When it’s obvious that neither the hobgoblin our the duegart had understood Corwyn’s exclamation, Lucas pipe up (see Post #101). “No not at all” the Hobgoblin replies to Lucas as he and his colleague turn and start to walk back towards the alcove from which they had emerged. And …?

Satisfied with the click of the lock, Torunn will push open the door and turn to the group. "Lets go through here and I will be able to lock it from the inside."

Passoveloce, upon hearing Lucas' words and seeing the hobgoblin and duegart start to turn, immediately Shadow steps back to whence he had come.

Party order unless somebody says otherwise is {font row} Toruun & Corwyn, {second row} Passoveloce & Lucas, {third row} Paul & Babe.

Toruun leads the party through the double doors and they find themselves in a 10’ wide corridor that is 20’ long. Beyond that it opens into a much wider space. About 30 feet from the door Toruun and Corwyn’s can see an unlit candle at the apex of two chalk lines.

And …?

Corwyn:

Understanding at least in part the deception, Corwyn nods and moves down the hallway, pausing for a moment at the entry to the larger space and looking into the room to see if there are any features other than the chalk marks and candle.

Perception:  23

Corwyn moves forward 20 feet to the edge of the hallway. He can see that the hallway opens out into three seperate chambers. To the northeast - 25 feet away - he can a large table with three figures sitting at one end. Directly ahead and to the south of the first chamber he can see another chamber that appears empty. To the south he can see a chamber that is 25 feet east-west and 35 feet north-south. His suspicion about the chalk lines is correct and it is actually the apex of a pentagram. In the southern corner of the chamber a figure is hunched over a desk mumbling something. 

Corwyn:

Relating what he sees as they walk, Corwyn quietly asks, “What is our play here?  Continue bluffing and trying to get information and access to the rod part?”

As soon as the pair disappeared back into their alcove, Lucas placed a hand over his chest and let out a small sigh of relief. "Huh? Oh, yea, uh, sure. Smart." He quietly said in response to Torunn, before joining the others in entering the adjoining hall. From there he absently followed along near the back with Passoveloce, as a paranoid mind continued to playback and worry at the memory of the recent encounter. So, it was with a bit of a start from Corwyn's question after the rest eventually catches up him.

"We, or more accurately I can certainly try. But, ya'll be ready to square up if things go south. And let me just slip into something a bit more comfortable." Lucas proceeded to step back to make sure he wouldn't be spotted or at least mitigate the chance of being noticed by anyone in the adjoining room as his form and clothing melted into a magical slurry that within seconds reformed itself into a male duergar similarly garbed as the one from the alcove. "There, that aughta do it. I'm gonna go for the solo guy. But if one of ya have a knack for chatting, I can gift ya with a like proverbial silver tongue as my own, if'n ya wanna try your hand with the other group." He continued to say quietly to the group. And if anyone volunteers, he casts the spell on them along with an assuring thumbs up(bardic inspiration(d8)). 

-Recast Disguise Self with magic item to take on appearance of generic male cultist duergar.

(OOC: I only just now realized that my comprehend languages spell I cast earlier lasts an hour, so that too should still be up. Wouldn't have helped much in that last encounter, but I will keep that in mind going forward!)

Passoveloce agrees that the best way forward is to try to fit in with the low key approach, but is ready in case the situation becomes messy. We are looking for a large green crystal in a metal frame, hopefully not too far from here. 

As Toruun returns to the group after locking the door he hears Corwyn explaining what he has seen and Lucas and Passoveloce concurring that a low key approach is the best way forward. Paul then rumbles in his deep voice “…so exactly how are we going to do this then?”

Once everyone is through the double door, he closes the doors and holds his hand on the lock and a shimmer covers the door. (Arcane Lock). "That should do the trick" Torunn says satisfied. At the question posed by Lucas and Corywn he thinks for a moment, "Yes you go ahead and see what information you can glean, we will hold back. Oh an by the way.." He lowers his voice, "If you get in a pickle and I am unavailable, say the following phrase 'Blessed by Gond', and the doors I locked will open."

"Oh? Well, aight. No offense to the rest of ya, but with maybe the exception of Corwyn, ya'll don't strike me as the, uh, social type anyhow. So, just try not to draw too much attention to yerselves -- those that are sticking to this hallway here. And if any of'em approach and seem to question yer presence, try'n gesture towards me and I'll sort'em out." Lucas quietly discussed with the others. Then with that, unless someone had one last thing to add, the "human" turned duergar made his way over to lone figure hunched at his desk; his back straight and gait being that of someone that knew they belonged where they were.

And as he drew close, once more would the Weave subtly bend to his thought, briefly distorting the space around his head for just a second as a new spell took shape for the "wizard". He doesn't try to immediately probe deep into the figures thoughts but rather glean what was most on their mind in the moment as they mumbled away. Then, if his presence hadn't within the next few seconds drawn attention alone, he'd noisily clear his throat to get their attention. "Got a moment? There've been some concern raised..." He says, seeing if he can lead the figure on filling the gaps on their own.

-Subtle(1sp) Casting (2nd level)Detect Thoughts.

Passoveloce advances toward the end of the corridor, where he can see the interactions between Lucas and the man at the desk. He does however try to remain hidden as he does so, and if this is not possible he does not advance beyond the door.

Hide: 12

Passoveloce is able to peer around the edge of the opening. Lucas walks up towards the character. As he gets closer he hears him - it is a duegar mage - say in a language he doesn’t recognise but as a result of his spell he at least understands

”Oalimanifuno I know your name and I call you! You must come!”

As Lucas opens his mouth to ask a question the duegar holds up a finger as if to say ‘don’t interrupt me!’ before commanding in a strong voice

”Oalimanifuno I command you to appear before me!”

and ….?

Without really know what to expect, and frankly being too curious as to see what would happen, 'Saluc Deepslate' crossed his arms over his chest, looking clearly annoyed but relunctantly obedient. For now. But ever is his mind wont to wander, so he let his thoughts drifting to his mental lexicon, searching for any familiarity with the name.

-History: 18.

If nothing comes to mind before long, he squints even harder at the duergar mage, trying to guage whether the deep dwarf was all there mentally, or genuinely trying to summon someone or... something.

-Insight: 15. (if arcana would be more appropriate, add another +1 to current results)

Then if after close to a minute nothing continues to happen, Saluc sighs under his breath, glance back to whichever companion yet remained within him or in sight, shrugged, and then decided to approach the other figures, clearing his throat as need be to get their attention.

As the Duegar Mage finishes his command a large multi-armed creature appears in the middle of the pentagram. The Mage peers somewhat short-sightedly at Lucas/Saluc and holding up three fingers says “who are you? why are you here? and what do you want?” closing a finger every time he completes a question!

And so now what …?

{OOC about to get IT help (from Whatwall) on copying in an image}

Passoveloce signals back to the group that it is about to get ugly. (Thumbs down and deliberately draws his shortsword.) He signals to Corwyn to turn his light (sword) off - by holding his sword up like a candle and blowing it out. He then returns his attention to the room and mage ahead.

Current map: 

Corwyn:

Corwyn lowers his blade but does not extinguish it, as other in the party may be unable to see if he does so.  Instead, he holds it behind his back so that its light is mostly blocked from the room ahead.