stealth: 17

Owis manoeuvred around the feet of numerous undead in the room and dived into the staircase.

 Meanwhile Gedeon continued to study Adray with his cold unblinking eyes. "Others, who came before you... There was indeed an armed group of humans, that entered the Chapel and descended the stairs earlier. They were not demons and I allowed them to pass, but now demons are coming up in numbers! Fools disturbed Opallita's portal and Baphomet's minions went through, widening and strengthening it. Do hope demons got them all for what they've done."

"You killed the demons," repeated the dead priest, "yet you killed my minions too. How would I know you were not sent by Baphomet?"

Choir looks indignantly at the corrupted creature and quotes Polly. "I have made a promise to my friends to help them to get Elturel back from hell."

"Elturel belongs to mighty Zariel and is needed to fight demons. Frankly, it is not in your power to interfere. But your answer indicates you are just fools on a fool's errand, that do not see the real threat. May be letting you go there and die like the others is the best thing after all".

survival: 19

Owis reports tracks of multiple demons in the detritus spread across the floor. Amid those tracks, signs can be seen of a single group of booted humans moving down the stairs. These bootprints, trailing embalming fluid, lead outside the room and probably can be tracked down the corridors.

"We have no intention of dying and no intention to help demons.  Our loyalty lies with the people here and if demons are just a real as threat as any other.  If what you say is true about some sort of portal then tell us how to shut it and step a side and let us pass.  You can then continue to bottle neck this passage and slow the tide.  No real loss to you," Adray argues.

This time Gideon was silent for so long it felt as if he was not going to answer. "I do not know the way or have the means to close the portal. When Opallita the Devout created it with her prayers it was not meant to be one. The chamber that she prayed only had to become a connection between mortals and higher powers. It was meant to connect us to Torm - nothing more. But now... Those humans awoke it and Baphomet found it! You want to close it? Go. I will guard this path and know that - should you pledge your loyalty to the Demon Lord, I will see it and strike you without mercy."

The dead priest stepped aside and signalled his minions to do the same. You could go downstairs.

If us can't close portal, will you let us come back this way? Ordrag asks Gideon.

"That depends," Gideon's voice was cold and even, "should you make it worse and try to flee - I will stop you and use you or your corpses to fight the demons. I am here to stop the demonic incursion of Elturel — at all costs. I shall do what I must."

Fran would step forward when Choir would speak up in Polly’s voice. She’d stand there with her arms crossed and her face firm. The artificer and her steel defender were showing their unwavering support for their negotiating companions. She had no wavering resolve. They will do what they must. And she will do it with every ounce of soul she had left.

"Well, time is wasting.  Let get on with this," Adray says.  He waits for Gideon to step aside so they call can pass.  When/if it happens.  Adray turns to the team and says, "Alright, let's keep our weapons ready and wits about us.  We move to our goal and if something tries to stop us we stomp it."

Aye, aye, skipper, says Ordrag with a salute. He likes a nice simple plan.

Once they leave eye sight of Gideon and the others Polly will tell the other what she, through Owis, found out what is waiting for them. (still invisible)

Choir thinks how odd it is that the undead may be allies in this situation. Hell is truly strange and horrible.

Fran would nod. 

Owis's report is accurate and when you descended to the - a clearly workshop - you could see the mess and the footprints yourself. Double doors leading out of the room are not locked, just heavy, but were easily open by anyone, of course.

The doors led to the short corridor with a T intersection and paths to the left (west) and right (east). The human bootprints, trailing embalming fluid from the workshop, lead both ways (Survival DC15 to tell which prints are older).

Ordrag is probably near the front anyway, so will inspect the tracks... Survival: 12

Me reckon they must have split up, he offers looking at the identical-looking tracks.

Fran would take a peak.

Survival: 9 

Polly send Owis ahead down the left corridor

stealth 11

perception 13

if there is something to smell advantage roll: 15