"Now now," says Eggo Lass, trying to adapt to the rapidly deteriorating situation, "let's not make things unnecessarily violent." She gestures towards Ogre-Bilyur as an example of the party's prowress, "We've already been more than kind to unlawful tresspassers like yourselves. As you may well know, the Writ of Tunnelium clearly lays out a punishment of community service for those violating the statute. However adding on, punchus injurius, that is brute violence, to such an initially minor offense elevate the non-sequitorius extrialus the a higher degree that cranius detachus becomes an ipso facto de facto sentence with such a mens reas, even mitigating for factors such as hunger." She stuffs away the rations while redrawing her knife, "However with amicable treatment, nicius actius charitus, even the initial punishment of community service could be commuted in favor of a mere warning." She turns to Bilyur once more, "I'd hate for a coppius deputatum such as him to have to get violent in order to enforce the law. So if you can just leave us be then we'll leave you be. Okay?" She ends with a smile at the web of legalese she's attempted to weave, hoping her delight doesn't betray the shaky grounds upon which her arguments are built.

Deception: max(17,20) + 6 = 26

Investigation: 17
//if possible, she'd like to try getting a rough guesstimate at how hardy (hit points) the cultists are, getting a gander of how they might fare against an arms of hadar considering there's so many

Sly forgets to even take notes as Eggo launches into her talk. Her mouth is agape.

Bilyur drops the illusion and says, "I would put that away if I were you." He will put his sword on the ground and hold up his fists, trying to seem as weak as possible. "I challenge you to a duel. One on one. No other rules. I win, your team has to give me my information. You win, my party will give you all our food.  You get any weapon you have, I don't get any weapons. Deal?" 

Hugh loosens his rapier, his hand now on the hilt. "Come now, do you really think that you and your scrawny group of wanna be cultist can take down a fully armed and armored adventuring party? There must be someone left in this group who does not think first of going to their steel." Hugh continues to talk, dipping in and out of Thieves' Cant stating that if help can be provided, there may be a chance for new leadership positions to open in the cult soon.

Tony steps back and grits his teeth after Eggo Lass's speech. Clearly he didn't understand any of it, but it was worded in such a way that he's terrified to learn what it might mean. Eggo Lass also spots that the cultists look very weak; most of them haven't eaten in days. A bead of sweat runs down his brow before he pulls out his scimitar and points it at Bilyur, announcing 'Fine, I'll duel you! Then once I've won I'll take the food of your corpse myself!'

Bilyur only, Roll for initiative 

Sly looks annoyed at Bilyur "Hold on,I didn't consent to -", but quickly steps back when the cultist agrees to the duel. These people looked desperate, not able to put up much of a fight. She guesses that this wouldn't take long and it wasn't much of a gamble after all.

Bilyur initiative: 8

OOC: I needed one good roll...

Tony the Cultist's intiative: 2

Tony draws his scimitar and announces to the crowd, including the cultists and the party, which has formed a ring around the two competitors. 'I'll have first move since it's only fair because I'm on home turf' He then leaps forward and slashes with his scimitar at your face, just below the eyes and aiming across the cheeks and bridge of the nose: 18 to hit, 6 slashing damage on a hit.

The cultists jeer and cackle as Bilyur feels blood start to run down his face from the deep wound. 'Pity I didn't go for the eyes' Tony says, 'Oh well, better scarred then sightless.' He then does a mock bow to the audience and turns to you with his scimitar hanging by his side. 'Your move.' He calls.

[I've subtracted the damage from your character sheet, also here's the map for this room, sorry I didn't do it earlier. The grey spots are the pillars, ignore how horrifically unsymmetrical they are lmao]

To the other party members (minus Bilyur) Eggo Lass telepathically says, (If that cultist wins the fight, will we really give up our rations? Things have been tight and if they're having issues getting food here then I imagine there will be further difficulties ahead. Cutting up a rabbit or goat for food was fine. But a knight? I don't like the idea with humanoids.)

