Kulogall feels slightly flustered and blushes (as much as a Triton can, which, if anyone is interested, is a strange shade of green around the fishy ears) when Astra winks at him, and he drops the small bell without a ringer that he was absentmindedly carrying as he is going down the stairs.  He stops and stands very still, listening for any reaction.  In his mind he scolds himself, shouting in his head "I am appearing to be a rookie to my new Flaming Fist brothers!"

Perception :  4

Borys attempts to sneak down with the others

stealth 12 

11 10 (Stealth with Disadvantage, so keep lowest).

Astra is cautious as she climbs down, but she is unused to this skullduggery, cloak and daggers. 

((Astra, Durthek would give you guidance, before casting it on himself and following shortly behind.))

Stealth: 9 + 4 = 13

Thamior, too, sneaks down, near the back of the group. 

18 

The group starts their descent.

Richard and Redric go first and stop cringing when Kulogall stumbles down a few steps. Everyone stops in their tracks and waits to see what happens. 

From down below a pair of guards step out of the shadow and move up to investigate. 

Init is as follows. 

PCs first ( you have a round before the guards come to meet you ) then Pcs again and then the two guards. 

For now, they are the only ones investigating. The rest of the people below seem to be oblivious as are the two guards at the front door. 

((This is only for the three who initially descended?))

Ini: 17

Borys casts thaumaturgy creating the sound of enormous beating wings moving across the shadows of the ceiling. 

He shrugs at the rest of the group.

Redric casts Silent Image as a large Dirge-like bat soars through the top of the stairs and hovers near the ceiling for a moment, wings timed with Borys's auditory accompaniment.

Whispering a thaumaturgical incantation of her own, Astra causes the torches below to flicker and dim, as though buffeted by the bat wings.

Kulogall adds to the illusion using minor illusion and creates additional large bat fluttering sounds, coinciding with the other illusions.

He says hurriedly in a low voice to Astra “I’ll back up any play you want to make and help you with convincing them.  The old “You’ve got bats in your belfry ploy?  But why were we on the roof and coming in this way?  Are we the ‘Baldurs Bat hunting Brigade’ who just stumbled in here?  Let’s think, quick!”

Richard gives the others a thumbs up, hopeful that their efforts will discourage the guards, or at least distract them.

Richard does his best to try and remain hidden from the guards, in case they do continue to ascend, hopeful he might catch them unaware.

“It’s an evil cult, right? Pretend to be some evil ally or some garbage. These are drama, I’d think cult types would love that sort of thing.” 

Thamior looks at all the magics his new companions are using for a distraction, and asks quietly: "Would a raven help here? He's not quite a bat, but if he went by fast it could look close enough..."

As the guards come up the rest of the church is emptying. There are a few people left in the church. A priest that leaves through a trap in the floor and 4 acolytes that are ushering the followers out. 

The two guards who are at the gate seem more alert somehow. 

Coming up the stairs to investigate, are two young men. Clearly bothered to do their duties but fearing the repercussions of being found wanting they chatter as they climb. 

" And that new girl.. have you seen her." one says

"Na, she seems to be a cold one." The other quips in 

"Damn what is that.." the first one says, afraid or surprised. A large bat flies close chirping highly. 

"They really need to look at that roof. Can't have those things come and nest here." 

For a few seconds, the two stand in the stairs, looking at the illusions the group formed flip by. 

"We need to tell Tomas about the roof." 

"Yep, but you do it." 

Silence.

"Let's wait for the rain to leek in then he will have to look into it." 

"K, let's get down and be sure the church is closed." 

"Hey, don't you have a girl to meet later tonight...." 

The sound of the conversation wanders down and loses cohesion. 

Your quick thinking has managed to thwart their attention. 

As the doors of the church close the acolytes go about their duties. The guards disappear down the same passage as the priest. 

Durthek breathes a slow sigh of relief, his hand relaxing a bit on his warhammer. He'll move up to Astra and look to her for consent before touching her and casting guidance on her.

In Dwarven:

Borys holds both thumbs up excitedly towards his companions.

Richard mimes wiping his brow, giving the others a smile, before whispering.

"Nicely done, great work and quick thinking."

Richard turns back and starts to lead the way down again, commenting as he does.

"Now lets try that again, and this time, less noise?"

Richard gives the others a wink and a smile, as he begins to descend the stairs again.

Astra resumes her downward progress, trying unsuccessfully not to clank too much with her shield and armor. 17 16 (Stealth with Disadvantage)