Peri:

"Judgin' by the graffiti," he mutters quietly to Gerrard, "I don't reckon they're too concerned with defilement." He attempts to locate the source of the voice Perception 8

Dwal

Dwal, upon hearing the voice, he readies his shield and hammer. "Ain't no good come from defiled dwarven shrines and disembodied voices." he says to the group.

Dwal will cast Thaumaturgy and amplify his voice: "I am Dwal Fiercehammer, Dwarven Priest and Mage. Come forth and show yourself and answer why ye reside in a desecrated shrine of the World Maker." he demands.

Kei

Whispering to Gerrard "Let's see if we can't get the jump on these defilers". He slips quietly down the stairs and sneaks behind the first pillar.

Stealth 21

Once in place he whispers again to Gerrard.

"Our identity is of no concern of yours," responds the invisible voice to Gerrard. "We lay claim to this site, and you are trespassers. If you would like to learn more about this once-powerful citadel, you must make a worthy offering to this throne. For five hundred gold we could tell you many things. For one-thousand we could tell you everything."

Peri gets a rough idea of the location of the voice - somewhere near the throne. The voice sounds female, although you can't tell for sure.

As Dwal's voice booms and Kei vanishes behind the pillars, you hear her response, "No. And neither shall you desecrate this place, either. Turn and leave, leave an offering, or prepare for your own deaths."

Gerrard:

Continuing to speak at the doorway, Gerrard tries once more to reason with this entity.  "Indeed, a citadel, very impressive.  Yet with you unwilling to give your identity or answer my friend's eminently reasonable question, I am left to wonder if you have a rightful claim to this place.  You could be interlopers, even the ones who have actually defiled this shrine to the World Maker, and it would be our duty as good citizens to defeat you and remove your affront to the dwarven gods...Or you could be innocent citizens, come across this place in its defiled state and in the process of restoring it to its former glory.  Indeed, you could be anything, mysterious voice."

Persuasion:  9

Considering for a moment, Gerrard continues, "I suppose we could just be on our way, head back to town and inform the council of this underground citadel.  I am sure they will be very interested in who or what resides within, as would the authorities in Seaton.  If you want to keep this place a secret, on the other hand, answering the good dwarf's question forthrightly and showing yourself would be a good start--we won't even require you make an offering, other than a simple exchange of information."

Intimidate:  15

"You do not know of what you speak. We are no defilers," responds the voice. "Cruinneadair. Ha!" it laughs.

To Gerard's second statement, you hear nothing but silence, punctuated by distant hammering.

Kei

From his hiding spot, Kei can see nothing without potentially giving himself away. A moment of ingenious clarity cones to him. A twist if his fingers and a murmured word later and he has disappeared from everyone's view.

Timing his steps to the distant hammering, to cover the footfalls, he moves as close as he dares. Whilst moving he takes in the room and it's inhabitants. He relays the information to Peri once he is safely behind a pillar.

Dwal

Dwal says to the party. "It seems we have someone who is a bit shy at coming out to meet guests. Let me negotiate a bit with 'em.

Dwal takes a couple steps forward and yells out:  "Moradin take ye, blasted Duergar!" Dwal exclaims. "I was wondering who'd have the gall to defile a shrine to the World Maker and here it's an oath breaking, betraying, stone humping, dirt licking Gray Dwarf. Still missing yer squid headed masters are ye?" Dwal says to taunt the Grey Dwarf. "Come out here and face a real dwarf!" 

Dwal turns back to the others for a moment, gives them a BIG SMILE and a thumbs up then turns back forward to face the area where the voice was coming from.

(OCC: not sure what to roll to taunt :P)

There is more silence, although you can hear at least two distinct pairs of boots moving quietly west across the southern end of the room. 

((Anything to report from the invisible recon mission?))

Gerrard:

Nervous, Gerrard draws his weapons and looks around for clues to the hidden/invisible creatures who have stopped responding...

Perception:  18

Kei retreats behind one of the pillars. He has seen nothing further. The sounds of the footfalls came from near the 2nd and 3rd pillars (from left) on the south end of the room.

Peri:

"Oh, very diplomatic," he whispers to Dwal.  "I see your new deity has crafted you a silver tongue."

He attempts to creep quietly Stealth 10 along the east wall, until he's just north of the east door, looking for the strangers.  (Eldritch Sight = "You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 ft." Does this mean there are no shadows for anyone to hide in?)

Dwal

Dwal looks at the party for a moment then moves to stand on the stairs. "You lot never been in an army have ye?" he asks. "All right. Form up! Warriors in front, form a front line." he says in a bit of a commanding voice. "And no runnin' off to battle one on one, these may be gray dwarves but they be Dwarves non tha less." he warns Peri. "Dwarves practice tactics and and practice war from the day they can walk. an' Gray Dwarves use a bit of trickery to get an advantage. So form up and move as one." Dwal takes his place beside Peri. 

Dwal will ask Bjorn to not fly and stay low, behind him. 

"I see we have a winner with the new guy." Dwal remarks.

The room is lit by the guttering orange torches set in sconces along the walls, and the small fire smoldering on the floor before the dais. There are no completely dark corners, nor does there seem to be any magical darkness here. But there do seem to be some invisible creatures nonetheless.

As Peri moves quietly across the room, Eldritch Sight gives him a brief sense of something magical passing within thirty feet of him, but he sees nothing, and is unable to determine where it was or in which direction it might have been moving. 

As Dwal crosses the room to join Peri, Oceanus behind him, two bald, grey-skinned dwarves suddenly appear in the center of the room, preparing to launch javelins toward Dwal. Their clumsy, noisy steps give them away just as they prepare to attack.

Initiative:
Duergar:  11
Dwal: 4
Peri:  11
Gerrard: 16
Kei: 10
Oceanus: 21
Trill: 14
Bjorn: 18

The Duergar are thirty feet from Dwal and Oceanus. Kei is still invisible. (Let me know if you are not where you expected to be in this map.)
Everyone except Bjorn may act first.

Kei & Trill

There you are. He steps out from behind the pillar and drops his invisibility just in time to cast his curse  on the Grey Dwarves. He returns to the cover provided by the pillar.

Trill, take flight friend, and stay out of trouble for now. He thrusts his arm upwards to give his feathered friend a quick boost.

Trill launches into the air and flies near the roof of the huge room. Eyes constantly scanning the soon-to-be battlefield, looking to offer assistance at a seconds notice.

((Bane has DC 12 Cha save))

Gerrard:

OOC:  I thought we were forming up on the steps given previous posts, but it seems the rest of the group has moved east into the room.  If I may, Gerrard would prefer to stay with the others, especially given Dwal’s instructions.

((Kei had moved previously, and it seems both JT and Dave posted concurrently. Oh the joys of PbP. ;) ))

Gerrard:

     His melee weapons already drawn, Gerrard follows Dwal as he attempts to bring the group back together to form a defensible formation, somewhat confused as to where the dwarf plans to form his front line of warriors.  In mid-stride, he is shocked to see two gray dwarves pop into vision as they draw back their javelins to throw.  Moving quickly to engage the one to the west, Gerrard attempts to foil his aim with the javelin as he attacks quickly with his typical opening gambit, a long thrust with the Elegant Rapier followed by a deceptively quick arcing slash with the Main Gauche.

Elegant Rapier:  Attack: 24 Damage: 9

Main Gauche:   Attack: 13 Damage: 9

Dwal

"Figures" Dwal spouts "No one listens to a dwarf." he says gruffly. "And your just jealous I got to do that before you did." he calls to Peri.

Dwal will cast Bless on the party at 2nd level, giving Bjorn a bless as well.