps through the ruined kitchen and peers around a shattered wall. He can see Syzygy and the wizard standing in a large, open ruined chamber, perhaps 40 feet away, over piles of rocky debris. Syzygy looks free and unharmed. The wizard doesn't appear to see him; nor does Syzygy.

Quinn fights the urge to run out and cleave this fella in two. He can see Aros moving and positioning himself, so he tries to keep the wizard talking. 

He yells out "Professional services, eh? I guess I'll take that as a compliment. You have my ear. What do you propose?"