To Bilyur she encourages him telepathically, (Go Bilyur! Go Bilyur! We believe in you!)

[[ Looks like he updated it already. You were at the full 15 when it started. (I was curious just how bad a 7-damage hit was on you.) ]]

Anyway, Bilyur drives forward, channeling his ki and attacking three times. It takes him a moment to gain his balance, but he attacks once (9 to hit for 5 damage) again (14 to hit for 5 damage) and one final time, striking the cultist directly in the face (critical hit for 8 damage.) He then settles back into a defensive stance. 

Also, do I get an opportunity attack? Or was stepped back just flavor text?

Tony dodges the first hit with a smug grin but then is immediately is hit by the second attack straight in the stomach, then one again right in the face sending him flying back before he could even react. He sways, barely holding onto life, and manages to cough up the words 'You've earnt my respect. Tell 'em the stuff, Pete', along with a load of blood, before falling forwards dead, his scimitar hitting the floor with a clatter. Pete, the cultist Tony addressed, steps forward and says in a shaky and crestfallen voice 'Head back to the room from where you first arrived. Go through the northern door then continue east from that room, then you can just follow the exits until you reach Arganth's chamber. When you get there, I wouldn't bother fighting him if I was you, just be polite and he should let you pass. You've proved you're strong, but Arganth the Red Knight is practically unkillable. If he dies, his body will just reform, so I wouldn't anger him. Also, take this.' He picks up the scimitar that once belonged to Tony and using his blood, draws a symbol on it that Sly recognises from the walls of the first room. 'This symbol is a secret cult icon of respect. You shouldn't encounter many more of us if you stick to the route I gave you, but if you do have a run-in with any more cultists, just show 'em the blade and they'll let you pass' He then turns to the shocked crowd of cultists and announces 'No food this time guys, we'll wait on the next ones' 

Slys eyes go wide in surprise as the violent clash suddenly comes to an end and the man stammers out his last words. She turns to Bilyur. "You treated him almost as badly as that wall from before. Was that last strike really necessary?" She almost felt bad for the man. Now he was dead and the cultists didn't even get any food in return.

The wizard, somewhat sheepishly, pulls out 5 rations from her pack and hands them out. "That's all I can spare. Thanks for showing us the way."

She then starts retreating through the door the group entered from, waiting for the others to follow. It would be good to get some distance between the mob and them. With their numbers, the situation could quickly turn a lot uglier than it already was.

Pete takes the rations and a wide and shaky grin spreads across his face. 'Th-Thanks so much ma'am, we'll savour them greatly.' He then scurries back to his hammock and divides the crackers in the ration packs into tiny pieces to be shared out, and stows the rest of the food in a crate. You get the impression that these cultists aren't evil, just misguided and a little delusional. Maybe if you break the Shadow Weave, they'll be able to go and live a semi-normal life back on the surface. One can only hope however.

I kinda imagine the first hit was a feint of some kind that made Tony dodge into the last hit, prompting the critical. Anyway, Bilyur steps back, eyes on Pete and when he offers the scimitar, Bilyur will take it. He gives a monastery bow to Tony, then a similar one to Pete, before announcing, "It was a fair fight, and Tony did himself well. I will commit him to the graces of Allathor, unless any of you object?" If no one objects, he will repeat the ritual for Tony's soul, hoping it may allow some kind of passing for what the cultist had done. Feeling the tug of conscience, however, he leaves the food in the room with the cultists, along with a few extra bowls of rice (I'm thinking 5 rations.) 

"Bravo, Bilyur." says Eggo Lass as he fells the cultist. As Sly gives them some of her rations she feels a moment of pity for the cultists before getting down to business, "By the way you guys wouldn't happen to happen have seen a cat lady pass through here would you? About yea tall," she holds her hand up to about Ivory's height, "and about yea annoying." she stretches her arms as wide as she can.