Brindle grins and immediately casts his Web spell into the room, centring it on the central axis of the room and 20ft from the edge of the stairs, so that the webs reach as deep as possible into the room but leave the northwest and southwest corners of the room free of webs.

OOC: Based on the 20ft radius template at p307 of the DMG that should leave two 5ft x 10ft areas free of webs either side of the stairway to make it easier for us to get to the stairs. It may leave one or two undead free this side of the webs but we should be able to deal with them very quickly.

"Thank you Brindle."  Tesseryn draws his greatsword and moves into the space to dispatch the straggler and cut a path through the webs to the stairs.  "Sorry Leisha, no time after all.  Our path lies downward, ever deeper into the vile lairs of Set's evil minions.  Excellent!"

07:26, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 19 using 1d20+10.  Sword to skeleton
07:28, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 17 using 2d6+7.  Sword dmg skeleton .

You quickly release consensus on a plan ... which goes off with nary a hitch, much to the delight of all, save perhaps Wrukaog, whose axe must remain unblooded for a short while longer, and Leisha who has a soft spot for mysterious doors of all kinds.

Aurion politely allows Brindle to cast the spell which fills the chamber wall to wall with sticky webs, expertly aiming it so that the nearest edge barely impinges upon the opening to the stone stairway nearby ... and Tesseryn's sharp blade makes short work of the skeleton held therein, cutting it down as surely as he opens the way for you.

With your path clear, you ignore the clatter and moans of the undead who struggle against the webs that bind them fast, carefully making your way down the stairs (and noting that the undead cease to care as soon as you take your leave of their chamber).

The worn stone stairs descend a goodly distance, ending at a short ten feet of flagstones before a solid wooden door that fails to greet your arrival ... though beyond the closed portal you can hear voices, deep and booming ...

[Language unknown: "Sech !  Linpa ekshe con plho rut !"] says one, rather triumphantly you feel.

[Language unknown: "Whimeners pane ... stng usent ...] another replies.

You hear a loud clattering.

[Language unknown: "Ck rutoneoulwheshe !"] says the second, quite crossly.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"Does anyone understand what they are saying?" Brindle whispers to his friends. "I have a spell, if no one does."

OOC: If no one else understands what the voices are saying Brindle will cast Comprehend Languages on himself.

Tesseryn shakes his head and gestures for Brindle to proceed, whilst trying not to make too much noise breathing in heavy armour.

"No idea." Aurion whispers and shrugs. "But I'd like to know what they're saying before we burst in there." He nods for Brindle to cast the spell.

Wrukaog shakes his head and shrugs to signify he doesn't understand them either. But he stands Tessy Junior behind him and grips his greataxe in both hands, a feral gleam in his eyes.

Brindle quickly casts his spell, throwing a pinch of soot over one shoulder and a few grains of salt over the other, then presses his ear to the door while the rest of you stand quietly.

The voices continue, occasionally punctuated by further thumping and scraping...

Brindle steps back a step or two to whisper to his friends.

"I hear two voices, deep and gruff. They sound like they are gambling and drinking, rolling to win shinies. They may be so distracted they won't hear the lock being picked (if it is locked at all) or the door opening."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:35, Wed 06 Feb 2019.

Casually brushing soot off his robe, Aurion grins at Leisha and whispers "Are you feeling assalted?" He makes way for her to move closer to the door should she feel the need to examine the lock.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:16, Sat 09 Feb 2019.

Tesseryn glares at the door, intent on detecting the presence of evil doers beyond.  Under his breath he mutters "Surely none here would know how to 'pick a lock' Brindle.  If need be Wrkaog and I can batter down the door, but first I should ascertain that the gamblers are indeed evil followers of Set, not just elves."  He shoots a glance at Aurion, certain that their elf knows just what he means, although not coming from Ardania himself.

Leisha grins back.  "I thought I might save some for a grainy day," she shrugs.  She looks at him a bit curiously as he moves to the side, then looks at the door, and laughs.  "Really?  You're sweet, Aurion, but while I think I understand the basic principal of lock picking, it's not a skill I've ever needed.  Usually if I need to get in someplace, I just knock."

As Tesseryn turns his gaze on the door, she continues to look at Aurion.  "Are there evil followers of elves?  I don't think I've ever heard of that."

Tesseryn's cheeks colour up nicely.  "I meant only to detect the presence of evil followers of Set, that we may burst in and slay them all with just cause." he explains huffily, in a whisper, whilst concentrating on the space beyond the door and doing his best not to be distracted by the laughter and witty banter.  "Those gambling beyond the door may simply be elves ... with deep voices.  In Ardania it is well known that the elves operate disreputable businesses such as gambling houses.  Whilst that is to be frowned upon, it does not warrant summary execution."  He demonstrates such frowning, at the door.

