Torrin looks around, and shakes his head "this is an accursed place, best to get into some cover as quick as we can" He brings his shield up, the visage of the Platinum dragon helping to protect him from the raging winds, And keeps his polished long sword drawn and up in a ready position as he makes his way into the cave ((ooc doing a perception check of 21 to keep my eyes out for trouble as Torrin enters the cave)) 

The cave leads further in another 50 yards at least, lit by the ambient light of the sunless storm outside, though it becomes darker the further in you go. No threats are immediately visible. The cave appears mostly natural, but seems smoother than most cave formations in the material plane. 

Just barely visible from the entrance, there appears to be a deep shaft shaped vaguely like a corkscrew at the end of the cave. The bottom drops well out of sight, but there are ledges spaced such that you could walk/climb down with little difficulty, though the angle is such that it would be more comfortable for larger creatures. The shaft itself appears clearly unnatural, and intentionally drilled into the bedrock; but it's age is not readily apparent. (When/if you'd like to investigate further, please make a Survival check and/or Perception check).

Following Torrin into the mouth of the cave, Zenver see's the staircase shaft descending down into the darkness.

"Well, I guess the first task will be to provide us with some light to plumb that depth."  He draws a small twig of dark wood from within his robes and crushes it in his hands.  With a command word, "Hwicce" the dust from the twig swirls up into 4 motes of light that circle and dance through the room at Zenver's command.

"Shall we?"

Sylzet follows after Torrin, taking up a position in front of Zenver. Her eyes adjust to the dancing lights and shakes her head. "...I forget not everyone has darkvision." She mutters, before drawing her greatsword. The Moon-Touched blade also extends bright light for 15 feet around her, and dim light 15 feet further. "...I could have spared you the cantrip, but I suppose those don't cost you much of anything, do they?" She asks Zenver, before taking up a position next to Torrin.

"...Are you going to be the shield in front of us, or will you allow me to be the spear?" She asks dryly, pointing her greatsword down the staircase... choosing not to investigate much further since she is aware of her lack of proficiency in such matters. She's meant to be pointed in a direction and told to fight.

"I have sworn an oath to be the shield between evil and all others, I'll keep doing so" Torrin states, walking up to the edge of the shaft and gazing downward ((ooc another  perception 17 ))

"Fine, fine. Be the strong man protecting the frail maiden." Sylzet says, standing to Torrin's side then. It'll be fine, she'll just stay behind him for him to take the brunt of the first attacks, and she'll sweep in after.

The twisting hole is massive, with the party just able to make out the other side of the twisting shaft from the ambient light from outside, nearly 100 feet across. As they begin to descend and the darkness increases, however, the other side of the shaft is lost in shadow, despite their shared light sources. 

Torrin, having spend several hours exploring the Warlock's journal, recognizes the cave as "The Parlor" and the shaft then is most likely "The Climb." Additionally, far, far down the shaft, there is a very faint green glow. The kind that rather than illuminate, only seems to make the darkness more oppressive by its contrast.

When the party pauses for a moment, the silence feels oppressive, the sound of the storm outside completely muted after descending the shaft just a few dozen feet. 

Due to the nature of the twisting shaft, your vision of the walls is limited by the path above and the path below, it's like walking along the inside of a threaded bolt. But your view of the path directly ahead of you is limited only by your light source, or range of vision. (OOC: Everyone make a Perception check).

Perception: 11

Zenver seems more focused on making the lights from his spell swirl too and fro chasing each other to be too focused on anything greatly hidden around him.

Perception: 14

Torrin leads the way, shield and sword arm ready

Perception: 2

Sylzet stays behind Torrin as they descend, drawn greatsword tight in her hand. The smoke rising off her armor seemingly melting into the darkness a bit around them as it rises out of reach of the lights. "...And my people like this place, in some manner... No wonder I dislike them..." She mutters quietly to herself... Torrin absolutely is able to catch her saying it though.

The change in scenery is a dismal shift from the mountains of knowledge in Gilead’s sanctum. Still, it wouldn’t do to let any part of one’s surroundings go unnoticed in a place like this. 

Perception: 9

Unfortunately, between the plane shift and the lights chasing one another about, there was no shortage of distraction around to steal one’s gaze.

The party descends deeply into the Abyss, travelling downward for almost an hour before anything changes. The top and bottom of the shaft are both lost to darkness. Just as the party seems to question if they're actually moving or just on a treadmill, at the edge of their light, around 40 to 60 feet away, a strange stone door comes into view.

From this distance, no details are easily discernible, but it appears to be a massive stone door, seemingly sized for a giant. Adorning the door are strange scribblings, that seem to be written in Abyssal, but are too small to be read without approaching closer.

Sylzet hrms for a moment. "I can read Abyssal. Do we just want to go ahead and push forward, risking whatever is hidden? Or do we want to do this carefully..." She pauses. "And send the squishies first?" ...Another pause. "...That was a joke." 

She adjusts her grip on her greatsword and raises it higher to try and illuminate the area better.

Torrin's copper eye seems to rapidly scan around, "I dont think caution  could ever hurt here, do any of us have aptitude at finding traps and the like??"

"Hmm...I sometimes have the knack for finding traps by looking through the different fate chains to see what happens, but sadly that talent does not extend to disabling the traps.  I might be able to tell you if danger lies ahead though.  If push comes to shove I could summon an arcane servant to attempt to trigger a discovered trap.  It would likely be destroyed in the process...but if the trap does not have a recurrence that could be sufficient."

(Zenver has proficiency with Investigation and a high int, so a pretty good score overall.  His only disarming technique though is the sacrificial familiar.)

"I'm sure our platinum shield here wouldn't mind setting off a trap or two either. We're both paladins, we can heal his wounds..." Sylzet offers with a small smirk, before reaching into her bag and producing her bundle of javelins. "I also can probably use javelins to set off any traps as well, in the event Torrin doesn't feel like sacrificing himself."

Torrin let's out a low chuckle "I'm not afraid to take one for the party, and I worry speed is of the essence" and with that he raises his shield and begins to walk forward to the door 

As the party approaches the stone door, it appears even more massive up close. Easily 20 feet tall, it dwarfs even the massive armored Dragonborn. The door is covered in the Abyssal language. There does not appear to be a coherent sentence structure, but seems mostly insane scribblings arranged in a figure eight of concentric circles. At the center of the door, and around which the scribblings seem to center, is the name of Damagh Al'um. Arranged around the name at significant points according to some kind of profane geometry, are what appear to be other names, written in a circle around glowing gems: Torizo, Botwoon, Crocomire, He Who Laughs, Kraid, Phantoon, and Tanin.

However, before you can examine the door any further, you hear an unsettling sound of hoots, snarls, and grunts approaching from further down the ramp of the shaft. You glimpse a mob of hideous creatures that seem like diseased bears with porcine features and gnarled claws and teeth. Their eyes seem low in intellect, but high in hunger. After an initial shock of seeing the party, they let out a mournful howl and begin an ungainly lope towards the heroes.

(Everyone roll initiative!)

Torrin's Initiative: 18

(don't think I don't see your Metroid names. >:3)

Sylzet looks over the door, making a mental note of the names and the arrangement. 8 circles, so not the Hells. Maybe the 8 represents infinity and thus is the Abyss itself? Or is it 8 generals before they can get to the queen? 

And then the howls start. Good thing she already had her weapon out as she turns around and enters a combat stance. She then spits at the incoming demons and says the following in Abyssal: "Come, and beg for mercy from our gods."

Initiative: 22

(well, I continue to roll poorly on initative. lol)