"Hmm, knocking could save a lot of battering." Aurion muses.

"And should we ever chance to find my lively and entrepreneurial brethren I'm sure we'd have a merry welcome. But that's not them beyond that door!" he hisses in a testy whisper.

Tesseryn concentrates, seeking for whatever evil might lurk on the other side of the door. 

As discussion continues around the disgusting gambling habits of elves of the Paladin's acquaintance, Brindle turns his attention back to the unseen voices.

"They are still talking, still playing whatever they are playing," Brindle whispers. "I don't recognise their language so I don't know what they are. We met a talking statue and two talking doors already, so these might even be constructs as well. Something with wheels, rolling? Who knows? Who wants to see? There is no keyhole, so probably no lock."

The little halfling steps back away from the door to give someone bigger the opportunity to do the honours.

"Ooh, enchanted dice!" Leisha whispers hopefully.  "I've always wanted a set.  I'm afraid a talking deck of cards would have too many voices.  What are you thinking, Tesseryn?  Shall their execution be summary, or abstract?"

Wrukaog snarls and stalks forward, greataxe in hand. He opens the door, ready to rush inside and slash at the two loud-mouthed gamblers if they show any sort of hostile reaction to his arrival.

He leaves Tessy Junior behind. The best thing about the silver statue is it never complains and is always happy to wait for him to return.

"Summary."   Tesseryn confirms.  "There are two evil presences beyond the door.  There may be others."  He follows Wrukaog through the door then clanks past him and deep into the next room to issue a challenge. "In the name of Dauros and Mitra we come to restore the white tower.  Followers of Set prepare to die."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Sat 16 Feb 2019.

Moving to stand at the left of the doorway, Aurion peers around the door post and into the room. He considers options, but having no idea who is in there he is content to wait, unless the dice are within reach...

Wrukaog hurls the door open, Tesseryn close behind him, while Aurion peers curiously into the chamber and Brindle wisely takes a step back, perhaps to be closer to the silver statue of Mitra ?

Having already discussed the matter conclusively with Leisha, the Paladin delivers his ultimatum, striding forth bravely to confront the two fellows in the chamber beyond, undaunted as the pair turn around, rising to their full heights which must be somewhere north of a towering ten feet.  They have an oddly simian appearance with overlong arms, stooped shoulders, low foreheads and thick, powerful limbs.  Both wear rather soiled tunics, which were probably intended to be a uniform of some kind, and have helmets a size too small for them perched atop their pates, while large wooden clubs hang from belts that struggle to contain their girth.

One of the fellows clutches a two foot tall bronze bottle, while on the ground nearby lies a pile of coins, and behind them in the corner of the room stand two dice, each about three feet on a side.

The room itself is about eighty feet long and roughly half that in width, the ceiling perhaps another ten feet above the two fellows' heads.  A fifteen foot wide opening leads east from the south end of the room, while a narrow passage to the north is but five feet wide.

The two fellows immediately come to attention, though Tesseryn's challenge seems to puzzle them somewhat and they exchange glances before one carefully puts his bottle down before venturing a reply, thankfully in a language you know all too well.

"Err ... so der m.. mer .. der boss didn' send youse den ?"

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Brindle hurries forward and squeezes past to stand in front of Aurion, just beyond the doorway. He waves a feather in the air and tosses a tiny tart at the closest giant as he recites an incomprehensible torrent of gibberish (well, gibberish to anyone who doesn't speak Draconic).

"That was a joke!" he exclaims. "Why aren't you laughing?"

Tesseryn stares at the dumb brutes, confounded by their genial nature.  'They're evil!' his divine senses assert, yet at present they don't appear to be harming anyone.  His challenge was clear, yet they fail to see their peril, instead trusting him to make clear his intent.  Abundantly clear to himself is that his intent ought to be to destroy them immediately.  Not only his vow but more so this jewel in his skull demand their summary execution.  Yet that is not currently his intent.  Slowly he lowers his sword.  Slowly he clenches one fist before his face and screws shut his eyes.  Through clenched teeth he grinds out the mortal and irrevocable words "Why, Dauros?!  Why, Mitra?!"

Raising his hand to forestall Brindle's spell casting, Aurion whispers "Perhaps we can try an alternative approach. What's say we bluff our way in?"

Brindle looks slightly disappointed.

"Are you sure?" he whispers back. "I thought one of them might get a kick out of that good old joke of Tasha's hideous laughter?"